The Beatles – I Want To Hold Your Hand – Verse 3
I Want To Hold Your Hand < All Analyses
Chord Progression
[‘G’, ‘D’, ‘Em’, ‘B’, ‘G’, ‘D’, ‘Em’, ‘B7’]
Chord Progression Analysis
“`shell
G Major (‘I’)
D Major (‘V’)
E Minor (‘vi’)
B Major (‘III’, borrowed chord from parallel major)
G Major (‘I’)
D Major (‘V’)
E Minor (‘vi’)
B7 Major (‘III7’, borrowed chord from parallel major)
“`
Similar Chord Progressions
1. “Creep” by Radiohead:
“`shell
G Major (‘I’)
B Major (‘III’, borrowed chord from parallel major)
C Major (‘IV’)
C Minor (‘iv’, borrowed chord from parallel minor)
“`
2. “Let It Be” by The Beatles:
“`shell
C Major (‘I’)
G Major (‘V’)
A minor (‘vi’)
F Major(‘IV’)
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Both exhibit some of YouTube’s influence. Notably, Radiohead’s “Creep” uses a similar change from the I chord, directly to a borrowed III chord, just like “I Want to Hold Your Hand”.
Musical Analysis
The progression is primarily based in the key of G Major. Starting with the I chord(G Major) gives the progression its tonal targeted sound. Shifting to the D Major (the ‘V’ or dominant chord), which returns to the E minor that commonly functions as the vi chord of a progression. The interesting part here is the addition of the B Major and B7 chords. These are ‘borrowed chords’, specifically from the parallel major of E minor, representing a modal mixture, which adds complexity and a unique twist to the conventional chord progression. The B7 acts as a secondary dominant, creating a strong pull to the tonic (G Major).
Overall Analysis
“I Want To Hold Your Hand” by The Beatles is one of the band’s early hits noted for its crafty melodic hooks and harmonic structure attesting to their evolving musical sophistication. The chord progression of Verse 3 is a great reflection of this, using classic pop songwriting techniques such as the predominant use of I, IV and V chords along with a borrowed chord from another mode, that add to the emotional depth of the song.
Style Analysis
This progression characterizes The Beatles’ evolving style in the early 60s, which displayed a penchant for blending the simplicity of rock and roll with more sophisticated compositional techniques. This blend is what allowed their music to appeal to a broad audience, maintaining a catchy pop aesthetic, while also advancing musical content and complexity. The use of borrowed chords is indicative of The Beatles’ willingness to experiment with more unconventional harmonic territory.
What are the chords in: The Beatles – I Want To Hold Your Hand – Verse 3?
[‘G’, ‘D’, ‘Em’, ‘B’, ‘G’, ‘D’, ‘Em’, ‘B7’]
