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“Let It Be” by The Beatles uses some of the most common chords in the key of C Major, which is the tonic of the song. It also contains few instances of chord extensions, inversions, and secondary dominants, which are widely used in pop music composition.

“Eleanor Rigby” is known for its unusual and innovative use of the Aeolian mode, otherwise known as the natural minor scale, which is reflected in the chord progression Em – C. The song incorporates string arrangements and has a narrative, storytelling style. Unlike most pop and rock songs of the time, it does not contain drums or guitars. The chord utilization is simple with only two chords used throughout, Em and C, but it nevertheless creates a unique and haunting soundscape.

“Little Red Corvette” by Prince is in the key of Gb Major. The song is a staple of 80’s pop and a good example of Prince’s signature sound of fusing elements from different genres, such as funk, pop, and rock. It’s a strong blend of complex chord progressions and simple, catchy melodic lines which adds a compelling depth to the music.

The chord progression in the chorus of “Nude” by Radiohead features a mix of diatonic and borrowed chords, with some added tensions for additional color. It reflects the band’s signature style of blending unexpected harmonic elements to create a unique and evocative sound. In particular, the mix of major and minor chords with added tensions lends a sense of both familiarity and unconventionality to the progression.

“Wonderwall” by Oasis is a rock song with folk roots and a melodic pop influence. It uses the alternative rock idiom of harmony, which bestows the song with a sound leaning towards traditional folk and classic pop. The band utilizes common vintage chords mixed with modern progressions to create that identifiable Oasis sound.

The Beatles – Let It Be – Chorus

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Chord Progression

[‘Am’, ‘G’, ‘F’, ‘C’, ‘C’, ‘G’, ‘F’, ‘C/E’, ‘Dm7’, ‘C’, ‘Am’, ‘G’, ‘F’, ‘C’, ‘C’, ‘G’, ‘F’, ‘C/E’, ‘Dm7’, ‘C’, ‘Am’, ‘G’, ‘F’, ‘C’, ‘C’, ‘G’, ‘F’, ‘C/E’, ‘Dm7’, ‘C’]

Chord Progression Analysis

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Here’s the chord progression analysis with Roman numerals for the chorus.

1. A minor (‘vi’)
2. G major (‘V’)
3. F major (‘IV’)
4. C major (‘I’)
5. C major (‘I’)
6. G major (‘V’)
7. F major (‘IV’)
8. C/E (‘I6’)
9. D minor 7 (‘ii7’)
10. C major (‘I’)
11. A minor (‘vi’)
12. G major (‘V’)
13. F major (‘IV’)
14. C major (‘I’)
15. C major (‘I’)
16. G major (‘V’)
17. F major (‘IV’)
18. C/E (‘I6’)
19. D minor 7 (‘ii7’)
20. C major (‘I’)
21. A minor (‘vi’)
22. G major (‘V’)
23. F major (‘IV’)
24. C major (‘I’)
25. C major (‘I’)
26. G major (‘V’)
27. F major (‘IV’)
28. C/E (‘I6’)
29. D minor 7 (‘ii7’)
30. C major (‘I’)

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Similar Chord Progressions

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1. The Police’s “Every Breath You Take” has a similar progression in its chorus: [‘G’, ‘Em’, ‘C/D’, ‘D’, ‘G’, ‘G’, ‘Em’, ‘C/D’, ‘D’, ‘G’], aligning to: G major (‘I’), E minor (‘vi’), C/D (‘IV6’), D major (‘V’), G major (‘I’).

2. Pink Floyd’s “Comfortably Numb” uses a progression with similar elements in its verse: [‘Bm’, ‘A’, ‘G’, ‘Em’, ‘Bm’], corresponding to: B minor (‘i’), A major (‘VII’), G major (‘VI’), E minor (‘iv’), B minor (‘i’).

3. Oasis’s “Wonderwall” adopts a similar progression in its chorus: [‘Em’, ‘G’, ‘D’, ‘A’, ‘Em’, ‘G’, ‘D’, ‘A’], mapping to: E minor (‘i’), G major (‘III’), D major (‘VII’), A major (‘IV’), E minor (‘i’), G major (‘III’), D major (‘VII’), A major (‘IV’).

Musical Analysis

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The chorus cyclically moves from the ‘vi’ to the ‘V’ to the ‘IV’ to the ‘I’, reinforcing the major tonality. The brief touches on the ‘vi’ chord provide an undercurrent of minor sonority, adding contrast within the progression. The ‘I6’ (C/E) chord is an example of an inverted chord used to smooth the bass motion.

The D minor 7 chord (‘ii7’) is used as a pivot chord to modulate the key, momentarily providing a softening effect before resolving back to the tonic, C major (‘I’).

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Overall Analysis

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“Let It Be” is one of The Beatles’ most popular songs and features a primarily major tonality (C Major), giving it its iconic uplifting and inspiring quality. The song’s chord progression is quite standard in terms of pop/rock music, yet it does include some interesting elements like inversions and a 7th chord to add variety and emotional depth.

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Style Analysis

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Beatles are known for their innovative use of chord progressions and harmonies, a feature that sets them apart from other artists of their era. In “Let It Be”, they combine conventional and uncommon progressions, embodying their talent in combining simplicity with complexity. The melody notes are primarily derived from the key of C major, providing a strong sense of unity and coherence.

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Chords in the Chorus section of Let It Be by The Beatles are:

[‘Am’, ‘G’, ‘F’, ‘C’, ‘C’, ‘G’, ‘F’, ‘C/E’, ‘Dm7’, ‘C’, ‘Am’, ‘G’, ‘F’, ‘C’, ‘C’, ‘G’, ‘F’, ‘C/E’, ‘Dm7’, ‘C’, ‘Am’, ‘G’, ‘F’, ‘C’, ‘C’, ‘G’, ‘F’, ‘C/E’, ‘Dm7’, ‘C’]