I want You (She's So Heavy) by The Beatles

[kidgloves2]

I've been learning about chord progressions lately. How to stay diatonic, how to modulate etc... But I can't for the life of me explain how The Beatles came up with the intro to "I Want You (She's So Heavy)"

It goes:

dm - dm7 - E7b9 - Bb7 - A+

What were they thinking theory wise? I want to be abe to come up with my own using this technique.

[Basshole]

Taking a stab at this (Disclaimer: I know nothing about theory, never studied much of any):

The intro strikes me as having a tonal center in D minor.

Then the song's form begins in A minor.

To me, that constitutes the song "starting" at the intro harmonically at the fourth, sort of in harmonic suspension. The release of this fourth's tension is the top of the regular form...thus the top of the form is essentially very boldy underlined harmonically by having resolved to it from a suspension.

[BassChuck]

Originally Posted by kidgloves2

I've been learning about chord progressions lately. How to stay diatonic, how to modulate etc... But I can't for the life of me explain how The Beatles came up with the intro to "I Want You (She's So Heavy)"

It goes:

dm - dm7 - E7b9 - Bb7 - A+

What were they thinking theory wise? I want to be abe to come up with my own using this technique.

What were they thinking? Music.

Later the theory boys show up and try to explain things. The best sounds come from within, not from a theory book. The Beatles listened to all kinds of things all styles all eras, they (all of them) were intellectually and musically curious. It paid off.

Keep an open mind about all sounds from all sources. Learn to play every song that you like. Give yourself over to everything you love.

[DocBop]

Originally Posted by BassChuck

What were they thinking? Music.

Later the theory boys show up and try to explain things. The best sounds come from within, not from a theory book. The Beatles listened to all kinds of things all styles all eras, they (all of them) were intellectually and musically curious. It paid off.

Keep an open mind about all sounds from all sources. Learn to play every song that you like. Give yourself over to everything you love.

The only problem with what your saying you forget a theory book can be a source of inspiration just like listening to music is. You discover a musical idea and experiment with it, write/play something using it the same as hearing it song you like.

Don't let the theory books scare you, they only limit you if you let them. As Jazz legend Don Cherry said... When people believe in boundaries, they become part of them.

[pretaanluxis]

Originally Posted by DocBop

Don't let the theory books scare you, they only limit you if you let them. As Jazz legend Don Cherry said... When people believe in boundaries, they become part of them.

check and mate

[OldDog52]

Zombie Thread...

OK, I just stumbled across the isolated bass for "I Want You (She's So Heavy"). How many times in my life have I heard that song? 100? 500? And in all that time I never completely realized what Macca was doing. I am slackjawed.

If you're impatient skip up to around 4:00 where things get interesting.

[Exploiter8]

I heard nothing new. Anyone can HEAR a song. One must actually LISTEN to experience the music. That's what missing today. People and their I-Poops and such are now hearing music as a background to their daily lives. To really appreciate music, IMHO, one must focus on listening, letting nothing else interrupt the experience.

OM

X8

[ShoeManiac]

Originally Posted by OldDog52

Zombie Thread...

OK, I just stumbled across the isolated bass for "I Want You (She's So Heavy"). How many times in my life have I heard that song? 100? 500? And in all that time I never completely realized what Macca was doing. I am slackjawed.

If you're impatient skip up to around 4:00 where things get interesting.

Very glad to finally hear this part isolated. I'm amazed by what McCartney did on this track.

[OldDog52]

Maybe I'm too easily-impressed but I think that's awesome, in the context of The Beatles or otherwise.

[loinmute]

I really like Paul's line for I am the Walrus; but Abbey Road represents his most technicaly brilliant imho.

[Skitch it!]

I wish I'd heard it before I put this little interpretation together, I could have saved a lot of time trying to pick it out from the track and got to hear what was happening with the bends and such. Nice to hear it as is, thanks for the link

YouTube - The Beatles - I Want You (She's So Heavy) Bass.

[ryal1]

Is there a beatles bass non tab book out there? Thanks for that link too!

[mambo4]

Looks like basically a i - ii - VI - V in a harmonic minor key, with alterations for taste:
- the ii (7b9) , normally a ii (min7b5)
- the V (+) , normally A V(dom 7)

But I'm a theory nerd who enjoys this kind of analysis.

Were the Beatles thinking like this? probably not.
The chocies have less to do with fitting chords to a key
than with voice leading and supporting the melodic line
-how it sounds, in other words.
(Edit : wrote IV where should have been VI)

[Jim Campbell]

Originally Posted by ryal1

Is there a beatles bass non tab book out there? Thanks for that link too!

there are several,but so far i've found the geetar magazine transcriptions to be better.....those isolated macca tracks are great....

[Mojo-Man]

Very cool, I had to learn this yesterday for a gig.