Grover Washington Jr. – Just The Two Of Us – Verse 2
Just The Two Of Us < All Analyses
Chord Progression
[‘Cmaj7’, ‘B7’, ‘Em7’, ‘Dm7’, ‘G7’, ‘Cmaj7’, ‘B7’, ‘Em7’, ‘Cmaj7’, ‘B7’, ‘Em7’, ‘Dm7’, ‘G7’, ‘Cmaj7’, ‘B7’, ‘Em7’]
Chord Progression Analysis
Here’s the Verse 2 chord progression with full chord names and roman numerals:
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C Major Seventh (♭VI)
B Dominant Seventh (V)
E Minor Seventh (i)
D Minor Seventh (♭VII)
G Dominant Seventh (♭III)
C Major Seventh (♭VI)
B Dominant Seventh (V)
E Minor Seventh (i)
C Major Seventh (♭VI)
B Dominant Seventh (V)
E Minor Seventh (i)
D Minor Seventh (♭VII)
G Dominant Seventh (♭III)
C Major Seventh (♭VI)
B Dominant Seventh (V)
E Minor Seventh (i)
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In this context, the chords C Major Seventh and D Minor Seventh can be considered borrowed chords.
Similar Chord Progressions
While it’s difficult to find an exact match, some songs carry similar chords or themes including “My Cherie Amour” by Stevie Wonder, which contains a vi V ii progression in its chorus similar to the “Just The Two Of Us” verse progression, and “At Last” by Etta James follows a similar harmonic pattern with the I-VI-II-V progression in its key verse sections. Stevie Wonder’s song “Isn’t She Lovely” also has a similar jazz-inflected sound, panache, and switch from minor to major chords.
Musical Analysis
This chord progression contributes tremendously to the song’s soulful and slightly melancholic flavor. The transition from the B Dominant Seventh to E Minor Seventh forms a classic V-i harmonic progression, which creates the strong sense of resolution familiar to all genres of western music. However, the frequent employment of borrowed chords from the parallel major (particularly C Major Seventh and D Minor Seventh) brings bright color, which further enriches the harmonic texture.
Overall Analysis
“Just The Two Of Us” by Grover Washington Jr. is a soulful song with a distinct R&B and smooth jazz style. The song is in the key of E minor during the verses, but frequently borrows chords from the parallel major, E major, delivering a rich harmony that is both pleasing and surprising to the ear.
Style Analysis
Given its elegant mixture of soul, R&B, and jazz elements, the song has a very unique yet universal appeal. The jazzy vibe is unmistakable, especially due to the frequent use of 7th chords and chord extensions, adding sophistication and complexity to the music. The song’s stripped-down instrumentation allows listeners to focus on the rich harmonic and melodic content instead.
What are the chords in: Grover Washington Jr. – Just The Two Of Us – Verse 2?
[‘Cmaj7’, ‘B7’, ‘Em7’, ‘Dm7’, ‘G7’, ‘Cmaj7’, ‘B7’, ‘Em7’, ‘Cmaj7’, ‘B7’, ‘Em7’, ‘Dm7’, ‘G7’, ‘Cmaj7’, ‘B7’, ‘Em7’]
