I am a retired music teacher and I used this song for years in my arrangement and composition classes as a perfect example of creative 'less is more' writing. Apart from the fantastic melody there is the syncopated rhythm of the melody set against the steady quarter note beat of the strings that really propels the song forward. Also there is the strange harmonic rhythm. (three measures of Em followed by one and a half measure of C followed by three and a half measures of Em) which gives this song this weird sense of instability. Pure genius. And there's the lyrics of course.
Long time watcher, first time commenting. This one really hit me, this was my granddad’s favourite song. We played it at his funeral as he requested it before he died. My god I wish he was here to watch this with me and breakdown McCartney’s genius. Thank you Rick for helping me understand what my grandad heard in this masterpiece.
I had a HS English teacher in the early 70s who used Beatles songs in our poetry explorations. Not the music, just the words. We spent a whole class dissecting the meanings and emotions of Eleanor Rigby. It is a very special memory that I cherish. Thank you, Mr. John Sollers.
What a very special human being he must have been? To teach you poetry without wrenching it out of your heart and killing it. I had to work so hard to ignore my English teachers, as I loved poetry, as I continue to do today.
If Sir Paul McCartney wanted to, he could be teaching his own music classes at Oxford or Cambridge University. I could see him doing that too. Can you imagine what that would be like to have him as a professor?
Rick, another great song breakdown. I’ve always heard that he and Lennon had no idea about music theory (at least at the time they were writing). There are people with innate musical ears. I want to be one of those people.
Yeah im still not sure why rick didnt add it to his greatest 2-chord song. He says its because of the line cliche? But the line cliche works so well here
My ear is not nearly as developed as it should be, but ER is so lush and sophisticated that it never dawned on me that it only has two chords. Fricken Beatles man.
Great video as usual.... During Rick Wakeman's 2006 solo piano tour he covered a "Help/Elenor Rigby" medley and stopped in the middle.... explaining to the crowd precisely the melody changes you taught us about here... spot on dude as always!!!
Wakeman is also funny as hell in addition to being a virtuoso player and educator. I also strongly believe that when public K-12 school music programs were better funded these types of discussions were common. In the 70s, I had an old high school piano teacher who would routinely break down tunes like this for us in great detail (jazz and show tunes too) and we would be tested on the material or be asked to develop a motif based on it. This was not unusual. I regret that those teachers weren’t better paid. Of course, public K12 music programs were later seen as optional and the trend became to defund them. What a shame. It also led to a drought of musical knowledge on even foundational concepts such as the modes and counter-point. In any case It’s great that Rick Beato benefit can from his knowledge.
I made it to 52 seconds and just stopped for a second. I thought for a good 5 minutes about how Eleanor Rigby is really two chords. I was mindblown. Now what gets overshadowed here is not the genius of Macca, it’s the musical prowess of Rick Beato that talks about these things I have never seen or heard or thought of ever before. Thank you so much for bringing us all this great knowledge!
I love this song! The strings make it so special and appeal to my classical side. I remember my mom liked it too which was unusual. It came on the radio during a thunderstorm when I was keeping her company in the upstairs hallway with all the bedroom doors so she couldn't see the lightning. We were listening on AM on a transistor radio and we'd hear a crackle just before the thunder.
I'm a sucker for simplicity. And no one does it better than The Beatles. I think of "Paperback Writer", which is only two chords (G & C) with a simple pentatonic riff and a TON of great production around it. Simply amazing.
If you're a sucker for simplicity, check out the song "Identical" by Phoenix from their newest album Alpha Zulu. I know it's a synth driven pop song but I am amazed by how they create so much tention by repeating the same chord over and over again. After two minutes the harmonies finally change but it doesn't resolve the tention but just adds to it even more. In the end the return to the chord from the beginning feels almost like a relief. It's a masterpiece in terms of simplicity for me.
...and in A Day in the Life, right after the bridge with all those string instruments going bonkers, you can hear a faint alarm clock going off right before "woke up, fell out of bed, dragged a comb across my head" ....
When I discovered The Beatles, I was immediately drawn most to Mccartney's songs without understanding why. Songs like And I love her, Eleanor Rigby, For No one, Good Day Sunshine, She's Leaving Home, Penny Lane, Martha my dear, Hey Jude, (the list goes on) they all pluck at your heart strings. Their music seems simple yet they contain some elements which always move and surprise you. But in all these songs the lyrics have the same quality. They seem simple but they all contain some beautiful images. Also, the music fits so well with the sentiment of the lyrics.
When I listen to it, I can't believe its only 2:38 long. It's so jammed packed musically. instrumentally and emotionally. George Martin was genius working the Beatles.
starting in my teenage years I began the listening to The Beatles.. and over time their music created hundreds of thousands of neural pathways throughout my auditory cortex.. thank you so much Rick for being passionate while you share musical knowledge and analyze great songs.. it is very enjoyable to witness.
Something very similar to the "Eleanor Rigby" leap of an octave and then a 10th happens in The Who's "I Can See For Miles". In its "Well here's a poke at you" section, it leaps an octave on the word "poke" and then a major 9th on the word "choke". And it also does something similar to how "Rigby" uses both the minor 6th and major 6th in its verse. "Miles" uses both the minor 3rd and major 3rd in its verse, although that is much less unusual.
Let's be real, we're never gonna really be *done* talking about the Beatles. I've been listening to them for my entire 24 years of living and I'm still catching things I've never noticed before. Not many bands can say they have 13 albums and every single one is a masterpiece.
I'm 72 and have been listening to them since the beginning and yet here's Rick Beato dissecting and revealing to me things about a piece of music I've listened to 1,000's of times in such a way as to make me understand that there's so much more to hear.
It is very very comforting to know that these guys still Rock for the younger Generations as well. I'm 42, I didn't really fall in love with the Beatles until I was 17 and it was forced on me by one of my friends dads so many years ago. I was very thankful, yet I was way overdue for opening that book, and was not real intrigued or interested in their music until then, even though I had heard many of their songs growing up. There is so much to explore, i still havent heard every song they sent out to the world. John was killed shortly before I was born. Keep passing the music down through the generations, it is well deserved. These gentlemen have definitely made the world a better place.
@@newfreenayshaun6651 I'm glad my dad collected the vinyl albums and later the CDs. I remember loving Sgt Pepper from some of my earliest memories. I'm always trying to turn people on to their music, and even blowing their minds with something like Taxman, Rain or even Within You Without You when people try to tell me they were "just a pop group/boy band." Of course being my age, a lot of my friends and peers just don't get it..
You can’t have rock w/o Bach, Beethoven & Brahms. You can’t have jazz w/o Miles , Monk & Moody. You can’t have modern music w/o the Beatles. Don’t listen to them much - but I probably should.
The strangest thing is that George Harrison and Paul worked out that part together. You would think that only one mind could be across this song in order to keep the whole thing unified - but it was Paul and the two Georges. And you're absolutely right - those harmonies are perfect.
I'm so glad you took the time to analyze Eleanor Rigby. This is probably my favorite Beatles song, along with Magical Mystery Tour. Also, I think if there is ever a time when there is nothing else to say about the Beatles, then the world is done. Last one out the door, make sure the lights are turned off.
This not only shows McCartney's genious but shows that you dont have to craft a song from complex chord sequences. You can use simple chords and then build interesting melodies around them. Songwriting at its best.
When I was a kid, this song always made me very sad. I always thought it was the lyrics doing it to me. This video showed me that it was also the music doing it to me, maybe more so than the lyrics. Thank you Rick, I always learn something new when I watch your videos!
One of my peeves is the "Beatles are overrated" stuff that goes around these days online... obviously no one who's ever tried to play a Beatles song correctly. It's just mind blowing how complex their songs can be yet still be as palatable to a mainstream listener as it is.
Most of the arguments I see whenever someone says that The Beatles are overrated are centered upon "even I can play their songs on the guitar, they are not difficult". They forget that having a ton of shred licks or complicated riffs in your songs does not mean that they are memorable or of good quality.
The Beatles totally transformed popular music and popular culture. They were the first self contained pop group, writing their own songs and using chords and musical forms that had never been seen in pop music before. They were revolutionaries and everyone since has been merely a follower.
Great breakdown! Paul is the ultimate melody man. I recall back in the day, seeing no less than Leonard Bernstein on TV saying how sophisticated the Beatles music was. But what makes it even more amazing is they didn't even read music; they did it all in their heads! They're in a league of their own creating lush rhythmic, tonal and lyrical landscapes. You could do 187 more videos like this one... and I hop you do!
@Unlikable Avenue Wow, so the Beatles writing amazing music without being able to read the sophisticated, mathematical language of music is not amazing. Boy, you're in a league of your own too.
And that, my friends, is why new generations of people continue to listen to this band's music after over half a century. It was just that good. Imagine a world without the Beatles.
It is remarkable, isn't it? I can't imagine teenaged me back in the Seventies being similarly fascinated with comparably ancient songs such as "Yes We Have No Bananas Today", "Hello My Ragtime Gal", or "Ain't We Got Fun?".
Speaking of ‘a world without The Beatles’ there was actually a movie about no one remember there was a band called The Beatles. The movie is Yesterday. Go watch it. A very good movie.
In just over two minutes Paul describes two characters, Eleanor Rigby and Father MacKenzie, and their mundane, inconsequential lives. A masterpiece of concise writing. No Beatle played an instrument on this song, and yet it's a stand-out song on a stand-out album and whenever the topic comes up asking "what is your favorite Beatles song", I, unlike most people, actually give an answer. Eleanor Rigby.
@@antkn33 Rick taught us how it was done but not how to do it. That’s the difference. You have to be the one to come up with it, not just understand how it was done
We studied The Beatles for my final year music exams in secondary school and this was one of the songs we chose for them. This song was really enjoyable to study in depth, so much going on.
I must say Paul has a brilliant and fascinating musical ear and brain,nothing was by accident with his writing,just fantastic breakdown Rick of what we take for granted,thank you!
I completely disagree. I think a lot of things were by accident. Paul seems to be the type of guy who loves to just sit a noodle around and listen. I'm certainly not saying that his talents aren't off the charts. But I think that part of his genius is hearing the accidents and making stuff out of them
@@danacoleman4007 and having heard, played, partied from childhood to 19th century, pre WW1, between wars blue collar, low income, and communal Liverpool. Vast range of hearing tunes that worked for ordinary people
agreed. Paul had no clue then what modes were and he still might not to this day. His ear, however, is as finely tuned as the best of any concert musician on the planet.
This song is so good it's scary. If it were any other band, it'd be regarded as the best song ever. But since it's the Beatles, it's one among many. To me, it's untouchable.
One of the greatest songs in the modern era, IMO. Brilliant melody, superb orchestration (the dramatic strings), incredibly evocative, poignant lyrics. It's a melancholic short story in music--short, simple, powerful.
Was in Chicago for the show. I was entertained. Thank you for all you do. You handled the crowd questions so well and I loved the Beatles breakdown there. I half expected to see a white board. Great job on this video too..
My wife and two sons joined me at your show at the Park West in Chicago and yes Rick, we were very entertained! To all of my fellow fans, go see Rick! It’s a great evening of musical dissections and all you’ve come to appreciate from Professor Beato. Thank you, Rick!
Eleanor Rigby has the right combination of complexity and simplicity that it works so well and makes for so many possibilities in covering it in different styles and it works in so many ways
Such a great analysis and example! McCarteny's music is deceptively complex, the weird stuff just sounds so right, I still can't get over the time I realized Yesterday is in 7-bar phrases! like no other pop song.
Rick, I absolutely love the way you break things down and explain things. You are a really great teacher. Thank you for all you do and thank you for sharing your knowledge with us.
The new Revolver mix is incredible. Eleanor Rigby gives me full body goosebumps. Just amazing how much clarity they were able to pull out for the new release.
Great video analysis of a beautiful song. Yesterday gets most of the attention, but I always thought this was equally as great. I assume all the jazz Paul heard from his father made it's way into Paul's writing.
Hearing the notes played on the piano without the lavish production really illustrates the stark power and drama of the song. I can imagine building a piano concerto around this song.
Great video, as usual. Also, proof that sometimes you DON’T have to use the original recording to teach about the song. Hope you can use this format more often for the blockers. Thank you, Rick!
I keep watching this channel even though the analyses are waaaaay over my head. I’m continually floored with the depth of observation, analysis, appreciation, etc. Are there other people on our planet who can do what Rick does, as well as he does? It all seems impossibly genius to me.
More so than most songs, I think they were trying to give the impression of a conversational tone, using the sharps and flats (modal changes), to imply a more natural conversational tone variation. Very nice to know HOW they did it!
Its especially interesting how he really wasn't one to think much at all about theory, those melodys just.. came to him. Its stunning that someone could have something like that simply flow from them and with such great consistency
... while I failed music in elementary school (because of a lack of interest), my interest is now sky high with these breakdowns of these drums. The Beatles have indeed greatly shaped the way I write songs (my dad was a huge Beatles and Pink Floyd fan). Thank you, Rick, for this presentation. This is why I love your channel so much.
You were wondering about a 10th in another song. "Don't Know Why" by Norah Jones has a 10th a few times in the song. It's obvious because it leads into the beginning of the phrase. I love your videos.... especially the one you did on Michael Brecker (my jazz hero).
Not sure where you're getting the 10th, as it begins with a jump from the 1 to the 7th, 5, 3,3, 1, and the other verses are 7, 5, 3, 3, 1. The chorus jumps an octave at the beginning.
@@mikenitchie5849 I will check my transcription when I have time. I like playing this song, so I transcribed it. If my transcription turns out to be correct, I will share it with you.
The sound system at the store where I work is messed up, and only plays one main channel (you can faintly hear the other one). When this song comes on, as soon as Paul sings, all you hear is, "El...". However, you get to hear the string section very well, which I've always loved, so that's a small consolation...lol. They all come back in on the chorus, only to disappear again when the next verse begins...lol. It does the same thing on songs like "Bus Stop", "Aquarius", "Foxy Lady", "Good Lovin'"...anything that may have been recorded on two main tracks. They sound more like karaoke tunes! lol Thanks for this post, I really enjoyed Rhett's input! He (as well as you) has a great ear for hearing things we laypeople may miss! 🎶♥
Rick, you spoke about jumping a 10th and it being so unusual. My music theory is definitely pre-infancy, but the second time you demonstrated it the first thing that came to mind was Van Halen's "I'll Wait" the beginning of the song keyboard synth introduction which I suppose is a bit more of a slide and not a jump. I could be way off with my initial thought, but I find it similar.
In fairness, I don't always agree with all that you do, but dude, you're amazing. Your analysis is consistently helpful to me and hopefully others. It pushes me to really try to more fully understand so much more of what I hear in the music that I listen to and play. I couldn't possibly overstate my appreciation.
I agree with Peter Green word for word from a Guitar Magazine I have. "Macca Macca all the way" Especially if you know theory he is just so varied from simple yet complex to Jazz Vaudeville Tin Pan Alley Show tunes and more.
Another great and remarkable thing is that the melody of the verse is a five measure melody! I cannot thing any other melody that lasts five bars. Nice video. Greetings from Greece.
You'll always hook me in when the subject turns to The Beatles. When you did your "Best two chord songs..." video a while back, I immediately went to "Horse with No Name" and "Dreams" mostly because I had played both of those songs so many times in my bands and solo work. But "Eleanor Rigby" didn't come to mind because...you don't play it usually. McCartney's vocal performance and the masterful string arrangement by George Martin are so identified with the song, it's hard to pull it off live. Thank you for another great and insightful video!
its also worth mentioning that the length of the first 2 musical phrases in the verse are uneven (5 bars of 4/4, when you would usually have groups of even numbers such as 2, 4, 8 and 16 per phrases), and the fact that the melody is constantly accentuating on the off-beats adds a lot of tension and interest in a subtle way, and it doesnt stand out as odd or unfamiliar which i find very intriguing and incredible!
A fantastic breakdown of another great song Rick. Your scope, and ability to explain the magic most of us just take for granted as music, really makes me marvel at the genius of McCartney and so many others. Thank you so much for sharing all you do.
A brilliant breakdown of the song, but I didn't not realize it only had 2 Chords!! it is amazing how music can instill sadness yet but yet be so memorable. It's one of my favourites, what other song out there ever written sounds like it? None that I can think of its so unique. The Beatles were a very rare combination of really 4 geniuses that got together very young as a band, and created masterpieces. i would say they probably knew they were good as time went on, but not as good as we think of them. Eleanor Rigby always gives me goosebumps when I hear it...
This has always been my favorite Beatles song, because it sounded like nothing else I had ever heard. This really helps me understand what the 13 year old me grabbed on to.
Paul has been my favourite since Ed Sullivan show Feb 18 1964 I’m still playing still performing so much love for those guys, the world was saved when they came along
I completely agree, you feel the melancholy ora around this song because of this arrangement. Such a unique but brilliantly written song! One of my favourites for sure 💯
Great breakdown Rick. Of course, "Eleanor Rigby" is the only Beatles song on which none of the Beatles provided instrumentation. George Martin utilized a classical string octet of studio musicians...which creates such an effective vibe. Genius!
I think one of the things that made him so unique was that he had this amazing ear for melody but no knowledge of theory. He's not thinking of modal relationships or intervals while he writes these, so he's "free" to do what sounds good to him where some people might over-analyze and play it safer. Luckily what sounded good to him also sounds good to most of the rest of us :) And it's not a knock on theory. Just an interesting layer that probably worked in his favor.
@@olredbeard420 That's not true. McCartney himself has admitted it many times. They were self taught by ear, and George Martin took care of the things that required theory knowledge (like arranging for orchestra)
And to clarify, knowing what chords you're playing is not knowing music theory. Understanding how to resolve progressions and phrases is not knowing music theory. They all had a fantastic feel and ear for music, but if you asked Paul what modes he had in mind when writing Eleanor Rigby, he wouldn't have an answer, because he didn't have modes in mind.
Great analysis. This song always gets to me, and in different ways as I grow older. PM is a once in a Century melody composer. Maybe once in a Millenium. Nearly 70 years and a trillion spins of his songs later and we're still peeling back the layers to geek out on his subtle brilliance. -Thank you for doing this video.
It's interesting to note that George Harrison came up with "look at all the lonely people," and Ringo wrote some of the lyrics ("writing the words of a sermon that no one will hear"). Lennon later claimed major credit for the song, which was disputed by the entire band and Lennon's childhood friend Pete Shotton, who was there as McCartney worked on the song and said Lennon's contribution was "virtually nil." One of my absolute favorite songs not just from the Beatles, but of all time. It's simply brilliant, whomever contributed to the writing (although I do believe that the entire thing has much more the air of McCartney than it does of Lennon, and that seems to be the opinion of everyone involved in its writing.)
Great video Rick! I would love to see more content like this (especially with the Beatles). Another song that uses both the minor 6th and the Dorian raised 6 in the same verse is karma police by radio head (which as much as I love radio head- is coincidently pretty much lifted from the Beatles song sexy Sadie)
I've always liked the feel and sound of this song and I'm not a great Beatles fan generally. Really interesting to have it broken down and made sense of. Real skill for it to use these unusual intervals yet sound perfectly natural. Really amazing what you can do with two chords!
I am a retired music teacher and I used this song for years in my arrangement and composition classes as a perfect example of creative 'less is more' writing. Apart from the fantastic melody there is the syncopated rhythm of the melody set against the steady quarter note beat of the strings that really propels the song forward. Also there is the strange harmonic rhythm. (three measures of Em followed by one and a half measure of C followed by three and a half measures of Em) which gives this song this weird sense of instability. Pure genius. And there's the lyrics of course.
Long time watcher, first time commenting. This one really hit me, this was my granddad’s favourite song. We played it at his funeral as he requested it before he died. My god I wish he was here to watch this with me and breakdown McCartney’s genius. Thank you Rick for helping me understand what my grandad heard in this masterpiece.
I’m so sorry for your loss, but what a special thing y’all shared.
Oh no. R.i.p grandad. He obviously had great taste. Hope you're ok
That is awesome dude, I can feel ya
RIP grandad
beautiful! I Share the feelings.
I had a HS English teacher in the early 70s who used Beatles songs in our poetry explorations. Not the music, just the words. We spent a whole class dissecting the meanings and emotions of Eleanor Rigby. It is a very special memory that I cherish. Thank you, Mr. John Sollers.
Dang me too!
The irony is they wrote I am the walrus to poke fun at people looking too deeply into their lyrics
My Polish mom learned English at university coz she was translating The Beatles songs to friends in th 70/80s
What a very special human being he must have been? To teach you poetry without wrenching it out of your heart and killing it. I had to work so hard to ignore my English teachers, as I loved poetry, as I continue to do today.
I think it's fair to say we would never tire of you analyzing, discussing, praising, playing the Beatles. A bottomless well.
Paul McCartney has a musical mind all his own. From the Beatles to Wings and his solo work he has such an original melodic and harmonic sense.
add to that... ER was recorded and released in 1966, Paul McCartney was 24 !!!
He is a total genius
If Sir Paul McCartney wanted to, he could be teaching his own music classes at Oxford or Cambridge University. I could see him doing that too. Can you imagine what that would be like to have him as a professor?
Who was the dog with wings? Hint she put her name on vegetarian sausages?
Rick, another great song breakdown. I’ve always heard that he and Lennon had no idea about music theory (at least at the time they were writing). There are people with innate musical ears. I want to be one of those people.
It is not only one of the greatest 2-chord songs ever written, it is one of the greatest songs ever written period.
Yeah im still not sure why rick didnt add it to his greatest 2-chord song. He says its because of the line cliche? But the line cliche works so well here
agreed!
Contenders for best one-chord song?
The Fixx - One Thing Leads to Another
Alabama 3 - Woke Up This Morning
What say you?
@@YechielLevin The Beatles - Tomorrow Never Knows
Everything always comes back to them.
@@bassesatta9235 yeah, dreams has a 6minor chord in the guitar solo, so if dreams was in that video, eleanor rigby could've been there
My ear is not nearly as developed as it should be, but ER is so lush and sophisticated that it never dawned on me that it only has two chords. Fricken Beatles man.
My thoughts exactly. When I read the title and saw ER in the description I went ‘Really!?
Great video as usual.... During Rick Wakeman's 2006 solo piano tour he covered a "Help/Elenor Rigby" medley and stopped in the middle.... explaining to the crowd precisely the melody changes you taught us about here... spot on dude as always!!!
Wakeman is also funny as hell in addition to being a virtuoso player and educator. I also strongly believe that when public K-12 school music programs were better funded these types of discussions were common. In the 70s, I had an old high school piano teacher who would routinely break down tunes like this for us in great detail (jazz and show tunes too) and we would be tested on the material or be asked to develop a motif based on it. This was not unusual. I regret that those teachers weren’t better paid. Of course, public K12 music programs were later seen as optional and the trend became to defund them. What a shame. It also led to a drought of musical knowledge on even foundational concepts such as the modes and counter-point. In any case It’s great that Rick Beato benefit can from his knowledge.
I made it to 52 seconds and just stopped for a second. I thought for a good 5 minutes about how Eleanor Rigby is really two chords. I was mindblown. Now what gets overshadowed here is not the genius of Macca, it’s the musical prowess of Rick Beato that talks about these things I have never seen or heard or thought of ever before. Thank you so much for bringing us all this great knowledge!
I love this song! The strings make it so special and appeal to my classical side. I remember my mom liked it too which was unusual. It came on the radio during a thunderstorm when I was keeping her company in the upstairs hallway with all the bedroom doors so she couldn't see the lightning. We were listening on AM on a transistor radio and we'd hear a crackle just before the thunder.
I'm a sucker for simplicity. And no one does it better than The Beatles. I think of "Paperback Writer", which is only two chords (G & C) with a simple pentatonic riff and a TON of great production around it. Simply amazing.
That’s my fave Beatles song and Eleanor Rigby #2 probs.
...and I love how they "hide" the "frèré jacques," or however it's spelled, in the lyrics...
If you're a sucker for simplicity, check out the song "Identical" by Phoenix from their newest album Alpha Zulu. I know it's a synth driven pop song but I am amazed by how they create so much tention by repeating the same chord over and over again. After two minutes the harmonies finally change but it doesn't resolve the tention but just adds to it even more. In the end the return to the chord from the beginning feels almost like a relief. It's a masterpiece in terms of simplicity for me.
@@markkalfahs1047 Right? Just a random bit of trickery that really showcases their sense of humor.
...and in A Day in the Life, right after the bridge with all those string instruments going bonkers, you can hear a faint alarm clock going off right before "woke up, fell out of bed, dragged a comb across my head" ....
When I discovered The Beatles, I was immediately drawn most to Mccartney's songs without understanding why. Songs like And I love her, Eleanor Rigby, For No one, Good Day Sunshine, She's Leaving Home, Penny Lane, Martha my dear, Hey Jude, (the list goes on) they all pluck at your heart strings. Their music seems simple yet they contain some elements which always move and surprise you. But in all these songs the lyrics have the same quality. They seem simple but they all contain some beautiful images. Also, the music fits so well with the sentiment of the lyrics.
Despite the disparity between Beatles fan's, we all seem to resonate to the music and get some hope from their lyrics.
I think you could do a video on just George Martin's genius string arrangement for this song.
When I listen to it, I can't believe its only 2:38 long. It's so jammed packed musically. instrumentally and emotionally. George Martin was genius working the Beatles.
starting in my teenage years I began the listening to The Beatles.. and over time their music created hundreds of thousands of neural pathways throughout my auditory cortex.. thank you so much Rick for being passionate while you share musical knowledge and analyze great songs.. it is very enjoyable to witness.
Something very similar to the "Eleanor Rigby" leap of an octave and then a 10th happens in The Who's "I Can See For Miles". In its "Well here's a poke at you" section, it leaps an octave on the word "poke" and then a major 9th on the word "choke". And it also does something similar to how "Rigby" uses both the minor 6th and major 6th in its verse. "Miles" uses both the minor 3rd and major 3rd in its verse, although that is much less unusual.
Let's be real, we're never gonna really be *done* talking about the Beatles. I've been listening to them for my entire 24 years of living and I'm still catching things I've never noticed before. Not many bands can say they have 13 albums and every single one is a masterpiece.
I'm 72 and have been listening to them since the beginning and yet here's Rick Beato dissecting and revealing to me things about a piece of music I've listened to 1,000's of times in such a way as to make me understand that there's so much more to hear.
It is very very comforting to know that these guys still Rock for the younger Generations as well. I'm 42, I didn't really fall in love with the Beatles until I was 17 and it was forced on me by one of my friends dads so many years ago. I was very thankful, yet I was way overdue for opening that book, and was not real intrigued or interested in their music until then, even though I had heard many of their songs growing up. There is so much to explore, i still havent heard every song they sent out to the world. John was killed shortly before I was born. Keep passing the music down through the generations, it is well deserved. These gentlemen have definitely made the world a better place.
@@newfreenayshaun6651 I'm glad my dad collected the vinyl albums and later the CDs. I remember loving Sgt Pepper from some of my earliest memories. I'm always trying to turn people on to their music, and even blowing their minds with something like Taxman, Rain or even Within You Without You when people try to tell me they were "just a pop group/boy band." Of course being my age, a lot of my friends and peers just don't get it..
@@newfreenayshaun6651 that’s so funny. I’m 42 and started loving the Beatles when I was 18
You can’t have rock w/o Bach, Beethoven & Brahms. You can’t have jazz w/o Miles , Monk & Moody. You can’t have modern music w/o the Beatles. Don’t listen to them much - but I probably should.
Rick, your passion and understanding for explaining the nuances and subtleties of these songs is so compelling. This was just brilliant!..
And the dynamic sadness of the harmonies on “ah look at all the lonely (lovely) people” is truly heartbreaking. Where John’s note is, is just stunning
The strangest thing is that George Harrison and Paul worked out that part together. You would think that only one mind could be across this song in order to keep the whole thing unified - but it was Paul and the two Georges. And you're absolutely right - those harmonies are perfect.
Cosmic stuff
I'm so glad you took the time to analyze Eleanor Rigby. This is probably my favorite Beatles song, along with Magical Mystery Tour. Also, I think if there is ever a time when there is nothing else to say about the Beatles, then the world is done. Last one out the door, make sure the lights are turned off.
This not only shows McCartney's genious but shows that you dont have to craft a song from complex chord sequences. You can use simple chords and then build interesting melodies around them. Songwriting at its best.
Fabulous as usual, Rick reminds me of my organ teacher in the 70s same passion and similar shock of hair. Thank you.
When I was a kid, this song always made me very sad. I always thought it was the lyrics doing it to me. This video showed me that it was also the music doing it to me, maybe more so than the lyrics. Thank you Rick, I always learn something new when I watch your videos!
I have no knowledge of any of this, but I cannot stop watching Rick explain these intricacies. That's what makes Rick great!
Paul needs to see this and I think that should be your next interview.
One of my peeves is the "Beatles are overrated" stuff that goes around these days online... obviously no one who's ever tried to play a Beatles song correctly. It's just mind blowing how complex their songs can be yet still be as palatable to a mainstream listener as it is.
Most of the arguments I see whenever someone says that The Beatles are overrated are centered upon "even I can play their songs on the guitar, they are not difficult".
They forget that having a ton of shred licks or complicated riffs in your songs does not mean that they are memorable or of good quality.
Individuals might make that claim but the Beatles popularity BLOWS it all away.
A simple answer I use is- The best cannot be overrated. Whether in terms of influence or sheer record sales.
The Beatles totally transformed popular music and popular culture. They were the first self contained pop group, writing their own songs and using chords and musical forms that had never been seen in pop music before. They were revolutionaries and everyone since has been merely a follower.
@@Timliu92 And that is the truth of it.
Long time player- man, I learn so much from your channel. And I am as old as dirt. Thank you Rick!
Great breakdown! Paul is the ultimate melody man. I recall back in the day, seeing no less than Leonard Bernstein on TV saying how sophisticated the Beatles music was. But what makes it even more amazing is they didn't even read music; they did it all in their heads! They're in a league of their own creating lush rhythmic, tonal and lyrical landscapes. You could do 187 more videos like this one... and I hop you do!
@Unlikable Avenue Wow, so the Beatles writing amazing music without being able to read the sophisticated, mathematical language of music is not amazing. Boy, you're in a league of your own too.
And that, my friends, is why new generations of people continue to listen to this band's music after over half a century. It was just that good. Imagine a world without the Beatles.
It is remarkable, isn't it? I can't imagine teenaged me back in the Seventies being similarly fascinated with comparably ancient songs such as "Yes We Have No Bananas Today", "Hello My Ragtime Gal", or "Ain't We Got Fun?".
Speaking of ‘a world without The Beatles’ there was actually a movie about no one remember there was a band called The Beatles. The movie is Yesterday. Go watch it. A very good movie.
@@madamfirefly1 The scene where he goes to meet the elderly John Lennon is truly heart-tugging.
I think Eleanor Rigby is one of the most important songs of the 20th century. Great video!
In just over two minutes Paul describes two characters, Eleanor Rigby and Father MacKenzie, and their mundane, inconsequential lives. A masterpiece of concise writing. No Beatle played an instrument on this song, and yet it's a stand-out song on a stand-out album and whenever the topic comes up asking "what is your favorite Beatles song", I, unlike most people, actually give an answer. Eleanor Rigby.
You get a big gold star for telling us your favorite Beatles song!
Mine is "A Day in the Life," but "Eleanor Rigby" is definitely in the Top 10.
None of them played on She's Leaving Home either.
Same
I’ve been obsessed with this song for months now. Shocked in the timing of this video. So well done, huge fan of your channel.
The chord progression with 6ths and flattened 6ths reminds me of Cry Me A River (Arthur Hamilton) and the Bond theme by Monty Norman.
You can't teach this kind of song writing... It's a gift :)
Indeed. Like the guy from the Beachboys. Are they secret twins ?
He just taught it. 😂😂
@@antkn33 Rick taught us how it was done but not how to do it. That’s the difference. You have to be the one to come up with it, not just understand how it was done
We studied The Beatles for my final year music exams in secondary school and this was one of the songs we chose for them. This song was really enjoyable to study in depth, so much going on.
I must say Paul has a brilliant and fascinating musical ear and brain,nothing was by accident with his writing,just fantastic breakdown Rick of what we take for granted,thank you!
And this is from a guy who (even to this day) says he can’t read music. Where the heck does this genius come from?
I completely disagree. I think a lot of things were by accident. Paul seems to be the type of guy who loves to just sit a noodle around and listen. I'm certainly not saying that his talents aren't off the charts. But I think that part of his genius is hearing the accidents and making stuff out of them
There is no accidents using modes in music,you guys aren't musicans!
@@danacoleman4007 and having heard, played, partied from childhood to 19th century, pre WW1, between wars blue collar, low income, and communal Liverpool. Vast range of hearing tunes that worked for ordinary people
agreed. Paul had no clue then what modes were and he still might not to this day. His ear, however, is as finely tuned as the best of any concert musician on the planet.
This song is so good it's scary. If it were any other band, it'd be regarded as the best song ever. But since it's the Beatles, it's one among many. To me, it's untouchable.
One of the greatest songs in the modern era, IMO. Brilliant melody, superb orchestration (the dramatic strings), incredibly evocative, poignant lyrics. It's a melancholic short story in music--short, simple, powerful.
Completely unfalsifiable, meaningless, armchair claim
Was in Chicago for the show. I was entertained. Thank you for all you do. You handled the crowd questions so well and I loved the Beatles breakdown there. I half expected to see a white board. Great job on this video too..
Thanks John! Great idea about the whiteboard:)
Thank you so much for making this, Eleanor Rigby is my favourite Beatles song and I'm so happy that you talked about it
My wife and two sons joined me at your show at the Park West in Chicago and yes Rick, we were very entertained! To all of my fellow fans, go see Rick! It’s a great evening of musical dissections and all you’ve come to appreciate from Professor Beato. Thank you, Rick!
I wish I had known about this appearance. I would have definitely been there, but I don't follow Rick so closely.
One of your best so far Rick - thank you
Eleanor Rigby has the right combination of complexity and simplicity that it works so well and makes for so many possibilities in covering it in different styles and it works in so many ways
Such a great analysis and example! McCarteny's music is deceptively complex, the weird stuff just sounds so right, I still can't get over the time I realized Yesterday is in 7-bar phrases! like no other pop song.
Loving the new mix of Revolver, so many great songs on one album.
Rick, I absolutely love the way you break things down and explain things. You are a really great teacher. Thank you for all you do and thank you for sharing your knowledge with us.
Well done! Such a beautiful melody - your insight re: modalities, harmonic progression, etc are awesome.
Rick. You make me look and hear all these songs I have known forever in such a new and amazing way! You’re a gift to music.. thank you!
The new Revolver mix is incredible. Eleanor Rigby gives me full body goosebumps. Just amazing how much clarity they were able to pull out for the new release.
I started listening to Revolver deluxe in it's entirety this morning. Just finished. Mind blown.
when you vocalize it almost sounded like robert wyatt - so good.
Great video analysis of a beautiful song. Yesterday gets most of the attention, but I always thought this was equally as great. I assume all the jazz Paul heard from his father made it's way into Paul's writing.
Hearing the notes played on the piano without the lavish production really illustrates the stark power and drama of the song. I can imagine building a piano concerto around this song.
I agree 100%
This is one of the most beautiful song ever written (and also one of the most difficult to sing)
Can't help but making a coffee and watch your videos on a Sunday morning. Well... we are on Tuesday but you know what I mean 😝
it really is remarkable what they did for music and how its still unmatched to this day
"Goodnight Tonight" by Paul McCartney and Wings is an awesome song.
Great video, as usual. Also, proof that sometimes you DON’T have to use the original recording to teach about the song. Hope you can use this format more often for the blockers. Thank you, Rick!
I keep watching this channel even though the analyses are waaaaay over my head. I’m continually floored with the depth of observation, analysis, appreciation, etc. Are there other people on our planet who can do what Rick does, as well as he does? It all seems impossibly genius to me.
More so than most songs, I think they were trying to give the impression of a conversational tone, using the sharps and flats (modal changes), to imply a more natural conversational tone variation. Very nice to know HOW they did it!
Great observation dude. Its defo got an Indian Raga scale/mode in it that merges w/ Satie doing a Tin Pan Alley lament🤔Something like that I think😵💫
Its especially interesting how he really wasn't one to think much at all about theory, those melodys just.. came to him. Its stunning that someone could have something like that simply flow from them and with such great consistency
... while I failed music in elementary school (because of a lack of interest), my interest is now sky high with these breakdowns of these drums. The Beatles have indeed greatly shaped the way I write songs (my dad was a huge Beatles and Pink Floyd fan). Thank you, Rick, for this presentation. This is why I love your channel so much.
You were wondering about a 10th in another song. "Don't Know Why" by Norah Jones has a 10th a few times in the song. It's obvious because it leads into the beginning of the phrase. I love your videos.... especially the one you did on Michael Brecker (my jazz hero).
Norah Jones has a Beatles connection. She's the daughter of Indian sitar player Ravi Shankar who was a friend of George Harrison.
Not sure where you're getting the 10th, as it begins with a jump from the 1 to the 7th, 5, 3,3, 1, and the other verses are 7, 5, 3, 3, 1. The chorus jumps an octave at the beginning.
@@mikenitchie5849 I will check my transcription when I have time. I like playing this song, so I transcribed it. If my transcription turns out to be correct, I will share it with you.
@@mikenitchie5849 I always find mistakes in sheet music, so I usually transcribe songs I like to play.
In Wings it feels like he does interval jumps in "Let em in" (Someone's knocking at the door)
This is why this song has never sound to me like a two chord song. It's so complex in its melody and arrangement.
that, and the fact it's not a two-chord song.
@@biffDipstick yeah, I have no idea why Rick called it a two chord song.
@@gregoryl.levitre9759 right? He's smarter than that.
The sound system at the store where I work is messed up, and only plays one main channel (you can faintly hear the other one). When this song comes on, as soon as Paul sings, all you hear is, "El...". However, you get to hear the string section very well, which I've always loved, so that's a small consolation...lol. They all come back in on the chorus, only to disappear again when the next verse begins...lol. It does the same thing on songs like "Bus Stop", "Aquarius", "Foxy Lady", "Good Lovin'"...anything that may have been recorded on two main tracks. They sound more like karaoke tunes! lol
Thanks for this post, I really enjoyed Rhett's input! He (as well as you) has a great ear for hearing things we laypeople may miss! 🎶♥
The more you examine the Beatles' music the more impressed you are of their genius.
And the times of playful innocence . . . ?
Rick, you spoke about jumping a 10th and it being so unusual. My music theory is definitely pre-infancy, but the second time you demonstrated it the first thing that came to mind was Van Halen's "I'll Wait" the beginning of the song keyboard synth introduction which I suppose is a bit more of a slide and not a jump. I could be way off with my initial thought, but I find it similar.
In fairness, I don't always agree with all that you do, but dude, you're amazing. Your analysis is consistently helpful to me and hopefully others. It pushes me to really try to more fully understand so much more of what I hear in the music that I listen to and play. I couldn't possibly overstate my appreciation.
What do you mean you don't agree with what he does? That's like saying you don't agree someone makes bread everyday. What?
There’s nothing better than watching Rick use his encyclopaedic music knowledge to break down a song. How do I support you Rick?
One of my favorite renditions of Eleanor Rigby is the one with Wes Montgomery. It's so beautiful. Great tutorial!
Oh boy. Gonna have to check that out. Thanx.
@@CalaisV On it, mate. Thank you.
I agree with Peter Green word for word from a Guitar Magazine I have.
"Macca Macca all the way"
Especially if you know theory he is just so varied from simple yet complex to Jazz Vaudeville Tin Pan Alley Show tunes and more.
Another great and remarkable thing is that the melody of the verse is a five measure melody! I cannot thing any other melody that lasts five bars. Nice video. Greetings from Greece.
You'll always hook me in when the subject turns to The Beatles. When you did your "Best two chord songs..." video a while back, I immediately went to "Horse with No Name" and "Dreams" mostly because I had played both of those songs so many times in my bands and solo work. But "Eleanor Rigby" didn't come to mind because...you don't play it usually. McCartney's vocal performance and the masterful string arrangement by George Martin are so identified with the song, it's hard to pull it off live.
Thank you for another great and insightful video!
This song has always had a beautifully haunting quality to it. You've finally explained why!
Always loved Paul's I'll Follow the Sun. Simply wonderful, and so short a song, which continues on forever in your head.
its also worth mentioning that the length of the first 2 musical phrases in the verse are uneven (5 bars of 4/4, when you would usually have groups of even numbers such as 2, 4, 8 and 16 per phrases), and the fact that the melody is constantly accentuating on the off-beats adds a lot of tension and interest in a subtle way, and it doesnt stand out as odd or unfamiliar which i find very intriguing and incredible!
Only Rick could make a breakdown of Elenor Rigby interesting.
I actually watched the whole video. Thank you!
One of my absolute favorite 2 Beatle songs, “Eleanor Rigby”, and “here comes the Sun”
Paul and George! Nothing by John.
youve taken a snapshot of this song with an audio camera that makes my simple ear take another listen and desire it so much more. Thank you Rick!!!
I always said you have to interview Paul Mccartney
A fantastic breakdown of another great song Rick. Your scope, and ability to explain the magic most of us just take for granted as music, really makes me marvel at the genius of McCartney and so many others. Thank you so much for sharing all you do.
Soooo glad you’re not done talking about The Beatles! Thank You Sir!! 😇
Amen!!!
One of my fav songs, Love the Ray Charles cover also
All my favorite Beatles songs were written by Paul. Blackbird. Eleanor rigby. Martha my dear. Such a genius.
A brilliant breakdown of the song, but I didn't not realize it only had 2 Chords!! it is amazing how music can instill sadness yet but yet be so memorable.
It's one of my favourites, what other song out there ever written sounds like it? None that I can think of its so unique.
The Beatles were a very rare combination of really 4 geniuses that got together very young
as a band, and created masterpieces. i would say they probably knew they were good as time went on, but not as good as we think of them.
Eleanor Rigby always gives me goosebumps when I hear it...
Bach, Beethoven, the Beatles... their music is immortal.
Rick , this is probably the best explanation of a song I have seen . You enthusiasm and knowledge has opened up so for me
This has always been my favorite Beatles song, because it sounded like nothing else I had ever heard. This really helps me understand what the 13 year old me grabbed on to.
So well done and appreciated. You nailed this one. Thank You, Rick. 🙏🏻
Paul has been my favourite since Ed Sullivan show Feb 18 1964 I’m still playing still performing so much love for those guys, the world was saved when they came along
Another great video from Professor Beato! Can we please appreciate his singing on this one! Every falsetto is spot on 😮
@@williamwilson6499 Exactly William. I love Rick but come on!!! The dude is NOT a vocalist.
I completely agree, you feel the melancholy ora around this song because of this arrangement. Such a unique but brilliantly written song! One of my favourites for sure 💯
Let’s be honest there’s a fair argument for this not being a two chord song at all.
Great breakdown Rick. Of course, "Eleanor Rigby" is the only Beatles song on which none of the Beatles provided instrumentation. George Martin utilized a classical string octet of studio musicians...which creates such an effective vibe. Genius!
I think one of the things that made him so unique was that he had this amazing ear for melody but no knowledge of theory. He's not thinking of modal relationships or intervals while he writes these, so he's "free" to do what sounds good to him where some people might over-analyze and play it safer. Luckily what sounded good to him also sounds good to most of the rest of us :) And it's not a knock on theory. Just an interesting layer that probably worked in his favor.
Curt Cobain was similarly gifted.
Exactly. And Rick breaking it down makes it rather interesting.
Lol this is false, all off the beatles had a great grasp of music theory.
@@olredbeard420 That's not true. McCartney himself has admitted it many times. They were self taught by ear, and George Martin took care of the things that required theory knowledge (like arranging for orchestra)
And to clarify, knowing what chords you're playing is not knowing music theory. Understanding how to resolve progressions and phrases is not knowing music theory. They all had a fantastic feel and ear for music, but if you asked Paul what modes he had in mind when writing Eleanor Rigby, he wouldn't have an answer, because he didn't have modes in mind.
Great analysis. This song always gets to me, and in different ways as I grow older. PM is a once in a Century melody composer. Maybe once in a Millenium. Nearly 70 years and a trillion spins of his songs later and we're still peeling back the layers to geek out on his subtle brilliance.
-Thank you for doing this video.
It's interesting to note that George Harrison came up with "look at all the lonely people," and Ringo wrote some of the lyrics ("writing the words of a sermon that no one will hear"). Lennon later claimed major credit for the song, which was disputed by the entire band and Lennon's childhood friend Pete Shotton, who was there as McCartney worked on the song and said Lennon's contribution was "virtually nil." One of my absolute favorite songs not just from the Beatles, but of all time. It's simply brilliant, whomever contributed to the writing (although I do believe that the entire thing has much more the air of McCartney than it does of Lennon, and that seems to be the opinion of everyone involved in its writing.)
Great video Rick! I would love to see more content like this (especially with the Beatles). Another song that uses both the minor 6th and the Dorian raised 6 in the same verse is karma police by radio head (which as much as I love radio head- is coincidently pretty much lifted from the Beatles song sexy Sadie)
Digging the detailed analysis - forever a fan of The Beatles.
I've always liked the feel and sound of this song and I'm not a great Beatles fan generally. Really interesting to have it broken down and made sense of. Real skill for it to use these unusual intervals yet sound perfectly natural. Really amazing what you can do with two chords!