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Related Music Theory Alchemy

“Let It Be” by The Beatles is a song in the key of C Major. The chord progression featured in Verse 3 of the song, C – G – Am – Am/G – Fmaj7 – F6 – C – G – F – C/E – Dm7 – C, is a common progression in pop music. It has a repetitive structure and revolves around the I-V-vi-VI progression.

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“Blackbird” by The Beatles is a song mostly in the key of G Major. It’s known for its interesting guitar work and unconventional chord progression. The song employs a mix of functional and non-functional harmony, striking a balance between traditional diatonic harmony and more experimental harmonic ideas. The chord progression also includes several chromatic or borrowed chords (Cm, Dbdim, D# (b5), C#dim, and Ebaug).

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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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“All My Loving” by the Beatles is a great example of their early ’60s pop style. This song’s verse chord progression is in the key of D Major with a mix of minor chords and 7th chords that add to the emotional intensity of the song. The composition blends pop simplicity with complex harmony, encapsulating the Beatles’ innovative songwriting.

“Goodbye Yellow Brick Road” is a song written by Elton John that features a complex chord progression that effectively complements the haunting and nostalgic quality of the song’s lyrics. The primary key of the song is D major, while parts of the progression borrow from both the parallel minor (D minor) and the relative minor (B minor). The use of these borrowed chords adds harmonic interest and enhances the song’s evocative, wistful mood.

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’]