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Related Music Theory Alchemy

The chord progression of “Because” by The Beatles demonstrates the band’s profound exploration of harmony. The song starts in the key of C# minor, revolves around this key, and includes various modulations and tonicizations to explore chords beyond the key. It heavily employs secondary dominants and borrowed chords, particularly the diminished 7th chords, which is not uncommon in Beatles’s songs. The chord progression has a dreamy and fluid flow due to these harmonic explorations.

The Beatles’ “With A Little Help From My Friends” is in the key of E major and the coda chord progression special in its context. It is a clear example of a piece from the pop or rock genre exhibiting a distinctive use of chord progressions and modulation without adhering strictly to the classical traditions. Common prevailing characteristics of music by The Beatles are exemplified in this piece through its use of borrowed chords, chromatic mediants, and modal interchange, providing a distinct harmonic color and texture.

Prince’s “Purple Rain” is a classic power ballad, rooted deeply in pop and rock genres. The chord progressions, with particular emphasis on the one given in Verse 3, underlines Prince’s lyricism and craft, showcasing his unique ability to blend seemingly simple chord progressions to evoke emotional and profound moods. The key of the song is G major.

“Yet Again” by Grizzly Bear uses a repetitive verse structure that has a fairly common, major-oriented progression, but develops interest by alternating the exact sequence of chords that it employs. This gives the song a haunting but familiar atmosphere. The mixture of minor and major chords, along with the presence of a borrowed chord, creates tension and release within each verse.

The Verse 3 chord progression in Muse’s cover of “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You” is a fairly simple progression that features harmonic devices such as seventh chords, borrowed chords, and a half-diminished chord. This progression incorporates some jazz and pop influences into a stylistically cohesive and engaging harmonic landscape.

The Beatles – Because – Verse 3

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Chord Progression

[‘C#m’, ‘C#m’, ‘D#m7b5’, ‘G#7/D#’, ‘A’, ‘C#m’, ‘A9’, ‘A13’, ‘D’, ‘Ddim7’, ‘C#m’, ‘C#m’]

Chord Progression Analysis

“`
“C# minor” (‘i’),
“C# minor” (‘i’),
“D# half-diminished 7” (‘ii°7’),
“G# Dominant 7th/D#” (‘V7/ii’),
“A Major” (‘VI’),
“C# minor” (‘i’),
“A9 Major” (‘VI9’),
“A13 Major” (‘VI13’),
“D Major” (‘bIII’),
“D diminished 7” (‘vii°7’),
“C# minor” (‘i’),
“C# minor” (‘i’)
“`

Similar Chord Progressions

1. “Paranoid Android” by Radiohead, although it is much more complex, bears some similarities with the Beatles’ “Because”, especially with the usage of borrowed chords and oscillating between key centers.
“`
“A minor” (‘i’),
“D7” (‘IV7’),
“G Major” (‘VII’),
“D Major” (‘IV’),
“C# dim” (‘ii°’),
“F# minor” (‘vi’),
“E Major” (‘V’),
“E7” (‘V7’)
“`
2. “Tonight, Tonight” by The Smashing Pumpkins also makes use of borrowed chords and unusual shifts from major to minor.
“`
“D Major” (‘I’),
“G Major” (‘IV’),
“F# minor” (‘iii’),
“B minor” (‘vi’),
“E Major” (‘II’),
“G Major” (‘IV’),
“D Major” (‘I’),
“A Major” (‘V’)
“`
Both examples present unexpected and innovative harmonic progressions, an aspect they share with “Because”.

Musical Analysis

This progression incorporates an interesting mix of both borrowed chords and secondary dominants. The harmony begins straightforward with the tonic, a C# minor chord. Then, it moves to the D# half-diminished 7, a seventh chord built on the second degree of the minor scale. Following this, The progression effectively transitions into a new harmonic landscape using secondary dominant chords that resolve deceptively to A Major. A9 Major and A13 Major, are extensions of the A Major chord, and provide further harmonic interest.

In the progression, both “D Major” and “D diminished 7” are examples of borrowed chords. “D Major” is borrowed from the parallel major, and “D diminished 7” is the leading-tone diminished 7 of the key.

Overall Analysis

The song constantly oscillates around C#m, which is the presumed root key. Harmonically, the 8-bar verse progression involves the frequent use of borrowed chords, as well as secondary dominants, which are frequently used in the Beatles’ compositions, to provide a colorful and subtle tension.

Style Analysis

“Because” showcases the harmonic inventions typical of the Beatles. The song’s use of borrowed chords and secondary dominants equips it with a sense of sophistication beyond typical rock and pop songs. The constant tonal shifts create an air of mystery and unpredictability, a style note which became a key feature of the Beatles later works.

Chords in the Verse 3 section of Because by The Beatles are:

[‘C#m’, ‘C#m’, ‘D#m7b5’, ‘G#7/D#’, ‘A’, ‘C#m’, ‘A9’, ‘A13’, ‘D’, ‘Ddim7’, ‘C#m’, ‘C#m’]