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Related Music Theory Alchemy

“Strawberry Fields Forever” by The Beatles is an iconic psychedelic rock track marked with rich harmonies and sophisticated musical elements. The song is primarily constructed around the key of A, but it employs several modal mixtures and non-diatonic chords, contributing to its intriguing tonality.

“Come Together” by The Beatles, like many other Beatles songs, is known for its unique melody and innovative chord progressions. The song is written in the key of D minor and employs frequent use of bluesy pentatonic scale patterns. The meter is 4/4 (common time). The song is characterized by the use of common chords, with the exception of the Bm and Bm/A chords which are noteworthy.

Killer Queen’ is one of Queen’s signature songs, abounding with Freddie Mercury’s flamboyant melodic invention, clever harmonies, and theatrical presentation. Its chorus in particular uses an array of chords to create a sophisticated and fluid progression. Before embarking on a note-by-note analysis, we can note that it principally operates in the key of G Major and involves a number of borrowed and secondary chords that bring intrigue and depth to the progression.

“Castles Made of Sand” by Jimi Hendrix is a psychedelic rock song that features a unique chord progression and distinctive guitar techniques that were ahead of its time. The song was released in 1967 on the album “Axis: Bold as Love” and showcases Hendrix’s innovative approach to guitar playing and songwriting.

“Whole Lotta Love” by Led Zeppelin is a classic rock song with a strong blues influence. It features a heavy riff-based progression and a powerful vocal performance by Robert Plant. The song is in the key of E Mixolydian, a mode based on the fifth degree of the A Major scale, and exhibits a heavy use of syncopation, pentatonic scales, and chromaticism throughout its structure. The rich harmonic language and distorted guitar tone makes the song an excellent example of the emerging Hard Rock and Heavy Metal styles of the late 1960s and early 1970s.

The Beatles – Strawberry Fields Forever – Chorus 3

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Chord Progression

[‘A’, ‘Em7’, ‘Em7’, ‘F#7’, ‘D’, ‘F#7’, ‘Dmaj7’, ‘A’]

Chord Progression Analysis

“`
– A Major (I)
– E minor 7 (v7)
– E minor 7 (v7)
– F#7 (VI7)
– D Major (IV)
– F#7 (VI7)
– D Major 7 (IVmaj7)
– A Major (I)
“`
All the chords used here are diatonic except for F#7 which is borrowed from the parallel minor key (A minor). This creates a jazz-influenced dominant 7th chord transition which adds melodic and harmonic variance to the sequence.

Similar Chord Progressions

The Beach Boys’ “God Only Knows” also utilizes many borrowed chords and secondary dominants. Specifically, the progression Brian Wilson uses in the verses, like:
“`
– E Major (I)
– B/F# (V)
– G#m7 (iii7)
– C#m7 (vi7)
– F#7 (V7)
– C#m7 (ii7)
– F#7 (V7)
“`
“Bennie and the Jets” by Elton John also employs non-diatonic chord progressions within the context of pop music. For instance, the verses feature:
“`
– G Major (I)
– Em7 (vi7)
– A7 (II7)
– D7 (V7)
– G Major (I)
“`
Both these songs, like “Strawberry Fields Forever”, challenge the traditional Major/minor dynamics in pop music, creating a richer harmonic palette.

Musical Analysis

The Beatles often used traditional harmonic music theory principles and expanded upon them. The use of the VI7 (F#7) borrowed chord is an example of using secondary dominants, which forces an abrupt change and adds a more sophisticated, Jazz-like sound. The use of the E minor 7 vocabulary is also an unconventional move in a piece written in A Major. This alteration contributes to a moodier, darker quality within the song which differentiates it from a typical pop song.

Overall Analysis

“Strawberry Fields Forever” by The Beatles is written in the key of A Major and features 4/4 time signature. The chord progression for Chorus 3, which you’ve mentioned, is quite sophisticated and creative, exhibiting the Beatles’ aptitude for blending conventional pop harmony with more unexpected changes, drawn from their broad palette of influences and their willingness to experiment.

Style Analysis

“Strawberry Fields Forever” is an example of Psychedelic Rock due to its unusual melodies and chord progressions, use of unconventional instruments (like the Mellotron), complex studio effects including tape loops and backwards recordings, and its cryptic lyrics. It’s considered one of their masterpieces in “psychedelia”.

Chords in the Chorus 3 section of Strawberry Fields Forever by The Beatles are:

[‘A’, ‘Em7’, ‘Em7’, ‘F#7’, ‘D’, ‘F#7’, ‘Dmaj7’, ‘A’]