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Related Music Theory Alchemy

“Come Together”, released by The Beatles in 1969 on their Abbey Road album, is a rock song known for its catchy bass-line, cryptic lyrics and iconic chorus. It’s written in D minor key, a common key in rock music. Across the progression, there is not only an interesting mix of different chords but also a novel use of borrowed chords that play a significant role in making the song mysterious, intriguing, and unique.

“Eleanor Rigby’” is a song by The Beatles, released on their 1966 album “Revolver”. Being unusually somber and profound for a pop song, it showcases The Beatles’ expanding musical palette and their desire to move past the conventional parameters of popular music at the time. The song itself is crafted entirely around the key of E minor, with only occasional diversions to the IV chord (C Major). It strongly exhibits the use of Aeolian mode (commonly known as the ‘natural’ minor) and employs string quartet instrumentation, a unique stylistic pattern at that time.

“Hallelujah” by Jeff Buckley is a well-known example of a poignant, introspective ballad with a mix of pop, folk, and gospel elements. It features intricate, emotionally evocative chord progressions that move beyond typical diatonic patterns and uses borrowed chords to create an emotionally charged atmosphere.

“Brown Sugar” by The Rolling Stones is based in the key of C major. The verse has a simple and catchy chord progression that primarily revolves around the I and IV chords in the key, with brief excursions to the dominant and a borrowed chord from the parallel minor key. This structure contributes to the song’s bluesy and rock’n’roll sound.

“The Long and Winding Road” by The Beatles is an iconic pop ballad renowned for its rich harmonic content. It employs both modal interchange and secondary dominants, thus securing its place as an exemplary piece in pop music harmony. Its dominant tonality is D Major, however, it makes use of many borrowed chords.

The Beatles – Come Together – Verse 1

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Chord Progression

[‘Dm’, ‘Dm’, ‘A’, ‘G’]

Chord Progression Analysis

Here is the chord progression of Verse 1 along with the full chord names and their roman numerals:

D minor (i)
D minor (i)
A major (V)
G major (IV)

Every chord exists naturally in the key of D minor, thus there are no borrowed chords in this progression.

Similar Chord Progressions

1. “Bad Moon Rising” by Creedence Clearwater Revival has similar chord progression:
D major (I)
A major (V)
G major (IV)
D major (I)

2. “Sweet Child o’ Mine” by Guns N’ Roses also shares a similar progression in the verse:
D major (I)
C major (bVII)
G major (IV)
D major (I)

This analysis only covers Verse 1 of the song, but the overall structure and progression vary throughout, with the use of the chords Bm and Bm/A making appearances in other parts of the song, enhancing its overall complexity and musical interest.

Musical Analysis

The chord progression’s unique character stems from its repetition and simplicity. The repeated D minor chord emphasizes the overall tonal center of the song. The A major to G major progression is a characteristic example of a V-IV cadence in minor, which creates an unresolved tension. The harmonic rhythm is consistent, with each chord receiving equal duration, lending to the steady and hypnotic groove of the song.

Overall Analysis

“Come Together” by The Beatles, like many other Beatles songs, is known for its unique melody and innovative chord progressions. The song is written in the key of D minor and employs frequent use of bluesy pentatonic scale patterns. The meter is 4/4 (common time). The song is characterized by the use of common chords, with the exception of the Bm and Bm/A chords which are noteworthy.

Style Analysis

“Come Together” is influenced by blues and rock and roll. Its simple and repetitive chord progression are features commonly found in these genres. The straightforward progression also serves as a background for the complex vocal melody and the signature bass line. The Beatles often employed standard rock/pop chords, but would arrange them in often unexpected and innovative ways.

Chords in the Verse 1 section of Come Together by The Beatles are:

[‘Dm’, ‘Dm’, ‘A’, ‘G’]