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Related Music Theory Alchemy

The chord progression of “I Want To Hold Your Hand” by The Beatles is particularly interesting for its use of key changes and borrowed chords. It reflects both the catchy driving pop rock melody signature of early Beatles and the sophistication of harmonic innovation, which defines their later work.

“Penny Lane” by The Beatles is a pop rock song released in 1967. Musically, the track displays characteristics of the “Baroque pop” style combine with psychedelic pop. The composition is multifaceted with complex chord progressions inspired by classical music, as well as elements of the British music hall style, specifically brass band influences throughout.

“Can You Feel The Love Tonight” by Elton John is a heart-touching love song that carries a smooth flowing blend of pop and soft rock, showing Elton John’s inclination to use diatonic (major and minor) chords, 7th chords and inversions. The song, largely stays in its home key of C major, has an interesting chord progression that shifts between the tonic, subdominant, and dominant. Internally, there are multiple secondary dominant chords and borrowing from the parallel minor, providing color and contrast.

“When I Was Your Man” by Bruno Mars is in the key of C major. It is a ballad with a piano-led instrumentation, backed by Bruno’s powerful and emotive vocals. The melody and chords are relatively simple, but the lingering tone and the poignant lyrics create an emotionally resonant track. A common feature in this piece, as well as many pop songs in general, is the use of borrowed chords.

The chord progression in the verse of “Congratulations” by MGMT is an interesting blend of conventional pop and classical harmonies with some use of borrowed chords. The progression features mostly diatonic chords in the key of G major, but there are moments of modal interchange and suspensions that add color and tension to the progression.

The Beatles – I Want To Hold Your Hand – Verse 1

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Chord Progression

[‘G’, ‘D’, ‘Em’, ‘B’, ‘G’, ‘D’, ‘Em’, ‘B7’]

Chord Progression Analysis

– G Major (I)
– D Major (V)
– E minor (vi)
– B Major (‘III borrowed from parallel minor’)
– G Major (I)
– D Major (V)
– E minor (vi)
– B7 Major (‘III7 borrowed from parallel minor’)

A code block for the borrowed chord:
“`
“B Major” and “B7 Major” are borrowed from the parallel minor (G minor) scale
“`

Similar Chord Progressions

Artists like The Beach Boys and Elton John have also used similar chord progressions. For example, in Elton John’s “Tiny Dancer”:

– A Major (I)
– E Major (V)
– F# minor (vi)
– C# Major (‘III borrowed from parallel minor’)
– A Major (I)
– E Major (V)
– F# minor (vi)
– C#7 Major (‘III7 borrowed from parallel minor’)

In Beach Boys’ “God Only Knows”, the progression is:

– A Major (I)
– E Major (V)
– F# minor (vi)
– C# Major (‘III borrowed from parallel minor’)
– A Major (I)
– E Major (V)
– F# minor (vi)
– C#7 Major (‘III7 borrowed from parallel minor’)

Musical Analysis

Borrowed chords create an unexpected element in chord progressions and it’s one of the tools used by The Beatles for enhancing musical interest in their composition. The use of the B Major and B7 chords from the parallel minor scale adds a unique color to the harmony and increases the tension which is resolved when returning to the G Major. It also creates a seamless chromatic ascending bass line from E (in Em chord) to F# (in G chord) via F (in B major or B7).

Overall Analysis

“I Want To Hold Your Hand” by The Beatles is an excellent example of their innovative approach to harmony and chord progression. This song, written in the key of G major, features a common I-V-vi-III progression in the verses. It notably uses borrowed ‘B’ major and ‘B7’ chords from the parallel minor scale.

Style Analysis

The use of major chords borrowed from the parallel minor scale is a key characteristic of The Beatles’ style and it’s evident in many of their songs. It gives a happy yet melancholic feel to the song. Another style hallmark in this song is the effective use of dominant 7th chords to create a sense of anticipation and resolve.

Chords in the Verse 1 section of I Want To Hold Your Hand by The Beatles are:

[‘G’, ‘D’, ‘Em’, ‘B’, ‘G’, ‘D’, ‘Em’, ‘B7’]