Embedded Files
Root-Position: V7/x
Root-Position: V7/x
Other applied chords, including V/ and V7/ of ii, iii, IV, and vi.
16) Green Day, “Stray Heart,” verse 1
From iDos! (2012), written by Billie Joe Armstrong, Mike Dirnt, and Tré Cool
Audio: YouTube (0:05–0:25)
E G# C#m
I lost my way oh baby this stray heart
A E
Went to another
A B
Can you recover baby
E G# C#m
Oh you're the only one that I'm dreamin' of
A E
Your precious heart
A B G#m
Was torn apart by me and you
17) Brandie Carlile, “Right on Time,” chorus
From In These Silent Days (2021), written by Brandi Carlile, Dave Cobb, Phil Hanseroth, and Tim Hanseroth
Audio: YouTube (1:00–1:27)
G
It's not too late
G7 C B7 Em
Either way, I lose you in these silent days
G
It wasn't right
D D7/C G
But it was right on time
18) OK Go, “What To Do,” chorus
From OK Go (2002), written by Damian Kulash
Audio: YouTube (0:36–1:04)
C C7
What to doooooo?
F Fm Dm7 G
Sweetheart, you'll find mediocre people do exceptional things all the time.
C C7 F Fm
Oh, the ruin will do in your talented mind
Dm7 G
could've been a genius if you'd had an axe to grind.
19) Taeyang, “눈, 코, 입” (Eyes, Nose, Lips), chorus
From Rise (Romanized) (2014), written by Teddy Park and Taeyang
Audio: YouTube (1:00–1:31)
C
Neoui nun, ko, ip
E
Nal manjideon ne songil
Am C/G
Jageun sontopkkaji da
F Fm
Yeojeonhi neol neukkil su itjiman
C
Kkeojin bulkkotcheoreom
E
Tadeureo ga beorin
Am C/G
Uri sarang modu da
F Neomu apeujiman ijen neol
Fm
Chueogira bureulge
Translation (from Genius lyrics)
Your eyes, nose, lips
Your touch that used to touch me
To the ends of your fingertips, I can still feel you
But like a burnt out flame
Burnt and destroyed, all of our love
It hurts so much, but now I'll call you a memory
(I'll call you a memory)
20) Billie Eilish, “Happier Than Ever,” verse
From Happier Than Ever (2021), written by Billie Eilish & FINNEAS
Audio: YouTube (0:04–0:51)
Cadd9
When I'm away from you
E7
I'm happier than ever
Am
Wish I could explain it better
Dm7 G
I wish it wasn't true, mmm
Cadd9
Give me a day or two
E7
To think of something clever
Am
To write myself a letter
Dm7 G
To tell me what to do, mm-mm
24) Stevie Wonder, “Isn't She Lovely,” verse 1
From Songs in the Key of Life (1976), written by Stevie Wonder
Audio: YouTube (0:06–0:38)
Harmonic Rhythm:
| C#m7 | F#9 | B11 | E | (x2)
|Amaj7 | G#7 | C#m7| F#9 | B11 | B11| E|
C#m7 F#9
Isn't she lovely?
B11 E
Isn't she wonderful?
C#m7 F#9
Isn't she precious?
B11 E
Less than one minute old
Amaj7 G#7
I never thought through love, we'd be
C#m7 F#9
Making one as lovely as she
B11 E
But isn't she lovely, made from love?
A F#7
I know I have good judgment, I know I have good taste
Bm
It's funny and it's ironic that only I feel that way
D D/C#
I promise 'em that you're different and everyone makes mistakes
E
But just don't
A F#7
I heard that you're an actor, so act like a stand-up guy
Bm
Whatever devil's inside you, don't let him out tonight
D D/C#
I tell them it's just your culture, and everyone rolls their eyes
E
Yeah, I know. All I'm asking, baby . . .
26) Elton John & Brandi Carlile, “Who Believes in Angels?,” verse 1
From Who Believes in Angels (2025), written by watt, Bernie Taupin, Brandi Carlile, and Elton John
Audio: YouTube (0:24–1:13)
Harmonic Rhythm:
| G | G7 | C | G |
| E7 | E7 | Am | Am |
| D | D | C | C |
G G7
You don't need to laugh so hard
C G
You don't have to wear a tie
E7 Am
Sometimes honest is being caught inside a lie
D C
And I have been there, I have been there
G G7 C
If I'd lived an easy life, would I still choose you?
G
Would I fall on the same knife?
E7 Am
A rodeo queen breathing fire into the night
D C
I have been there, man I've been there
27) Al Green, “How Can You Mend a Broken Heart,” verse 1
From Let's Stay Together (1972), written by Maurice Gibb, Robin Gibb, and Barry Gibb
Audio: YouTube (0:39–1:18)
Harmonic Rhythm:
| E | Emaj7 | F#m7 | E |
| G# | C#m | F# | B |
E
I can think of younger days
Emaj7
when living for my life
F#m7 E
Was everything a man could want to do
G# C#m
I could never see tomorrow
F# B
But I was never told about the sorrow
28) Fanny, “A Little While Later,” verse 1
From Charity Ball (1971), written by Nickey Barclay
Audio: YouTube (0:00–0:27)
Harmonic Rhythm:
| D A/C | Bm7 E7 A . | G F# | Bm |
| D A/C | Bm7 E7 A . |Bm E | D/A A . . |
D A/C Bm7 E7 A
A little while later we drifted off to sleep
G F# Bm
Still puzzled by our conversation
D A/C
Been a long time talking
Bm7 E7 A
I was getting in too deep
Bm E D/A A
Maybe just too far above my station
29) Susana Baca, “Maria Lando,” refrain
From Afro-Peruvian Classics: The Soul of Black Peru (1995), written by Chabuca Granda
Audio: YouTube (3:56–4:35)
Harmonic Rhythm:
| Bm | G7 | F# | F# |
| Em7 | A7 | D∆7 | D∆7 |
| G7 | C#7 | F# | F# |
| G | C#7 | F#7 | F#7 |Class worksheet: Student Copy
Em A7 D G F#7
María no tiene tiempo (María Landó)
María has no time (María Landó)
Bm
De alzar los ojos
To lift her eyes.
Em A7 D G F#7
María de alzar los ojos (María Landó)
María, to lift her eyes (María Landó)
Bm
Rotos de sueño
Broken from sleep.
Em A7 D G F#7
María rotos de sueño (María Landó)
María, broken from sleep (María Landó)
Bm
De andar sufriendo
From walking in suffering.
Em A7 D G F#7
María de andar sufriendo (María Landó)
María, from walking in suffering (María Landó)
Bm
Sólo trabaja
She only works,
Em A7 D G F#7 Bm
María sólo trabaja, sólo trabaja, sólo trabaja
María only works, only works, only works.
Em A7 D G C#m7 F#7
María sólo trabaja, Y su trabajo es ajeno
María only works, And her work belongs to others
31) Lila Downs, “Naila,” B Section
From Azulao: En vivo con Lila Downs (1996), written by Chuy Rasgado
Audio: YouTube (1:09–1:46)
Harmonic Rhythm:
| E7 | E 7 | A | A |
| C#7 | C#7 | F#m | F#7 |
| Bm | Bm | F#m |
| F#m | C#7 | C# 7 | F#m |Class worksheet: Student Copy
E7 A
Naila, di: ¿por qué me abandonas?
Naila, tell me: why do you abandon me?
C#7 F#m F#7
Tonta, si bien sabes que te quiero
Foolish one, since you well know that I love you
Bm
Vuelve a mí
Come back to me
F#m
Ya no busques otros senderos
Don’t search for other paths anymore
C#7
Te perdono, porque, sin tu amor,
I forgive you, because without your love,
F#m
Se me parte el corazón.
My heart is breaking.
Inversions: V7/x
Inversions: V7/x
Other applied chords, including V/ and V7/ of ii, iii, IV, and vi.
15) Muse, “Explorers,” chorus
From The 2nd Law (2012), written by Matt Bellamy
Audio: YouTube (1:28–2:00)
C Am Em F
Free me free me free me from this world.
Dm G E/G# Am
I don't belong here it was a mistake imprisoning my soul.
F/A G/B C
Can you free me free me from this world?
More Examples
More Examples
Paula Maust, Expanding the Music Theory Canon: Secondary Function
Diverse Music Theory Examples: Applied Chords
Music By Women: Explore the Database (Click on the Chords & Harmonies Filter on the left and select chord category you need.)
Yale Musical Examples Database: See the "Chord Types" tab at the bottom.
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