SONGS for harmony exploration
Wonderful tonight by Eric Clapton (in G major)
--
[Simple harmony: I V IV V I IV V I V vi IV V I]
G D C D
It's late in the evening, she's wondering what clothes to wear
I V IV V
...
C D G D Em
And then she asks me, do I look all right
IV V I V vi
C D G
And I say yes, you look wonderful tonight
IV V I
---------------------------------------------------------
THE BOXER by Simon & Garfunkel (in C major)
--
[Simple harmony: I vi V V7 I....]
C Am
I am just a poor boy though my story's seldom told
I vi
G
I have squandered my resistance
V
G7 C
For a pocket full of mumbles, such are promises
V7 I
Am G F
All lies and jest, still a man hears what he wants to hear
vi I IV
C G G7 C
And disregards the rest
I V V7 I
Am G Am G F C
Lie la lie Lie.....
vi V vi I IV I
---------------------------------------------------------
Let It Be by the Beatles (In C major)
--
[Simple harmony, use of ii7]
C G Am F
When I find myself in times of trouble Mother Mary comes to me,
I V vi IV
C G F C/E Dm7 C
speaking words of wisdom, let it be.---
I V IV I IV6 I
ii7*
.....
G Am G F C
Let it be,--- let it be,--- let it be,--- let it be.----
V vi V IV
C G F C/E Dm7 C
Whisper words of wisdom, let it be.---
I V IV I IV6 I
--
* IV6 = ii7. For example F6 = Dm7
---------------------------------------------------------
American Pie (in G major)
--
[Use of (V7)]
G C G D
bye bye Miss American Pie
I IV I V
(same ...
Drove my chevy to the levy But the levy was dry
And them good old boys were drinking whiskey and rye
)
Em A7
Singin' this'll be the day that I die
vi (V7)
Em D7
this'll be the day that I die.
vi V7
(Note that each strophe ends with a dominant. Therefore
we feel that this song never finishes. It rolls and rolls...
Play a tonic at the end to feel satisfied.)
---------------------------------------------------------
All My Loving The Beatles (in C major)
--
[Use of bVII, ii-V-I progression,
short change to relative harmonic minor]
Dm G7 C Am
Close your eyes and I'll kiss you tomorrow I'll miss you,
ii V7 I vi
ii -------- V -------- I
F Dm Bb G
remember I'll always be true.
IV ii bVII V
Dm G C Am
And then while I'm away I'll write home every day,
ii V I vi
F G7 C
and I'll send all my loving to you.
IV V7 I
Am Caug C
All my loving - I will send to you
vi I+* I
Am :(i III+ III)
Am Caug C
all my loving, Darling I'll be true.
vi I+ I
--
* Caug is a chord of A harmonic minor.
---------------------------------------------------------
Yesterday The Beatles (in F major)
--
[Short changes to relative minor, or dominant.
Extensive use of ii-V-I progression. Use of V/9]
F Em7 A7 Dm Dm/C
Yesterday all my troubles seemed so far away.
I ( ii7 V7 ) vi
ii ------ V ---------------- I
Bb C7 F
Now it looks as though they're here to stay,
IV V7 I
C/E Dm7 G7 Bb F
Oh I believe in yesterday.
V [ ii7 V7 ]* IV I
C
ii--V--
Em7 A7 Dm C Bb Dm Gm6 C7 F
Why she had to go I don't know she wouldn't say.
(ii7 V7) vi V IV vi V/9** V7 I
ii--V---I (ii-------V7-------I)
...
--
* Note the short change of scale: G7 implies C major, the dominant.
** Note that Gm6 (: G Bb D E) is a C9 (: C E G Bb D) with no root.
---------------------------------------------------------
Hotel California By The Eagles (in A minor)
---
[Simple minor scale harmony]
Am E
On a dark desert highway, cool wind in my hair
i V
G D
Warm smell of colitas rising up through the air
vii IV
[I V]*
F C
Up ahead in the distance, I saw a shimmering light
VI III
[I V]*
Dm
My head grew heavy and my sight grew dim
iv
E
I had to stop for the night
V**
....
F C
Welcome to the Hotel California.
VI III
[I V]*
E Am
Such a lovely place, such a lovely face
V i
F C
Plenty of room at the Hotel California
VI III
[I V]*
Dm E
Any time of year (any time of year) you can find it here
iv V**
--
* Note the relation tonic-dominant in each strophe, with a different
tonic.
** This song ends to the dominant too. Therefore it cannot be
abruptly interrupted, instead it fades....
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