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Related Music Theory Alchemy

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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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“I Want To Hold Your Hand” by The Beatles is an excellent example of their innovative approach to harmony and chord progression. This song, written in the key of G major, features a common I-V-vi-III progression in the verses. It notably uses borrowed ‘B’ major and ‘B7’ chords from the parallel minor scale.

The song in question, “Endlessly” by Muse, is a reflective and emotional piece, featuring a fairly unique chord progression. The verse’s chord progression is not commonly heard in popular music, giving it a distinct sound that sets it apart from other songs. The use of suspended chords, the shift from Am to Bm, and the resolution to the E7 chord give the piece a floating, ethereal feel.

“I Am The Walrus” is a distinctive composition by the Beatles from their 1967 album “Magical Mystery Tour”. Known for its surreal lyrics and creative chord progression, the song displays the Beatles’ mastery of composition and their innovative use of harmony. The song features elements from psychedelic rock, a genre that the Beatles helped popularize during the mid-1960s.

Dead Flowers by The Rolling Stones is a classic track that exhibits some very traditional aspects of popular music and blues-based rock. The song is in D major and follows a fairly standard chord progression, using only three chords (D, A, and G), which make up four-measure phrases that are repeated throughout this part of the song.

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’]