The Beatles – Here Comes The Sun – Chorus 4
Here Comes The Sun < All Analyses
Chord Progression
[‘D’, ‘Dsus2’, ‘D’, ‘G’, ‘E7’, ‘D’, ‘Dsus2’, ‘D’]
Chord Progression Analysis
Chorus 4 progression:
– D (I)
– Dsus2 (Isus2)
– D (I)
– G (IV)
– E7 (V/ii, secondary dominant)
– D (I)
– Dsus2 (Isus2)
– D (I)
##### Borrowed Chord
The “E7” chord is a borrowed chord used as a secondary dominant chord to the ii (Em) in the key of D major.
Similar Chord Progressions
A similar chord progression can be found in “Sweet Child O’ Mine” by Guns N’ Roses, especially in the distinctive opening section:
– D (I)
– A (V)
– C (bVII, borrowed from D minor)
– G (IV)
While not exactly the same, the progression also frequently alternates between a major chord and a sus2 chord, and also makes use of borrowed chords to add color and variety to the harmony.
Musical Analysis
The use of the Dsus2 chord adds a distinctive color and feeling to the progression, as it creates a sense of suspension and ambiguity. The alternating between the D and Dsus2 also adds a sense of movement.
The transition from G to E7 is particularly interesting. Here, The Beatles use E7 as a secondary dominant, which briefly and subtly modulates into the key of the ii chord (E minor) before resolving back to D major. This use of secondary dominants is a common technique in pop and rock music, adding a unique color and complexity to the harmony, and further highlights The Beatles’ mastery of songwriting and harmony.
Overall Analysis
“Here Comes The Sun” by The Beatles, composed by George Harrison, features a complex and stylistically unique chord progression. The song is primarily in the key of D major, with elements of modal interchange (also known as borrowed chords) from both the parallel minor key (D minor) and other modes, including the Mixolydian mode.
Style Analysis
This kind of chord progression is quite representative of The Beatles’ music style, especially their later works. Unlike many songs of the era which mostly relied on simpler progressions such as the I-IV-V, The Beatles often incorporated elements from classical and jazz harmony into their music, such as extended chords, secondary dominants and borrowed chords, which gives their music a more sophisticated and layered feel.
What are the chords in: The Beatles – Here Comes The Sun – Chorus 4?
[‘D’, ‘Dsus2’, ‘D’, ‘G’, ‘E7’, ‘D’, ‘Dsus2’, ‘D’]
