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Related Music Theory Alchemy

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.

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.

“Say It Ain’t So” by Weezer is an alternative rock song with a sense of melancholy in the verse and a catchy, anthemic chorus. The verse chords, which you provided, create a strong sense of movement and harmonic interest by using borrowed chords and a combination of diatonic and chromatic chord progressions.

The chord progression in the verse of “Time To Pretend” by MGMT is primarily built around the key of D major. It features a simple and repetitive structure, with some variations. The chords used are mainly triads and simple extensions, with the occasional use of suspended chords (Dsus2) to create tension and release. The progression showcases the band’s ability to create an engaging and immersive soundscape, while keeping the harmony relatively simple.

“Eight Days A Week” by The Beatles, released in 1965, is renowned for its catchy melodic phrases, tight harmonies, and distinctive use of chords. The song is firmly rooted in the key of D major, but there is an interesting use of borrowed chords.

Verse 2

Queen – Dont Stop Me Now – Verse 2

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Chord Progression

[‘F’, ‘Am’, ‘Dm’, ‘Gm’, ‘C’, ‘F’, ‘Am’, ‘Dm’, ‘Gm’, ‘F/G’, ‘Gm7’, ‘C’, ‘Dm7/C’, ‘C7’, ‘F’, ‘F7’, ‘Bb’, ‘Gm7’, ‘D7’, ‘Gm’, ‘D7’, ‘Gm’, ‘Gm7’, ‘F/A’, ‘Bb’, ‘Bdim’, ‘C’]

Chord Progression Analysis

`F (I), Am (vi), Dm (ii), Gm (ii
in key of F, iv in key of D), C (V, secondary dominant), F (I), Am (vi), Dm (ii), Gm (iv in key of D), F/G (I with third in bass/V in key of C), Gm7 (ii7 in key of F), C (V), Dm7/C (ii7/5 of V), C7 (V7), F (I), F7 (I7), Bb (IV), Gm7 (ii7 in IV), D7 (V7 of ii in IV), Gm (ii in IV), D7 (V7 of ii in IV), Gm (ii in IV), Gm7 (ii7 in IV), F/A (I in first inversion), Bb (IV), Bdim (viio), C (V)`

Similar Chord Progressions

1. “Like a Rolling Stone” by Bob Dylan
`C (I), Dm (ii), Em (iii), F (IV), G (V), Am (vi)`

2.”Let it Be” by The Beatles
`C (I), G (V), Am (vi), F (IV), C (I), G (V), F (IV), C (I)`

These songs also use common pop progressions like I-V-vi-IV (like “Don’t Stop Me Now”) within their verses, albeit in a different key in the case of “Like a Rolling Stone”.

Musical Analysis

The progression starts with a classic I-vi-ii progression in F major. The Gm is a relative minor chord and could be viewed as the iv of D minor. The F/G is a first inversion of an F major triad, resulting in a smoother voice leading into the following Gm7 chord. Dm7/C creates tension for our ear as a secondary dominant (ii7/V), leading into the V7 (C7) chord, and resolving to the tonic (F major).

Overall Analysis

“Dont Stop Me Now” by Queen has a key of F major. The song takes you on a journey of a unique blend of chords and progression. Freddie Mercury and the entire band are known for their diverse songwriting abilities, apparent in ‘Don’t Stop Me Now’. The chord progression in Verse 2 hints a story-telling stalwart of pop music production – the major-to-relative-minor movement (I to vi), with some interesting additions of minor seven, major seven and diminished seventh chords, giving it a more sophisticated feel.

Style Analysis

Queen was known to experiment with the conventional “pop” music theory and often stepped out of the genre boundaries, blending rock with elements from classical music. “Don’t Stop Me Now” is considered a pop/rock song.

The pop aspect comes from the prominent use of common pop chord progressions like I-V-vi-IV. The rock feature is noticeable in the energetic, driving rhythms, pronounced guitar lines, and Freddie Mercury’s dynamic vocal performance. This mix of simple chords with a few unexpected twists represents Queen’s unique style.

Chords in the Verse 2 section of Dont Stop Me Now by Queen are:

[‘F’, ‘Am’, ‘Dm’, ‘Gm’, ‘C’, ‘F’, ‘Am’, ‘Dm’, ‘Gm’, ‘F/G’, ‘Gm7’, ‘C’, ‘Dm7/C’, ‘C7’, ‘F’, ‘F7’, ‘Bb’, ‘Gm7’, ‘D7’, ‘Gm’, ‘D7’, ‘Gm’, ‘Gm7’, ‘F/A’, ‘Bb’, ‘Bdim’, ‘C’]