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Related Music Theory Alchemy

The chord progression in the famous outro of Queen’s ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ illustrates the eccentricity Queen was known for throughout their discography. This section consists of bold modulations, chromatic chord progressions, and borrowed chords, showing off Freddie Mercury’s compositional sophistication and creativity. It’s evident that Mercury’s influence for this song came from various musical genres, including progressive rock, classical, and operatic music.

“Good Old Fashioned Lover Boy” by Queen from the album “A Night at the Opera” is essentially written in the key of C major. The song includes an intricate and quite peculiar chord progression full of chromatic and borrowed chords, highly characteristic of Queen’s eccentric and unique style of songwriting. In particular, Freddie Mercury, the primary songwriter, often incorporated complex harmonic structures from classical music into their rock/pop context.

The complexity and richness of the harmonics is among the aspects that make Queen’s songs stand out and, in this specific track, it contributes to the song’s upbeat yet nostalgic feel.

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.

“Purple Haze” by Jimi Hendrix is a classic example of psychedelic rock and blues-infused music from the late 1960s. This particular chord progression, found in Verse 2, demonstrates Hendrix’s innovative approach to harmony and showcases his integration of blues and rock influences.

Chord Progression Analysis (Roman Numerals):
E7#9 (I), G (bIII), A (IV), E (I)

Borrowed Chord:
`G (bIII)` – This chord is borrowed from the parallel minor key of E minor.

“Rocket Man” by Elton John, released in 1972, is a melodic and harmonically sophisticated example of his pop/rock style. The piece is in the key of G, and the chord progression of Verse 2 introduces some harmonies that exploit john’s expertise in using extended and altered chords, which lend colorfulness and a feel of departure and return. The use of slash chords like G/B and D/F# creates a descending bass line that is very characteristic of pop and rock music, creating a sense of melodic movement within the chords themselves. Verse 2 is navigated skillfully between simplistic and complex harmonies.

Queen – Bohemian Rhapsody – Verse 2

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Chord Progression

[‘Bb’, ‘Gm’, ‘Cm’, ‘Cm7’, ‘F7’, ‘Bb’, ‘Gm’, ‘Cm’, ‘Eb/Cb’, ‘Eb/Bb’, ‘Am7b5’, ‘Abmaj7’, ‘Eb/G’]

Chord Progression Analysis

The Chord progression is:

“`
Bb Major (I),
G minor (vi),
C minor (ii),
C minor 7 (ii7),
F7 (V7),
Bb Major (I),
G minor (vi),
C minor (ii),
Eb/Cb (Neapolitan sixth),
Eb/Bb (IV64),
A half-diminished 7 (viiø7),
Ab Major 7 (bVII7)
^ (Borrowed from parallel minor),
Eb/G (IV6)
“`

Similar Chord Progressions

Supertramp’s “School” and “Rudy” demonstrate similarly complex, genre-blending characteristics with their respective chord progressions, as do The Beatles’ “I Want You (She’s So Heavy)” and “Strawberry Fields Forever.” While these songs may not mirror Queen’s progression note for note, they employ comparable harmonic complexities, modulations, and mixtures, which suggest a comparable stylistic affinity.

Musical Analysis

The progression begins with an oscillating pattern between Bb Major and G minor (I – vi), providing a rather standard progression in pop/rock. Adding Cm and Cm7 (ii and ii7) to this pattern introduces a bit of tension and complexity, before it resolves on F7, the dominant of the key, which segues back to Bb Major (I). The Eb/Cb is a Neapolitan sixth chord, a chord borrowed from the minor key and which is often used to add tension and unpredictability. The Am7b5 is a half-diminished seventh chord leading to the surprising AbMaj7, which is borrowed from the parallel minor. The Eb/G is the IV chord in the first inversion, providing a smooth transition to the next section.

Overall Analysis

“Bohemian Rhapsody” is a multi-genre masterpiece that incorporates elements of ballad, opera, and hard rock, showcasing Queen’s versatility and musical potential. The song is mainly in the key of Bb major, but it aggressively utilizes modulations, chromaticism, borrowed chords, and modally mixed chords. The given chord progression is from the verse that follows the opera section, here Queen offers an unusual, nuanced chord progression that complements the surrounding sections.

Style Analysis

“Bohemian Rhapsody” is known for its eclectic mixture of styles, including progressive rock, a capella, hard rock, and opera. The chord progression you’ve highlighted is no exception and demonstrates a fusion of various stylistic elements. The harmonic twists and turns in the progression, such as the Neapolitan sixth chord and the chromatic shift to AbMaj7, are elements often associated with the progressive rock genre and more specifically, Queen’s unique blend of rock, classical, and opera. The complex voicings also add to the overall sense of flamboyance and grandeur, which reflects Queen’s “larger than life” stage presence.

Chords in the Verse 2 section of Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen are:

[‘Bb’, ‘Gm’, ‘Cm’, ‘Cm7’, ‘F7’, ‘Bb’, ‘Gm’, ‘Cm’, ‘Eb/Cb’, ‘Eb/Bb’, ‘Am7b5’, ‘Abmaj7’, ‘Eb/G’]