The Beatles – Penny Lane – Verse 3
Penny Lane < All Analyses
Chord Progression
[‘A’, ‘F#m’, ‘Bm’, ‘E7’, ‘A’, ‘F#m’, ‘Am’, ‘F’, ‘E7’]
Chord Progression Analysis
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Verse 3:
A Major (I)
F# minor (vi)
B minor (ii)
E7 (V7)
A Major (I)
F# minor (vi)
A minor (borrowed iv chord from parallel minor)
F Major (borrowed flat VI chord from parallel minor)
E7 (V7)
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The progression starts with the I-vi-ii-V7, a common cadence in pop music. Following this, it repeats the I-vi before introducing the A minor and the F major chords, borrowed from A minor, which is the parallel minor of A Major. E7 then acts as the dominant, leading to next key area.
Similar Chord Progressions
There are countless songs throughout pop history that use similar songwriting devices, however, few songs use these techniques with the finesse of The Beatles. For example:
– “Creep” by Radiohead also uses the borrowed flat Major chord from the parallel minor key.
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Chord progression:
G Major (I)
B Major (Borrowed III from parallel minor)
C Major (IV)
C minor (iv)
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– “Hotel California” by The Eagles uses borrowed chords, it progresses from a major key to a minor key.
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Chord progression:
B minor (i)
F# (V)
A Major (VII)
E Major (IV)
G Major (VI)
D Major (III)
Em (v)
F# (V)
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– “God Only Knows” by The Beach Boys, being a baroque pop, utilizes similar key changes and complex chord progressions.
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Chord progression:
A Major (I)
Bm (ii)
C#m (iii)
D Major (IV)
Dm (iv)
A Major (I)
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Musical Analysis
The Beatles apply advanced songwriting techniques. Interestingly, they move from the relative minor (F# minor) to the minor iv (Am) – a borrowed chord from the parallel minor (A minor) which infuses a little bit of melancholy into the melody. This is then followed by an F Major chord, another borrowed chord which provides a jazzy and bluesy touch to the song.
Overall Analysis
“Penny Lane” by The Beatles is an eclectic and elegant piece of music evident in its rhythm, harmony, melody, and lyrics. It is predominantly in the key of A Major, but it has several key changes and introduces chords that are non-diatonic, giving it a progressive and unexpected feel.
Style Analysis
“Penny Lane” reflects the pop, rock, and baroque-pop style of The Beatles. The lush melody, counterpoint-like writing, and secondary dominant chords reflect baroque music and early music influence. The use of borrowed chords also reflects the broader influence of jazz and blues on The Beatles.
What are the chords in: The Beatles – Penny Lane – Verse 3?
[‘A’, ‘F#m’, ‘Bm’, ‘E7’, ‘A’, ‘F#m’, ‘Am’, ‘F’, ‘E7’]
