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Related Music Theory Alchemy

“I Am The Walrus” is a composition by The Beatles that showcases a variety of chord progressions, rhythmic sensibilities, and melodic explorations that are representative of their signature sound. The song’s structure presents a complex and unorthodox harmonic design that is characteristic of The Beatles’ later experimental phase.

The pre-chorus 1 [‘A’, ‘A/G’, ‘Dadd9/F#’, ‘F’, ‘G’, ‘A’, ‘A/G’, ‘F’, ‘B7’] presents a series of descending bass notes provided by the root movement of these chords- from A to G (in ‘A/G’) to F# (in ‘Dadd9/F#’) and then repeated. This technique significantly enhances the melodic content of this progression. From a stylistic perspective, the song’s chord progression is enriched by the functional interplay of diatonic and non-diatonic elements over a changing tonal landscape.

“Dazed and Confused” by Led Zeppelin is a rock song that features a mix of blues and psychedelic elements. The chord progression in the verse is quite unconventional and may invoke a feeling of unease, which matches the song’s mysterious and somewhat disorienting theme.

The song “Closer” by Nine Inch Nails is a dark and provocative piece built upon a relentless, driving chord progression and sinuous melodies. The downbeat feel and chromaticism contribute to the brooding, unsettling mood of the song, which is a hallmark of the industrial rock genre. The piece is in the key of B minor.

The chord progression in the verse of “Knights of Cydonia” by Muse features a mix of diatonic and borrowed chords, primarily from the G# minor and E major keys. The progression features an interesting blend of major and minor chords, chromatic movement, and modulation, contributing to the epic and powerful sound of the track.

The Beatles – Blackbird – Verse

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Chord Progression

[‘G’, ‘Am7’, ‘G/B’, ‘G’, ‘C’, ‘C#dim’, ‘D’, ‘D#(b5)’, ‘Em’, ‘Ebaug’, ‘D’, ‘Dbdim’, ‘C’, ‘Cm’, ‘G/B’, ‘A7’, ‘C/D’, ‘G’, ‘C’, ‘G/B’, ‘A7’, ‘C/D’, ‘G’, ‘C’, ‘G/B’, ‘A7’, ‘C/D’, ‘G’]

Chord Progression Analysis

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Verse:

Here’s the chord progression for the verse with full chord names.

“`
G (I) – Am7 (ii7) – G/B (I/III) – G (I))
C (IV) – C#dim (iv♯°) – D (V) – D#(b5) (♭V(b5)) – Em (vi) – Ebaug (vi♭(#5)) – D (V) – Dbdim (♭V°) – C (IV) – Cm (iv(minor) – borrowed chord from G minor)
G/B (I/III) – A7 (V7/ii) – C/D (IV/V) – G (I)
C (IV) – G/B (I/III) – A7 (V7/ii) – C/D (IV/V) – G (I) –
C (IV) – G/B (I/III) – A7 (V7/ii) – C/D (IV/V) – G (I)
“`

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Similar Chord Progressions

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One song with similar harmonic complexity is “Stairway to Heaven” by Led Zeppelin, which combines a variety of chords, similar to “Blackbird,” though this progression is not as chromatically active.

Verse Chord Progression:

“`
Am (i) – G#°/B# (vii°/VI) – C/D (VI/VII) – D/F# (VII/IX) – Fmaj7 (VI maj7) – Am (i) – G (VII) – Am (i)
“`
Also, “Daydream Believer” by The Monkees has a similar feel:

Verse Chord Progression:

“`
G (I) – D (V) – G (I) – Bm (iii) – Em (vi) – Am (ii) – D7 (V7) – G (I)
“`

Musical Analysis

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There are two main aspects of this chord progression that make it unique: its use of secondary dominants (A7), which function to temporarily tonicize a non-tonic chord (in this case the ii chord, Am), and its use of a borrowed chord from the parallel minor key (Cm). These elements contribute to the progression’s distinct sound.

The progression also does not follow a standard 4-chord loop commonly seen in pop/rock music of the time, but rather goes on a journey with several unique changes. Non-diatonic chords such as the D#(b5), Dbdim, and the Ebaug chords further disrupt the expected feel of the key.

Furthermore, the inversion of the primary G chord (G/B) gives a distinctive color to the progression.

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Overall Analysis

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“Blackbird” by The Beatles is a song mostly in the key of G Major. It’s known for its interesting guitar work and unconventional chord progression. The song employs a mix of functional and non-functional harmony, striking a balance between traditional diatonic harmony and more experimental harmonic ideas. The chord progression also includes several chromatic or borrowed chords (Cm, Dbdim, D# (b5), C#dim, and Ebaug).

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Style Analysis

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“Blackbird” is one of the Beatles’ more harmonic adventurous songs, showcasing their ability as innovators within the pop music realm. The combination of standard folk acoustic picking with rare and borrowed chords, as well as its irregular structure defying the typical verse-chorus form, sonically painting a landscape that is famously Beatles.

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Chords in the Verse section of Blackbird by The Beatles are:

[‘G’, ‘Am7’, ‘G/B’, ‘G’, ‘C’, ‘C#dim’, ‘D’, ‘D#(b5)’, ‘Em’, ‘Ebaug’, ‘D’, ‘Dbdim’, ‘C’, ‘Cm’, ‘G/B’, ‘A7’, ‘C/D’, ‘G’, ‘C’, ‘G/B’, ‘A7’, ‘C/D’, ‘G’, ‘C’, ‘G/B’, ‘A7’, ‘C/D’, ‘G’]