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Related Music Theory Alchemy

The song “Eight Days a Week” by The Beatles is an interesting example of pop music songwriting from the mid 1960’s. It showcases Paul McCartney and John Lennon’s ability to use common chord progressions and tweak them in a unique and recognizable way. It utilizes a simple progression in the verse but what makes it different is their use of 7th and borrowed chords. The key of the song is D major.

As this song has a distinct classical rock sound, you’ll see a mixture of major and minor chords. The progression is in the key of E major. The use of seventh chords and suspended chords provides a dense harmonic texture.

“3 Libras Acoustic Live” by A Perfect Circle revolves around a rock ballad style with an alternative rock genre. It features distinctive chord progressions and some borrowing from outside of the primary key. The harmonic progression in the chorus is relatively simple but contributes to the melancholic and introspective atmosphere of the song.

“Bennie And The Jets” by Elton John, released in 1973, features a distinctive chord progression that exemplifies Elton’s advanced harmonic sensibility and taste for grand piano-based balladry. The song is mainly in the key of G Major.

“Have You Ever Seen The Rain” is a popular song by Creedence Clearwater Revival from the 1971 album “Pendulum”. This song is performed in the key of C major, and uses chords from the diatonic scale. However, it also utilizes borrowed chords and chord inversions to create a bit of colour and novelty.

The Beatles – Eight Days A Week – Chorus

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Chord Progression

[‘Bm’, ‘G’, ‘Bm’, ‘E’, ‘D’, ‘E7’]

Chord Progression Analysis

1. B minor (ii)
2. G major (IV)
3. B minor (ii)
4. E major (V/V)
5. D major (I)
6. E dominant 7 (V7/V)

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Borrowed Chords: E major (V/V) is a secondary dominant chord.
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Similar Chord Progressions

A similar chord progression is used in the Beach Boys’ “God Only Knows”:

1. A major (I)
2. F# minor (vi)
3. A major (I)
4. E major (V)
5. D major (IV)
6. E dominant 7 (V7)

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Borrowed Chords: None
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Similarly, Billy Joel’s “She’s Always A Woman” also shares a similar progression:

1. F major (I)
2. D minor (vi)
3. F major (I)
4. C major (V)
5. Bb major (IV)
6. C7 (V7)

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Borrowed Chords: None
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Musical Analysis

The chord progression in the song opens by leveraging the typical rock n’ roll progression (I – IV – V) and simultaneously modulates to the relative minor (ii – V/V – I) which is often used in classical music, indicating the song’s wide range.

The switch to the B minor and E major before going back to D major adds a sense of pause and longing, which meshes well with the theme of the song. The use of the E dominant 7 chord works beautifully as a transition, providing a natural and smooth pathway back to the home chord.

Overall Analysis

“Eight Days A Week” by The Beatles is in the key of D major. The song features a handful of basic major and minor chords with a sprinkling of interesting harmonic developments such as the E7 transition chord and the use of the B minor chord which provide a rich palette of colors for the progression.

Style Analysis

The Beatles often fused elements from various music genres, and “Eight Days A Week” is no different. While the song primarily occupies the pop-rock genre, its use of the ii – V – I progression bonds elements from classical music, demonstrating the band’s keen ear for incorporating complex musical structures into accessible pop-rock form.

Chords in the Chorus section of Eight Days A Week by The Beatles are:

[‘Bm’, ‘G’, ‘Bm’, ‘E’, ‘D’, ‘E7’]