Music Theory Alchemy

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“With a Little Help from My Friends” is a song by the Beatles from their 1967 album ‘Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band’. It features Ringo Starr who sings the song in the role of ‘Billy Shears’, a fictional character from the ‘Sgt. Pepper’ album. It was composed by Paul McCartney and John Lennon.

The full chord sequence you provided represents the verse. The song itself is predominantly in E Major, but contains several borrowed chords and modal exchanges. As was common with Beatles’s compositions, they often incorporated intricate chord progressions and did not strictly adhere to traditional key signatures.

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The outro of ‘Hey Jude’ by The Beatles is a prime example of a repeated chord progression, specifically a repeated loop of D-C-G-D. This progression is repeated throughout the last significant section of the song, often referred to as the “na na na” section, essentially becoming a kind of mantra or chant that brings the song to a sustained and palpable resolution.

Muse’s “New Born” is a rock composition with progressive and alternative elements. The harmonic structure is simple, making use of common chords and progressions. In the given chord progression from Verse 3, there is a sense of tension and release between the major and minor chords, creating a sense of dynamics and urgency. The chord progression itself is repetitive, with subtle variations added to keep interest.

“The Wind Cries Mary” by Jimi Hendrix is a classic example of the blending of blues, rock, and pop elements that characterizes Hendrix’s unique style. The chord progression in Verse 3 demonstrates Hendrix’s use of non-diatonic chords and chromatic harmony, while maintaining a strong sense of tonality and harmonic progression. The unconventional chord progression and the expressive guitar work contribute to the song’s lasting appeal.

“Landslide” by The Smashing Pumpkins is a subtly complicated piece of music. At first glance, the chord progression may seem simple, but it actually incorporates a number of rich musical techniques that give the song its iconic depth and emotional resonance. The song follows a simple yet powerful chord progression and relies heavily on the interplay between the root C major chord, the G6, and the Am minor. There is a recurring theme of returning to the G6, which creates tension and suggests feelings of melancholy or introspection.

The Beatles – With A Little Help From My Friends – Verse 3

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Chord Progression

[‘E’, ‘B’, ‘F#m’, ‘F#m’, ‘B’, ‘E’, ‘E’, ‘B’, ‘F#m’, ‘F#m’, ‘B’, ‘E’]

Chord Progression Analysis

“`markdown
E Major (I)
B Major (V)
F# Minor (ii)
F# Minor (ii)
B Major (V)
E Major (I)
E Major (I)
B Major (V)
F# Minor (ii)
F# Minor (ii)
B Major (V)
E Major (I)
“`

Similar Chord Progressions

– “Let it Be” by The Beatles: [‘C’, ‘G’, ‘Am’, ‘C’, ‘F’, ‘C’, ‘G’, ‘F’, ‘C’]

– “No Woman No Cry” by Bob Marley: [‘C’, ‘G’, ‘Am’, ‘F’, ‘C’, ‘G’, ‘F’, ‘C’]

Formatted as:

“`markdown
C Major (I)
G Major (V)
A Minor (vi)
C Major (I)
F Major (IV)
C Major (I)
G Major (V)
F Major (IV)
C Major (I)
“`

Note: Though these progressions are in a different key, when transposed to the key of E major, they carry a similar harmonic structure to that of “With A Little Help From My Friends”.

Musical Analysis

The given progression is largely diatonic to the key of E Major, centered around its tonic (E), dominant (B), and supertonic (F#m). The root movement in this progression cycles around the IV, V, and vi chords of the key, a common feature of pop music.

The verses adopt a I – V – ii – ii – V – I structure, which is repeated twice in each verse. The repetition here not only gives the song a clear and catchy pattern, but it also effectively creates a sense of stability and resolution.

Overall Analysis

The song “With A Little Help From My Friends” by The Beatles is written in the key of E major. The third verse is mostly consistent with the key, with the only chords used are E, F#m, and B.

Style Analysis

This particular verse is quite indicative of The Beatles’ signature style, a blend of traditional pop structures with an innovative approach to harmony. Their use of predominantly major and minor chords showcases their affinity for tonality, while the slightly unconventional ii – ii resolution speaks to their penchant for exploring new harmonic possibilities.

Chords in the Verse 3 section of With A Little Help From My Friends by The Beatles are:

[‘E’, ‘B’, ‘F#m’, ‘F#m’, ‘B’, ‘E’, ‘E’, ‘B’, ‘F#m’, ‘F#m’, ‘B’, ‘E’]