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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.

“Something” written by George Harrison from The Beatles majorly follows the key of C major and includes a few borrowed chords. There is a usage of secondary dominants and seventh chords which lend a harmonic complexity to the song. During the course of the song, the chords shift from the major scale to the parallel minor scale.

“God Only Knows” by The Beach Boys showcases the artistic depth and compositional craft of Brian Wilson, the band’s primary songwriter. The song utilizes a complex chord progression and key changes that are unconventional for pop music of its time. The chord progression creates a sense of constant mood transitions, similar to arias in Romantic era music.

Taylor Swift’s “Black Dog” features a verse chord progression that is both simple and evocative, utilizing variations of the tonic chord to create a sense of movement and build tension before resolving into more straightforward chord changes. This kind of progression is characteristic of songs that aim to evoke a contemplative or narrative-driven mood, which is a frequent theme in Swift’s songwriting.

The chord progression in the verse of “Knights of Cydonia” by Muse features a mix of diatonic and borrowed chords, primarily from the G# minor and E major keys. The progression features an interesting blend of major and minor chords, chromatic movement, and modulation, contributing to the epic and powerful sound of the track.

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

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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’]