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Related Music Theory Alchemy

The song “Rocky Raccoon” by The Beatles features a intriguing chord progression typically employed in blues and folk music that creates a captivating storytelling-style musical framework. The verse using the provided chords weaves an interesting tale via major and minor fluctuations giving an emotional depth to the lyrics.

“Penny Lane” by The Beatles is a pop rock song released in 1967. Musically, the track displays characteristics of the “Baroque pop” style combine with psychedelic pop. The composition is multifaceted with complex chord progressions inspired by classical music, as well as elements of the British music hall style, specifically brass band influences throughout.

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The given chord progression is from the verse 3 of the song “The Good Life” by Weezer. The song is in the key of G major and features a mix of diatonic chords from the G major scale and a borrowed chord from the parallel minor (G minor).

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“Purple Haze” by Jimi Hendrix is a classic and influential rock song released in 1967. The chord progression featured in Verse 3 of this song has a bluesy, psychedelic sound that typifies Hendrix’s style. The use of the E7#9 chord, also known as the “Hendrix chord,” adds a sense of tension and dissonance, which contributes to the edgy and innovative nature of the song.

This is simply a repetition of the F major chord, played four times. This does not provide much variety or harmonic interest, but it might create a sense of stability and could be used to produce a strong tonal center.

The Beatles – Rocky Raccoon – Verse 3

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Chord Progression

[‘Am7’, ‘D7sus4’, ‘D7’, ‘G7’, ‘C’, ‘C/B’, ‘Am7’, ‘D7sus4’, ‘D7’, ‘G7’, ‘C’, ‘C/B’, ‘Am7’, ‘D7sus4’, ‘D7’, ‘G7’, ‘C’, ‘C/B’, ‘Am7’, ‘D7sus4’, ‘D7’, ‘G7’, ‘C’, ‘C/B’]

Chord Progression Analysis

Here are the full chord names and their Roman numerals:

“`
Am7 (‘vi7’)
D7sus4 (‘IV7sus4’ – Borrowed Chord)
D7 (‘IV7’ – Borrowed Chord)
G7 (‘VII7’)
C (‘I’)
C/B (‘I’/VII)
Am7 (‘vi7’)
D7sus4 (‘IV7sus4’ – Borrowed Chord)
D7 (‘IV7’ – Borrowed Chord)
G7 (‘VII7’)
C (‘I’)
C/B (‘I’/VII)
Am7 (‘vi7’)
D7sus4 (‘IV7sus4’ – Borrowed Chord)
D7 (‘IV7’ – Borrowed Chord)
G7 (‘VII7’)
C (‘I’)
C/B (‘I’/VII)
Am7 (‘vi7’)
D7sus4 (‘IV7sus4’ – Borrowed Chord)
D7 (‘IV7’ – Borrowed Chord)
G7 (‘VII7’)
C (‘I’)
C/B (‘I’/VII)
“`

Similar Chord Progressions

One can observe a somewhat similar chord progression in the Rolling Stones’ “Wild Horses”, employing a sequence of G, Am7, Bm, and G. “Tangled Up in Blue” by Bob Dylan also utilizes a mix of dominant and sustained chords, demonstrating a progression of A, G, D, Dsus4.

Musical Analysis

In this progression, the Beatles alternate between the vi7 and IV7 for tension before concluding on the I chord. The use of the IV7 chord (represented here as both a D7sus4 and a D7) is actually borrowed from the Dorian mode, which promotes a somewhat bluesy, soulful texture amidst the primarily diatonic context.

Overall Analysis

The Beatles’ “Rocky Raccoon” incorporates a repeating sequence of predominantly seventh chords, displaying a mix of minor, dominant, and sustained chords within the and C Major/A minor keys. This diversity contributes to the song’s unique harmony, and given its context in a folk rock style, the progression exudes a rustic, storytelling personality.

Style Analysis

“Rocky Raccoon” embodies the folk rock fusion that the Beatles were known for in their later years, with the progression’s rustic lyricism corresponding beautifully with the song’s narrative. Additionally, the progressive seventh chords and borrowed Dorian notes contribute to a nostalgic, western saloon style evocative of classic American folk music.

Chords in the Verse 3 section of Rocky Raccoon by The Beatles are:

[‘Am7’, ‘D7sus4’, ‘D7’, ‘G7’, ‘C’, ‘C/B’, ‘Am7’, ‘D7sus4’, ‘D7’, ‘G7’, ‘C’, ‘C/B’, ‘Am7’, ‘D7sus4’, ‘D7’, ‘G7’, ‘C’, ‘C/B’, ‘Am7’, ‘D7sus4’, ‘D7’, ‘G7’, ‘C’, ‘C/B’]