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Related Music Theory Alchemy

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“Cant Buy Me Love” by The Beatles is a pure example of their early rock-and-roll style influenced by blues. It uses common chord progressions in rock and blues, such as the I-IV-V progression and the use of dominant 7th chords. The song is set in C major, and makes repeated use of the I-IV (C-F) progression. A significant feature in the song is the use of the dominant 7th chords (C7 and F7), which adds some bluesy quality to the song and also serves as a transition chord to the next chord in the progression.

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The song “Rocky Raccoon” by The Beatles features a intriguing chord progression typically employed in blues and folk music that creates a captivating storytelling-style musical framework. The verse using the provided chords weaves an interesting tale via major and minor fluctuations giving an emotional depth to the lyrics.

“Exit Music (For a Film)” by Radiohead is a song characterized by a strong sense of melancholy and dark ambiance. The harmonic movement creates tension through the use of chromaticism, borrowed chords, and non-diatonic notes. In the verse progression, there is a mixture of minor and major chords, along with added tones that enhance the complexity and mood of the music.

“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.

The Beatles – Cant Buy Me Love – Verse 1

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Chord Progression

[‘C7’, ‘F7’, ‘C’]

Chord Progression Analysis

`C7 (V7/IV) –> F7 (IV7) –> C (I)`

These chords fit perfectly into the structure of the commonly used I-IV-V progression in classical and modern Western music. Yet, the inclusion of a dominant 7th chord on the tonic is quite unique.

In a Major key, a dominant seventh chord (V7) often leads to a resolution on the tonic (I) chord. Here, ‘F7’ (rather than ‘F’) serves as the IV chord, and is preceded by a secondary dominant (V7 of IV), ‘C7’, which creates a strong pull towards ‘F7’.

`Borrowed Chord: F7 (from C minor)`

The use of ‘F7’ (IV7), particularly, is an example of borrowed chord, often found in Blues and other types of music that incorporate blue notes. This chord is borrowed from C minor (the parallel minor of C Major).

Similar Chord Progressions

An example of another song that uses a similar approach through incorporation of secondary dominants and blues-oriented dominant 7th chords is The Beatles’ own “I Want to Hold Your Hand” (`D (I) –> G (IV) –> D (I) –> E7 (V7/IV) –> A7 (V7/V) –> D (I)`).

Aside from The Beatles, artists like Chuck Berry and Buddy Holly used dominant 7th chords frequently. A song like “Johnny B. Goode” (`Bb (I) –> Eb7 (IV7) –> Bb (I)`) or Buddy Holly’s “That’ll Be The Day” (`A (I) –> D7 (IV7) –> E7 (V7) –> A (I)`) also share certain similarities with “Can’t Buy Me Love”.

Musical Analysis

The Beatles often incorporate elements of blues and jazz into their music, and “Can’t Buy Me Love” is no exception. The use of dominant 7th chords in the progression, particularly the secondary dominant and the borrowed chord from the parallel minor, adds to the bluesy feel of this song while still conforming to pop song structure norms.

Overall Analysis

“Can’t Buy Me Love” is a song in C Major. The Beatles were renowned for their use of a variety of chord progressions, and this song certainly lives up to that reputation. Although the progression in the verse primarily consists of the chords ‘C7’, ‘F7’, and ‘C’, it’s the way they are harmonically linked that makes it really interesting.

Style Analysis

This track is a blend of rock and roll and pop, with high-energy, uptempo rhythm and catchy melodies. It’s light-hearted and upbeat in terms of style, and the use of distinct chord progressions like a secondary dominant leading to a borrowed chord add a layer of complexity setting The Beatles’ work apart from many contemporaries.

Chords in the Verse 1 section of Cant Buy Me Love by The Beatles are:

[‘C7’, ‘F7’, ‘C’]