The Beatles – And I Love Her – Verse 2
And I Love Her < All Analyses
Chord Progression
[‘F#m’, ‘C#m’, ‘F#m’, ‘C#m’, ‘F#m’, ‘C#m’, ‘A’, ‘B7’, ‘E6’]
Chord Progression Analysis
The specific progression for Verse 2, [‘F#m’, ‘C#m’, ‘F#m’, ‘C#m’, ‘F#m’, ‘C#m’, ‘A’, ‘B7’, ‘E6’], can be analyzed like this:
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F# minor (‘i’)
C# minor (‘v’)
F# minor (‘i’)
C# minor (‘v’)
F# minor (‘i’)
C# minor (‘v’)
A major (‘VI’)
B7 major (‘V7’)
E6 major (‘II6’)
“`
Note: The ‘VI’ and ‘II6’ chords are borrowed from the parallel major key (F# major), which is a common technique used in popular music to bring color and variety to a song’s harmonic landscape.
Similar Chord Progressions
1. “Hotel California” by The Eagles also employs a similar technique of using a succession of minor chords with a surprising major chord to create a distinctive mood.
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B minor (‘i’)
F# major (‘V’)
A major (‘VII’)
E major (‘IV’)
G major (‘VI’)
D major (‘III’)
Em (‘v’)
“`
2. “Stairway to Heaven” by Led Zeppelin presents another similar chord progression in its verses:
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A minor (‘i’)
G major (‘VII’)
A minor (‘i’)
G major (‘VII’)
“`
These artists, like The Beatles, have made iconic impacts on popular music with their innovative uses of harmonic structure.
Musical Analysis
The music of “And I Love Her” utilizes repetition and subtle variation to engage the listener. The verses consist of a repeating i-v progression, establishing a sense of melancholy and longing. This is then broken up by the surprising major VI and V7 chords, which bring a brief, brighter feel to the music before resolving to the II6, reestablishing the minor tonality of the song. The consistent rhythmic pattern throughout the song is also an essential characteristic, with its distinctive 8th-note down strums, which contributes to its iconic sound.
Overall Analysis
“And I Love Her” by The Beatles is predominantly set within the key of F# minor. Apart from the chorus that momentarily modulates to the key of D minor, the verses embrace a darker, melancholic atmosphere portrayed by the minor keys. The tonal structure and chord progressions in the song are reflective of the band’s exploration of intricate harmonies, going beyond the simple three-chord structures of many contemporary pop songs of the time.
Style Analysis
The use of complex chord progressions and harmonic explorations is a definitive characteristic of The Beatles, particularly in their later works, and “And I Love Her” is a strong example of this. Borrowed chords are used for emotional impact and the unconventional conclusion on the II6 chord leaves the listener longing for resolution, a feeling which aligns with the song’s lyrical themes.
What are the chords in: The Beatles – And I Love Her – Verse 2?
[‘F#m’, ‘C#m’, ‘F#m’, ‘C#m’, ‘F#m’, ‘C#m’, ‘A’, ‘B7’, ‘E6’]
