The Beach Boys – God Only Knows – Outro
God Only Knows < All Analyses
Chord Progression
[‘A’, ‘E/G#’, ‘F#m7’, ‘E/G#’]
Chord Progression Analysis
“`
– A (I)
– E/G# (V/vi)
– F#m7 (vi7)
– E/G# (V/vi)
“`
borrowed chords:
“`
E/G# (V/vi)
“`
Similar Chord Progressions
“Here, There and Everywhere” – The Beatles
Chord progression:
“`
‘G’ (I),
‘B/G’ (III/IV),
Am7 (ii7),
‘B/G’ (III/IV)
“`
“Can’t Help Falling in Love” – Elvis Presley
Chord progression:
“`
‘D’ (I),
‘B/D#’ (IV/V),
‘Em7’ (ii7),
‘B/D#’ (IV/V)
“`
Both of these songs by other artists feature similar use of inversions and seventh chords to create distinctive progressions. While each song is distinctive, they share common elements with the innovative sound of “God Only Knows”.
Musical Analysis
The outro begins with the A chord which is the tonic of the key the song is in (A major). The ‘E/G#’ is a first inversion dominant of the vi chord (F#m) and is also a borrowed chord. The ‘F#m7’ is just the vi chord with the added seventh. Again, we have the E/G# (V/vi), and this alternation creates a tension-like resolution fashion and adds an interesting twist to the traditional pattern of chordal shifts.
Overall Analysis
“God Only Knows” by The Beach Boys is one of their most well-known pieces and a primary example of the sophisticated harmonic writing characteristic of the group’s 1966 “Pet Sounds” record. This piece is particularly designed in the key of A major. The Outro of the song includes the following chords: ‘A’, ‘E/G#’, ‘F#m7’, ‘E/G#’ and many other chords throughout the song with complex chord changes that might not be typical in a pop song, but are characteristic of the band’s sound.
Style Analysis
The Beach Boys were known for their sophisticated, complex harmonies that pushed the boundaries of popular music in their era. One of the groundbreaking aspects of their work was their use of non-traditional chords and progressions in their music. This outro is one such example – it uses non-diatonic, borrowed chords to create a sound that is uniquely Beach Boys.
What are the chords in: The Beach Boys – God Only Knows – Outro?
[‘A’, ‘E/G#’, ‘F#m7’, ‘E/G#’]
