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Related Music Theory Alchemy

Across the Universe by The Beatles is a melancholic, introspective piece set in the key of D major, imbuing an overall sound spectrum that’s somber with a hint of hopeful resolution. The chord progression utilizes both diatonic and borrowed chords, making it both unusual and interesting.

“Here Comes The Sun” is written by George Harrison from The Beatles and it is a key example of the band’s flirtation with what is commonly referred to as Mixolydian mode. The piece showcases their skillful blending of folk idioms with contemporary pop sensibilities.

“Welcome to the Machine” by Pink Floyd is a progressive rock piece that features a rather minimalistic chord progression, with only one chord during the outro. The piece is characterized by its lush soundscape, synthesizer layering, and the use of sound effects to create an atmosphere of a mechanized world.

The chord progression in the outro of “Earfquake” by Tyler, The Creator is relatively simple and repetitive, featuring a constant alternation between Bbmaj7 and Am7 chords. This back-and-forth between the two chords creates a sense of tension and release that contributes to the dreamy and emotional atmosphere characteristic of the song.

Patterns in music are fundamental for creating musical identity. This repetition ensures the music is coherent and familiar for the listener. In the case of “Perfect” by Smashing Pumpkins, the song makes use of a common popular music chord progression known as the I – vi progression.

The Beatles – Across The Universe – Outro

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Chord Progression

[‘D’, ‘D’]

Chord Progression Analysis

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The progression of D-D in the outro constitutes a repetition of a single chord which is representative of the ‘tonic’ or home key. In the context of D Major (the key signature of the song), it can be laid out as:

D Major (I)

Considering the key of D Major, this implies that the D major chord is utilized twice, signifying a strong and forceful closing, serving to reinforce the root or home chord in our minds by the end of the song.

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Similar Chord Progressions

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– “No Woman, No Cry” by Bob Marley: F – C – Dmin – Amin, a common four-chord song in pop music, differs in fourth-chord (Amin), but shares the sustained rhythmic closure technique with ‘Across The Universe”s D – D outro.
– “Hallelujah” by Leonard Cohen: C – Ami – C – Ami, a song with identical repeated outro chords.
– “Let It Be” by The Beatles: C – G – Ami – F, shares the D-D pattern in the outro, showing a tendency of Beatles to use this technique in their music.

Musical Analysis

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The conclusion of ‘Across The Universe’ consists of a simple yet effective D-D chord, repeated twice as an outro. This static harmony signals a completion or resolution to the song, as it hits and rests in the root note. The absence of any moving melody or chord change within the outro allows for the vocals to shine through, without any disruptive or distracting undercurrent of chordal movement.

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Overall Analysis

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The song, ‘Across the Universe’ by The Beatles is uniquely complex in its melody and chord progression. The song modulates or shifts key but is rooted mainly in D major. The song utilizes the standard rock/pop song structure of Verse, Chorus, and Outro. The unusual facet of this song’s composition is the use of borrowed chords (non-diatonic chords) that add unexpected twists to an otherwise typical chord progression.

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Style Analysis

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The Beatles frequently used repeated tonic chords to finish their songs, providing a clear sense of ending. Combined with their trademark melodic vocal line, rich harmonies, and layered instrumentation, the simplicity of this technique was often enough to create a satisfying conclusion.

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Chords in the Outro section of Across The Universe by The Beatles are:

[‘D’, ‘D’]