this Beatles song changes key in the first 8 bars

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  • Опубліковано 23 сер 2024
  • A modulation and two tritone substitutions within just the first 18 seconds of the song. I analyse just the first eight bars of one of John Lennon's most deceptively clever tunes, 'If I Fell'.
    Listen to Andrew Gray album: open.spotify.c...
    The Beatles interviewed in 1964: • Video
    John's demo of 'If I Fell': • John Lennon - If I Fel...
    'If I Fell' recreation sang by Al Pick
    And an extra special thanks goes to Daniel Long, Christopher Ryan & Paul Peijzel, the channel’s Patreon saints! 😇
    SUPPORT ME ON PATREON: / davidbennettpiano

КОМЕНТАРІ • 1,5 тис.

  • @chrism8435
    @chrism8435 4 роки тому +511

    The key change plays a fundamentally important part in the perspective of the writer moving from past heartbreak to cautious optimism.

    • @theyrekrnations8990
      @theyrekrnations8990 4 роки тому +33

      Good one , which illustrates the depth of Lennons compositional skills

    • @andy_182
      @andy_182 4 роки тому +4

      Chris M or it just sounded good on the chords when they wrote it. Beatles were mediocre at best!

    • @stepans2167
      @stepans2167 4 роки тому +15

      @@andy_182 does it make the compositional complexity of the key change fade away though? Absolutely not.

    • @LeVezz
      @LeVezz 4 роки тому +5

      Chris M Great analysis

    • @fredneecher1746
      @fredneecher1746 4 роки тому +6

      @@andy_182 Compared to whom?

  • @JBDazen
    @JBDazen 4 роки тому +771

    Or, as John Lennon would've said: "Sounds good to me. Nice tune."

    • @embracethemystery
      @embracethemystery 4 роки тому +108

      I think that's exactly right. Not learning musical notation or theory, Lennon and McCartney worked out what sounded good with the chords they knew. If they watched this video, they'd be like, "if you say so. we certainly didn't know or use any of that to write the song".

    • @prschuster
      @prschuster 4 роки тому +6

      @@embracethemystery Exactly

    • @Bronco541
      @Bronco541 4 роки тому +55

      @@embracethemystery they might not have understood the notation or language of it they way it's described here, but they certainty understood what was going on in an experiential way. You cannot write music without that. Saying "they didn't understand what they were doing" is imo; not a good way of saying it. Not saying you said that, but I've seen a lot of people say exactly that.

    • @Mike-zf4xg
      @Mike-zf4xg 4 роки тому +4

      I am sure you don't understand douche theory, but you've seemed to nail it naturally too.

    • @regimiro4888
      @regimiro4888 4 роки тому +10

      John M Yeah, it’s almost like music theory is descriptive or something...

  • @hallamhal
    @hallamhal 4 роки тому +1603

    Wouldn't it be nice if there were a song that changed key even sooner

    • @kelprofitt
      @kelprofitt 4 роки тому +83

      'I Wanna Prove to You' by The Lemon Twigs modulates key after just 3 bars.

    • @funkyjemima
      @funkyjemima 4 роки тому +134

      Hahaha nice one Mr. Wilson

    • @DavidBennettPiano
      @DavidBennettPiano  4 роки тому +278

      pause at 8:31

    • @dannyfratina3901
      @dannyfratina3901 4 роки тому +130

      The Beach Boys' "Wouldn't It Be Nice" has a 4-bar intro that modulates into the first verse. So baller.

    • @alejandrocorona1766
      @alejandrocorona1766 4 роки тому +13

      I think Yesterday does just that

  • @blyndblitz
    @blyndblitz 4 роки тому +703

    this song is such a perfect example of genius

    • @louispacetime1576
      @louispacetime1576 4 роки тому +16

      Agreed 100%

    • @DavidBennettPiano
      @DavidBennettPiano  4 роки тому +149

      it only takes 8 bars of a Beatles song to make a 10 minute analysis video

    • @marendenison3550
      @marendenison3550 4 роки тому +31

      They have more interest in one note than the entirety of many songs made nowadays 😅

    • @suzyflorida1193
      @suzyflorida1193 4 роки тому +6

      @@marendenison3550 You can say that again.

    • @marianoherreroa
      @marianoherreroa 4 роки тому +33

      @Pedro Takahashi Gunderson both Lennon and McCartney were immensely talented in their own way

  • @robranney-blake8731
    @robranney-blake8731 4 роки тому +150

    I’m amazed how much I learn about songwriting when I learn to play a Beatles song.

    • @mrfester42
      @mrfester42 4 роки тому +11

      Sure, but like everyone else, it won't help you to write music like they did. There's always a certain undefinable element with all the greats that you'll never be able to duplicate.

    • @andrewbarrett1537
      @andrewbarrett1537 3 роки тому +1

      @@mrfester42 This is true, but by learning from others' techniques, you can figure out what you personally like and don't like as a composer, and use it to make your own distinctive music.

    • @jacobmillen751
      @jacobmillen751 3 роки тому

      @@mrfester42 you shouldnt try to write like their music anyways. People should have their own musical voices, not just copy one band

    • @johnmc3862
      @johnmc3862 Рік тому +1

      A bottomless pit of talent!

  • @ReeseTVMusic
    @ReeseTVMusic 4 роки тому +208

    1964: I want to hold your hand
    also 1964: love was more than just holding hands.

    • @gerrycoogan6544
      @gerrycoogan6544 4 роки тому +13

      I Want To Hold Your Hand was released in 1963.

    • @danoshannon340
      @danoshannon340 4 роки тому +20

      @@gerrycoogan6544 also 1964: i don't want to kiss or hold your hand...

    • @ReeseTVMusic
      @ReeseTVMusic 4 роки тому +2

      @Evi1M4chine r/iamverysmart

    • @tonys4396
      @tonys4396 4 роки тому +2

      You idiots have nothing better to do. If Paul or Ringo saw this crap, they'd laugh their asses off along with John and George if they came back to life.

    • @fuckamericanidiot
      @fuckamericanidiot 4 роки тому +2

      When did he say "I wanna hold your haaaaand......and that's all there is to loooooove"?

  • @defaultc00kies63
    @defaultc00kies63 3 роки тому +23

    Thank you for the video. People were so harsh on John for not being as melody inclined as Paul. I think he was every bit as creative and original, but in a different way. Love his rhythm guitar work to death.

    • @tjcint
      @tjcint Рік тому +5

      Every bit as creative and original ? I would say more so .. much more so ...

  • @emmbeesea
    @emmbeesea 4 роки тому +259

    John and Paul always knew how to throw us curveballs.
    So much to dissect and ruminate on.

    • @mason4882
      @mason4882 4 роки тому +3

      I see you are a person of culture ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

    • @gbeachy2010
      @gbeachy2010 4 роки тому +2

      Their music is not so easy to improvise on as a result of these unexpected harmonies. Got to give respect to Billy Preston when he played with them.

    • @AtomicLobotomy
      @AtomicLobotomy 4 роки тому +1

      It's a John Lennon composition. Despite what Paul McCartney has said on occasion, each wrote their own songs and each usually sang lead vocal on their own compositions. Paul McCartney wrote some great songs, but John Lennon -- founder of the Beatles -- was the musical genius and visionary that made the Beatles into the supreme rock/pop band of all time. (John Lennon continued to write great music after the break up. McCartney's post-Beatles composing efforts a bit on the spotty side.)

    • @pgroove163
      @pgroove163 4 роки тому

      i tend to think it was not thought out..just came natural in the songwriting process

    • @d-wing6171
      @d-wing6171 4 роки тому

      Ok now I'm starting to see you everywhere

  • @KOLDBLU3ST33L
    @KOLDBLU3ST33L 4 роки тому +76

    Having been raised during Beatlemainia, 50 years later that same "Beatles magic" remains. Beautiful music, harmonies and lyrics coupled with wonderful voices. Beatles forever 😎

    • @Myrtone
      @Myrtone Рік тому +1

      If only John Lennon had lived and especially if the Beatles did not split so soon.

  • @MrMartibobs
    @MrMartibobs 4 роки тому +34

    You clever little sod. I've been listening to this song for a long, long time, and while I was vaguely aware that something clever was going on, I couldn't nail it down. But you explain it really well.

  • @dessertstorm7476
    @dessertstorm7476 4 роки тому +612

    I feel like you could make a whole video about strawberry fields forever

    • @ich2928
      @ich2928 4 роки тому +6

      Dessert Storm yes, that would be great!

    • @Carlos-ln8fd
      @Carlos-ln8fd 4 роки тому +9

      Plenty of weird chords in that one

    • @page9982
      @page9982 4 роки тому

      He must use the antology albums the SFF Previous version were so nice

    • @dessertstorm7476
      @dessertstorm7476 4 роки тому +14

      @@page9982 but the studio version is perhaps the most interesting. Recorded in two keys and then merged together (almost) seamlessly. Might be more of a music production topic than a music theory topic though

    • @pleasepermitmetospeakohgre1504
      @pleasepermitmetospeakohgre1504 4 роки тому +6

      That changes key by the second chord too, as does Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds I would imagine.

  • @theawesomebrit3676
    @theawesomebrit3676 4 роки тому +483

    The last time I was this early, If I Fell was still in Db Major.

  • @KingDodango
    @KingDodango 4 роки тому +131

    I would kill for David to make a video about "Happiness is a Warm Gun": key changes, unusual time signatures, wide arrange of instruments and voices, a very interesting piece of composition.

    • @kelprofitt
      @kelprofitt 4 роки тому +15

      Same! Ringo's drumming is phenomenal on that one considering the amount of measure changes that occur.

    • @barakbalestrery4138
      @barakbalestrery4138 4 роки тому +5

      This 100%.

    • @DavidBennettPiano
      @DavidBennettPiano  4 роки тому +35

      So many songs to analyse! This is certainly an interesting one though

    • @talblumberg
      @talblumberg 4 роки тому +1

      Eric Clapton - Layla

    • @kcuhc84
      @kcuhc84 4 роки тому

      It would be a long video that!

  • @TetrapackZicke
    @TetrapackZicke 4 роки тому +36

    I love how you can just talk about music theory and I actually understand it. I’ve never been good at it and can barely read music but it all makes absolute sense when you put it into words! Thanks for that! I think it’s really interesting!

  • @stevenstewart3414
    @stevenstewart3414 4 роки тому +21

    "If I fell" is one of my very favorite songs by the Beatles for the very reason that this intro and modulation to D sound so wonderful. I first noticed how unusual these bars are when I was learning this song on the piano. It is simply beautiful!
    And your clear and thorough study of the song is brilliant.

    • @transformationgeneration
      @transformationgeneration Рік тому

      My wife is 8 years younger than me. 1958/1966 but of course a sixties baby knew/knows the Beatles normal radio songs. "Nowhere Man, Hey Jude, " e.g. I was obviously A maj fan. At some point I began introducing her to various songs. "Oh, listen to this one. It is a beautiful love song". Although totally agreeing the melody the harmony and all was absolutely that, beautiful, she went on to show how the lyric is dastardly. A man is asking a girl (he has obviously been cheating with) to sign a verbal contract that she will remain by his side, satisfying all those "please, please me" needs he desires if he in turn promise to kick the current and unknowing love interest to the curb. Because if she won't promise, he'll hang on to the cum dump a while longer. Until someone else who will, comes along. Knowing and saying in the lyric, all along., she will be hurt. No need to do that to the ol' gal until I'm completely sure my ass is covered. 🤔 Okay, fine. " Oh! listen to this one. It rocks. Called, Run for Your Life! 😳

  • @VivianLund
    @VivianLund 4 роки тому +40

    So much fun to sing this! I always marvel at how the Beatles just instinctively knew where to take their melodies and chords and key changes!

    • @darensweeney5925
      @darensweeney5925 4 роки тому +2

      ..and they always have a bluesy, "tough" sound that belies people's "cute mop top" image.

    • @kevin94109
      @kevin94109 4 роки тому +4

      Practice. They spent hours and hours pretending to be the Everly Brothers.

  • @Fabsurf101
    @Fabsurf101 4 роки тому +52

    It's marvellous to have this classic Beatles tune break down for us.

  • @Machin642
    @Machin642 4 роки тому +40

    The lyrics actually mirror the uncertainty of the melody. Going from the hypothetical (' if I fell ' ) to the possible ('If i give' ) and this continues throughout the song, 2nd to 1st conditional. Magic!! Resolves in doubt , though while the music suggests the opposite ('if I fell love with you')

    • @indigotulip11
      @indigotulip11 4 роки тому +2

      Steve Machin “if I give”, as printed, indicating possible - although he actually sang “if I gave”, which Is the almost-dead subjunctive - making it even more tenuous, cautious, not resolved - more subtle, emotional and - as you said - magic.

    • @robertmcgovern8850
      @robertmcgovern8850 4 роки тому

      @@indigotulip11 "Were I to give ...no no, sounds fancy. Should you be given? Passive voice, John -- avoid it. If I gave! That's the stuff: Conditional, simple past tense, subject/verb/object, bit of dative case in the predicate to spice things up."

    • @screwaccountnames
      @screwaccountnames 4 роки тому

      @@indigotulip11 I'm pretty sure the actual recording uses "If I give"

    • @timothysullysullivan2571
      @timothysullysullivan2571 3 роки тому

      @@indigotulip11 the guy here kept singing 'gave' but john sang 'give'.

    • @mikecole1633
      @mikecole1633 3 роки тому

      I "found" that love was more than just holding hands. It's like a new door opening. So what was in its old context the "achy" chord now becomes the actual key. Wonderful. And proof that the Beatles' greatness didn't begin with Rubber Soul.

  • @DD-ts5oj
    @DD-ts5oj 4 роки тому +14

    I was ten years old when this song came out & I remember being thunderstruck by its magical introduction - it was so rich & exciting! Thank you so much for your insight as to what made this so special!

  • @montysloungetv
    @montysloungetv 4 роки тому +29

    One of the greatest and most inspired intros ever

  • @anthonyormson7823
    @anthonyormson7823 4 роки тому +4

    Complex song - excellent demonstration!

  • @davewave3753
    @davewave3753 4 роки тому +15

    wow brother! i'm not even a musician, nor do i play one on tv, but i love the way you explain the creation and details of songs. big beatles fan since early 60s and nothing has changed. thanks!

  • @robertbowman7395
    @robertbowman7395 4 роки тому +68

    John wrote ‘If I Fell’...... and Paul’s answer was ‘And I Love Her’ lol.... I think their competition is what really drove them! Unbelievable song writers!!

    • @grantharrismusic
      @grantharrismusic 4 роки тому +1

      Lady Seashell Bikini she did after hearing his version.

    • @charlieconlon4476
      @charlieconlon4476 4 роки тому

      That's interesting: thanks.

    • @dabreu
      @dabreu 4 роки тому +3

      That was the most positive competition ever in music. Because it also had...admiration.

    • @tonyd7342
      @tonyd7342 4 роки тому +8

      I love her has that key change as well, but much later. George, soft solo fit the bill and was the cherry to that song. George had an early affinity for jazz chords and understood the importance of a diminished cord. When you look back at it, these guys were actually each other's best teachers

    • @dabreu
      @dabreu 4 роки тому +1

      @@tonyd7342 Great comment. I agree totally.

  • @ichigoblackTWD
    @ichigoblackTWD 4 роки тому +103

    Do a video about I Am The Walrus. It only has mayor chords

    • @DavidBennettPiano
      @DavidBennettPiano  4 роки тому +57

      Walrus certainly has some interesting harmony! It's on my radar

    • @clownpocket
      @clownpocket 4 роки тому +6

      Permanently descending chord progression in the end.

    • @jasonsnusberry3654
      @jasonsnusberry3654 3 роки тому +16

      Oh wow I love mayor chords

    • @MICKEYISLOWD
      @MICKEYISLOWD 3 роки тому +1

      @@DavidBennettPiano Love the Shepard tones from 3:25 mark in that song. I was just learning about Shepard tones when I was listening to that song and noticed them immediately by coincidence.

    • @ramirod8269
      @ramirod8269 3 роки тому +1

      Uy yo veía mucho tus videos, que raro encontrarte acá, saludooss de Arg

  • @nuberiffic
    @nuberiffic 4 роки тому +43

    Studying music theory at university would have been so much easier if they presented us with real examples like this.
    It's a perfect demonstration of ii-V-I movement and tritone substitution being used to modulate up half a step.
    Genius.

    • @paulgordon6949
      @paulgordon6949 Рік тому

      They don't present you with examples like this? That seems like an oversight.

  • @greatscott175
    @greatscott175 4 роки тому +86

    Some delicious Beatles content, thank you. Seriously you could make a thousand videos on their composing

    • @DavidBennettPiano
      @DavidBennettPiano  4 роки тому +36

      I certainly could and I certainly might!

    • @EpifanesEuergetes
      @EpifanesEuergetes 4 роки тому +13

      @@DavidBennettPiano You just keep on making them and I'll keep on watching them.

    • @duffman18
      @duffman18 4 роки тому +4

      I've got this big expensive book I bought years ago for my kindle that's just analysing the songwriting of the Beatles. It's one of the best books I've ever bought, it's taught me so much and helped me with my writing. It's very much in the style of this video. It's amazing how they could make something so incredibly complex and yet it sounds perfect, it sounds so simple. Like you said in the video, "hidden in plain sight". They're doing complex things but it never sounds like complex jazz (not that there's anything wrong with jazz, I love jazz, but yeah it's so hard to make something so complex sound so natural)

    • @cpanda2336
      @cpanda2336 4 роки тому +3

      I think the funny thing is The Beatles didn't even read sheet music or have any great depth in knowledge of musical theory. They seemed to rely on influence and instinct, as well as a trained producer/composer to guide them.

    • @gerrycoogan6544
      @gerrycoogan6544 4 роки тому

      @duffman18
      What was the book?
      Was it "Revolution in the Head" ?

  • @toddkolod
    @toddkolod Рік тому +1

    The introduction really sets the table for the mesmerizing Paul and John blend that comes next. I've listened to John's isolated vocal over 25 times and I still haven't mastered it yet. When I sing Paul's vocal along with John's, there are moments of feeling a glorious harmonic resonance, where the two voices become one. Thank you, David, for your engaging videos.

  • @fpereira77
    @fpereira77 4 роки тому +5

    I'm really volatile when it comes to music. I've been a Beatles fan for years, and I get hooked by a different song every now and then.
    But no matter what song or album I'm hooked by in any given moment, "If I Fell" will never stop being one of my absolute favorite songs by them.

  • @troylumpkin
    @troylumpkin 4 роки тому +29

    D Major, I TRUSTED you and you betrayed me!
    Great clip 👍

  • @daveedmunds4609
    @daveedmunds4609 4 роки тому +15

    In my recording of "Girls Talk", I started the intro in Bb for 8 bars and changed up to C as the first vocal line begins. I took it back down to Bb for the solo, then taking back into C as the vocal comes back in. NB. I also vary-speeded the entire record a 1/4 tone up to give it a bit more 'pep'.
    I also discovered John's 'trick' when doodling with 'If I Fell' a few months ago. Well spotted!

    • @christophermerrill9443
      @christophermerrill9443 4 роки тому +1

      Girls Talk is a classic example of a cover being better than the original: ua-cam.com/video/S4TzjRFfsJs/v-deo.html

    • @MFisher7346
      @MFisher7346 4 роки тому +1

      Yes, I always thought that change down into the solo was brilliant, because it didn't *sound* like a change down! And then at the end of the solo you get F to G to A minor, which is definitely moving up. Wonderful stuff!

    • @daveedmunds4609
      @daveedmunds4609 4 роки тому +5

      @@christophermerrill9443 My version of Girls Talk IS the original, first recorded and released version of the song. Costello gave me the song to record. He recorded and released his version sometime much later.

    • @christophermerrill9443
      @christophermerrill9443 4 роки тому

      @@daveedmunds4609 Elvis said he gave you the song "in a moment of drunken bravado." ...is this true? The lyrics are awesome, really clever -- he just couldn't nail the performance. You'd already knocked it out of the park by then.

    • @daveedmunds4609
      @daveedmunds4609 4 роки тому +2

      @@christophermerrill9443 "in a moment of drunken bravado." He should know better than to say that. Not true!

  • @showyourtruth
    @showyourtruth 4 роки тому +23

    "The D major chord betrays our trust."

    • @SpareChangeTV
      @SpareChangeTV 3 роки тому +1

      I read this before I heard it and came back to like it

  • @haydengardiner2394
    @haydengardiner2394 4 роки тому +9

    Will always watch a Beatles analysis. Keep up the great work!

  • @pineapplejester7191
    @pineapplejester7191 4 роки тому +5

    Another great video! I always love when those big, sparkly letters come on screen to indicate a key change 😂

  • @ianprescott7924
    @ianprescott7924 4 роки тому +10

    It's so well done I never even noticed a key change

  • @peterjuff
    @peterjuff 4 роки тому +8

    Great video as always! Usually that key change of rising a half-step can be quite cheesy in pop music of that era. In this song, that is the last way I would think to describe it. It’s so smooth.

  • @jc91797
    @jc91797 4 роки тому +11

    Thanks for shouting out Andrew Gray! I play bass for his band, The Colors! Also, great theory analysis man, really enjoyed this vid. Good enough to grab a sub from me 🤘

    • @DavidBennettPiano
      @DavidBennettPiano  4 роки тому +2

      Thanks! I'm glad you enjoyed the video! Andrew's music is great 😊

  • @Geronimo122
    @Geronimo122 4 роки тому +6

    That darn D major chord betrays our trust-- the nerve! Great video on a delightful song!

  • @jimlawton4184
    @jimlawton4184 4 роки тому +4

    Wonderful video! I also had never heard that key change until you shared!

  • @robertkadar6856
    @robertkadar6856 Рік тому

    I've been playing this on piano and struggeld to figure out how the opening works from a harmonic pov. This video explains it perfectly. Genius on the part of the Beatlers and an excellent analysis and description by Mr. Bettett. Well done sir! Love the John Lennon demo too. Amazing.

  • @elifdurmus8243
    @elifdurmus8243 4 роки тому

    David, your videos are the perfect combination of deep, thorough, advanced analysis and crystal clear explanation that a non-expert in music theory can still follow.
    I used to have a high school teacher who said "you've never mastered a topic until you can explain it to someone who knows nothing about it." I wholeheartedly agree.
    I'm so happy I ran into you.

  • @annoyingnoahvg5445
    @annoyingnoahvg5445 4 роки тому +5

    Bro, I had to do a double take at the start! Thank you for giving my friend Andrew Gray a shoutout!

  • @diegozuliani3655
    @diegozuliani3655 4 роки тому +4

    Wow, always amazing videos. Going to patreon you, thank you

  • @phillipkopp5809
    @phillipkopp5809 3 роки тому +1

    This channel is great. Amazing how I can be fascinated by someone talking about something I absolutely do not understand.

  • @peteandpuy
    @peteandpuy 3 роки тому +1

    I'm going to modulate within the first 18 seconds in my next song. The gauntlet has been laid down. I wasn't planning on a modulation, but I'll put one there, damn it.
    Great video. This is an early song. They were writing classic hits at an extraordinary rate. They wrote I Want to Hold Your Hand and She Loves You a month apart, maybe days apart. The Beatles remain amazing after 50 years

  • @Galantski
    @Galantski 4 роки тому +3

    "If I Fell" is one of Lennon's loveliest melodies, veering into McCartney territory, and along with "In My Life" & "Any Time At All", is one of the few times he came close to writing a true love song in the romantic sense (most of the time he either describes failure, such as "I'm a Loser", fear of loss like in "No Reply", the difficulty of sustaining a relationship, like "It's Only Love", and even hinted violence "Run For Your Life"), but even with "If I Fell", the lyrics are about the anxiety he has at the prospect of commitment.
    Still, with the exception of the three just mentioned of Lennon & Harrison's memorable outlier "Something", a full album of Beatle love songs can be assembled using only McCartney compositions: “All My Loving”, "Here, There & Everywhere", "And I Love Her", "I Will", "Michelle", "Love Me Do", “I’ve Just Seen a Face”, "Things We Said Today", “P.S. I Love You”, and “'Good Day Sunshine' come to mind.

  • @composer7325
    @composer7325 4 роки тому +4

    This is excellent , please do more. Thank you.

    • @DavidBennettPiano
      @DavidBennettPiano  4 роки тому

      Peter Dunphy thank you Peter! And you’ll be happy to know that I plan to release my Bacharach video before the end of the year!

    • @composer7325
      @composer7325 4 роки тому

      @@DavidBennettPiano That is great news, David. It's great to see the 4 inventive keys continuing to grow. Regards Peter.

  • @MichaelPaumgardhen
    @MichaelPaumgardhen 4 роки тому +2

    Informative analysis.
    Thanks!

  • @ric8248
    @ric8248 7 місяців тому

    What a great video David. There's lots of tritone substitutions in the early Beatles albums: Do You Want To Know A Secret, Yes It Is, Things We Said Today, You're Gonna Lose That Girl, etc.

  • @danielalbertogonzalezsoria5223
    @danielalbertogonzalezsoria5223 4 роки тому +13

    John Lennon would say he just thought it sounded cool haha.
    Genius!

    • @darensweeney5925
      @darensweeney5925 4 роки тому +1

      The most accurate analysis I've read!

    • @codetech5598
      @codetech5598 4 роки тому +3

      Yes, he most likely just moved the chord shape up and down the neck (of the guitar) until he liked the way it sounded.

    • @epipick
      @epipick 4 роки тому +4

      Yeah, much of this stuff was unplanned.

    • @codetech5598
      @codetech5598 4 роки тому +2

      @@epipick They planned it but did it by ear. On a guitar, trying different chords is easy if you just slide the chord shape up and down the neck until you find the sound you want. Lennon used moveable chords on the highest 4 strings.

    • @epipick
      @epipick 4 роки тому

      @@codetech5598 Thanks for the tip but I've been playing guitar for over 50 years so I'm well aware of moveable chord shapes, etc.

  • @blaxlandpianopathways
    @blaxlandpianopathways 4 роки тому +6

    Excellent analysis. I had to keep listening till you explained the key changed, and played the song without it, till I was convinced that it is in D flat to begin with! Learning new things at the age of “stairway to heaven”

    • @DavidBennettPiano
      @DavidBennettPiano  4 роки тому +1

      Thank you!

    • @narrowgateministries9938
      @narrowgateministries9938 4 роки тому +1

      But....it's not in Db. The intro has a Gb Lydian tonal center. Just because you see 5 flats doesn't make it pitch centered on Db. Does the the Db chord sound like a I chord? No, it sounds (or functions) as a V chord. Try this...play the first three chords: Ebm7 > D > Db then pause .....and play a Gb chord. There's your pitch center... Gb. Interestingly, the tune and progression never resolves to this Gb Lydian tonal center; that would be too plain jane. It sets up the ear to hear Gb as the resolution pitch/chord, BUT THEN NEVER GIVES IT TO YOU!!! Pure Genius.....

    • @blaxlandpianopathways
      @blaxlandpianopathways 4 роки тому

      @@narrowgateministries9938 I think David's analysis, combined with hearing the chords, especially his version where it doesn't go up a semitone, shows convincingly that it is in D flat.

  • @charlie-obrien
    @charlie-obrien 4 роки тому +2

    My favorite Beatles ballad. I loved playing, singing and listening to it ever since I first saw it in the film "A Hard Days Night". Thanks for the breakdown of the intro.

    • @shad6644
      @shad6644 4 роки тому

      Third bit more bang!

    • @menloveave
      @menloveave 2 роки тому

      I feel the same way, Charlie. In fact, this is my favorite song of all time and the very first time I heard it I could tell it was different musically. Lennon forever!

  • @doreybain
    @doreybain 4 роки тому +1

    Great video. I've just been learning about these changes from a jazz pianist. You explain it so much better because your using a song that's familiar.

  • @drewcordes1246
    @drewcordes1246 4 роки тому +7

    omg Brian popping his head in at the end was hilarious

  • @pastaboy1319
    @pastaboy1319 4 роки тому +9

    Just been analysing tritone substitutions as part of my music degree... and then this video comes out, featuring a brilliant use of a tritone substitution😍

    • @codetech5598
      @codetech5598 4 роки тому

      But it's not really a tritone substitution, because they are not two dominant seventh chords.

  • @josephubil
    @josephubil 4 роки тому +2

    Well presented...thanks for keeping the dream of the Fab Four alive.

  • @Tmanaz480
    @Tmanaz480 3 роки тому +1

    I like how you don't just do the technical analysis, but always relate it to the way we actually hear and react to things musically.

  • @stellarphant
    @stellarphant 4 роки тому +3

    this is another wonderful analysis

  • @snowyfieldsforever
    @snowyfieldsforever 4 роки тому +4

    God I love your channel!

  • @JamZorro
    @JamZorro 4 роки тому +1

    That was quite a mouthful, sir :)... Thank you for your insightful break down... (Love The Beatles)

  • @evertvandenberghe
    @evertvandenberghe 3 роки тому +1

    I just loooooove your analysis. Well done. I really like the parts where you let us hear how it would sound without a key change. So interesting and refreshing. Tnx!

  • @mikegilland
    @mikegilland 4 роки тому +3

    What a brilliant video. Thank you for such an interesting theory commentary.

  • @diegos4596
    @diegos4596 4 роки тому +267

    “The d major chord betrays our trust”
    ok what

    • @BallofBase
      @BallofBase 4 роки тому +53

      It wouldn't be the first time someone's been let down by the D.

    • @alexpedigo576
      @alexpedigo576 4 роки тому +7

      If we're viewing it as a tritone substitution then it's essentially an altered dominant chord, which creates a load of tension. But instead of going back to the tonic for a nice resolution we get a ii V I that establishes the D chord as our new tonic.

    • @jonksmodels
      @jonksmodels 4 роки тому +16

      Yes the Dmaj chord is Amoral and untrustworthy and also wanted in five country's by Interpol.

    • @ramirofonseca9815
      @ramirofonseca9815 4 роки тому +5

      "treachery is everywhere, Michael Corleone"

    • @vintagestrings6
      @vintagestrings6 4 роки тому +4

      Beware of a Maj7 chord. It may put you in a blissful state but then you may get blindsided without seeing it coming.

  • @misternewoutlook5437
    @misternewoutlook5437 4 роки тому +1

    Interesting observation and a good one. I tried the first few bars on the piano and you're absolutely right. It is very subtle and that D does sidestep discordance and promotes itself as the next key.

  • @aaronclift
    @aaronclift 4 роки тому +2

    I can think of several examples from Genesis: “Carpet Crawlers” has an into that’s in E major, and then the song modulates to D major. “In the Cage” has an intro in B minor, and then the song suddenly modulates to Eb minor. Then there’s the harmonically complex into to “Supper’s Ready” which starts with an A Dorian flavor before modulating to Eb major. They’re definitely a band worth studying if you want to learn a lot about harmony.

  • @timothythorne9464
    @timothythorne9464 4 роки тому +5

    It's My Party by Lesley Gore...that came out before If I Fell...I haven't done a complete study of the song, but it sounds like it has some pretty bold chord changes before leading to decided tonic.

    • @annesaffer629
      @annesaffer629 4 роки тому +1

      LG also did a cool key change in «You don´t own me» The verses are in a minor key where she complains - «you don´t own me etc». In the Bridge where she asserts herself «I don´t tell you what to do...etc» she switches to a major key.

    • @mikecole1633
      @mikecole1633 3 роки тому

      The chords of the verse of It's My Party compliment the bewilderment of the lyrics perfectly, though the key of A major remains intact. A-C-A-D-F-A-B-E7. The C and the F being the "bewildered" chords.

  • @siroispatrice
    @siroispatrice 4 роки тому +30

    McCartney's Maybe I'm amazed intro is in A while the verses are in A#. It's less drastic than If I fell, but still an intro in another key than the rest of the song.

    • @pedrotaq
      @pedrotaq 4 роки тому

      But you can clearly hear the key change there. After he arpeggiates(? Arpeggioes(? The last A, you can hear him change to A#

    • @MikeB3542
      @MikeB3542 4 роки тому +4

      Probably my favorite version of "Maybe I'm Amazed" is by The Faces...to manage the key change, they switch vocals from Ronnie Lane to Rod Stewart. (Which shows the kind of vocal range McCartney flashed in the early Wings days).

    • @gerrycoogan6544
      @gerrycoogan6544 4 роки тому

      @Patrice Sirios
      Good call!

    • @gurrrn1102
      @gurrrn1102 4 роки тому

      10 sharps?

    • @lylecampbell9036
      @lylecampbell9036 4 роки тому

      @@gurrrn1102 or notate with two flats...

  • @conradkabay6166
    @conradkabay6166 4 роки тому +1

    If I Fell, is one of my top 5 favorite songs by the Beatles. When seeing John introducing the song in the movie, "A Hard Day's Night" , he's teasing Ringo with the intro to the song. It blended John's playfulness with the rest of the band with absolutely gorgeous jaw dropping beauty in music. The movie was a key paradigm shift for so many people. Me, my daughter years later when I played the movie for her and she's a bigger Beatle Fan than I so generation gap schmapp, the Beatles meant so much to so many. I also heard the Byrds describe a similar sensation when they saw the movie for the first time. It HAD to have been the same juggernaut for countless others.

    • @tjcint
      @tjcint Рік тому

      Great comment Conrad.

  • @alexpavchinski
    @alexpavchinski 4 роки тому +2

    Totally agree - as musicians we are constantly amazed at the harmonic sophistication of the Beatles compositions!

  • @StationaryWilburys
    @StationaryWilburys 4 роки тому +7

    Man this is some fantastic stuff. You could do a video on every Beatles song and I would watch them all

    • @DavidBennettPiano
      @DavidBennettPiano  4 роки тому +4

      I'll bear that in mind!

    • @Myrtone
      @Myrtone Рік тому

      @@DavidBennettPiano Except the problem is you have to use recreations/covers to avoid copyright strikes.

  • @marcefabiana5993
    @marcefabiana5993 4 роки тому +3

    I was sure this would be about the intro to I am the Walrus! great analysis as always

    • @DavidBennettPiano
      @DavidBennettPiano  4 роки тому +4

      Walrus is another example of Lennon's amazing sense of harmony!

  • @stevenleejobe
    @stevenleejobe 4 роки тому +1

    I knew it was “if I fell” before I even punched up the video. But hearing your detailed analysis was enriching and insightful. Keep up the good work!

  • @chefmichaelt
    @chefmichaelt 4 роки тому

    You are the most eloquent, and gifted teacher I have ever had. I wish all my past teachers were as phenomenal as you. I have just recently found you, and am trying to watch one of your videos every day, so it will be a while for me to get caught up. Thank you, again.

    • @DavidBennettPiano
      @DavidBennettPiano  4 роки тому

      Thanks Mike! I’m really glad you like my videos 🙂🙂

  • @PatioRS
    @PatioRS 4 роки тому +3

    thanks for your analysis, i never noticed it was a key changed either
    if you ever need any other Beatles songs covered for your videos please let me know - knowing all their lyrics is not a problem!

  • @carltroia6235
    @carltroia6235 4 роки тому +7

    There’s some really interesting key changes in “we’ve only just begun “ by the carpenters

  • @johnmc3862
    @johnmc3862 Місяць тому +1

    Lennon was truly a prodigious songwriter. No one was writing songs like this in the early 60’s, including Paul McCartney.

  • @whycantiremainanonymous8091
    @whycantiremainanonymous8091 4 роки тому +1

    Such an early key change was actually a standard device up to the 1950s. Popular musical theatre songs used to have an intro (take about any Col Porter tune). That in turn went back all the way back to the practice of having an arioso before an aria in baroque music (think "Thy hand, Belinda" before Purcell's Dido's Lament). It was relatively common for the intro and the main song to be in different keys.

  • @thebubonicj
    @thebubonicj 4 роки тому +6

    I mean, who would even think to do that? It's brilliant.

    • @DavidBennettPiano
      @DavidBennettPiano  4 роки тому +5

      That's why it's so cool!

    • @MrSahansdal
      @MrSahansdal 4 роки тому

      @@DavidBennettPiano You are the best teacher on music I have encountered on the net. Thanks! Have you browsed Galeazzo Frudua's 'Beatles Vocal Harmonies'? You two together would be a formidable pair.

  • @DiegoGonzalez-ic3si
    @DiegoGonzalez-ic3si 4 роки тому +4

    The if I "gave" my heart is driving me crazy hahaha great video though

    • @scottb828
      @scottb828 3 роки тому

      Diego González Yeah, what's with that guy trying to correct the Beatles!

  • @lyleswann6296
    @lyleswann6296 4 роки тому +1

    I always loved the interesting chord changes in If I Fell, elevates the song into something quite special and unique for a lovey dovey pop tune. A personal Beatles favorite from first hearing. Good ear, David.

  • @liquidsolids9415
    @liquidsolids9415 4 роки тому +2

    Thanks for the great analysis. You did a great job of explaining the theory behind this song! Another song with a fairly early key change (although not this early) is “Strange Condition” by Pete Yorn - it changes key at the beginning of the second verse. Thanks again!

  • @pantheon777
    @pantheon777 4 роки тому +3

    The Doors "Crystal Ship" I love that song, and the key change is a major reason why

  • @jamesdignanmusic2765
    @jamesdignanmusic2765 4 роки тому +3

    I think the first of the (many) modulations in Johnny Cash's "I walk the line" is after just eight bars, too.

  • @SherwinGooch
    @SherwinGooch 4 роки тому

    Thank you so much for covering this. I have been trying to understand what happens which sounds so unusual in the "If I Fell" intro for (scary to say) 50 years! Thanks, again!

  • @WldHny1
    @WldHny1 4 роки тому +1

    Always meant to analyze this, but you got around to it for me. Thanks!

  • @SamuelPeckman
    @SamuelPeckman 4 роки тому +4

    Very interesting discussion on harmony. Thank you.

  • @EixtremeDrummer
    @EixtremeDrummer 4 роки тому +3

    Good explanation, thanks!

  • @jeffwollard2521
    @jeffwollard2521 4 роки тому

    Your videos are just a bit over my head but they are fascinating. I can’t stop watching.

  • @moondogaudiojones1146
    @moondogaudiojones1146 4 роки тому

    You know...I’m a drummer (from that era) and you made this brilliantly interesting! Kudos!

  • @danielsturm809
    @danielsturm809 4 роки тому +3

    John starting in Eb Minor and going straight up the D Major has always fascinated me-while also great boggling my mind! I find it to be one of the most beautiful intros ever written.
    What boggles me is that a rock guitarist began in Eb!!!! However did that happen?
    Ringo wouldn't know, and I am sure that Paul wouldn't either-so this bit of beautiful mystery will have to go unanswered.

    • @philmoore71
      @philmoore71 4 роки тому

      yes, this makes me suspicious if it was Martin's influence. Also Db on a guitar - yuk

  • @rogercawkwell5413
    @rogercawkwell5413 4 роки тому +5

    Good Stuff! (40 year's experience of teaching music)

  • @lorenmyhre1760
    @lorenmyhre1760 4 роки тому +2

    (5:45) "But this time around, the D major chord betrays our trust." Just like the lyrics!!! Lennon was essentially saying: "I'll betray her, but only if you're worth it." I really enjoyed this analysis.

    • @DavidBennettPiano
      @DavidBennettPiano  4 роки тому +2

      Loren Myhre I hadn’t clocked that! Thanks for the comment

  • @anwaya
    @anwaya 3 роки тому +2

    I think David Bowie's "Changes" changes key before the verse starts - and is also an example of word painting.

  • @marendenison3550
    @marendenison3550 4 роки тому +9

    8:29 I see you Brian Wilson

  • @wizard1370
    @wizard1370 4 роки тому +13

    I really love this I would love to see videos on odd tuplets or microtones or just intonation.

    • @DavidBennettPiano
      @DavidBennettPiano  4 роки тому +7

      I've been thinking about making a video about microtonal music for a while...

  • @wheres_bears1378
    @wheres_bears1378 3 роки тому

    These Beatles analysis videos are great I hope you do the whole catalogue

  • @trafalgerd.waterlaw3084
    @trafalgerd.waterlaw3084 4 роки тому +1

    Wow Great video! It is fascinating (at least for me) to learn about new music theory and how artist used something like this just by hearing

  • @marendenison3550
    @marendenison3550 4 роки тому +169

    The Beatles are the best band ever.

  • @jabberwocky7964
    @jabberwocky7964 4 роки тому +23

    I had no clue there was a key change in here in the first place. Crazy.

    • @DavidBennettPiano
      @DavidBennettPiano  4 роки тому +5

      It's very subtle!

    • @darensweeney5925
      @darensweeney5925 4 роки тому +3

      @@DavidBennettPiano Yeah, theory teachers at the time would've been horrified! :)

  • @stevehelton997
    @stevehelton997 4 роки тому +2

    Thanks for that , amazing.

  • @Takomekaable
    @Takomekaable 4 роки тому +5

    What no one actually noticed is that the melody "if i give my heart...." is the Lick
    B - C# - D - E - C# - C - D