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“Let It Be” by The Beatles utilizes a very accessible and effective chord progression throughout the song. This progression is designed to create tension and release as it progresses, as well as establish the root key of the song, which is C Major.

The chords used throughout the song show a strong use of borrowed chords, inversions, and extensions, adding to the depth and complexity of the song despite the relatively uncomplicated chord progression.

The balance between the root key, dissonance, resolution, and overall harmony creates an emotive and engaging song that maintains listener interest and displays the songwriting abilities of The Beatles.

“Strawberry Fields Forever” by The Beatles is a significant example of their high level of technical composition skills. This track, which is played in the key of A Major, incorporates variations in the conventional chord progressions by using borrowed chords and shifting harmonic and melodic structures, showcasing their profound understanding of music theory and ability to use those ideas creatively.

“Tonight, Tonight” by The Smashing Pumpkins draws from the band’s unique style of alternative rock influenced by a distinct palette of harmonic choices. Particularly in the songwriting of Billy Corgan (the band’s primary songwriter), the band tends to use a mix of common and uncommon chords, together with a tendency of exploring different tonalities. Often, the chord changes are driven by guitar inversions, suspensions, or additions.

“Heartbreaker” by The Rolling Stones is a rock song that exhibits some fundamental rock and blues progressions and chord changes. The chorus of the song is a three-chord progression [E, G, C] that repeats four times.

The chorus of Radiohead’s “Paranoid Android” features an unconventional and diverse chord progression, drawing from various scale degrees. This progression contributes to the song’s complex, shifting quality, moving through several tonal centers.

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’]