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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.

“Come Together”, released by The Beatles in 1969 on their Abbey Road album, is a rock song known for its catchy bass-line, cryptic lyrics and iconic chorus. It’s written in D minor key, a common key in rock music. Across the progression, there is not only an interesting mix of different chords but also a novel use of borrowed chords that play a significant role in making the song mysterious, intriguing, and unique.

“I Sat By The Ocean” by Queens of The Stone Age is written in E Major key.

“Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me” is a pop song by Elton John from the album “Caribou,” released in 1974. The song is set in the key of C Major, with some interesting chord changes and borrowed chords that are rich and reflective of Elton John’s unique harmonic style. The chorus especially impresses with unexpected chord shifts, demonstrating a sophisticated songwriting technique.

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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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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’]