Music Theory Alchemy

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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.

Killer Queen’ is one of Queen’s signature songs, abounding with Freddie Mercury’s flamboyant melodic invention, clever harmonies, and theatrical presentation. Its chorus in particular uses an array of chords to create a sophisticated and fluid progression. Before embarking on a note-by-note analysis, we can note that it principally operates in the key of G Major and involves a number of borrowed and secondary chords that bring intrigue and depth to the progression.

“Island in the Sun” by Weezer is in the key of G major and features a simple yet catchy chord progression in its outro. The progression is characterized by its bright, uplifting sound and follows a common pop/rock formula. It also has a nostalgic, summery feel, making it a perfect fit for the song’s title and theme.

The chord progression “[‘Em’, ‘Am’, ‘D’]” from the outro of Weezer’s “The Good Life” is a simple, yet effective progression in the key of E minor. It demonstrates a melancholic feel common to alternative rock and power-pop music genres of the 1990s. The chords in this progression are borrowed from the E natural minor scale.

The song “Something” by The Beatles has a key center in C major. However, it modulates from time to time using a variety of techniques including secondary dominance and borrowed chords. It is a fine example of George Harrison’s complex songwriting and his adroitness at seamlessly weaving together uncommon chord progressions. Harrison employs an array of chords to inject a rich, nuanced musical quality to the song.

Queen – Dont Stop Me Now – Outro

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Chord Progression

[‘F’, ‘F7’, ‘Bb’, ‘Gm7’]

Chord Progression Analysis

– F Major (I)
– F Dominant 7 (V7)
– Bb Major (IV)
– G Minor 7 (vi7)

Similar Chord Progressions

The Beach Boys’ ‘God Only Knows’ certain sections of the song follow a similar progression:

– A Major (I)
– A Dominant 7 (V7)
– D Major (IV)
– F# Minor 7 (vi7)

Radiohead’s ‘Paranoid Android’ also uses a similar progression:

– G Major (I)
– G Dominant 7 (V7)
– C Major (IV)
– E Minor 7 (vi7)

Musical Analysis

The chord progression for the outro combines a traditional I-V7-IV sequence – a common progression in many popular music genres, particularly rock. The usage of Gm7 brings a slight melodic melancholy to the end of the sequence. The movement from F7 to Bb works as a perfect 4th interval progression, resulting in the feeling of resolution; this is a key characteristic of blues and jazz progressions.

Overall Analysis

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.

Style Analysis

This progression is indicative of Queen’s songwriting style, showcasing their traditional rock roots infused with elements of jazz and blues. This is evident in the F7 resolution to Bb, a common blues/jazz technique. Meanwhile, the usage of Gm7 is indicative of Brian May’s fondness for complex harmonies and unconventional chord choices.

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

[‘F’, ‘F7’, ‘Bb’, ‘Gm7’]