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4.43am
24 September 2021
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Of the 167 songs The Beatles wrote for their 13 studio albums, about a half reveal chord progressions that follow tonal theory. The harmonic analysis of these compositions clearly identifies the six diatonic modes as well as their modifications used by The Beatles in their diverse music.
Predictably, The Beatles utilized Ionian and Aeolian modes most frequently as the two generally dominate classical and pop music due to their structural versatility. The Mixolydian and Dorian modes appear less often in The Beatle’s output, and the same can be said about the harmonic minor and harmonic major scales. Phrygian and Lydian modes can be considered the rarest since the band used each of them only once.
Explore how The Beatles uses modal musical modes in the articles:
Beatles songs featuring Lydian mode
Things We Said Today: the only Beatles song featuring Phrygian mode
9 Beatles songs that combine harmonic major with Ionian mode
Picardy third: cadence for a happy ending in classical music and popular songs
Beatles songs with Dorian mode
The following people thank Serg for this post:
The Hole Got Fixed, Shamrock Womlbs, sir walter raleigh, Vera Chuck and Dave3.05pm
24 August 2021
Offline This is certainly quite fascinating stuff, to be sure.
Of course, do remember…they are just songs, and very masterful ones to be sure, and that’s what matters most. ^_^
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Serg4.22pm
26 January 2017
Offline Really good analysis @Serg would be cool to see you stick around and talk theory with us fellow music nerds, I theorize there may be more mixolydian in their catalogue than you would expect, but I havent gathered the evidence
The following people thank sir walter raleigh for this post:
The Hole Got Fixed, Serg"The pump don't work cause the vandals took the handles!"
-Bob Dylan, Subterranean Homesick Blues
"We could ride and surf together while our love would grow"
-Brian Wilson, Surfer Girl
1.12am
24 September 2021
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sir walter raleigh said
Really good analysis @Serg would be cool to see you stick around and talk theory with us fellow music nerds, I theorize there may be more mixolydian in their catalogue than you would expect, but I havent gathered the evidence
thanks for your attention to the topic
so far i have skimmed the chord progressions of all their songs and found Mixolydian progressions in 13 tracks. i will check this more scrupulously for the relevant article.
here is my notes:
Dig A Pony – Mixolydian (but V at the end of the verses)
Get Back – Mixolydian
Hey Jude – Ionian/Mixolydian (outro Mixolydian)
I Want To Hold Your Hand – Ionian/Mixolydian (bridge Mixolydian)
Long, Long, Long – Mixolydian
Love You To – Mixolydian (two chords)
Octopus Garden – Ionian/Mixolydian (Mixolydian in solo)
Oh! Darling – Mixolydian (verses only)
She Said She Said – Mixolydian
Taxman – Mixolydian
Tell Me Why – Mixolydian
Thank You Girl – Mixolydian
Tomorrow Never Knows – Mixolydian (two chords)
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i will be happy with any of your additions to the topic
2.25pm
26 January 2017
Offline playing around on my guitar, Good Morning Good Morning uses Mixolydian during the “after a while” section. Also in odd time, really cool sounding.
The following people thank sir walter raleigh for this post:
Serg"The pump don't work cause the vandals took the handles!"
-Bob Dylan, Subterranean Homesick Blues
"We could ride and surf together while our love would grow"
-Brian Wilson, Surfer Girl
1.32am
24 September 2021
Offline i agree, Mixolydian progression accompanies the verses except the third line written in Ionian
1. A–Em–G–A or I–v–VII–I in Mixolydian
2. A–Em–G–A or I–v–VII–I in Mixolydian
3. D–E or IV–V in Ionian
4. A–Em–G–A or I–v–VII–I in Mixolydian
thanks, added track to Mixolydian list
6.08am
24 September 2021
Offline here are a couple more articles on the subject:
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