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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 chord progression in the verse of “Help!” by The Beatles is quite characteristic of their style, using common chords but in interesting and unusual ways. The verse of “Help!” notably presents a mix of classic pop chord progression (I-vi-ii-V), secondary dominant chords and chromatic progressions. The Beatles often incorporated novel harmonic structures that added depth and complexity to their pop music, as evidenced in this piece.

“Don’t Look Back in Anger” by Oasis is written in the key of C major. Although it largely conforms to the traditional progressions expected within this key, the song does feature some interesting variations in the form of borrowed chords coming from the parallel minor key (C minor) – a common technique used in pop and rock music.

The modality of the song “Yet Again” by Grizzly Bear is primarily in A minor, which makes it a piece in the minor modality. This song uses several traditional progression elements, but intermixes them with unexpected changes, especially the shift from E minor to F major, and the chromatic shift from G major to B flat major.

The chord progression in the chorus of “Paper Tiger” by Beck is an interesting mix of major and minor chords which gives the song a unique and slightly melancholic vibe. While the song is in the key of E major, it contains several chords borrowed from the parallel minor key and features unusual harmonic movement. This creates a sense of tension and release that is characteristic of Beck’s music.

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’]