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Related Music Theory Alchemy

“The Long and Winding Road” by The Beatles is an iconic pop ballad renowned for its rich harmonic content. It employs both modal interchange and secondary dominants, thus securing its place as an exemplary piece in pop music harmony. Its dominant tonality is D Major, however, it makes use of many borrowed chords.

“Penny Lane,” written by the Beatles, utilizes key changes and borrowed chords to create an interesting and complex tonal palette. The song is best understood to primarily be in the key of A Major; however, it frequently borrows chords from the parallel minor key, uses unexpected dominant chords, and briefly modulates to other key areas for color and variety. This is characteristic of several Beatles songs, and it’s one of the ways they added complexity to their music while still remaining accessible.

“Since I’ve Been Loving You” by Led Zeppelin is a slow blues ballad with a rich harmonic palette, featuring expressive guitar solos and a passionate, longing vocal performance. The song is characterized by its use of chromaticism, borrowed chords, and seventh chords, which contribute to its intense, bluesy atmosphere. The chord progression for Verse 2 displays a moody and introspective tone, which serves as the perfect backdrop for the plaintive lyrics and the emotional solos throughout the piece.

“When You Die” by MGMT features a fairly unconventional chord progression that mixes elements of rock, pop, and classic psychedelia. The progression creates tension and intrigue through the use of extended harmonies, chromaticism, and borrowed chords. The distinctiveness of this progression contributes to the song’s unique sound.

“Lost Cause” by Beck from the album “Sea Change” showcases a melancholic and heartfelt mood with a slow tempo, exuding a sense of introspection and vulnerability. The song can be described as a folk-rock ballad with subtle touches of country and indie rock.

The Beatles – The Long And Winding Road – Verse 2

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Chord Progression

[‘Bm’, ‘Gsus2/A’, ‘D’, ‘D7’, ‘G’, ‘Gmaj7’, ‘G’, ‘F#m’, ‘Bm’, ‘Em’, ‘A’, ‘D’, ‘D7’, ‘G’, ‘F#m’, ‘Bm’, ‘Em’, ‘A’, ‘D’]

Chord Progression Analysis

Verse 2 features the following chord progression:

“`
B minor (ii), Gsus2/A (IV), D major (I), D7 (I7), G major (IV), Gmaj7 (IV), G major (IV), F# minor (iii), B minor (ii), E minor (ii), A major (V), D major (I), D7 (I7), G major (IV), F# minor (iii), B minor (ii), E minor (ii), A major (V), D major (I)
“`

In this progression, the D7 adds a slight tension that is resolved by the following G chord. The use of the major seventh on the G creates a dreamy, smooth sound. The use of the ii, iii, and IV chords adds color and complexity to the sequence, contributing to its mournful tone.

Similar Chord Progressions

The Beatles’ innovative use of complex chord progressions has inspired countless other artists.

For instance, the song “God Only Knows” by The Beach Boys uses a progression with similar complexity and use of inversions:

“`
A major (I), B minor (ii), E (V), F# minor (vi), C# minor (iii), D major (IV), F#7 (VI7), B minor (ii), E major (V), A major (I), D major (IV), G minor (iv), D major(IV), E major (V), A major (I)
“`

Likewise, Billy Joel’s “Just the Way You Are” presents a chord sequence of similar sophistication:

“`
D major (I), Bm7 (vi), Emin7 (ii), Dmaj7 (I), Gmaj7 (IV), D/F# (I), Em7 (ii), Dmaj7 (I), G major (IV), F# minor (vi), Em7 (ii), A7 (V), D major (I), D7 (V7), Gmaj7 (IV), A7 (V7), D major (I)
“`

These examples demonstrate the widespread influence of The Beatles’ innovative chord progressions on popular music and their continued relevance in modern pop songwriting.

Musical Analysis

The musicianship within this track is reflective of the highly developed and mature compositional style of The Beatles’ later years; it includes the use of borrowed chords and added tensions, which were unusual for pop music of the time.

For example, the Gsus2/A chord is an example of a “slash” or polychord, a more sophisticated musical tool often seen in jazz music, which helps contribute to the song’s lush, full sound.

Overall Analysis

“The Long and Winding Road” by The Beatles is written in the key of D major and utilizes various chord progressions that contribute to its melancholic and nostalgic atmosphere.

Style Analysis

The Beatles were known for blending elements of various musical styles, including pop, rock, and more complex elements of classical and jazz harmony. The chord progression of “The Long and Winding Road” displays their knack for creating compelling, emotive music within the pop genre, while also pushing boundaries with more complex musical techniques.

Chords in the Verse 2 section of The Long And Winding Road by The Beatles are:

[‘Bm’, ‘Gsus2/A’, ‘D’, ‘D7’, ‘G’, ‘Gmaj7’, ‘G’, ‘F#m’, ‘Bm’, ‘Em’, ‘A’, ‘D’, ‘D7’, ‘G’, ‘F#m’, ‘Bm’, ‘Em’, ‘A’, ‘D’]