Music Theory Alchemy

Search

Related Music Theory Alchemy

The song “Something” by The Beatles has a key center in C major. However, it modulates from time to time using a variety of techniques including secondary dominance and borrowed chords. It is a fine example of George Harrison’s complex songwriting and his adroitness at seamlessly weaving together uncommon chord progressions. Harrison employs an array of chords to inject a rich, nuanced musical quality to the song.

“Strawberry Fields Forever” by The Beatles is a psychedelic rock song often regarded as one of their finest works. It’s innovative from both a melodic and harmonic perspective, using complex chord structures, chromatic touches, and key changes. The song is primarily in the key of E major.

“A Hard Day’s Night” by The Beatles is a song that was unusually complex and beautifully experimental. It uses rarely seen chord structures that emphasize both traditional tonality and borrowed tones from outside the key signature. This song is an excellent example of Beatles-style blending of rock & roll and pop music with elements of classical chord progressions and harmonies. It is also a great example of how The Beatles stretched the boundaries of diatonic harmony.

“A Day In The Life” is a progressive rock song from the “Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” album, released in 1967. The progression includes some well-known chords, along with more unusual chords and alterations that contribute to the unique sound of the song.

“Here, There and Everywhere” is a Beatles song from the album “Revolver”, released in 1966. The song is in the key of G major and showcases an advanced use of borrowed chords and modulations, a topic that contributes to the originality of this song. McCartney credited the song’s structure of changing key to Brian Wilson’s influence in the same period.

The Beatles – Something – Middle 8

Add To Favorites Remove From Favorites

< All Analyses

Chord Progression

[‘A’, ‘C#m/G#’, ‘F#m7’, ‘A/E’, ‘D’, ‘G’, ‘A’, ‘A’, ‘C#m/G#’, ‘F#m7’, ‘A/E’, ‘D’, ‘G’, ‘C’]

Chord Progression Analysis

Before sharing the chord progression with its full names and Roman numerals, I need to clarify the key we are in when the chords are played. In this middle eight, the song modulates to the key of A major (based on the first and last chords of this section).

“`
A (‘I’),
C#m/G# (‘iii/vi’),
F#m7 (‘vi7’),
A/E (‘I/v’),
D (‘IV’),
G (‘bVII’),
A (‘I’),
A (‘I’),
C#m/G# (‘iii/vi’),
F#m7 (‘vi7’),
A/E (‘I/v’),
D (‘IV’),
G (‘bVII’),
C (‘bIII’)
“`

As shown above, the bVII (G) and the bIII (C) chords are borrowed chords from the parallel minor key.

Similar Chord Progressions

Following are a few instances of other artists using

Musical Analysis

“Something,” like much of The Beatles’ later catalogue, showcases the complexity and experimentation characterising their sound. The middle eight section is a good example, moving fluidly through chord changes, which are anchored by the stable I chord, but float through a series of modulations. The borrowed chords lend a slightly unsettled, uncertain feeling to the progression, typical of The Beatles’ less conventional songwriting.

Overall Analysis

“Something” is composed in C Major; however, it modulates to several different keys. The song’s chord progression is relatively complex and less adherent to traditional tonality, typical of much of The Beatles’ work, particularly in their later years. Throughout the song, they make use of several common progressions, but with a few unique changes.

Style Analysis

This song is a wonderful representation of the approach to harmony developed by The Beatles, especially McCartney and Harrison, from the mid-period onwards. It partially roots itself in traditional tonality but isn’t afraid to borrow chords and even modulate keys to add some unexpected twists, creating a richly nuanced harmonic texture.

Chords in the Middle 8 section of Something by The Beatles are:

[‘A’, ‘C#m/G#’, ‘F#m7’, ‘A/E’, ‘D’, ‘G’, ‘A’, ‘A’, ‘C#m/G#’, ‘F#m7’, ‘A/E’, ‘D’, ‘G’, ‘C’]