Search

Related Music Theory Alchemy

“Within You Without You” from The Beatles’ Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band album, composed by George Harrison, is a unique song in the Beatles’ discography. Musically, it truly merges the essence of Indian classical music with traditional Western music techniques. The chord progression is minimal and largely stays around the key of C major, which enhances the song’s drone-like effect, typical in traditional Indian music.

“House of the Rising Sun” by The Animals features a repeating chord progression in a minor key that gives the song a haunting, melancholic feel. This progression moves through the circle of fifths, features borrowed chords from its relative major key and has a strong resolution from the dominant to the tonic.

**
Generally, the chord progression follows the conventional guidelines of western music, utilizing strong resolution from B (V) to E (I). However, it also employs some harmony techniques very typical in pop/rock music, such as the use of slash chords and chord inversions (A/E, F#m7/E) to add harmonic interest. In addition, it incorporates chromatic mediant relationships (E to C#m) to create a sense of progression.

**

The song “3s and 7s” by Queens of the Stone Age is in the key of A# minor. The chord progression predominantly features three chords: A#m, G#, and F. The progression utilizes elements of rock and metal music, characteristic of the band’s style. The composition has a darker feel brought by the use of minor chords and dropped tuning, which is frequently employed in harder styles of rock music.

The Beatles – I Will – Verse 1

Add To Favorites Remove From Favorites

< All Analyses

Chord Progression

[‘C’, ‘Am’, ‘Dm7’, ‘G7’, ‘C’, ‘Am’, ‘Em’, ‘C7’, ‘F’, ‘G’, ‘Am’, ‘C7’, ‘F’, ‘G’, ‘C’, ‘Am’, ‘Dm7’, ‘G(sus4)’]

Chord Progression Analysis

C (I)’, ‘Am (vi)’, ‘Dm7 (ii7)’, ‘G7 (V7)’, ‘C (I)’, ‘Am (vi)’, ‘Em (iii)’, ‘C7 (I7)’, ‘F (IV)’, ‘G (V)’, ‘Am (vi)’, ‘C7 (I7)’, ‘F (IV)’, ‘G (V)’, ‘C (I)’, ‘Am (vi)’, ‘Dm7 (ii7)’, ‘G(sus4) (Vsus4)’

Borrowed Chords:
“`
‘C7 (I7)’
“`

Similar Chord Progressions

One common progression that shares some similarities with “I Will” is the progression used in “Earth Angel” by The Penguins:

‘Eb (I)’, ‘Bb/D (V/iii)’, ‘Cm7 (ii7)’, ‘F7 (V7)’, ‘Bb (IV)’, ‘Eb (I)’, ‘Bb/D (V/iii)’, ‘Ab (bVII)’, ‘Eb (I)’

The key difference here is a bVII (Ab) chord, which acts as a borrowed chord from the key of Eb minor. It sidesteps the expected V chord and leads back to the I chord for the next repetition of the progression. This chord, similar to the borrowed chords in ‘I Will’, gives the progression an added color and complexity.

Musical Analysis

The underlying structure of ‘I Will’ showcases an interesting use of several common progressions and cadences within the key of C major. The use of a I-vi-ii-V cycle provides a strong forward momentum to the progression, propelling it towards the repetition. The I7 (C7) chord is a secondary dominant, specifically a V/IV that serves as a pivot chord to introduce the IV (F) chord. This adds an unexpected twist that enhances the harmonic interest of the song.

Overall Analysis

The song “I Will” by The Beatles is an example of their unique and sophisticated approach to pop songwriting, demonstrating their comprehensive mastery of harmony within the pop idiom. The majority of the harmonies used in the song are diatonic to the key of C major, however there are several instances of borrowed chords that add color and complexity to the song’s overall harmonic structure.

Style Analysis

The Beatles’ “I Will” is marked by its simplicity and economy. Its chord progression echoes a familiar rock/pop tradition but does so with an inventiveness that betrays the group’s strong understanding of harmonic function. The occasional unexpected modulations and heavily syncopated vocal melodies give the song a unique twist within the pop genre.

Chords in the Verse 1 section of I Will by The Beatles are:

[‘C’, ‘Am’, ‘Dm7’, ‘G7’, ‘C’, ‘Am’, ‘Em’, ‘C7’, ‘F’, ‘G’, ‘Am’, ‘C7’, ‘F’, ‘G’, ‘C’, ‘Am’, ‘Dm7’, ‘G(sus4)’]