Bechstein Debauchery

WHITE QUEEN

White Queen is probably the only song in the Queen catalogue which has strong influences from the Elizabethan era. This analysis will focus on the harmony, offering readers three different ways to interpret it. Quoting John Kramer, "make your choice". Feel free to send your personal theory about it as some sort of homework!

General Information	Form	Harmony
A Minor	D Dorian	E Phrygian

General Information:

Music & Lyrics by: Brian May
Arranged by: Brian May
Written: Around 1968
Length: 4:33
Released on: 8th March 1974

Produced by: Queen & Roy Thomas Baker
Mixed by: Roy Thomas Baker & Mike Stone
Engineered by: Mike Stone

Recorded: August 1973
Recorded at: Trident Studios, London

Key: Am and/or D Dorian and/or E Phrygian
Metre: 4/4
Form: Cyclic

Acoustic Drums: Roger Taylor
Electric Bass: John Deacon
Acoustic Guitars: Brian May
Electric Guitars: Brian May

Lead Vocals: Freddie Mercury
Backing Vocals: Freddie Mercury

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Form:

Chorus'
Chorus	Verse	Lift
Chorus	Verse		Break
	Verse
Chorus/2				Solo
		Lift'
Chorus"

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Harmony:

Chorus' (Intro)	D		Em		D		G	D

Chorus	G	D	D	Em	G	D	D	Em

	G	D	D	Em	G	D

Chorus" (Outro)	G	D	D	Em	G	D	D	Em

	G	D	D	Em	G	D	E

Verse Phrase (done three times each)	Am		Am/G		Fmaj7		F7	E

Lift	Am	G	C > G	Am	Am

	D	Am	D	A

Lift'	Am	G	C > G	Am	Am

	D	Am	D	A

Break	A > Dm	A	Dm	F7	Bb > F	Gm > Dm	E

Solo	C	G	F	C	Bb		E

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A Minor:

Chorus' (Intro)	IV		v		IV		VII	IV

Chorus	VII	IV	IV	v	VII	IV	IV	v

	VII	IV	IV	v	VII	IV

Chorus" (Outro)	VII	IV	IV	v	VII	IV	IV	v

	VII	IV	IV	v	VII	IV	V

Verse Phrase (done three times each)	i		i		VI		V-bII	V

Lift	i	VII	III > VII	i	i

	IV	i	IV	V-IV

Lift'	i	VII	III > VII	i	i

	IV	i	IV	V-IV

Break	V-iv > iv	V-iv	iv	V-bII	bII > VI	iv-iv > iv	V

Solo	III	VII	VI	III	bII		V

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D Dorian:

Chorus' (Intro)	I		ii		I		IV	I

Chorus	IV	I	I	ii	IV	I	I	ii

	IV	I	I	ii	IV	I

Chorus" (Outro)	IV	I	I	ii	IV	I	I	ii

	IV	I	I	ii	IV	I	II

Verse Phrase (done three times each)	v		v		III		V-bVI	II

Lift	v	IV	VII > IV	v	v

	I	v	I	V

Lift'	v	IV	VII > IV	v	v

	I	v	I	V

Break	V > i	V	i	V-bVI	bVI > III	iv > i	II

Solo	VII	IV	III	VII	bVI		V

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E Phrygian:

Chorus' (Intro)	VII		i		VII		III	VII

Chorus	III	VII	VII	i	III	VII	VII	i

	III	VII	VII	i	III	VII

Chorus" (Outro)	III	VII	III	i	III	VII	VII	i

	III	VII	III	i	III	VII	I

Verse Phrase (done three times each)	iv		iv		II		V-bV	I

Lift	iv	III	VI > III	iv	iv

	VII	iv	VII	IV

Lift'	iv	III	VI > III	iv	iv

	VII	iv	VII	IV

Break	IV > vii	IV	vii	V-bV	bV> II	iii > vii	I

Solo	VI	III	II	VI	bV		I

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