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Related Music Theory Alchemy

“Maxwell’s Silver Hammer” by The Beatles is a track that showcases the band’s fondness for creating complex and textured compositions by combining multiple melody lines with innovative chord sequences in a pop rock context. It features numerous musical styles, including pop, rock, and music hall, which reflects the band’s eclectic musical influences. The Coda of the song takes place in the key of D major.

“Eight Days A Week” by The Beatles, released in 1965, is renowned for its catchy melodic phrases, tight harmonies, and distinctive use of chords. The song is firmly rooted in the key of D major, but there is an interesting use of borrowed chords.

Verse 2

“Exit Music (For a Film)” by Radiohead features a unique and somewhat complex chord progression, particularly in the second verse. The song can be viewed as being in A minor, with various borrowed chords and non-diatonic chords. The chord progression reflects Radiohead’s experimental and innovative approach to harmony and songwriting.

The chord progression in the verse of “Time To Pretend” by MGMT is primarily built around the key of D major. It features a simple and repetitive structure, with some variations. The chords used are mainly triads and simple extensions, with the occasional use of suspended chords (Dsus2) to create tension and release. The progression showcases the band’s ability to create an engaging and immersive soundscape, while keeping the harmony relatively simple.

“When You Die” by MGMT features a fairly unconventional chord progression that mixes elements of rock, pop, and classic psychedelia. The progression creates tension and intrigue through the use of extended harmonies, chromaticism, and borrowed chords. The distinctiveness of this progression contributes to the song’s unique sound.

The Beatles – Maxwells Silver Hammer – Verse 2

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Chord Progression

[‘D’, ‘B7’, ‘Em’, ‘A7’, ‘D’, ‘A’, ‘E7’, ‘A7’]

Chord Progression Analysis

Here is the roman numeral analysis and full chord names of Verse 2:

– D Major (I)
– B7 Major (VI7)
– E Minor (ii)
– A7 Major (V7)
– D Major (I)
– A Major (V)
– E7 Major (II7)
– A7 Major (V7)

The E7 Major (II7) and B7 (VI7) are the borrowed chords.

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Borrowed Chords: E7 Major (II7), B7 Major (VI7)
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Similar Chord Progressions

Creedence Clearwater Revival’s “Bad Moon Rising”

– D Major (I)
– A Major (V)
– G Major (IV)
– D Major (I)

The Monkees’s “I’m a Believer”

– G Major (I)
– D Major (V)
– C Major (IV)
– G Major (I)

These songs employ similar use of dominant and subdominant chords, although the role of secondary dominants is more pronounced in the Beatles’ progression.

Musical Analysis

Chord progression touches different diatonic chords of D Major, the tonic home key. The sudden switch to B7 serves as a secondary dominant that introduces E minor, the subdominant of D major. This is a great example of a chromatic secondary dominant, which The Beatles were known for using. Further, the E7 acts as a secondary dominant to the A7, the dominant of D Major.

Overall Analysis

“Maxwell’s Silver Hammer” is a song by the English rock band the Beatles from their 1969 album Abbey Road. It was written by Paul McCartney. The song is primarily in the key of D Major and exhibits a mix of major, minor, and dominant seventh chords. This verse progression manifests the distinctive Beatles’ sound which often includes chromaticism and prevalence of secondary dominants that link the chords together, giving a smooth flow and color to the harmonic progression.

Style Analysis

Pick out any Beatles song, and more likely than not, you’ll find it peppered with secondary dominants. “Maxwell’s Silver Hammer” is no exception. The song features a cheerful, upbeat tempo and tone despite its dark lyrical content, a classic Beatles contrast. Time signature is 4/4, maintaining a constant easy beat.

Chords in the Verse 2 section of Maxwells Silver Hammer by The Beatles are:

[‘D’, ‘B7’, ‘Em’, ‘A7’, ‘D’, ‘A’, ‘E7’, ‘A7’]