Elton John – Tiny Dancer – Verse 2
Tiny Dancer < All Analyses
Chord Progression
[‘C’, ‘F/C’, ‘C’, ‘F/C’, ‘C’, ‘F/A’, ‘G/B’, ‘C’, ‘F/C’, ‘C’, ‘F/C’, ‘C’, ‘F/A’, ‘G’, ‘F’, ‘Em7’, ‘Am7’, ‘D/F#’, ‘Dm7’, ‘E7’, ‘Am’, ‘G7’, ‘C’, ‘F’, ‘C’, ‘F’, ‘C’, ‘G’, ‘F’, ‘C/E’, ‘Dm’]
Chord Progression Analysis
Here are the roman numerals and full chord names for the verse:
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C Major (I),
F Major / C (IV / I),
C Major (I),
F Major / C (IV / I),
C Major (I),
F Major/ A (IV / vi),
G Major/B (V / vii),
C Major (I),
F Major / C (IV / I),
C Major (I),
F Major / C (IV / I),
C Major (I),
F Major/ A (IV / vi),
G Major (V),
F Major (IV),
E Minor 7 (iii7),
A Minor 7 (vi7),
D Major / F# (Borrowed chord from G Major, V/V),
D Minor 7 (ii7),
E Dominant 7 (Borrowed chord from A minor, V/vi),
A Minor (vi),
G Dominant 7 (V7),
C Major (I),
F Major (IV),
C Major (I),
F Major (IV),
C Major (I),
G Major (V),
F Major (IV),
C Major / E (I / iii),
D Minor (ii)
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Similar Chord Progressions
Billy Joel, another iconic piano man, has several songs with intricate chord progressions – an example is “New York State of Mind” which, like “Tiny Dancer,” makes use of borrowed chords and secondary dominants.
Another artist who uses a complex tapestry of chords is Paul McCartney, particularly in his Beatles years. For instance, the song “Let It Be” has a progression that shares similarities with “Tiny Dancer.”
Note, the chord progressions of these songs, while similar, aren’t exactly the same due to the individual styles of the respective artists.
Musical Analysis
Most of the chord progression occurs in the key of C major as suggested by the recurrent use of tonic (I – C Major) and subdominant (IV – F Major). There is a significant usage of inversions which adds tonal color and interesting movement. The progression IV/vi, V/vii, and IV/I literally step up the bass note while maintaining the melodic progression in the treble.
The D Major/F#, a secondary dominant, is a borrowed chord from the key of G Major and is used to create a temporary modulation to heighten musical tension. Another borrowed chord is the E7 which is from the key of A minor.
Overall Analysis
The verse of “Tiny Dancer” by Elton John is generally in the key of C major (with some temporary modulations) and features a varied and interesting chord progression that is indicative of Elton John’s complex, piano-driven musical style.
Style Analysis
Elton John is known for his highly expressive piano style which involves intricate chordal structures and varied harmonic progressions. This chord progression reflects that with its use of secondary dominants, borrowed chords, and chord inversions, all contributing to a dynamic and interesting aural landscape that is distinctly ‘Elton John.’
What are the chords in: Elton John – Tiny Dancer – Verse 2?
[‘C’, ‘F/C’, ‘C’, ‘F/C’, ‘C’, ‘F/A’, ‘G/B’, ‘C’, ‘F/C’, ‘C’, ‘F/C’, ‘C’, ‘F/A’, ‘G’, ‘F’, ‘Em7’, ‘Am7’, ‘D/F#’, ‘Dm7’, ‘E7’, ‘Am’, ‘G7’, ‘C’, ‘F’, ‘C’, ‘F’, ‘C’, ‘G’, ‘F’, ‘C/E’, ‘Dm’]
