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“In My Life” is a song written by The Beatles which stands as a hallmarks of their inventive songwriting and command of complex musical structures. The song is primarily in the key of A Major, but it employs a number of borrowed chords and modal interchange to create a more interesting and richer harmonic landscape. The melody, rhythm, and lyrics of this song are poignant and memorable, making “In My Life” an enduring classic in the Beatles’ catalog.

“Maxwell’s Silver Hammer” is a song by the English rock band the Beatles from their 1969 album Abbey Road. It was written by Paul McCartney. The song is primarily in the key of D Major and exhibits a mix of major, minor, and dominant seventh chords. This verse progression manifests the distinctive Beatles’ sound which often includes chromaticism and prevalence of secondary dominants that link the chords together, giving a smooth flow and color to the harmonic progression.

“Kashmir” by Led Zeppelin is a classic rock song that is well-known for its distinctive and mysterious sound. This interlude, in particular, creates a sense of tension and resolution through its simple but effective chord progression. The overall harmonic structure is built on a modal mixture, drawing from both the major and minor modes, which contributes to its unique atmosphere.

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This is a simple and common chord progression often known as “four chords” used often in pop and rock music. The song is in G Major and the progression has a I-V-vi-IV pattern.

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“Undone – The Sweater Song” by Weezer features a simple yet effective chord progression in the interlude, using triadic chords and one altered chord (G6#9). The progression is in the key of G major and exhibits Weezer’s trademark alternative rock sound with a mix of pop sensibilities.

The Beatles – In My Life – Interlude

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Chord Progression

[‘A’, ‘E’]

Chord Progression Analysis

Interlude: A Major (I), E Major (V).

Here, the ‘A’ is the tonic chord (I), and ‘E’ is the dominant chord (V). The interlude progression provides a perfect cadence from V to I which is commonly found in many styles of western music. This resolves the musical tension and gives listeners a sense of resolution and homecoming.

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Borrowed Chord: None in this progression
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Similar Chord Progressions

Song: “Earth Angel” by The Penguins
Progression: D major (I), F# minor (vi), B minor (iii), G major (IV), A major (V), D major (I), G major (IV), A major (V).

Similar to “In My Life”, “Earth Angel” utilizes the I-vi-IV-V progression, a staple of doo-wop music from the 1950s. The song structure is straightforward, featuring a cycle of chords that constantly loop back to the beginning.

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Borrowed Chord: None in this progression
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Musical Analysis

“In My Life” is notable for its variety of chord progressions. The natural minor key is featured in the song; it provides the harmonic foundation in the verses and chorus. The occasional use of D minor borrowed chord from the parallel minor key gives the song an added depth and expresses a sense of longing or melancholy.

Overall Analysis

“In My Life” is a song by The Beatles from the 1965 album Rubber Soul. It is written in the key of A Major, beloved for its introspective lyrics and harmonic structure. The chord progression is complex and contains several borrowed chords and secondary dominants, displaying an impressive use of tonality that is characteristic of the band’s sophisticated songwriting.

Style Analysis

The harmonic structure of “In My Life” embodies the maturation of the Beatles as songwriters. Their use of different key centers, clean transitions between keys, and incorporation of borrowed chords from the parallel minor show a departure from the traditional pop song structures. This mixture of major and minor modes may be seen as a sonic reflection of the mix of joy and melancholy expressed in the lyrics.

Chords in the Interlude section of In My Life by The Beatles are:

[‘A’, ‘E’]