Search

Related Music Theory Alchemy

The song “Eight Days a Week” by The Beatles is an interesting example of pop music songwriting from the mid 1960’s. It showcases Paul McCartney and John Lennon’s ability to use common chord progressions and tweak them in a unique and recognizable way. It utilizes a simple progression in the verse but what makes it different is their use of 7th and borrowed chords. The key of the song is D major.

“Dont Let Me Down” by The Beatles is a song that’s heavily grounded in the key of E Major, with some interesting use of borrowed chords for a richer, more emotional harmonic texture. The song is a fine example of The Beatles’ songwriting style, which often involves mixing diatonic chords with chromatic passing chords, borrowed chords, and secondary dominants.

“The Bullet With Butterfly Wings” by The Smashing Pumpkins essentially revolves around the use of power chords, or 5th chords, to project a raw, grungy intensity. The chord progression (B5, Em, G5), extracted from the second verse of the song, is prominent throughout. The use of power chords results in a composition that doesn’t transpose to a traditional major or minor key, but fits within a modal framework.

“Hallelujah” is a song by singer-songwriter Jeff Buckley and is a cover of a song originally written by Leonard Cohen. The song is in the key of C major and features a moderate tempo with a 6/8 time signature. This particular chord progression, taken from the second verse, consists mainly of diatonic chords found within the key, but also includes a few borrowed chords and a secondary dominant, giving the song a sense of tension and release.

“Brown Sugar” by The Rolling Stones, off their 1971 album Sticky Fingers, is in the key of C major, and primarily uses the chords C, F, G and Bb. This song showcases the band’s blues rock influences, built on a repetitive, riff-driven chord progression. The use of I, IV, V, and a borrowed bVII (Bb), which is common in the blues, creates an appealing and familiar sound, helping the song resonate with listeners.

The Beatles – Eight Days A Week – Verse 2

Add To Favorites Remove From Favorites

< All Analyses

Chord Progression

[‘D’, ‘E7’, ‘G’, ‘D’, ‘D’, ‘E7’, ‘G’, ‘D’]

Chord Progression Analysis

Here is a detailed chord progression analysis list and the identified borrowed chords:
1. D (I)
2. E7 (II7)
3. G (IV)
4. D (I)
5. D (I)
6. E7 (II7)
7. G (IV)
8. D (I)

“`A borrowed chord occurs in this progression is: E7 which is a II7, borrowed from the D Mixolydian mode.“`

Similar Chord Progressions

The Beatles influenced a raft of artists who have used similar chord progressions in their work. The Kinks’ song “Waterloo Sunset” employs a similar progression: [‘D’, ‘E7’, ‘G’, ‘D’]. The song “Mr. Brightside” by The Killers also bares a resemblance, with a partial chord progression of [‘D’, ‘E’, ‘G’, ‘D’]. Remember that the reinterpretation of chord progressions in different compositions is a common practice in music.

Musical Analysis

The verse 2 chord progression creates a pleasing seesaw effect, toggling back and forth between familiar tonal centers. The E7 chord introduces an interesting touch as it functions as a secondary dominant (V/V), momentarily shifting our hearing towards the key of A. However, instead of resolving to A, it moves to G, a deceptive resolution that adds an unexpected twist. The E7 is also borrowed from the Mixolydian mode, blending in a bluesy element to the major tonality, whilst the D and G chords firmly anchor the song in the D major key.

Overall Analysis

“Eight Days A Week” by The Beatles, released in 1965, is renowned for its catchy melodic phrases, tight harmonies, and distinctive use of chords. The song is firmly rooted in the key of D major, but there is an interesting use of borrowed chords.

Verse 2

Style Analysis

Despite the straightforward melodies and harmonies, “Eight Days A Week” is a perfect example of the Beatles’ innovative approach to songwriting that pushed the boundaries of pop music. It uses an unusual blend of major/minor tonalities and modal interchange, something not commonly seen in music at the time. Reminiscent of the folk and country music from which they drew inspiration, the song transcends traditional stylistic boundaries, falling somewhere between pop, rock, and folk.

Chords in the Verse 2 section of Eight Days A Week by The Beatles are:

[‘D’, ‘E7’, ‘G’, ‘D’, ‘D’, ‘E7’, ‘G’, ‘D’]