Elton John – Your Song – Chorus
Your Song < All Analyses
Chord Progression
[‘A/C#’, ‘Bm’, ‘Em7’, ‘G’, ‘A/C#’, ‘Bm’, ‘Em’, ‘G’, ‘Bm’, ‘Bm/A’, ‘Bm/G#’, ‘G6’, ‘D’, ‘Em’, ‘G’, ‘A’, ‘Bm’, ‘Bm/A’, ‘Bm/G#’, ‘G6’, ‘D/F#’, ‘Em’, ‘G’, ‘D’, ‘G/D’, ‘A/D’, ‘G/D’, ‘D’]
Chord Progression Analysis
The full list of chords and their roman numerals are as follows:
“`
A/C# (V6),
Bm (vi),
Em7 (ii7),
G (IV),
A/C# (V6),
Bm (vi),
Em (ii),
G (IV),
Bm (vi),
Bm/A (vi6),
Bm/G# (vi6/#5),
G6 (IVadd6),
D (I),
Em (ii),
G (IV),
A (V),
Bm (vi),
Bm/A (vi6),
Bm/G# (vi6/#5),
G6 (IVadd6),
D/F# (I6),
Em (ii),
G (IV),
D (I),
G/D (IV6),
A/D (V6),
G/D (IV6),
D (I)
“`
Similar Chord Progressions
Billy Joel’s “Just the Way You Are” exhibits a similar approach to chord progression. The chords provided in one line with roman numeral analysis would look something like this:
“`
D (I), Gmaj7 (IVmaj7), F#m (iii), Bm (vi), Em (ii), A (V), D (I), Gmaj7 (IVmaj7), F#m (iii), Bm (vi), Em (ii), A (V), D (I).
“`
Another similar progression can be seen in Carole King’s “You’ve Got a Friend”, with a slight twist in the key of A Major:
“`
A (I), Em/G (v6), D (IV), Bm (ii), F#m (vi), E (V), A (I).
“`
In both these cases, the songwriters use predominantly diatonic chords, similar to Elton John, and lean into common cadences such as VI – V and ii – V to solidify the tonal center.
Musical Analysis
The progression contains a lot of diatonic chords, including I, ii, IV, V, vi, and their inversions or variations. This helps establish D as the tonic while allowing for dynamic movement between chords.
Regarding non-diatonic chords, Bm/G# is a borrowed chord from the parallel minor, in this case, D minor. This is a common device used in pop and rock music and the baroque technique of changing the bass note under sustained chords is used with the Bm, Bm/A, Bm/G# sequence.
Overall Analysis
Your Song, like many of Elton John’s pieces, is known for its prominent piano accompaniment and strong melodic hooks. The song is in the key of D Major, which is why the frequent return to the D Major chord provides the sense of home and finality in the piece.
Style Analysis
“Your Song” highlights Elton John’s notable use of melodic and harmonic hooks to draw listeners in. Despite the relatively complex chord progressions, the song remains very accessible and singable, a characteristic of many of his most famous works.
What are the chords in: Elton John – Your Song – Chorus?
[‘A/C#’, ‘Bm’, ‘Em7’, ‘G’, ‘A/C#’, ‘Bm’, ‘Em’, ‘G’, ‘Bm’, ‘Bm/A’, ‘Bm/G#’, ‘G6’, ‘D’, ‘Em’, ‘G’, ‘A’, ‘Bm’, ‘Bm/A’, ‘Bm/G#’, ‘G6’, ‘D/F#’, ‘Em’, ‘G’, ‘D’, ‘G/D’, ‘A/D’, ‘G/D’, ‘D’]
