What's the chord progression of this song?

[Bippo]

Maybe we can make this a thread where people just pop in and post some songs they are struggling with figuring what the heck is going on in the harmony department, and have people trying their best shots

Anyway, put all scandals aside, I really think R.Kelly is an extraordinary producer and songwriter, and I've been studying some of his songs by ear lately.

However, there are two songs that I really have hard time with because there are so many layers going on, and some chord extensions make me wonder if I got it right at all.

Fristly, there's this song:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mgmme46OYAY

From what I figured out it's in the scale of A Major, and it's the same chord progression in loop:
ii7 - iii7 - IV7 - iii7
which is: bm7, c#m7, Dmaj7, c#m7

but I'm not 100 percent if I'm accurate.

The next one is this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9jr-7_N_0ek

I think it's also in the scale of A Major, with the main progression starts with:
f#m7 - c#m7 Dmaj7

But then I just lost track of it.

Anyway, any tips and hints will be much appreciated, and if we can make this a thread like "Now Playing" but more useful where people constantly post some songs and get guidance, it may be quite interesting to see where this thread will go over time

[jancivil]

this song:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mgmme46OYAY

From what I figured out it's in the scale of A Major, and it's the same chord progression in loop:
ii7 - iii7 - IV7 - iii7

I bailed but I heard two sonorities back and forth. For a while. The first one is the I chord. The second one is the I chord, fifth in the bass. The guitar does a typical move, F#-slid down to=E, 6 to 5 over the I7. Major key, major 7th on the I. I get bored, someone else may want to stick with it. But you're stating the first chord you hear as ii7? The D in that chord def isn't in the first two 'chords' and would clash. If you mean something later, I don't know but that's what I get from your post.

[Bippo]

I think from 0:23 you can hear the chords more clearly.
The first chord imho is either ii7 (bm7) or it can be IV6 (D6)...but it doesn't sound to me like the I chord (which suppose to be Amaj).

You are accurate with the guitar lick, though.

[jancivil]

The first chord does have a B in it; it's more of a suspension of I than ii. The F# seems to give you the impression of a chord. It does feel like subdominant to tonic but the bass is A to E.

The D of a ii7 chord; sing that D over the first chord.
My impression is there are suspended sorts of things all over which you want to decide on chords to explain. I think you're not going to make them triadic in that sense.

[Bippo]

Hm...I really don't think it can be I chord...and of course no triadic chords in there.
The vocal melody is definitely in A Major pentatonic, and it sits well on top of bm7 (or maybe D6) as the opening chord...but it really doesn't sound like the I chord is anywhere in the song.

Any suggestions for the second song ?

[telecode]

i dont know. for the first one i am just hearing C#min7 Emaj Dmaj Emaj

[jancivil]

Yeah, no; from the very beginning, the F# to E and B to A are a suspension over what is essentially I and it ends up I before it goes to I in second inversion.
You need to sing chord parts over it, I don't know what you're doing but sing the D over the first 'chord' and see the extent of the congruity or not; and NB, the F# moves to E before the chord changes. This does not amount to D9, or Bsus4 or 11. Now, over that vamp sing A to E for each change as though the bass line, and you may come into the light on this. You need to find the root of the chords first. At first it seems ambiguous, a IV to I (or ii to I) impression but the bass is B-A, E.

[jancivil]

but it really doesn't sound like the I chord is anywhere in the song.

Any suggestions for the second song ?

No, it's too boring and if you going to not find I anywhere this is a waste of time already. No offense intended, it's really so rooted in I and you be trippin'

[Bippo]

I think theres something you missing there, heres my recording of the
ii7 - iii7 - IV7 - iii7 I hear there:

https://instaud.io/3riQ

And srsly, I don't see the point of replying "it's too boring", just dont bother lol.

[telecode]

I think theres something you missing there, heres my recording of the
ii7 - iii7 - IV7 - iii7 I hear there:

https://instaud.io/3riQ

And srsly, I don't see the point of replying "it's too boring", just dont bother lol.

that body calling tune is a real good one. i never heard it before. r kelly, for all his personal issues, is a master of the genre.

[Bippo]

I think theres something you missing there, heres my recording of the
ii7 - iii7 - IV7 - iii7 I hear there:

https://instaud.io/3riQ

And srsly, I don't see the point of replying "it's too boring", just dont bother lol.

that body calling tune is a real good one. i never heard it before. r kelly, for all his personal issues, is a master of the genre.

Yes,he's outstanding.
Apparently, he can also make some solid rock/country tunes when he wants to :

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pb-RZnL6Sh4

[telecode]

I think theres something you missing there, heres my recording of the
ii7 - iii7 - IV7 - iii7 I hear there:

https://instaud.io/3riQ

And srsly, I don't see the point of replying "it's too boring", just dont bother lol.

that body calling tune is a real good one. i never heard it before. r kelly, for all his personal issues, is a master of the genre.

Yes,he's outstanding.
Apparently, he can also make some solid rock/country tunes when he wants to :

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pb-RZnL6Sh4

I think for that body tune you got to figure out what notes the bass is playing. The bass arrangement is what makes the track IMO.

[jancivil]

And srsly, I don't see the point of replying "it's too boring", just dont bother lol.

I'm giving you a hint this is work for free, for one thing. As a point of fact, I did bother.
Don't worry about it happening again, as much help as you do clearly need.

[drdriller]

https://www.musicnotes.com/sheetmusic/m ... =MN0026749

(the file preview is tiny but you can read the chord)

[CinningBao]

Oh yes, I love this game, and I love R Kelly.

That first song is made up of these parts:

- on the right an electric piano playing a repeating part which basically Amaj to Emaj
- that little guitar lick on the down beat sliding up a tone from E+A to F#+B and back down
- another electric piano on the left just playing a two note C#+E constantly
- every now and then pads playing an E in different octaves
- THE BASS - this is what is making you think there's a C#m7 or E at the end, or in the middle - there isn't; if you listen the bass doesn't ever actually hit a note on the second or fourth "chords changes" - it's just implied. This is why I love this guy's production and writing - the best emotional expression is not what you hear is played; it's what you hear which _isn't_ played. It's just a well positioned

That 'official' score was probably transcribed by someone who was nowhere near the recording studio on the day. Their job was to simplify the song so it can be played by two hands and sung by a voice. That's what the regular consumer (looking for musical scores) wants, and always has done since before recordings were the next big thing.

Everyone's hearing these minor and major 7ths, when in fact that's not what was played or recorded - those chords are just a simplification of a collection of simple hooks all playing at the same time.

My massive over-simplification of it would be

A/B (A major over B bass)
E (no bass note or choose chord root)
A/D
E