Why This Chord From Under The Bridge Sounds So Good – Songwriting Lesson

There is one chord that John Frusciante plays in Under The Bridge by the Red Hot Chili Peppers that always sounded a bit strange to me. Especially when I just started learning music. This last chord from the verse is such an amazing detail and the song would not be the same without it. Let’s dive in!

I will not waste your time. The chord that I am talking about is the Emaj7. It is played at the end of the verse. It might seem like a small detail, but to me, this shows exactly the songwriting genius of John Frusciante. If you need to refresh your memory, give Under The Bridge one more listen. And focus on what this last verse chord does to the music and development of the song. Also if you want to hear the examples and chord progressions live, then check out my video on YouTube.

Video Tutorial: The Beautiful Maj7 Chord From Under The Bride

You can watch my full tutorial below if you want to hear the examples with real music.

The Verse Chord Progression Under The Bridge

This is the verse chord progression from Under The Bridge.

Song Analysis and Songwriting Techniques

Why is this Emaj7 chord so special and important? What does it do to the music and most important of all, how can you use it to write music? Because when you play the chord by itself out of context, it sounds just fine! The answer to this question is:

• Context
• Contrast
• Expectation

Music theory: How to make an Emaj7 chord

An Emaj7 is a normal E major chord but with an added major 7^th tone. So if you forget about sharps and flats for a moment. Starting from the E you can count up to seven tones (E, F, G A B C D). The D would be a minor 7 and the D# is a major 7. When you add this interval to our Emajor chord then we get an Emaj7 chord! Just check it out in the score below.

Below you see an example where the E major triad is first laid out. Then we added the major 7th tone to make an E major seven chord.

Musical Context

Now why does this Emaj7 chord sound so good in Under the Bridge? The first part of our answer is context. When you look at the verse chord progression above and when you play it. I’m sure you recognize this chord progression. Because it’s a very familiar chord progression in pop music.

This chord progression flows very easily and does not require much attention from the listener. It’s like a perfect bed of harmonies to which the singer can sing the lyrics and melodies. It’s perfect for telling a great story.

We have a gently flowing chord progression with only simple major and minor chords. This is our context.

Contrast

The second part of the answer is contrast. The simple chord progression just ebbs and flows. And then at the end all of a sudden we have a more complex chord. The Emaj7.

The Emaj7 is a completely new chord colour and texture. This draws our attention. Anybody will be able to tell that this chord is new and special.

‘Ok, so what!?’ you might ask. It’s just one chord that’s different. Does it really matter? Well yes, it does! Just play the verse from Under The Bridge, but end it with a regular E chord instead. You will notice how silly it sounds!

Musical Expectation and Tension

Did you notice the difference? There is no contrast at all and also the beautiful tension is gone. It sounds as if after the verse the song is finished. This is the third part of the answer: Expectation.

What makes this Emaj7 so beautiful and stand out? Is it only because of that added maj7 tone?

Yes, that’s correct! The notes in E major, E, G# and B sound consonant together. But this added D# creates friction. Just play the E and D# together, or listen to how I play it on my Red Hot Chili Peppers song analysis tutorial.

When you play E and D# together it sounds unstable. It wants to resolve half a step upwards to the octave E.

Recap, Songwriting Techniques and Songwriting Tips

The fact that the chord is relatively unstable, the musical flow slows down and that it lasts twice as long creates tension and expectation. It raises the question, what will come next?

So think about it: Context, Contrast and Expectation. It’s important to keep these three things in mind when it comes to writing your music. For example, if your song only has two chords or maybe a very simple melody, then each small change you make, will feel and sound like a big one!

Under the Bridge is of course well known for Anthony Kiedesis’s emotional lyrics about his tough past. But what always interested me about the Red Hot Chili Peppers is the amazing songwriting skills of John Frusciante and Flea. They are a power duo that put smart and creative songwriting techniques into their music. Just look at such a beautiful detail as the Emaj7 in Under The Bridge!

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