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Related Music Theory Alchemy

The outro of ‘Hey Jude’ by The Beatles is a prime example of a repeated chord progression, specifically a repeated loop of D-C-G-D. This progression is repeated throughout the last significant section of the song, often referred to as the “na na na” section, essentially becoming a kind of mantra or chant that brings the song to a sustained and palpable resolution.

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.

The chord progression for the verse of “Kids” by MGMT is a simple and diatonic progression in the key of A major, following the vi-IV-I-V pattern. It is common in pop music and creates a sense of tension and release throughout the progression. The chords are played using predominantly major and minor triads, with an inversion in the V chord (E/G#).

The Verse of “Us and Them” by Pink Floyd showcases a unique and non-diatonic chord progression that focuses on D mixolydian mode with added sus2 chords and an augmented chord. It deviates from traditional harmony patterns and creates a spacious, floating feel. The chords occur in a consistent pattern and are mostly slash chords with the constant presence of the D note in the bass, which further strengthens the D tonality.

“Anti-Hero,” a standout track from Taylor Swift, exemplifies her mature songwriting style that merges introspective lyrics with intricate harmonies. This song’s verse utilizes a chord progression that creates a rich emotional landscape, perfectly complementing the themes of self-reflection and personal imperfection. The progression, while rooted in the traditional pop structure, employs extended chords to enhance its lyrical narrative, adding layers of complexity that resonate with listeners.

The Beatles – Hey Jude – Verse

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Chord Progression

[‘D’, ‘A’, ‘A7’, ‘D’, ‘G’, ‘D’, ‘A’, ‘A7’, ‘D’]

Chord Progression Analysis

“`
D (I)
A (V)
A7 (V7)
D (I)
G (IV)
D (I)
A (V)
A7 (V7)
D (I)
“`

This is a fairly typical pop/rock progression that loosely follows a I-V-IV-I pattern. However, this pattern is made more complex with the use of the V7 (A7 in this case) to add tension and depth.

Similar Chord Progressions

Here are a few songs with

Musical Analysis

“Hey Jude” is a poignant and touching composition. Musically, the initial part of the progression is designed to create a strong emotional bond with the listener. The song begins on the tonic chord (D), moves to the dominant (A), adds a seventh for tension (A7), then resolves back to the tonic (D). This is followed by a move to the subdominant (G), before returning to the tonic (D) and repeating the sequence. This simple yet effective progression helps create the song’s distinctive emotional landscape. Furthermore, the frequent return to the tonic chord (D) creates a sense of stability and resolution, underscoring the song’s overall comforting feel.

Overall Analysis

“Hey Jude,” by The Beatles, is an iconic song. The chord progression is in the key of D major and it follows a sort of Variation on I-V-IV-I progression of many pop and rock songs. However, what makes this song extremely unique is its out-of-the-box structure and the experimental use of borrowed cords – it shows The Beatles’ fondness for combining elements of pop, rock and classical music and results in an emotional, powerful progression that resonates strongly with listeners.

Style Analysis

In terms of style, “Hey Jude” is quintessentially Beatles. Its creative harmonic progressions, use of borrowed chords, and blending of rock, pop, and classical elements is characteristic of their late-period work. Additionally, the song’s unconventional structure (lacking a traditional verse-chorus-bridge format) and its extended “na-na-na” coda also mark it as a standout example of The Beatles’ innovative approach to songwriting.

Chords in the Verse section of Hey Jude by The Beatles are:

[‘D’, ‘A’, ‘A7’, ‘D’, ‘G’, ‘D’, ‘A’, ‘A7’, ‘D’]