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Related Music Theory Alchemy

“Across The Universe” by The Beatles, written mostly by John Lennon, is known for its rich and complex harmonic structures that added new dimensions to pop music. The song is predominately in the key of D major, with occasional borrowings from the parallel minor (D minor) and the closely-related key of B minor. The verse 1 progression – D, Bm, F#m, Em7, A, A7, D, Bm, F#m, Em7, Gm – creates an affectingly melancholic mood through its mix of major, minor and borrowed chords, producing a unique ambience that evokes a sense of cosmic contemplation, matching with the philosophical lyrics of the song.

“Let It Be” by The Beatles utilizes a very accessible and effective chord progression throughout the song. This progression is designed to create tension and release as it progresses, as well as establish the root key of the song, which is C Major.

The chords used throughout the song show a strong use of borrowed chords, inversions, and extensions, adding to the depth and complexity of the song despite the relatively uncomplicated chord progression.

The balance between the root key, dissonance, resolution, and overall harmony creates an emotive and engaging song that maintains listener interest and displays the songwriting abilities of The Beatles.

The chord progression in the outro of “After The Storm” by Kali Uchis is a relatively simple and concise one, having just three chords: G#m7, A#m7, and D#aug. Considering that the key of this song is G# minor, the progression makes use of diatonic and non-diatonic chords. Moreover, incorporating an augmented chord lends a feeling of tension and anticipation that makes the outro stand out.

The song “Hurt” by Nine Inch Nails has a tonal center around the key of B minor, as it is the most prominently featured chord in both the verse and chorus sections. The verse features a simple three-chord progression (Bm-D-E), and the chorus introduces additional chords (G, A). The outro mainly repeats the chords from the verse. The style of the piece can be characterized as haunting, melancholic, and somewhat minimalistic with only a few chords creating the harmonic landscape.

“Set Fire To The Rain” is a song that largely follows the conventions of pop music, with its simple and repetitive chord progressions echoing those in many similar genres. The chord progression observed in the Outro is primarily a combination of minor and major chords that provide a melancholic and intense undertone to the song’s overall theme. The song is in the key of A minor and the chord progression in the Outro starts on the key’s root chord (‘Am’).

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’]