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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.

The chord progression of “I Want To Hold Your Hand” by The Beatles is particularly interesting for its use of key changes and borrowed chords. It reflects both the catchy driving pop rock melody signature of early Beatles and the sophistication of harmonic innovation, which defines their later work.

The chord progression in the verse of Beck’s “Sexx Laws” is a blend of major and minor chords, which creates a unique and somewhat unpredictable sound. The progression shifts between the key of B major and G# minor, reflecting an adventurous approach to harmony. The style of this progression has a hint of funk and jazz, with a touch of blues.

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“Girl” is a song by The Beatles from their 1965 album “Rubber Soul”. The song is written in the key of E minor and it showcases the band’s ability to incorporate non-diatsubject resorting to non-diatonic progressions and utilizes various seventh chords to establish a more sophisticated and jazzy soundid progression. It’s important to note their use of the Dorian mode, which adds to the melodic and harmonic sophistication of the song. Moreover, the song exhibits the lyrical and songwriting depth of The Beatles.

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“Hysteria” by Muse is a song with a heavy rock style, featuring a powerful bassline and distorted guitars. The chord progression mentioned is present in the first verse of the song. This progression is characterized by the use of standard tonal harmony and minor key tonality, with some slight variations that are typical in rock music.

The Beatles – Let It Be – Verse 1

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Chord Progression

[‘C’, ‘G’, ‘Am’, ‘Am/G’, ‘Fmaj7’, ‘F6’, ‘C’, ‘G’, ‘F’, ‘C/E’, ‘Dm7’, ‘C’, ‘C’, ‘G’, ‘Am’, ‘Am/G’, ‘Fmaj7’, ‘F6’, ‘C’, ‘G’, ‘F’, ‘C/E’, ‘Dm7’, ‘C’]

Chord Progression Analysis

“`
C (I)
G (V)
Am (vi)
Am/G (vi/IV)
Fmaj7 (IV)
F6 (IV-v6)
C (I)
G (V)
F (IV)
C/E (I-vi)
Dm7 (ii7)
C (I)
C (I)
G (V)
Am (vi)
Am/G (vi/IV)
Fmaj7 (IV)
F6 (IV-v6)
C (I)
G (V)
F (IV)
C/E (I-vi)
Dm7 (ii7)
C (I)
“`
Chords borrowed from other keys are labeled within the code block, namely Am/G, F6, and C/E. These chords add richness to the sound due to their harmonics and pitch diversity.

Similar Chord Progressions

One song with similar chord progressions is “No Woman, No Cry” by Bob Marley and the chord progressions in the song can be demonstrated just like we did for “Let It Be”:
“`
C (I)
G (V)
Am (vi)
F (IV)
C (I)
F (IV)
C (I)
G (V)
“`
This song also utilizes a IV-I-V-vi chord progression, which is very common in pop music. The progression is known for its strong sense of resolution and tonal centering. Other songs with similar structures include Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin’”, U2’s “With or Without You”, and “Let It Go” from the Disney film Frozen.

Musical Analysis

“Let It Be” features an even meter with a smooth, flowing rhythm. The steady use of bass notes throughout anchors the harmony and shows harmonic enrichment by the use of more complex chords, which often lead to the tonic for resolution.

The use of harmony in “Let It Be” reflects the folk and rock ‘n’ roll influences evident in many of The Beatles’ works. The song leans on major and minor triads, punctuated with the flavorful usage of the 6th and 7th.

Overall Analysis

“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.

Style Analysis

“Let It Be” is distinctly in The Beatles’ style, drawing from pop, rock ‘n’ roll and folk traditions. The song is characterized by its memorable melody, emotive lyrics, and the creative use of chord progressions and harmonies, resulting in a unique, engaging sound.

Chords in the Verse 1 section of Let It Be by The Beatles are:

[‘C’, ‘G’, ‘Am’, ‘Am/G’, ‘Fmaj7’, ‘F6’, ‘C’, ‘G’, ‘F’, ‘C/E’, ‘Dm7’, ‘C’, ‘C’, ‘G’, ‘Am’, ‘Am/G’, ‘Fmaj7’, ‘F6’, ‘C’, ‘G’, ‘F’, ‘C/E’, ‘Dm7’, ‘C’]