Music Theory Alchemy

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Queen’s ‘Don’t Stop Me Now’ contains a rich mixture of chord progressions, which is typical of the band’s complex songwriting. The outro of the song makes use of the F, F7, Bb, and Gm7 chords. This progression is in the key of F Major, with F being the tonic (I), F7 being the dominant 7th (V7), Bb being the subdominant (IV) and Gm7 being the submediant 7th (vi7). The Bb chord is a borrowed chord from the parallel minor key (F Minor) and the usage of F7 serves to add a level of tension before resolving to the Bb.

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.

“Riptide” by Vance Joy is in the key of C major. The chord progression is a repeated sequence of Am, G, C and Fmaj7, with the Fmaj7 being a borrowed chord from the parallel minor, C minor. Given that the majority of the song follows this pattern, it’s simple yet effective, providing a catchy and persistent structure to the song.

“I Am The Walrus” is a composition by The Beatles in which the song varies in key and progressive elements, with fascinating uses of borrowed chords from parallel modes and chromatic bass motion. The melody resides predominantly within a pentatonic framework, frequently rotating around subversions. The Bridge section beautifully showcases Beatles’ experimentation with descending chord progression built around chromatic movement.

“Girl” by The Beatles is a classic example of their use of chromatic harmony and modal interchange. The chord progression shows complexity in both its chord choices and structure, a distinguishing feature in much of their music. By closely examining this piece, we can better understand The Beatles’ harmonic technique where they blend the techniques of classical music (like chromaticism and harmonic diversity) with pop songwriting.

Queen – Dont Stop Me Now – Bridge

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Chord Progression

[‘F’, ‘F7’, ‘Bb’, ‘Gm7’, ‘D7’, ‘Gm’, ‘D7’, ‘Gm’, ‘Gm7’, ‘F/A’, ‘Bb’, ‘Bdim’, ‘C’]

Chord Progression Analysis

“`
F (‘I’)
F7 (‘V7/IV’)
Bb (‘IV’)
Gm7 (‘ii7’)
D7 (‘V7/V’)
Gm (‘ii’)
D7 (‘V7/V’)
Gm (‘ii’)
Gm7 (‘ii7’)
F/A (‘I6’)
Bb (‘IV’)
Bdim (‘vii°/V’)
C (‘V’)
“`

Similar Chord Progressions

You’ll find similar chord structures in Billy Joel’s “New York State of Mind”. The usage of I-ii-V progressions, secondary dominants, and borrowed chords to create a jazzy and rich texture align with the mood of Queen’s bridge in “Don’t Stop Me Now”.
“`
Cmaj7 (‘I’)
Bm7 (‘ii7’)
E7 (‘V7/VI’)
Am (‘VI’)
D7 (‘V7/V’)
Gm7 (‘ii’)
C7 (‘V7/IV’)
Fmaj7 (‘IV’)
Am/E (‘VI6’)
Dm7 (‘ii7’)
G7 (‘V7’)
Cmaj7 (‘I’)
“`

Musical Analysis

Queen creates a jazzy, upbeat atmosphere by incorporating harmony that’s common in jazz and popular music, such as II-V-I progressions (D7-Gm-C) and the use of dominant sevenths (F7, D7) and minor sevenths (Gm7). The use of borrowed chords, specifically the secondary dominants (like the V7/IV=F7, and the V7/V=D7), adds a tension and resolution that helps to propel the progression forward. Furthermore, the Bdim, a diminished vii from the key of G minor (V of C), is used as a leading tone into C, creating a smooth modulation.

Overall Analysis

This particular section is mostly based in the key of F major and highlights Freddie Mercury’s love for moving from the classical I-ii-V progression to the jazz-inspired I-IV-ii-V, often followed by a jazzy II-V-I. In this part of the song, you will find some interesting use of borrowed chords and leading tones, contributing to the chromaticism that enriches the progression.

Style Analysis

This progression showcases the typical Queen sound: a blending of rock, pop, and classical styles with a touch of jazz thrown in, often revolving around major keys with an occasional surprise from borrowed chords. This creates a catchy and memorable hook, characteristic of Queen’s style.

Chords in the Bridge section of Dont Stop Me Now by Queen are:

[‘F’, ‘F7’, ‘Bb’, ‘Gm7’, ‘D7’, ‘Gm’, ‘D7’, ‘Gm’, ‘Gm7’, ‘F/A’, ‘Bb’, ‘Bdim’, ‘C’]