The Beatles – Something – Outro
Something < All Analyses
Chord Progression
[‘F’, ‘Eb’, ‘G/D’, ‘A’, ‘F’, ‘Eb’, ‘G/D’, ‘C’]
Chord Progression Analysis
As requested, here is the chord progression analysis of the outro in “Something” with the full chord names and Roman Numerals:
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F Major (IV)
Eb Major (bIII – borrowed from C minor)
G/D or D7(sus4) (V/V – secondary dominant)
A Major (VI)
F Major (IV)
Eb Major (bIII – borrowed from C minor)
G/D or D7(sus4) (V/V – secondary dominant)
C Major (I)
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As you can see in the analysis, the Eb Major chord is a borrowed chord from the parallel minor of the key (C minor). Similarly, the A Major and G Major chords serve as secondary dominants which pivot the harmony to different key areas temporarily.
Similar Chord Progressions
One similar composition is “Let It Be” by The Beatles themselves. They are known to borrow chords often and the song uses a parallel minor borrowed chord (bIII) in the progression much like “Something”. The progression in “Let It Be” is
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C Major (I)
G Major (V)
A minor (vi)
F Major (IV)
C Major (I)
G Major (V)
F Major (IV)
C Major (I)
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Another example can be “What’s Up” by 4 Non Blondes which repeatedly uses bIII:
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A Major (I)
B Major (II)
D Major (bVII – borrowed from A minor)
A Major (I)
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So you can see how the musical exploration in “Something” isn’t very usual, but is also not completely unique. It represents part of The Beatles’ broader innovation in songwriting, particularly in the use of chord progressions.
Musical Analysis
The Beatles albums were often marked by a series of innovations that helped to advance popular music. “Something”, with its subtle shifts in tonality, stands as an example of their harmonic originality and sophistication. The outro begins and ends firmly in C major, but in-between, it saunters into different tonal areas. The Eb Major (bIII) chord, while being ‘borrowed’ from the parallel minor, is often used by Beatles and it gives a surprise twist to the progression.
The G/D chord, viewed as a D7(sus4), is a secondary dominant resolving deceptively to the A Major chord, which does not belong to the key. It lends an unexpected turn to the progression before it lapses back home to C Major.
Overall Analysis
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.
Style Analysis
The Beatles are known for their eclectic style and their ability to incorporate different musical elements into their compositions. The outro of “Something” speaks volumes of this approach. Rather than simply landing the song with a clichéd phrase, Harrison closes it with a deftly manipulated drop from IV to a poignant borrowed bIII, and swirls it around with secondary dominants.
What are the chords in: The Beatles – Something – Outro?
[‘F’, ‘Eb’, ‘G/D’, ‘A’, ‘F’, ‘Eb’, ‘G/D’, ‘C’]
