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Related Music Theory Alchemy

“I Am The Walrus” is a composition by The Beatles in which the song varies in key and progressive elements, with fascinating uses of borrowed chords from parallel modes and chromatic bass motion. The melody resides predominantly within a pentatonic framework, frequently rotating around subversions. The Bridge section beautifully showcases Beatles’ experimentation with descending chord progression built around chromatic movement.

“Yesterday” is predominantly composed in the key of F Major. The song is a classic in pop songwriting and showcases the effective use of borrowed chords to capture a unique, nostalgic sound that has made it one of the most covered songs in pop music. Specifically, in this verse, the use of secondary dominants and borrowed chords from the parallel minor key provides the song’s distinctive tonal color.

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“Closer” by Nine Inch Nails is a repetitive, hypnotic song that relies on a dark tonality and electronic elements to create its unique sound. This is achieved with the use of only two chords: Cm7 and F. Notably, a distinctive feature of this song is the lack of chordal diversity which aids in creating a minimal, industrial vibe.

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“Time to Pretend” by MGMT is a psychedelic pop/rock song that incorporates elements of electronic and indie rock music. The chord progression in the pre-chorus, which we will specifically analyze, shows MGMT’s experimentation with harmonic structure, drawing influences from both traditional classical and popular music techniques.

The song “Closer” by Nine Inch Nails is written in C minor key, and the overall structure of the song consists of a verse, pre-chorus, and a chorus. The progression is simple yet effective in creating a dark and moody atmosphere, consistent with the industrial rock genre that characterizes Nine Inch Nails’ music.

Pre-Chorus 1 –

The Beatles – I Am The Walrus – Pre-Chorus 1

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Chord Progression

[‘A’, ‘A/G’, ‘Dadd9/F#’, ‘F’, ‘G’, ‘A’, ‘A/G’, ‘F’, ‘B7’]

Chord Progression Analysis

“`text
Full Chord Name (Roman Numeral)
A (‘I’)
A/G (‘I/VII’)
Dadd9/F# (‘IV/V’)
F (‘bVI’)
G (‘VII’)
A (‘I’)
A/G (‘I/VII’)
F (‘bVI’)
B7 (‘II7’)
“`

Here, ‘F’ is a borrowed chord typically from the parallel minor key (i.e., ‘bVI’).

Similar Chord Progressions

This kind of eclectic chord progression is found not just in The Beatles’ catalog. It is echoed in the works of other artists such as in Brian Wilson’s compositions for the Beach Boys, for example, the song “God Only Knows” employs a similar kind of unconventional tonality and key changes.

Progression in God Only Knows:

“`text
Full Chord Name (Roman Numeral)
A (‘I’)
Bm (‘ii’)
D (‘IV’)
G (‘VII’)
A (‘I’)
F7 (‘bVI7’)
B7 (‘II7’)
“`

Musical Analysis

In the pre-chorus, the chord progression starts on ‘A’ (the tonic), descending via an A/G (a slash chord adding color to the progression), to Dadd9/F# (a typical IV chord), further augmented with a F# bass note. The ‘F’ chord acts as a borrowed chord from the parallel minor, providing a colorful textural shift within the progression. This is followed by a traditional G and a return to the tonic ‘A’, further cascading through A/G and F, and finally resolving to a B7. The B7 acts as a secondary dominant that points towards the ‘E’, which becomes the key for the upcoming part of the song.

Overall Analysis

“I Am The Walrus” is a composition by The Beatles that showcases a variety of chord progressions, rhythmic sensibilities, and melodic explorations that are representative of their signature sound. The song’s structure presents a complex and unorthodox harmonic design that is characteristic of The Beatles’ later experimental phase.

The pre-chorus 1 [‘A’, ‘A/G’, ‘Dadd9/F#’, ‘F’, ‘G’, ‘A’, ‘A/G’, ‘F’, ‘B7’] presents a series of descending bass notes provided by the root movement of these chords- from A to G (in ‘A/G’) to F# (in ‘Dadd9/F#’) and then repeated. This technique significantly enhances the melodic content of this progression. From a stylistic perspective, the song’s chord progression is enriched by the functional interplay of diatonic and non-diatonic elements over a changing tonal landscape.

Style Analysis

As typical with many Beatles compositions, the progression moves beyond the confines of traditional pop music tonality of their era. The use of borrowed chords such as F (bVI), and the slash chord A/G (‘I/VII’), contribute to a sense of harmonic complexity and tension. This progression exhibits their fondness for chromatic movement and innovative chord changes, subtly shifting key centers.

Chords in the Pre-Chorus 1 section of I Am The Walrus by The Beatles are:

[‘A’, ‘A/G’, ‘Dadd9/F#’, ‘F’, ‘G’, ‘A’, ‘A/G’, ‘F’, ‘B7’]