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Related Music Theory Alchemy

“The Continuing Story of Bungalow Bill” features a verse in A minor with a brief but significant shift to F minor, due to the use of borrowed chords or modal mixture. Notably, it showcases The Beatles’ sophisticated approach to harmonization, utilizing unconventional chord progressions & modulations that are cyclical.

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.

“Cant Buy Me Love” by The Beatles, is a song in the key of C Major, but it has an interesting harmonic structure, especially in the chorus. The song features a number of borrowed and secondary dominant chords to create tension that resolves into the tonic chord. The chorus’s progression can be seen as a series of descending minor thirds, with an unexpected shift to a ii-V-I progression which is quite popular in jazz music.

The chord progression for Radiohead’s “All I Need” chorus features a simple and repetitive structure, with a strong emphasis on the tonic (C major) and its relative minor (E minor). The progression then ends with a brief move to the dominant (G major), before returning to the tonic. This accessible sequence reflects the song’s emotional vulnerability and simplicity, while also showcasing the band’s ability to create emotional depth in their music.

“Get You” by Daniel Caesar is a soulful R&B ballad featuring a smooth and emotive chord progression that is both melancholic and uplifting. The progression is derived from the key of D major, but features a borrowed chord from its parallel minor key, D minor, which adds a unique flair to the song. Daniel Caesar’s vocal performance, accompanied by soulful instrumentation, creates a sense of nostalgia and emotional evocation that is characteristic of the R&B genre.

The Beatles – The Continuing Story Of Bungalow Bill – Chorus

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Chord Progression

[‘C’, ‘G7’, ‘C’, ‘Fm’, ‘C’, ‘Fm’, ‘G7’, ‘A’, ‘E7’, ‘A’, ‘Dm’, ‘A’, ‘Dm’, ‘E7’, ‘C’, ‘G7’, ‘C’, ‘Fm’, ‘C’, ‘Fm’, ‘G7’, ‘A’, ‘E7’, ‘A’, ‘Dm’, ‘A’, ‘Dm’, ‘E7’]

Chord Progression Analysis

(For clarity, each chord below will follow the syntax: Full Chord name (‘Roman Numeral) .)

– C Major (‘I)
– G7 Major (‘V7)
– C Major (‘I)
– F minor (‘iv)
– C Major (‘I)
– F minor (‘iv)
– G7 Major (‘V7)
– A Major (‘VI)
– E7 Major (Secondary Dominant of ‘V in A Major)
– A Major (‘VI)
– D minor (‘ii)
– A Major (‘VI)
– D minor (‘ii)
– E7 Major (Secondary Dominant of ‘V in A Major)
– C Major (‘I)
– G7 Major (‘V7)
– C Major (‘I)
– F minor (‘iv)
– C Major (‘I)
– F minor (‘iv)
– G7 Major (‘V7)
– A Major (‘VI)
– E7 Major (Secondary Dominant of ‘V in A Major)
– A Major (‘VI)
– D minor (‘ii)
– A Major (‘VI)
– D minor (‘ii)
– E7 Major (Secondary Dominant of ‘V in A Major)

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Notable Borrowed Chords:

F minor (‘iv): Borrowed from C minor (Parallel Minor of C Major)
A Major (‘VI): Borrowed from C major’s Parallel Minor’s (C minor’s) Relative Major (Eb Major)
“`

Similar Chord Progressions

1. “My Sweet Lord” by George Harrison uses the ‘I – ‘V (C Major – G7 Major) progression.

2. “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” by The Beatles uses the ‘I – ‘iv progression (C Major – F minor).

For comparison:

– “My Sweet Lord”: G (‘I) – Em (‘vi) – G (‘I) – D7 (‘V7)
– “While My Guitar Gently Weeps”: Am (‘vi) – C (‘I) – G (‘V) – D (‘IV) – E (‘V/vi – Secondary Dominant)

Musical Analysis

The use of the F minor (‘iv) chord from the parallel minor creates a striking, “color” effect which certainly contributes to the unique musical character of this Beatles’ piece. Additionally, the repeated shifts between tonal centers with the use of secondary dominants contribute to an adventurous feel typical of many Beatles’ compositions.

Overall Analysis

This chorus from The Beatles’ “The Continuing Story Of Bungalow Bill” is an example of clever use of common chord transitions with several shifts in tonality. The chord progression uses the tonic key of C Major and F minor, showing complex modulation derived from modal interchange and secondary dominant techniques.

Style Analysis

This complex composition style is in line with the progressive musical tendencies of The Beatles. They were known for their frequent use of modal interchange (borrowed chords), secondary dominants, and for their seamless tonal shifts which kept their music dynamically engaging.

Chords in the Chorus section of The Continuing Story Of Bungalow Bill by The Beatles are:

[‘C’, ‘G7’, ‘C’, ‘Fm’, ‘C’, ‘Fm’, ‘G7’, ‘A’, ‘E7’, ‘A’, ‘Dm’, ‘A’, ‘Dm’, ‘E7’, ‘C’, ‘G7’, ‘C’, ‘Fm’, ‘C’, ‘Fm’, ‘G7’, ‘A’, ‘E7’, ‘A’, ‘Dm’, ‘A’, ‘Dm’, ‘E7’]