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“Bohemian Rhapsody”, composed by Queen, is a powerful anthem that merges elements of rock, opera, and progressive music. The chord progression demonstrates a sophisticated understanding of voice leading and functional harmony, contributing to its distinctive sound. Famous for its key changes and thematic progressions, the composition is often cited as an example of Freddie Mercury’s musical genius.

“Love of My Life” is a stunning ballad written by Freddie Mercury of Queen. The song is written in the key of A major and is primarily played on piano. It features a sophisticated and somewhat unconventional chord progression that serves as the foundation for Mercury’s versatile vocal performance. It’s arguably one of Queen’s more classical-influenced pieces and makes use of borrowed chord techniques frequently, which are commonly associated with the band’s flirtation with different musical styles, including rock, classical, and opera.

“Sorry Seems to Be The Hardest Word” is in the key of E minor and shifts to the relative major (G major) at various points, it demonstrates Elton John’s mastery of the line between major and minor keys. It’s a melancholic song with a moderate tempo. The use of both minor and major chords in Elton John’s progression signifies the tension and release in the song’s melody and lyrics.

“Glory Box” by Portishead from the album Dummy (1994) presents a haunting and somewhat melancholy ambience commonly found in their trademark trip-hop style. This song, in particular, draws from a palette of jazz-influenced harmony. The chords used, their extensions, and inversions, conjure complexity beyond basic triadic harmony. The chord progression listed appears to be in the key of D minor and employs common jazz techniques like ii-V-I progressions and usage of the half-diminished chord.

“Today” by The Smashing Pumpkins is in E minor key. The song is from the album Siamese Dream, which most perfectly represents the band’s sound leaning heavily on crunchy guitars and raw power chords. Your requested verse only includes the chord progression ‘Em’, ‘G’, ‘B’ repeated 4 times.

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’]