THE BEATLES' Songwriting Secret Lost To Popular Music Today
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- čas přidán 30. 05. 2024
- What was it about the Beatles' music that captured so many people, worldwide, on a first listen? Today I look at Lennon & McCartney's songwriting techniques, compare them to popular music today, and show how their composition style used one particular secret move that nobody seems to be doing in the 2020s.
I’m 72 years old. What people younger than I am can’t understand because they can approach the idea only through a historical or academic perspective, is the visceral jolt that the first exposure to the Beatles sent through people’s psyches. They arrived like an asteroid. Suddenly, Elvis was old fashioned. Popular music and popular culture can be divided, not arbitrarily, into before the Beatles and after the Beatles in the same way the art of painting can be divided into pre-Giotto and post-Giotto.
The Beatles existed from the time I was 12 years old to the time I was 19. During that period, literally every new Beatles song was an event. “A Hard Day’s Night” was a phenomenon. Just as pop music has a pre- and post-Beatles era, the Beatles themselves had a pre- and post-Revolver era. Their music - not their look or their personae or their personal charisma - was the gravitational center of all virtually popular music, pulling it all into their orbit.
People who are around 40 years old or younger like to say the Beatles are overrated. They say this having grown up in a musical environment of bands every single one of which owes at least something to the Beatles and every one of which would not exist in the way they do had not the Beatles existed.
All this is true, but add another layer to it. The Beatles composed their own music, played all the instruments used and had no lead singer. They weren't a harmony group, but they used that technique in many songs. They shared the lead part between three talented singers, but also harmonized with those same three voices. The Beatles interacted with their material in a way different from anyone else: they didn't sing over the instrumental part, they intertwined the lyrics with the instrumental because they were creating both. One last thing, The Beatles had a long gestation period as a group few others enjoyed. With the exception of Ringo, they had been working together for years.
And George Martin the fifth beatle
If it wasn’t for the Beatles music wouldn’t exist as it does today. The genre would be completely different. They took rock and roll and turned it on its head. They were the first ones to write their own songs and write songs for others. Their music evolved as time passed. Young people don’t understand their true worth.
You got that right✌😏👋❣
And the Beatles owe a lot to George Martin… his impact is without measure
I was 13 when I first heard "A Day In The Life" on the radio in headphones by accident, with no idea it was the Beatles. It lifted me out a deep dark depression in a dark room, and I could see colors and light, and felt like I was floating. Before it started, I felt like everything was bad and everyone hated me , and afterward, I was in a state of bliss. I was living in a small town in Florida in the 1980s and spent three years trying to describe this song to people and get the name of it so I could get a copy of it.
Wow. That is amazing.
I remmember being mesmerized by Revolution.
@@tjcint I have told this story a few times, and I've heard that reaction particularly from serious Beatles fans. I think it reminds them of a time before they knew the Beatles existed, and the moment when everything changed. I don't think the Beatles themselves had any idea what they had in their hands. Since then, maybe Sgt. Pepper's has dated and I make the kind of music I want to hear, but I still stand in awe of that song.
@@thepagecollective 'A Day In The Life' towers above pretty near every song composed in the last one hundred years.
It does indeed
What you have to understand is that, back in 1963, when Please Please Me first hit the airwaves, most listeners, including this eight year old, had never heard anything like it before.
@colindant3410 Absolutely. They were like nothing we’d ever seen or heard. They were so fresh, such a great vibe and energy. Great melodies and harmonies. And they looked different from all the other bands with long hair and cool suits.
Please Please Me, was a fresh new approach to pop music with the bass playing that steady 8th note groove, which was something you just didn’t hear at the time. And those harmonies were pure sweet ear candy.
I’m happy that you got to hear it in real time also because it’s hard to explain. Beatles 👍♥️
Can't that be said for any era for any listener who is new to music. An 8 year old today will hear the Beatles for the first time and not have heard anything like it
Idk if they're still on CZcams, but there used to be videos that played snippets of every single UK number 1 song of a decade. It's when you hear several minutes of very vanilla pop from 1960 to 1962 that once you hear the Beatles singles, you get that "holy shit, that's completely different!" feeling.
@@jprg1966 Oh yeah absolutely. They’re still on here. All those videos, either from the UK, or the US, from that period are all the same. THE BEATLES were on an entirely different plane than everybody else. It was B&W, opposed to Technicolor. It’s Night opposed to Day. Insert the metaphor of your choosing.
@@jprg1966 Yes, where the melody went, was unpredictable with them, but they always sounded in tune. It was like adding different colors to the rainbow.
Anyone who says that The Beatles are overrated need to watch this. It’s these reasons exactly why they are my favourite band of all time. Especially the subtle key changes and their clever use of chords
No your rong
@@user-zy2ge2zc4u Please learn how to spell. I would have thought that was a typo, but I see that you’ve done it more than once. Secondly, you have no taste.
@@user-zy2ge2zc4u Please learn how to spell before offering criticism of other people.
@@user-zy2ge2zc4u Says you who can't spell and doesn't know grammar!
George learned well from Paul and John, and used key changes masterfully. "Something" is a great example.
I am not a musician, but I was able to understand this, thanks. Amazing to think Lennon, Mcartney and Harrison were still only in their 20s and had no formal training.
I was 13 in 1963. The perfect age to become a Beatles fan. Music had a seriousness and weight to it and then the very simple "Love Me Do" pulled everyone out of that with a lightness of spirit and unexplainable happiness vibe that turned my world from black and white to full color. It was like I saw the world for the first time. I can't explain it. You had to be there.
Great comment.
I was nine. You are absolutely correct when you say that you had to be there to understand the effect they had on music from their introduction to the world until they disbanded. Every record was fresh and revolutionary.
@@jjnolan So true.
what about Elvis and buddy holly? They didn't have the harmonies of course of the Beatles.
Everly brothers did though@@mdarrenu
I'm now 59; The Beatles have been part of my soul since I was four years old. Thank you for helping to explain why.
I heard Eleanor Rigby when I was 7 years old and was immediately hooked. I asked Dad, “Who is that? It sounded unique. Nothing like the other songs playing on radio in 1972.
And a string quartet played it. Just incredible.
Here there and everywhere is one of the greatest songs ever written.
Interestingly I went to a guitar class while working in LA in 1983. Laurence Juber from Wings was taking it and taught us the song in E, he also added a chord of his own in the 'bridge.'
Hearing She loves you yeah yeah yeah blaring out of every second shop in 1963 was a special time. The early Beatles songs really captured elation, a very rare musical achievement.
I think “captured elation” perfectly describes those songs
Yes captured elation good way but Paul practiced it for hours in tiny loo closet😊😊 in his house according to him!!
My sister was 14 when the Beatles hit America. I remember a group of her friends talking about how "She Loves You" literally gave them tingling chills that ran through every part of their body.
When I was a teenager back in the 90s I liked The Beatles but I didn’t love them. I barely knew their hits. So I decided to expand and bought the Red and Blue 4 disc collection and started diving in their music. Wow. Songs like Michelle, Girl, Nowhere Man, Here There and Everywhere, which I never heard before, got glued in my brain after a single listen, like tattoos. Normally I need to listen to the same song around 3 times to start learning them. Not with The Beatles . Once is enough to never forget them.
I was teenager in the 90s as well and had the red and blue greatest hits double cd. But I LOVED IT!!
Want to see what the world would be like withe the Beatles music. Watch the movie " Yesterday ." Oh, it is so good!
My favorite example of what I call "fake" key-changing is You're Gonna Lose That Girl: verse begins with E, bridge ends with F. And without a single "jarring" chord change anywhere ...
I found the Beatles White Album in my parents closet when I was 7 years old (1982). I knew absolutely nothing about them. I didn't know they were considered the greatest band of all time, who John Lennon and Paul McCartney were, or what "Beatlemania" was. But I played that album continuously for a month straight! Some of the songs were almost like children's songs. Bungalow Bill, Piggies, Ob-la-di Ob-la-da, Rocky Racoon, ect. At 7 years old it was like the first record was the happy part, and the second record was the creepy part! Not sure why I thought of it like that, but the second record was a darker toned record, and songs like Cry Baby Cry, Long long long, and Helter Skelter had a creepy feel to them. Then there was Revolution 9, with Goodnight afterwards.
Anyway, I guess my dad either got tired of hearing the White Album, or recognized that I had become a Beatles fan, because he came home from work one day with the Red and Blue albums! I found out who the Beatles were after falling in love with their music. That's what the real magic of the Beatles is. Their songs, creativity, and their work in the studio.
The Songwriting Secrets of The Beatles is a fantastic book. I read that and it took my songwriting to another level immediately.
James produces a masterclass in the simplest of terms in how the Beatles DNA changed and transformed music.Inspiring work James.
@@taggart8 odd reply
@nigelmartin3339 Dang its like 300$ haha
@@spearitscottie1 I got the kindle ebook version and read it on my ipad using the kindle app. Its still there for $23.00
The Beatles grew up playing a lot of show tunes and jazz standards. For example, Til There Was You and Besame Mucho. This music is more chordally complex than the rock and roll and r & b they were also listening to and playing at the same time. Then throw George Martin in the mix with his classical/orchestral background.
Yes and they were using those augmented 5th chords that we had heard on earlier 50s dance music.
The Beatles were the first songwriters to bring things like time signature changes and key changes to pop music. These techniques were used in classical music but not pop music. The Beatles deserve all the credit they get. They changed what pop music was and influenced what it could be.
The influence of George Martin - "The Fifth Beatle".
All very well to say that The Beatles changed pop music and influenced what it could be - I loved their music in the 60's and the following generation of singer-songwriters produced the greatest music I've ever heard on the back of the FabFour's brilliance - but then what happened? There were literally thousands of wonderful songs written from the inception of The Beatles until around 1990. Since then, it feels like I can count on one hand the number of songs that make me want to listen to them twice. Nowadays the popular music charts are filled with uninspiring drivel written by either a cast of thousands or computer-generated programs, performed by artists who want to make it all about themselves - not the song.
And also, the use of modes.
Irregular time signatures.
As already mentioned, the use of unusual chords, extension chords, unusual modulations.
As well as different songwriting techniques, unusal sounds and effects, recording techniques and arrangements.
A lot of creative, innovative, mind blowing level of cleverness going into their music.
Their songs have layers of sophistication artistically and musically. But they make them sound so smooth, a lot of people don’t even recognise those techniques have been applied.
100 years later, musicians would still analyse their music, because the complexity is up there.
But I don’t think 100 years later, musicians would analyse those 4 chords simple formulae music on today’s pop chart.
And also, people have overrated “technical skills” in music.
The more music you listen you, the more you’d realise that a lot of mainstream pop (and hard rock bands’s music), are just four chords pop songs (with distortion).
Maybe you are the type of person who think being able to play fast and difficult music means the music is better. But I can tell you, that is not the correct way to look at any music or art.
How do you define talent? To CREATE? Or to PLAY?
Through out the history. You can find famous dishes that are named after the chef who CREATED them. But you don’t hear the names of other top level chef anymore.
You are familiar with famous composers who CREATED the music. But you don’t hear about who were the top pianist or violinist anymore.
Bill Gates is not the best programmers, his employees are. Why is he rich? Because he CREATED the ideas.
There are millions of extremely technical artist graduated from art school each year, but if they use their amazing art skills, to paint a painting exactly identical to Jackson Pollock’s, or if they take a photo of the real one and print a replica, will it worth as much as a painting that Jackson Pollock has CREATED, which doesn’t required much skills?
The talent of the Beatles, is about creating something unique, innovative and clever, out of nothing, using sophisticated techniques, which other people can’t think of, or at least, wouldn’t use commonly outside of classical or jazz music.
Anyone can be technically skillful after practicing and hardwork. But not anyone can come up with good ideas.
@@thierryhenry674 Bill Gates didn’t “create” anything! He used the ideas created by other people and took credit. I can’t stand that racist, eugenicist, drug pushing, murderer. 😡🤬
Well said @thierryhenry764
This is why for every 100,000 absolutely brilliant, technically superior executioner, you will have 1 CREATIVE genius AND technically superior artist. Any quality musician, whether you "got into the Beatles " or not back in the day, must recognize and marvel at the stunning, arguably unmatched range of music, even to this day.
I don't know any of those technical music terms, but my ear knows that magic is happening when I listen.
@@thierryhenry674 Bill Gates didn’t create anything. He used the ideas created by others and took credit.
This was one of the best music lessons I have ever received, and I have been into music for over 60 years. What a wonderful teacher!
I was 11 when I first heard the Beatles on "Saturday Club" on the radio and was hooked. I remember running home from Saturday morning football just to hear them for the second time - no hype involved
As a lifelong musician, I began to love the Beatles thanks to the beauty and complexity of "If I Fell".
No one pressured me to become a Beatles fan. In 1977, people listened to punk, the new Bee "stayin' alive" Gees, hard rock. And I occasionally heard Beatles songs on the radio. I thought, I really like this. More than anything offered and brought the distinction of buying all the Beatles LP vinyls..one by one.
This was pretty much my experience as well at almost the exact same time.
Hardly the first, 12 Days of Christmas beat them to punch by a few centuries.
But definitely the the most successful, possibly the most prolific, and in my opinion the most natural.
I was fifteen when I first heard the Beatles 'Rain'. I was blown away by the sound, it was so different to anything I had ever heard before. People need to realise how completely unlike the Beatles were to anything we had heard before. It's impossible to go back from todays' perspective and judge this effect. They influenced everything that came after them, so peoples' ears today are used to sounds that were so original back then. You can get too technical about cord progression and all that other stuff, but it was more than that, it was the whole package, the drums, John Lennon's nasal voice, Paul McCartney's sweet tones, the harmonies, the musical sliding effects, the gaps in the music, the phrasing, and the energy. And they did this again and again, always original, always different.
Perfect summary
True. It was the whole package. And the joy! They had it ALL!
'Rain' was what first blew me away too. I later found out that they recorded it faster and preferred it slowed down which of course change the key too (in those days).
100% agreed with everything you wrote
Despite being raised by two Beatle fans, I had no opinion on them until I was 12 and heard the song "Hey Bulldog" in the Yellow Submarine film in music class. There are many things about them to love, but the music was always first. Thank you for explaining in layman's terms not only why they were such daring songwriters, but also how harmonically lifeless today's pop is.
Excellent, you showed how these " Pop" songs belied an understated complexity. It sounds beautiful, and when you see, played, the actual chord voicings and transitions, you have to be in awe. Here,there and everywhere is mind-blowing, and a whole generation was exposed to that daily on the radio. So today's " low information" music is intolerable to someone who grew up listening to that, and then listened to Frank Zappa, Weather Report, Rush, Jethro Tull, Yes, the Who, Hendrix and Stevie wonder. How lucky to be a teenager hearing the aforementioned on the radio, constantly, also seeing most of those bands LIVE, were they proved they were good enough to deliver it in person.
They changed a lot in that 7-8 year time stretch. Their early songs were very catchy and bright, but even then you could hear a taste of whats to come.
A key change and/or borrowing from other keys makes for an interesting composition.
And even with all their aeriousness to their craft, they could make some absolutely justbplain fun songs, like All Together Now or Yellow Submarine.
I could go on and on, cause theres so much about them that made them unique and successful, but Id be remiss if I didnt say how much that little cover of Here There and Everywhere at the end was a perfect tail end to the video.
You should make a full version of that. That was gorgeous mate. ✌️❤️
As always, great video!
Much appreciated 😎🍻
Sir! My first ever comment on a CZcams video! This is a truly inspirational video and has fired me up to look at music in a different way. I've always been attracted to funk styles; Nile Rodgers, Frusciante, Marr... but never really considered the points you've raised so well here. You've educated me and I'm really grateful!
One other thing the Beatles had besides hype and songwriting chops is their tight and flawless vocal harmony. When Dylan first heard them, he said the things that stood out were "the chords and the harmony."
I was 5 in 1968 when my dad brought one of the few non-classical records he owned into the house; Sgt. Pepper's! My favourite song was "When I'm 64", partly because my dad played the clarinet, and there was a really neat clarinet part in the song. I later discovered that this album was full of outliers among Beatles tunes, but hey, I was 5 and everything sounded new. In my mind, the Beatles just made good music, like Bach or Cannonball Adderley.
This is spot on. And yes, pop music has regressed. Chord progressions are half of writing music. Much of the music I hear today just drones on and on going nowhere. Something like tribal chants. A beat with lyrics applied to it.
Tribal chants. Perfect analogy.
Excellent vid. I am a guitar teacher also, and I insist that my students learn a few Beatles songs..I try not to overwhelm them with my awe of the brilliance of the chords. Don't forget to mention the Augmented chords they used. You used one at the end of From Me To You. What's funny is at a party someone always says "play some Beatles...their songs are simple." HA HA ..I bust into All My Loving and the other guitar players cry.
I am no longer an aspiring rock star. However, I do believe that you have touched upon some very important point that I have never considered before. I think that this is a brilliant presentation. Thank you so much for doing it.
"Maxwell's Silver Hammer" really knocked me out the first time I heard it.
Never trust anyone that doesn’t appreciate the Beatles for their musical genius. Anyone that can’t see it, either has no clue or is trying to hard to be edgy
I know some folks who dismiss the Beatles music, their writing, their musicianship and place in history. I also kicked those folks out of my life. Yes I am a fan, but even non-fans who appreciate music history never make the mistake of dismissing the Beatles. They may not like the band or their work, but smart enough to give them the respect they earned.
People who say they don’t like The Beatles are the same contrarians who would claim “Jaws 4” was the best in the “Jaws” movies. They are people who simply want to appear like they are able to see things none of the rest of us can see
Nobody is questioning the music, just who actually wrote them.
@@md-ps2hxJohn and Paul wrote the lyrics and they all pitched in ideas for the music. It's well documented. There's no question.
@@MelissaR784 It's ALSO well documented there's a LOT of questions.
I figured out what I called the Beatles' sneaky key chnges when I learned to play their music.
A song like Norwegian Wood seemed to start in a relative key, while John was singing the uncertain verses, but in the chorus, it starts two frets off the strongest correct key cadence, as he is singing of making up his mind. He even strongly emphasized the two fret move as if discovering and asserting thre correct key.
Gordon Lightfoot did almost exectly the same thing with Carefree highway, although he fit some more chord movement into the lines around the same basic structure, from doubtful verse, to key revelation in the chorus.
I had the same experience as a child in the sixties, liking only songs until I learned who the bands were, and it turned out that the same kind of bands kept coming up.
I even instinctively saw the similarities between Norwegian Wood and Carefree Highway.
Lyrically, when you are using the sneaky key change, you are expressing some kind of doubt or uncertainty, which is resolved in some way when you return to playing right in the key chords.
I think there is a deliberate relation to mind control through music.
In the sixties, they wanted to play around with the doubt and uncertainty - they wanted people to be made thoughtful by the music.
They wanted to compel their attention to doubts and uncertainties - to make them think about things.
Then they took the disturbing chord changes out.
Doubts are no longer encouraged as part of your thoughts and emotions.
They want us skipping or trudging along without doubts or anything to trouble our thoughts.
Not that there's anything wrong with skipping along with no doubts.
I'm just saying it is deep cultural and subconscious manipulation.
They wanted to bring down the culture, so initially they didn't need to impose anything, only to get people excited and doubting, questioning, and challenging whatever they wanted to question. People would go off in all directions at first, but it would bring down the order, so they could begin to build the order they wanted.
As they put their order in place, they don't want people doubting them or questioning them.
They play music to build their order by.
No musical ambiguities will be allowed.
Hardly any humor is allowed - not even in music.
The main secret of the Beatles Music is The Spirit of Eternal Youth! I can't fathom how that yongsters could to know about Music without Special Music Education! They were Geniuses, for sure ! The Greatest Musicians of the Century! Thank you, Buddy for trying to explain this phenomenon over music theory!
Why do you capitalize random words
@@tangyorange6509 Because they need Special English Education? Just a Random Guess, I suppose.
lmAo
@tangyorange6509
You don't know? Wild.
It's done that way, so when you read it, the random capital words are spoken Or Read with enthusiasm. Think of it as an alternative to putting the word or words in quotations. It makes sense, And..Its ok😂
Now THAT'S a nice way to nail it! Very well done and encouraging, too - thanks James ...
Very welcome
I agree...you IMPROVED Wonderwall!!! Thanks for making this video, it's nice to see their process laid out in that ladder rung form...it's also great that you pointed out that The Beatles were already incredibly sophisticated during the Please Please Me 1st album...you also could have mentioned the way used modes as well=their genius is fascinating and their timeless status is well deserved
Very well-done video. I think we should add, however, that nearly all of the songs, including those in the list at the front have another element that songwriters might want to consider. I believe they are all in the song form, AABA, which is never heard in today's pop music. The Beatles use of both AABA and Verse-Chorus forms also made their music more interesting. Since AABA is the basis for many jazz or American Songbook 'standards', I wonder if that form lends itself better to the use of clever key changes.
At last! Within the first seven minutes of this video you are so accurate it's brought a grateful tear to my eye as I sit here nodding vigorously. Well said, mate!
The Beatles had such an incredible work ethic behind their music. It's hard to imagine learning all of this music theory before the age of Internet and big music. Also all of the nightly gigging they did in Germany. They worked their arses off to become as skilled as they were. They were my first favorite band. I listened to them on my dad's old records to boot!
This was a really great breakdown that appeals to many levels of musical education. You managed to discuss these concepts: modulation, etc, in a way that I think is streamlined for the ones with less theory knowledge while being appealing to educated musicians who don't need hand holding.
Way to balance those 2 scenarios.
Great video man.
What a Brilliant video I am 81 years old ,In 1962 I played in a Band that supported the Beatles .I can honestly say you could not tell the difference between their record being played, and live on stage They were that GOOD
Good ways to explain why Beatles music is so good compare to music now..I m a music teacher and have been trying hard to explain to my student about it..thanks for helping me out. Peace out!!
Analyse the usual chords used relative to the key. What is so special about it?
Analyse the key changes. Downwards modulation in PennyLane? Wow. In an unusual key change, what chords do they use to act as a bridge between the two keys. How is the modulation achieved?
What modes have been used? Mixolydian and Dorian in one song.
The time signature in All you need is love.
Listen to every detail sounds, instruments, arrangements. The use of counter points and other songwriting techniques.
There are lots of things for the students to analyse and trying to apply them into their own compositions. Once these students understand the complexity and start to write half decent songs, they would never go back to those simple 4 chords songs again.
If you straight away say that the music they like are simple and rubsh, they will be so defensive and stop listening. Let them learn what is good and they will grow away from those rubsh.
Great video, James. When I started plaing guitar in the1970s, one of the biggest helps to me was a copy of The Beatles Complete songbook. At the time, it just seemed like they were picking chords at random but magically making them work. After a while I started appreciating that there was real purpose and method in what they were doing. This video, 50 years later, makes clear what it took me years to cotton onto!
I wish someone had explained this to me the way you just did, when I was older than your mum. Which I still am. I mean, when I was at your kids' age, if you have kids. I mean, now I know! But the way you explain it is brilliant for someone at the level, I was on when I was older than... uhm... yeah! I think!
What gets to me is the aspect of key changes being so subtle. I love the way Stevie Wonder is very cheeky about it. He shows us a little corner of the cake under the glazing, as if to let us know, that there is something called jazz. Same thing, only even more so with Danish Tim Christensen from Dizzy Mizz Lizzy, who is also about creating new music with chord progessions previously unhear (of).
The subtlety you mention is really essential. The Beatles very often use a subdominant minor chord. This is, now that you have mentioned it, a regular but subtle key chance. I never saw/heard it like such, thinking about it as more of a spice. But you're absolutely right, and I have to thank you for making this clear to me!
I'll Be Back is a song with a key change in the very first line, albeit in the seconc time it is played, I believe.
A timeless song is gold . No matter who sings it.
Well done! I’m 72 and still play The Beatles music on a nearly daily basis. I listen to all kinds of music. I played drums since I was 14. But playing with really good guitarists and keyboardist I was always astounded by chord changes.
The thing about the Beatles is not only did their music grow at an astounding rate so did their harmonies which aided in those chord changes quite often. So well thought out.
Great episode sir. Hope to see more soon.
Every musician needs to watch this!! The Beatles use of key changes, modes, borrowed chords, time signature changes etc. really set them apart. The quality of their songs was something else!!
I'm 64 and play in a gigging band. My bandmates struggle learning Beatles songs because of complexity and time signatures changes, such as in Here Comes the Sun. The drummer reversed his opinion after attempting several songs. I Feel Fine was a stumbling block for him with the Bossa Nova beat.
I remember once walking though a shopping mall & hearing (what I didn't immediately recognise as) a Beatles instrumentalised song, thinking, "that's great, what is it?" It was the melodies that had a magic about them, the words, especially in the early days, were nothing special, in truth. As for trying to analyse that magic, it's impossible, it's just something that only the greatest writers - Porter, Berlin, Dylan - had.
Their words were special from the beginning. They used clever phrases, ideas, and rhymes that other people weren’t using in pop music.
The thing is, everything mattered, everything was different, everything was better. That’s why they occupied the top five spots on the US Billboard charts when they burst onto the scene in 64.
Clever lyrics, complex chords, interesting and invisible key changes, changing tempos, catchy melodies, perfect harmonies, the use of modes, extreme variety, and every style played authentically, the layering… even Ringo’s drumming.
Pop music was for kids. It was simple and simplistic. After the Beatles arrived, critics began analyzing every word, and accomplished musicians and composers became interested in their work.
They elevated pop and rock to real music status.
No one ele in the pop world was writing an Elenore Rigby or Yesterday. Even She Loves You and J want to hold your hand were fresh and new when they hit the air waves.
The Beatles gave us something new with each new album, starting with the very first one.
All you have to do is listen to pop music before the Beatles. Lyrics were simple. Chords were simple and few.
The Beatles elevated pop music and made everyone else work harder, giving us the greatest decade known pop music. Without them, the 70s would have been boring. The 80s would have been boring. The 90s… Many of the artists we know and love would never have been musicians or songwriters.
Yes, they wrote great melodies, and you could love their music just hearing those. But every piece mattered, and every piece was uniquely, meticulously, and phenomenally perfect.
So glad somebody has finally putting a spotlight on the CHORDS!
I knew from a young age that there were something extra about Beatles songs. Something special that was just not present in a lot of other music. It took me a few years to figure out that it was the amazing chord changes, and the pure amount of different chords, even in the “simple” songs on the early albums.
I got an amazing book called 'the songwriting secrets of the Beatles ' its like my favourite book on music theory - 800 odd pages - Beatles built on what had come before and were at a real turning point in music - they kbew the bag of tricks and how to re-use them- they also were two genius level songwriters
Plus their harmonies and sound. The sound of the instruments and their vocals, they captured that era and it's energy. They also injected 'joy' 'enthusiasm' into the music at times. With so little, they did so much. Perfect songs in 2 minutes. Yesterday and In My Life are examples. I don't think this will be repeated.
Three. Don’t forget about that “dark horse” George Harrison.
@@MsAppassionata he was great too - maybe not a genius. I went to a show recently of all his songs, Beatles stuff was top notch but rest not so much. He definitely had moments of genius though too
@@thesingingaccountant1 Well, not all of Paul’s solo stuff has been great either. Doesn’t mean he’s not a genius.
@@MsAppassionata fair point
The Number One Thing that catapulted the Beatles to fame was that John and Paul were not just songwriting partners, but songwriting competitors. They kept trying to top each other. They pushed each other to excellence. They pushed themselves to excellence by trying to be better than each other. When Paul wrote Lady Madonna, John decided to write a piano heavy song called Hey Bulldog.
They were also competing with all the other bands out there. They were an experimental band. Most experimental music was unlistenable. But they were turning out experimental hits.
Their variety made it so there was something for everyone. Young and old liked the Beatles.
Like the layers in their music, there are layers in their popularity. There are many reasons behind their wild success.
@thevguy, Yes so true. But never forget their voices too! Any band would have been super stoked to have just one of them as a lead singer! The Beatles had both of them! So yeah not only were John and Paul phenominal songwriters... Some would say the greatest songwriters of all time, but they were also both world class singers too! Then there was George... Although I wouldn't classify George as a truly standout lead singer his voice blended perfectly with John and Paul's.
It started for me in 1964 at the age of seven when they came on the Ed Sullivan show. We watched them on our small B/W television , and the first song I heard was All My Loving. My father, who had been an Everly Bros fan at the time, liked that one first. Later I received the Meet the Beatles album for my 8th birthday - in mono - I still have it. By that time, they were all over AM radio - I didn't have an FM band at that time but that wasn't really an option anyway in 1964 (which I later learned). As the years went by, I grew up alongside the Fab Four. One moment I'll always recall was when Sgt Pepper came out in 1967 - I would turn 11 years old around that time. It sounded like nothing I'd heard from them up to that point, especially Day in the Life. But from there, it seemed to go downhill, though when Abbey Road came out at the end of 1969 it was one great second side of the record. At the time, I didn't realize it was their last album as a group, but when it was announced a few months later that they would be splitting up, it seemed like the end of what had been a magical journey - a magical mystery tour, as it were. I will always have those memories as I now approach my 70th birthday in a couple of years. It was a great privilege to be alive during those times, and for those who came along later, I'm sorry you missed it....
Born in 59. Didn't get into music til 71. Looking back, I think The Beatles were bigger in the 70's than the 60's.
Brilliantly explained and spot on! Thank you.
Thanks a lot for showing Macca telling the B7th story. I was beginning to think I had imagined it. Currently going through a book of all the Beatles songs to see what percent were key changers and the few that stayed in the same key. People talk about Paul being such a great bassist and while I think he's good I always felt it was their chord progressions that made the bass so interesting. Just doing root 5th on the bass their chord progressions would make it sound cool. I found in my own writing if I come up with a key change song just the chords alone will suggest a melody to me. As a matter of fact I just recently started writing my first song with just a melody. It was interesting then having to find out what chords went with the melody. Part of the songwriting influence on the Beatles was that they didn't grow up entirely on rock and roll. Lennon was 15 the first time he heard "Heartbreak Hotel" so he was exposed to non-rock stuff up to that point. Paul was exposed to a lot of music hall stuff via his dad, James. I agree that "Love Me Do" was great. I think it's one of the most revolutionary things they ever did because I can usually name an influence for their writing. Not sure there was anything that even came close to "Love Me Do". "Hey Baby" maybe since Delbert McClinton played harmonica on it and showed Lennon some stuff as well.
I often turn to the intro of If I Fell, which is in a different key from the rest of the song! It's so brilliant.
A brilliant piece of exposition. Thanks. (Though you could have mentioned George was always probably the most prolific user of the diminished!). I hope a certain Mr Beato gets a chance to clock this and give you a name check. It's very in keeping with his regular rants about the dire state of the charts.
I was introduced to The Fab Four in pre-school thanks to our music teacher playing "Yellow Submarine" on guitar & the simple yet unique melody & lyrics appealed to me. Later ,I had a friend who got to into the band ( especially John Lennon) & I was always blown away by their music; it just stood out against the bland,boring stuff that was being played on the radio in the early 80's . That & it sadly took the assassination of Lennon for there to be a new appreciation of The Beatles.. I play the keyboard & love their unique key changes ; they were truly one-of-a-kind👌
It's awesome to get your perspective on this. I don't think anyone under 70 can fully understand the sonic shift introduced when the Beatles hit America. Consider that in January of 1964. The number one song was "There! I've Said it Again", by Bobby Vinton. Now, there are plenty of chords there, sweeping production with lush strings. Fantastic melody, great vocal performance. Go to the number 3 song, "Popsicles and Icicles". Very interesting chord progression: 1 • 3m • 7 • 4.
But play "I Wanna Hold Your Hand" after these songs. There is no comparison. It is like going from black and white to color. It is that magical combination of melody, chords, and that amazing combo of John and Paul's voices. It's very difficult to break down, though I love the explanation regarding chords, and I love your in-depth comparison to today's to 40.
I started studying guitar and songwriting seriously as a 13 year old in 1964. About that time I had a "fake book" that wedding bands used to be able to quickly pull off some requested song. I was shocked that most of the songs were written in Eb or Bb. My poor little hands trying to formulate those chords! It forced me to learn about transposing so i could play them with "regular" guitar chords. The even more important book that came soon after featured Beatles songs. All those glorious chords! I studied them for hundreds of hours until the logic of their compositions started to make sense. I wish you'd make another video explaining the complexity of their harmonic structures. They are almost unmatched in popular music. And don’t get me started on their orchestrations!
Sorry I missed an important sentence. "Fake books" favor Eb and Bb charts because those are important keys for horns like saxophones.
Also if you want to make your head spin look at the correct chord charts for McCartney's song Maybe I'm Amazed...
A gag we use in a music act I'm in: "Capo, that's an Italianate word. It trandlates to, 'I don't know this key.'"
Fantastic video, thank you! You explained very clearly these clever methods that were an important ingredient in the magic of the Beatles songs. I noticed this key change technique also in John's "Just Like Starting Over" song. There is a lot going on in that one!
Great breakdown, my friend. I'll add that a key part of the brilliance of the modulation used in Beatles' songs, predominately Paul's, is the ability to bridge the two keys by using common chords before switching back and forth. Great Gig In The Sky does this seemlessly, as well. Starts in one key, modulates to another unnoticed, and uses a common chord those two keys share in their scales to return to the original key without the listener being able to notice exactly what happened. Penny Lane is a great example of this, too.
And now I see you essentially covered this, making my comment a great example of the "commenting-before-the-end" sin.
@@DCfromBCDon't you hate when that happens....lol
@@MelissaR784 😄 🤣 😂
I am a 65 years young Man...The Beatles are the "Bachs and Beethovens" of our time, they will never be topped.
I agree. I think we have just lived through a great era of music, as important as the Classical age, and the songs we grew up with and spent our pocket money on will be remembered forever. Hopefully a lot of the bands will be remembered (including the Beatles of course).
I amn75.I was there on day 1....They took over. They will never be topped.
I'm Only Sleeping has such an incredible feeling it evokes. I don't know how to describe it but I often say it's my fav Beatles song.
New subscriber! This was brilliant and made me glad I picked up my acoustic last night after a year. Cheers!
Fantastic video! Thanks James 👍🏻
My pleasure!
Absolutely brilliant analysis. Popular music may mostly be crap these days but at least we'll always have The Beatles.
I have been writing songs for my own pleasure since the early 1970’s.
I am not musically trained and I would just whack out the chords.
A few years ago I thought I would see what key I was playing in.
To my surprise I was playing the levels you spoke of.
I must admit I was a bit confused as to how I was getting away with playing that way as it did not seem to fit with the little bit of music theory I know.
Thank you for clarifying.
I think growing up as a child with Beatles music surrounding me I may have been subconsciously influenced.
Post a song Graham!
@@cian_jacob Thank you for the encouragement.
This was very well presented. Short and straight to the point. I think you made this accessible for young songwriters.
Too many songs sound like they are stuck in a loop or a groove. They don't go anywhere. Also I would add that what I
call moving chords. Instead of staying on one chord for 4 beats try1 and 3 or 1 2 3 and 4 . Those chords are there you
just have to find them. At a more advanced level I think Sting is a master of the Chord.
Mate, your vides are incredible. Long may they continue 👏
Cheers Chris 👍👍
I remember when the Beatles started getting airplay. Even my Grandfather said “I like those Beatles, Yeah Yeah Yeah!” :)
Interesting chord changes combined with angelic three part harmonies. Even Helter Skelter has the "Ahhhhhhh" embelishments beautifully harmonized.
And the great thing about the Fab 4, is that they couldn't read/write music. But then again, who cares. They were/are the greatest pop group ever & non other come remotely close. Those of us who lived through that era were given a gift from heaven - something we still thoroughly enjoy. Excellent video - Ta!
I grew up with the Beatles. What a gift! And because of the Beatles, I quickly learned how to play the guitar, I started writing my own songs. I always loved singing and now with a guitar in hand, my music started to develop. Later on I formed a band, all because of the Beatles. I'm now a retired, 70 year old and I'm still learning from the Beatles. What a gift!
This is a really excellent video! I don't know how many teens had my experience, but as someone who is 54, obviously I grew up hearing all the main Beatle's songs - i.e. the ones played on the radio. One day when I was probably 16 (1986), a friend whose dad had every single album lent the whole lot to me, and that was my first time hearing for example the whole of Sgt Pepper, the White Album etc. So although I knew it was them, I was still blown away the first time hearing many songs, such as Fixing a Hole which is my favourite Beatles song. It's really interesting nowadays with kids doing first reaction videos on CZcams as I guess radio has changed a lot as well for them and they are not hearing many classic songs.
spot on video James once again , nice one.
Thanks 👍
I can not get enough of this! Mind blown with how the 2-5 trick completely transformed Wonderwall. I think the first example is honestly better than the original. And also, this video even further amplifies my love for The Beatles. As an aspiring songwriter myself, I will greatly benefit from this video!
Melody. You never even mentioned MELODY. THAT - was their secret. Every song they wrote had a strong MELODY which new artists have forgotten about.
I totally agree! They created melodies you found yourself singing or humming repeatedly ( to this day, in my case!)
Another great video! Thanks so much James 😁🎸
what a fantastic, informative and educational video this is! As a song writer myself it was so good to see someone break it all down in an uncomplicated and clear way. Thank you and i’ll be letting others know to watch.
i am the same as you james, i had to see them play and talk in interviews and get their vibe before i could let their music permeate my consciousness.
I've been playing guitar and have been in bands for 30 years, and I've always said, "I don't care to become a great musician or singer, I want to be a great songwriter." This video explains what I have been exploring and applying, and reveals even more little secrets for me to exploit. Brilliant video, mate! Thank you!
This Video is so spot on in it's analysis. I was trained as a Musician through O'Level, A'level and a Music in Education Degree and I've been very critical of popular Songs which not only lack the chord sequences, building blocks and key changes but also often lack basic structure in terms of Verses and Choruses. Paul McCartney's discussion on B7 shows they couldn't work it out themselves, at the time but were willing to learn their craft. which a trained Musician could already do.. That said,The Beatles hit me before I knew who they were were when I first heard Please Please me On Radio Luxemberg and bought every single and album over the years never being disappointed apart from Revolution Number 9 which was not so good, although I believe Lennon was proving a point on that.
When I was a secondary teacher I taught Chords and sequences and often included Beatle songs in my teaching. Well done in bringing these points out and it goes some of the way to explaining why us oldies don't like current trends in Popular Music, although I personally already knew. Great work bringing this knowledge to the public.
p.s. Glad you mentioned The Kinks aswell. Ray Davies does all those things you've mentioned and possibly said more in his Lyrics than anyone else of his time along with Bob Dylan.
It’s really great that you did a known song without key changes to demonstrate what the key change does. It makes me think your channel might be really great for learning some important details about music making. I sound like I’m being paid to promote your channel or something, I know. So everyone else knows, I am not. I just really appreciate this lesson and I want to make sure others don’t overlook it.
fallen a very very long way, indeed.
Well put, sir. [the whole presentation]
love it, thanks for this video ❤
Great video! The layman’s explanations (and even using the capo) really simplify these concepts. Thank you so much!! 👍🏼
Extremely interesting. Thank you, James!
At 10, I heard Penny Lane on my 45 record player. I would repeatedly play it, as I loved the song. Still do 50÷ years later.
The Beatles songs all painted vivid images of life, love, and fun. Most were more than willing to take the adventure. Each new album was so amazing. When they broke up many of us were sad.
Aha! Moment. At 63? Never realized that I'd been doing this all my life. From cover songs and my own. Great job James. ;)
Great video. Thank you for putting this all together! Excellent!
I learned so much from this video James. Really excited to start writing songs with the 2 - 5 progression into a key change.
I found the 2-5 transition method explanation fascinating, need to try it out on keys
Great video, James. Insightful and interesting given the sheer amount of Beatles analysis videos out there.
Let me quibble because I'm a quibbla.... To me the technique I had never heard and believe me brother I had it easy as I was a kid and lived all these songs and the progression of such in real time when a month seemed like a year long but you got fed a new Beatle LP and a single seemingly all the time, lol whereas YOU have to sort of finger at out after the fact and may miss a couple subtle but key things. But middle 8s was my point; never really heard 'em before '64, don't hear 'em today and nobody did middle 8's like J & P. Having said that to me that's NOT a key change when they do the middle 8 on From Me To You because usually a middle 8 is a little journey that deviates from the base verse melody only to return - in this case the minor A of FMTY middle 8 is the start of a I-II-V-V-aug turnaround aka Am-D-E-A-A-aug back to home. Yeah it starts the middle 8 in a different "key" but really it's just one chord that sets up the II-V turnaround in home key otherwise why isn't the D chord a key change in the middle 8?I can't play a minor V w/o it being a "key change"? Never mind all that. They didn't know what they were doing half the time but they were fast, had very good ears and knew what they wanted, pragmatic had VERY GOOD TASTE to keep or throw away all the quick chord shape moves or middle 8s or phony chords or whatever it was , the equally important thing about them is not what they would finally call "done" but what they would abandon and say "No." Or when GM would suggest a re-write or tempo change "Okay" They knew when to pipe down. All the elements and techniques in the world won't make you a Beatle without that freakin' good taste (99% of the time) my 2¢ This doesn't cover other unique things like their unique UK male version of Detroit female harmony groups, totally unique and NOT the doo wop based Beach Boys harmonies and in fact was pre-Beach Boy Beatle influence. And what is the "Oh Yeah...Oh Yeah..." sung in octave unison to open up I'll Get You?? WTF IS THAT??? It was cool Unique is what it was. It's the ol' They Don't Make "em Like They Used To bit. Now excuse me, I'm going to have my AI write me a new John Lennon-Paul McCartney song and have them play on it. ☮
Ha great post
I totally agree!
Take your point - but you gotta find the paragraph key!
Yeah, a lot of the "key changes" are just a middle 8 in relative minor...classic go to because it always works. But I've never once thought of that as a key change.
@@c.mccool1123 I like the fact that a lot of middle 8s basically are a smoke break from the verses with a resolve to get back to verses but the Beatles on say No Reply would make the middle 8 "If I were you..." a self contained song that resolves with it's own climax and then goes back to the verse. Stupid cool. 1964- 60 years ago cool
Their melody and lyric writing were also just as "off the charts" as their unique and inventive chord structures. Add to that their magnificent voices, harmonies, and George Martin's crucial input and contributions - plus their look and charisma - and you get Beatlemania!
Even their first good song, "Please Please Me," likely wouldn't have done much without Martin's influence. When they brought it to Martin, it was another slow and plodding, kind of dreary piece, like "Love Me Do." But Martin encouraged them to speed it up, and he predicted that it would be their first #1 hit. And, of course, it was (in Britain, on one of the two charts at the time. It reached #2 on the other.)
Thank you for explaining about chords and songwriting. I learned something!