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Related Music Theory Alchemy

“Maxwell’s Silver Hammer” is a Beatles song composed in the key of D Major. It’s a classic example of Paul McCartney’s knack for catchy pop songwriting. This song showcases McCartney’s affinity for borrowing chords to make his progressions more interesting.

** The Beatles are well known for their creative and unusual use of chords and harmonies. In “Lucy in The Sky With Diamonds”, there is a clear example of their innovative harmonic vocabulary. They employ a variety of common, borrowed, and chromatic mediant chords to create a remarkable soundscape that complements the psychedelic theme of the song.

**

“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.

“I Guess That’s Why They Call it the Blues” is a well-known hit by Elton John from the album “Too Low for Zero” released in 1983. The song is a blend of pop, rock and blues styles and showcases Elton John’s proficiency in blending different music genres. The verse uses a straightforward I-V-vi-IV progression which is a common progression in pop music.

The Chorus’s

The chord progression in the chorus of Beck’s “Lord Only Knows” is in the key of B Major and features some chromaticism and borrowed chords that give it a unique and somewhat unexpected sound. The chords move predominantly in fourths and fifths. The nature of the progression is reminiscent of rock and folk music, but Beck’s quirky and stylistic approach also evokes an alternative feel.

The Beatles – Maxwells Silver Hammer – Chorus

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Chord Progression

[‘D’, ‘E7’, ‘A7’, ‘Em’, ‘A7’]

Chord Progression Analysis

The chorus involves a repeated sequence of ‘D’, ‘E7’, ‘A7’, ‘Em’, ‘A7’. In terms of Roman numeral analysis in the key of D major, the progression goes as follows:

– ‘D Major’ (‘I’)
– ‘E7’ (‘II7’)
– ‘A7’ (‘V7’)
– ‘E Minor’ (‘ii’)
– ‘A7’ (‘V7’)

“` Borrowed Chords: ‘E Minor’ (‘ii’) is a borrowed chord from the parallel minor key (D minor).“`

Similar Chord Progressions

A song with a similar progression is “Just the Way You Are” by Bruno Mars. The chorus uses the progression ‘D’, ‘Em’, ‘Bm’, ‘G’, ‘D’, ‘Em’, ‘A’. In terms of Roman numeral analysis:

– ‘D Major’ (‘I’)
– ‘E minor’ (‘ii’)
– ‘Bm’ (‘iii’)
– ‘G Major’ (‘IV’)
– ‘D Major’ (‘I’)
– ‘E minor’ (‘ii’)
– ‘A Major’ (‘V’)

Here, there is also a movement from the tonic ‘I’ to the minor ‘ii’, similar to the structure in “Maxwell’s Silver Hammer.” Both songs use this device to add a touch of emotion and tension in an otherwise upbeat and major progression.

Musical Analysis

The melody over this progression is catchy and simple, showcasing The Beatles’ knack for unforgettable hooks. The use of the borrowed ‘E minor’ chord adds a touch of unexpected surprise, deviating from the key of D major momentarily to create a hint of tension before resolving beautifully back to ‘A7’, the dominant chord.

Overall Analysis

“Maxwell’s Silver Hammer,” composed by Paul McCartney, is a pop song that sits in the key of D Major throughout. However, it does borrow chords from the parallel minor. This technique, known as modal interchange or borrowed chords, is common in popular music and especially in classical compositions by iconic bands like The Beatles.

Style Analysis

This progression embodies The Beatles’ innovative approach. While it begins in a rather conventional manner, using ‘I’, ‘II7’, and ‘V7’ chords, the sudden switch to the ‘ii’ chord borrowed from the parallel minor gives the chorus an unexpected twist. This Beatles’ use of modal interchange is a prominent part of their style.

Chords in the Chorus section of Maxwells Silver Hammer by The Beatles are:

[‘D’, ‘E7’, ‘A7’, ‘Em’, ‘A7’]