Black Magic Woman Chords
Santana
Black Magic Woman by Santana is in the key of D minor. Chord progression: i7–v7–i7–iv7–i7–V7–i7.
Abraxas (1970)
Peter Green, Gábor Szabó (Gypsy Queen)
Listen to the Song
Chord Sheet
Song Structure
Medley (Verse-Chorus-Instrumental-Gypsy Queen-Outro)
Chords Used
Chord Diagrams
N/A
Sections
At a glance
- Key
- D minor
- Time signature
- 4/4
- Main progression
- i7–v7–i7–iv7–i7–V7–i7
- Chords used
- Am · G · C · F · Bb · Dm · Dm7 · Am7 · Gm7 · A7
- Form
- Intro-Verse-Verse-Verse-Verse-Bridge-Outro
- Difficulty
- 7/10
Summary
Originally a Fleetwood Mac blues track, Santana's 1970 cover reinvented the song by infusing it with complex Latin percussion and Carlos Santana's signature fluid guitar phrasing. Featuring soulful vocals by Gregg Rolie, this version peaked at #4 on the charts and remains a cornerstone of psychedelic rock history.
Musical Analysis
Santana’s 'Black Magic Woman' is a masterclass in transforming a traditional blues structure into a modal Latin-rock journey. Originally penned by Peter Green of Fleetwood Mac, Santana's version maintains the core 12-bar minor blues framework in D minor but re…
History
The song was originally written and performed by British blues rock band Fleetwood Mac, written by Peter Green.
“Santana's version is a medley that includes "Gypsy Queen," written by Gábor Szabó.”
📝 Lyrics
seductive · dark · hypnoticTheme
Obsessive and destructive infatuation
Surface
A man describes being under the spell of a woman who practices black magic and is turning him into a 'devil.'
Deeper meaning
An exploration of toxic desire and the loss of self-control. The 'magic' serves as a metaphor for an irresistible yet damaging romantic attraction that blinds the protagonist to reason.
Symbols
Full musical analysis
The harmonic structure is built on a blues-based foundation with Latin influences. The chord progressions are relatively simple but effective, creating a hypnotic and alluring atmosphere.
The rhythm is a defining characteristic, fusing blues rock with Afro-Cuban percussion elements. The use of congas, timbales, and other Latin percussion instruments creates a driving, danceable groove.
The main melody is memorable and bluesy, carried by Carlos Santana's expressive guitar playing. The phrasing is fluid and often incorporates call-and-response elements with the percussion.
The song was originally written and performed by British blues rock band Fleetwood Mac, written by Peter Green.
Originally a Fleetwood Mac blues track, Santana's 1970 cover reinvented the song by infusing it with complex Latin percussion and Carlos Santana's signature fluid guitar phrasing. Featuring soulful vocals by Gregg Rolie, this version peaked at #4 on the charts and remains a cornerstone of psychedelic rock history.
Some sections are still pending
6 of 12 sections are ready. Ask for the rest and this song moves up our analysis queue.
Song DNA
Genre
Rock
Era
70s
Mood
Dark
Tempo
Mid-tempo
Key
Minor
Texture
Full Band
Sound
Guitar-driven
Feel
Syncopated
Explore More
Similar Songs
Explore related
Listen & Learn
Statistics
2.4M
Plays
524K
Listeners
100%
Popularity
5:15
Duration
4/4
Time
Credits
Written by
Produced by
From the album Abraxas