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Related Music Theory Alchemy

“Strawberry Fields Forever” by The Beatles is a song that displays the remarkable depth of harmonic creativity found in their songwriting. The chord progression in the Chorus 4 section of the song is particularly complex. This progressions illustrate the band’s ability to exploit common harmonic devices such as diatonic pivots, modal mixture, and deceptive resolutions, in order to produce beautifully unique and captivating chord sequences.

The song “Penny Lane” written by the Beatles is in the key of A major. The structure of Verse 4, specifically, has a very effective use of both diatonic (belonging naturally to the key) and borrowed chords (taken from a different key or mode). They have incorporated secondary dominants, pivot modulation, and modal interchange which reflect their knowledge of musical theory and compositional skills.

The chord progression in the verse 1 of “Whole Lotta Love” by Led Zeppelin features just two chords: D and E. This fairly simple progression, used repetitively throughout the verse, creates a strong and energetic foundation for the song. The style of the song reflects 1960s heavy rock, and the simplicity of the chord progression adds to the rawness and drive of the music.

“Hey You” by Pink Floyd is a prog-rock song featured on their iconic album, “The Wall.” Its chord progression showcases a unique blend of chords that creates a sense of yearning and emotional intensity. The use of borrowed chords from parallel keys enhances the song’s emotive quality, and the overall structure shows a level of harmonic sophistication typical of Pink Floyd’s work.

“Heart Is A Drum” by Beck is a simple, yet emotional and effective piece, written in the key of C major. The chord progression of the verse revolves around the tonic (C) and the subdominant (Dm7), resulting in a gentle, down-to-earth feel, characteristic of Beck’s folk and alternative music influences.

The Beatles – Strawberry Fields Forever – Verse 1

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Chord Progression

[‘E’, ‘Emaj7’, ‘E7’, ‘F#m’, ‘E’, ‘D’, ‘D’, ‘E’, ‘A’, ‘F#m’, ‘D’, ‘E’, ‘D’, ‘A’]

Chord Progression Analysis

“`
‘E major’ (‘I chord’)
‘E major 7th’ (‘I maj7 chord’)
‘E dominant 7th’ (‘I7 chord’)
‘F# minor’ (‘ii chord’)
‘E major’ (‘I chord’)
‘D major’ (‘VII chord’) – Borrowed from E minor
‘D major’ (‘VII chord’) – Borrowed from E minor
‘E major’ (‘I chord’)
‘A major’ (‘IV chord’)
‘F# minor’ (‘ii chord’)
‘D major’ (‘VII chord’) – Borrowed from E minor
‘E major’ (‘I chord’)
‘D major’ (‘VII chord’) – Borrowed from E minor
‘A major’ (‘IV chord’)
“`

Similar Chord Progressions

1) ‘God Only Knows’ by The Beach Boys uses a similar technique of blending major and minor modes, allowing complex emotions to be expressed:
“`
‘A major’ (‘I chord’)
‘A major 7th’ (‘I maj7 chord’)
‘A7’ (‘I7 chord’)
‘D minor’ (‘iv chord’) – Borrowed from A minor
“`
2) ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ by Queen also uses modal interchange and rapidly changing harmonies, an example of which is seen in this excerpt from the song’s introduction:
“`
‘Bb major’ (‘I chord’)
‘G minor’ (‘vi chord’)
‘C minor’ (‘ii chord’) – Borrowed from Bb minor
‘F major’ (‘V chord’)
“`

Musical Analysis

The song begins with the I chord, ‘E major’, which then undergoes a softening by transitioning into ‘E major 7th’ and further into ‘E dominant 7th’. This progression leads us into the ‘F# minor’, the ii chord, lending a dreamy and modally ambiguous air to the song. This is accentuated by the use of borrowed ‘D major’ chords, originated from E minor.

“Strawberry Fields Forever” alternates between E major and E minor modes, a technique known as Modal Interchange, which lends the song a distinctive and captivating sound.

Overall Analysis

“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.

Style Analysis

The Beatles are known for their innovative use of chords and progressions, blending major and minor modes to create unique soundscapes. “Strawberry Fields Forever” takes advantage of the distinctive sound of the Mellotron, an early keyboard instrument that uses taped loops of real instruments. The ethereal quality of the Mellotron underscored the modal interchange and chromaticism, typifying the aesthetics of the psychedelic era.

Chords in the Verse 1 section of Strawberry Fields Forever by The Beatles are:

[‘E’, ‘Emaj7’, ‘E7’, ‘F#m’, ‘E’, ‘D’, ‘D’, ‘E’, ‘A’, ‘F#m’, ‘D’, ‘E’, ‘D’, ‘A’]