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Related Music Theory Alchemy

The Beatles’ “With A Little Help From My Friends” is in the key of E major and the coda chord progression special in its context. It is a clear example of a piece from the pop or rock genre exhibiting a distinctive use of chord progressions and modulation without adhering strictly to the classical traditions. Common prevailing characteristics of music by The Beatles are exemplified in this piece through its use of borrowed chords, chromatic mediants, and modal interchange, providing a distinct harmonic color and texture.

This is a rich verse chord progression where The Beatles use diatonic and borrowed chords to enrich the melody. This progression follows their signature style of pop music with strong melodious and harmonic elements.

“Lord Only Knows” by Beck is a blend of folk and country with a touch of alternative rock. The song features an interesting chord progression, especially in Verse 3, which includes a mixture of major and minor chords as well as a few borrowed chords.

“1979” by The Smashing Pumpkins employs a variety of chords throughout the song, including major, major 7th, and minor 7th chords. The chord progression varies between sections but is based mostly on a mid-tempo groove in the key of E Major. The song utilizes common pop/rock conventions to create a dreamy and nostalgic soundscape, with the juxtaposition of the major and minor 7th chords adding complexity.

“Yet Again” by Grizzly Bear uses a repetitive verse structure that has a fairly common, major-oriented progression, but develops interest by alternating the exact sequence of chords that it employs. This gives the song a haunting but familiar atmosphere. The mixture of minor and major chords, along with the presence of a borrowed chord, creates tension and release within each verse.

The Beatles – With A Little Help From My Friends – Verse 3

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Chord Progression

[‘E’, ‘B’, ‘F#m’, ‘F#m’, ‘B’, ‘E’, ‘E’, ‘B’, ‘F#m’, ‘F#m’, ‘B’, ‘E’]

Chord Progression Analysis

“`markdown
E Major (I)
B Major (V)
F# Minor (ii)
F# Minor (ii)
B Major (V)
E Major (I)
E Major (I)
B Major (V)
F# Minor (ii)
F# Minor (ii)
B Major (V)
E Major (I)
“`

Similar Chord Progressions

– “Let it Be” by The Beatles: [‘C’, ‘G’, ‘Am’, ‘C’, ‘F’, ‘C’, ‘G’, ‘F’, ‘C’]

– “No Woman No Cry” by Bob Marley: [‘C’, ‘G’, ‘Am’, ‘F’, ‘C’, ‘G’, ‘F’, ‘C’]

Formatted as:

“`markdown
C Major (I)
G Major (V)
A Minor (vi)
C Major (I)
F Major (IV)
C Major (I)
G Major (V)
F Major (IV)
C Major (I)
“`

Note: Though these progressions are in a different key, when transposed to the key of E major, they carry a similar harmonic structure to that of “With A Little Help From My Friends”.

Musical Analysis

The given progression is largely diatonic to the key of E Major, centered around its tonic (E), dominant (B), and supertonic (F#m). The root movement in this progression cycles around the IV, V, and vi chords of the key, a common feature of pop music.

The verses adopt a I – V – ii – ii – V – I structure, which is repeated twice in each verse. The repetition here not only gives the song a clear and catchy pattern, but it also effectively creates a sense of stability and resolution.

Overall Analysis

The song “With A Little Help From My Friends” by The Beatles is written in the key of E major. The third verse is mostly consistent with the key, with the only chords used are E, F#m, and B.

Style Analysis

This particular verse is quite indicative of The Beatles’ signature style, a blend of traditional pop structures with an innovative approach to harmony. Their use of predominantly major and minor chords showcases their affinity for tonality, while the slightly unconventional ii – ii resolution speaks to their penchant for exploring new harmonic possibilities.

Chords in the Verse 3 section of With A Little Help From My Friends by The Beatles are:

[‘E’, ‘B’, ‘F#m’, ‘F#m’, ‘B’, ‘E’, ‘E’, ‘B’, ‘F#m’, ‘F#m’, ‘B’, ‘E’]