The Beatles – Here Comes The Sun – Chorus 3
Here Comes The Sun < All Analyses
Chord Progression
[‘D’, ‘Dsus2’, ‘D’, ‘G’, ‘E7’, ‘D’, ‘Dsus2’, ‘D’]
Chord Progression Analysis
The given chord progression for Chorus 3 is as follows:
D (‘I’), Dsus2 (‘Isus2’), D (‘I’), G (‘IV’), E7 (‘V/V’), D (‘I’), Dsus2 (‘Isus2’), D (‘I’)
Similar Chord Progressions
While the exact chord progression may not be common, there are songs that exhibit the use of similar principles.
1. “Sweet Home Alabama” by Lynyrd Skynyrd. The verse progression alternates between I, V/V, and IV chords:
D major (‘I’), C major (‘VII / bVII’ – borrowed chord from D Mixolydian), G major (‘IV’)
2. “Norwegian Wood” by The Beatles themselves uses the D Mixolydian scale and therefore has a similar sound with its use of the VII chord:
D (‘I’), Dsus4 (‘Isus4’), D (‘I’), C (‘VII / bVII’ – borrowed chord from D Mixolydian)
Overall, with a lot more in context, “Here Comes the Sun” certainly showcases the enriched musical vocabulary of The Beatles that was often presented through deceptively simple songs.
Musical Analysis
The tune features a progression largely built around the key of D major. But there’s an interesting twist in that an E7 appears, which is not in key considering that the 7th note in the D major scale is C#, but the E7 chord contains a D natural. This is an example of a borrowed chord from the D Mixolydian mode.
It starts with a simple I – Isus2 – I alternation which brings a sense of brightness to the song, characteristic of the major scale.
The progression then introduces a IV chord (G), indicating a typical pop/rock move to provide some variation and increase the tension.
The E7, though, is where the Beatles demonstrate their compositional sophistication. This is a secondary dominant (V/V), borrowed from the D Mixolydian mode in this case. This temporarily hints a modulation towards the dominant key of A major before cleverly slipping back to the home key of D major.
Overall Analysis
“Here Comes The Sun” is written by George Harrison from The Beatles and it is a key example of the band’s flirtation with what is commonly referred to as Mixolydian mode. The piece showcases their skillful blending of folk idioms with contemporary pop sensibilities.
Style Analysis
The use of the Mixolydian mode and the handling of the chords are characteristic of the Beatles’ style. The repeated use of the sus2 variant of the tonic chord lends a folk-like, drone quality to this section of the tune, while the deft touch with the secondary dominant subtly expands the harmonic palette.
What are the chords in: The Beatles – Here Comes The Sun – Chorus 3?
[‘D’, ‘Dsus2’, ‘D’, ‘G’, ‘E7’, ‘D’, ‘Dsus2’, ‘D’]
