The Beatles – Yesterday – Verse
Yesterday < All Analyses
Chord Progression
[‘F’, ‘Em7’, ‘A7’, ‘Dm’, ‘Dm/C’, ‘Bb’, ‘C7’, ‘F’, ‘F/E’, ‘Dm’, ‘G7’, ‘Bb’, ‘F’, ‘F’]
Chord Progression Analysis
Here’s the chord progression analysis for “Yesterday” with the full chord names, their roman numerals, and the borrowed chords are indicated in block comments.
“`
F (‘I’),
Em7 (‘ii7’),
A7 (‘V7/V’),
Dm (‘vi’),
Dm/C (‘vi64’ – Inversion),
Bb (‘IV’),
C7 (‘V7’),
F (‘I’),
F/E (‘I64’ – Inversion),
Dm (‘vi’),
G7 (‘V7/ii’),
Bb (‘IV’),
F (‘I’)
“`
Similar Chord Progressions
The descending bassline and use of borrowed chords in “Yesterday” can be found in several songs across genres:
1) “There Will Never Be Another You” by Harry Warren; similar chord progression of:
“`
Eb (‘I’),
Gm7 (‘iii’),
C7 (‘V’, Secondary Dominant),
Fm (‘vi’),
Fm/Eb (‘vi64’ – Inversion),
Bb7 (‘V7/IV’),
Eb (‘I’)
“`
2) “My Funny Valentine” by Rodgers and Hart; similar chord progression of:
“`
Cm (‘i’),
Cm/Bb (‘i64’ – Inversion),
Ab (‘IV’),
G7 (‘V’),
Cm (‘i’)
“`
Note: Our comparisons are based on the utilization of descending bassline and borrowed chords from “Yesterday”. However, the feel and structure of these songs can vary greatly depending on their arrangement and performance.
Musical Analysis
With its descending bassline, subtle rhythm changes, and ‘blended’ modal effect, “Yesterday” demonstrates a tasteful mix of jazz and pop influences. It features a striking chord structure, giving the piece a sense of fluidity and ambiguity, thus allowing for expressive melody and harmony.
The song frequently uses the return to I – the tonic chord – to provide resolution and maintain balance within the complexity of its progression.
Overall Analysis
“Yesterday” by The Beatles showcases the innovative use of chord progressions that the group is known for. This song, unlike their other songs, includes borrowed chords and numerous secondary dominant chords. It also uses their favored approach of mixing chords from parallel major and minor scales, hence creating a ‘blended’ modal effect.
Moreover, it uses a mixolydian ♭7 in the main chord sequence, which is quite a popular trick among songwriters for shifting the tonic of a song.
Style Analysis
The significant style note of “Yesterday” is its use of parallel major and minor scales, contributing to its blended modal effect. It mixes modern and classical styles, thus making it quite distinct from typical pop songs.
The Beatles’ extensive use of borrowed chords gives the piece its unique aura, demonstrating their innovative approach to songwriting. Despite the complexity of the progression, the melody remains familiar and inviting.
What are the chords in: The Beatles – Yesterday – Verse?
[‘F’, ‘Em7’, ‘A7’, ‘Dm’, ‘Dm/C’, ‘Bb’, ‘C7’, ‘F’, ‘F/E’, ‘Dm’, ‘G7’, ‘Bb’, ‘F’, ‘F’]
