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Related Music Theory Alchemy

“I Am The Walrus” by The Beatles is a song that stands out because of its unique chord progressions and thematic material. The chord progression of the pre-chorus is particularly captivating and somehow unusual compared to common pop/rock tunes.

“In My Life” by The Beatles is in A Major key, and it makes use of both diatonic and non-diatonic chords. The song is notable for its use of various chord trickery such as modal borrowing, secondary dominant, and chromatic bass movement. Additionally, the song is filled with the Beatles’ signatures: a mix of major and minor chords and the use of the VI-IV progression.

“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.

“House of the Rising Sun” by The Animals features a repeating chord progression in a minor key that gives the song a haunting, melancholic feel. This progression moves through the circle of fifths, features borrowed chords from its relative major key and has a strong resolution from the dominant to the tonic.

“Bullet With Butterfly Wings” by The Smashing Pumpkins features a chord progression that uses a lot of power chords (fifth chords) which demonstrates its grungy, rock oriented style. It also incorporates major, minor, and suspended second chords, making it an interesting combination of simplicity and complexity.

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’]