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Related Music Theory Alchemy

“Yesterday” by The Beatles is a classic Pop song in F Major maintaining a 2/2 time signature. The song changes the chords frequently to create a rich harmonic texture, and is known for its iconic descending guitar melody.

“A Day In The Life” is a progressive rock song from the “Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” album, released in 1967. The progression includes some well-known chords, along with more unusual chords and alterations that contribute to the unique sound of the song.

“Eleanor Rigby” is known for its unusual and innovative use of the Aeolian mode, otherwise known as the natural minor scale, which is reflected in the chord progression Em – C. The song incorporates string arrangements and has a narrative, storytelling style. Unlike most pop and rock songs of the time, it does not contain drums or guitars. The chord utilization is simple with only two chords used throughout, Em and C, but it nevertheless creates a unique and haunting soundscape.

The chord progression for verse 3 of Led Zeppelin’s “Stairway to Heaven” utilizes multiple techniques to create a rich and emotive sound. These techniques include diatonic chords, borrowed chords, and extended harmony. The progression follows a general pattern, with a repeated structure that helps unify the verse.

“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.

The Beatles – Yesterday – Verse 3

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Chord Progression

[‘F’, ‘Em7’, ‘A7’, ‘Dm’, ‘Dm/C’, ‘Bb’, ‘C7’, ‘F’, ‘F/E’, ‘Dm’, ‘G7’, ‘Bb’, ‘F’, ‘F’]

Chord Progression Analysis

These are the roman numerals for each chord in Verse 3:

* F (I)
* Em7 (ii7)
* A7 (V/vi)
* Dm (vi)
* Dm/C (vi/64)
* Bb (IV)
* C7 (V7)
* F (I)
* F/E (I6)
* Dm (vi)
* G7 (V7/V)
* Bb (IV)
* F (I)
* F (I)

Borrowed Chords:
“`
Em7 (ii7) from parallel minor key
A7 (V/vi) as secondary dominant
G7 (V7/V) as secondary dominant
“`

Similar Chord Progressions

1. Elton John – “Rocket Man”: [‘Bb (I)’, ‘C7 (V7)’, ‘F (IV)’, ‘Em7 (iii7)’, ‘A7 (V/vi)’, ‘Dm (vi)’, ‘Dm/C (vi/64)’, ‘Bb (IV)’, ‘F (I)’]

2. Billy Joel – “She’s Always a Woman”: [‘F (I)’, ‘Dm (vi)’, ‘G7 (V7/V)’, ‘Bb (IV)’, ‘F (I)’, ‘Em7 (ii7)’, ‘A7 (V/vi)’, ‘Dm (vi)’, ‘C (V)’, ‘F (I)’]

3. Brian Wilson – “God Only Knows” (Chorus): [‘A (IV)’, ‘G (bIII)’, ‘F#m7 (ii7)’, ‘B7 (V/vi)’, ‘Em (vi)’, ‘Em/D (vi/64)’, ‘D (I)’, ‘Bm7 (vi7)’, ‘E7 (V7/vi)’, ‘A (IV)’, ‘D (I)’]

All these song examples feature chord progressions that incorporate secondary dominants and borrowed chords, similar to the Beatles’ “Yesterday”. Each utilizes these techniques to capture their own distinctive harmonic color, showcasing the endless possibilities in pop songwriting.

Musical Analysis

“Yesterday” demonstrates the Beatles’ fondness for mixing major and minor harmonies. The Em7 (ii7) and A7 (V/vi) are borrowed chords, which are chords borrowed from the parallel minor key. These borrowed chords highlight unexpected flavors in the harmony and serve as bridge chords, linking diatonic sections together.

The use of secondary dominants, such as A7 (V/vi) and G7 (V7/V), creates a strong pull towards their respective tonic chords, thus adding tension and release in the chord progression.

Overall Analysis

“Yesterday” is predominantly composed in the key of F Major. The song is a classic in pop songwriting and showcases the effective use of borrowed chords to capture a unique, nostalgic sound that has made it one of the most covered songs in pop music. Specifically, in this verse, the use of secondary dominants and borrowed chords from the parallel minor key provides the song’s distinctive tonal color.

Style Analysis

The Beatles were known for incorporating traditional pop and blues influences with innovative chord progressions and song structures. “Yesterday” reflects this approach with its mix of major and minor harmony, augmented with secondary dominants and borrowed chords to create a complex yet accessible sound that has made it an enduring classic.

Chords in the Verse 3 section of Yesterday by The Beatles are:

[‘F’, ‘Em7’, ‘A7’, ‘Dm’, ‘Dm/C’, ‘Bb’, ‘C7’, ‘F’, ‘F/E’, ‘Dm’, ‘G7’, ‘Bb’, ‘F’, ‘F’]