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Related Music Theory Alchemy

“I Am The Walrus” is a composition by The Beatles in which the song varies in key and progressive elements, with fascinating uses of borrowed chords from parallel modes and chromatic bass motion. The melody resides predominantly within a pentatonic framework, frequently rotating around subversions. The Bridge section beautifully showcases Beatles’ experimentation with descending chord progression built around chromatic movement.

“Strawberry Fields Forever” by The Beatles is an iconic psychedelic rock track marked with rich harmonies and sophisticated musical elements. The song is primarily constructed around the key of A, but it employs several modal mixtures and non-diatonic chords, contributing to its intriguing tonality.

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“Girl” is a song by The Beatles from their 1965 album “Rubber Soul”. The song is written in the key of E minor and it showcases the band’s ability to incorporate non-diatsubject resorting to non-diatonic progressions and utilizes various seventh chords to establish a more sophisticated and jazzy soundid progression. It’s important to note their use of the Dorian mode, which adds to the melodic and harmonic sophistication of the song. Moreover, the song exhibits the lyrical and songwriting depth of The Beatles.

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The verse of “Megalomania” by Muse is characterized by distinctive harmonic progressions, dynamic contrasts, and notable melodic lines that are typical of the band’s alternative rock style. Throughout this verse, Muse uses common harmonic devices such as secondary dominants, diatonic and chromatic mediants, borrowed chords from parallel keys, and deceptive cadences to create a sense of tension and forward momentum.

Dead Flowers by The Rolling Stones is a classic track that exhibits some very traditional aspects of popular music and blues-based rock. The song is in D major and follows a fairly standard chord progression, using only three chords (D, A, and G), which make up four-measure phrases that are repeated throughout this part of the song.

The Beatles – I Am The Walrus – Verse 1

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Chord Progression

[‘A’, ‘A/G’, ‘C’, ‘D’, ‘A’, ‘A/G’, ‘C’, ‘D7’, ‘A’]

Chord Progression Analysis

The chord progression for the verse is as follows:

A Major (I), A/G (I bass inversion), C Major (♭III – Borrowed from the parallel minor), D Major (IV), A Major (I), A/G (I bass inversion), C Major (♭III – Borrowed from the parallel minor), D7 (IV7), A Major (I).

“`Borrowed Chords: C Major“`

Similar Chord Progressions

The use of borrowed chords can be seen in other songs from the 1960s psychedelic era. The Beach Boys’ “Good Vibrations” uses a similar technique, occasionally borrowing chords from the parallel minor in what would otherwise be a simple major key progression. A parallel can also be drawn to the work of Pink Floyd, in their song “See Emily Play”, which also creatively borrows chords to achieve a psychedelic sound.

Here is the progression which similar techniques were used (not the whole songs, just representative snippets):

Beach Boys – Good Vibrations: E Major (I), F# minor (ii), G Major (♭III – Borrowed from the parallel minor), A Major (IV), E Major (I)

Pink Floyd – See Emily Play: A Major (I), B Major (II), C Major (♭III – Borrowed from the parallel minor), D Major (IV), E Major (V)

Musical Analysis

The use of the borrowed chord C Major (♭III) from the parallel minor scale offers a chromatic and unexpected shift that contributes to the psychedelic and unpredictable nature of the song. The D7 chord in the progression introduces a dominant seventh, providing tension that resolves back to the tonic chord, A Major.

Overall Analysis

“I Am The Walrus” is a distinctive composition by the Beatles from their 1967 album “Magical Mystery Tour”. Known for its surreal lyrics and creative chord progression, the song displays the Beatles’ mastery of composition and their innovative use of harmony. The song features elements from psychedelic rock, a genre that the Beatles helped popularize during the mid-1960s.

Style Analysis

“I Am The Walrus” reflects the Beatles’ progression from their initial pop-rock sound into more experimental and avant-garde styles. The song’s unusual chord progression, abstract lyrics, and complex structure are hallmarks of psychedelic rock. The borrowed chords and modulation display a sophisticated understanding of music theory and suggest the influence of classical music and jazz on the Beatles’ songwriting.

Chords in the Verse 1 section of I Am The Walrus by The Beatles are:

[‘A’, ‘A/G’, ‘C’, ‘D’, ‘A’, ‘A/G’, ‘C’, ‘D7’, ‘A’]