Just when I think I understand chords...is this a b7-4-1 progression?

[iconic]

LEN Steal my sunshine.

Ok so the erm older members here will know this song is sampled from the Andrea True Connection's More More More break so to speak.

Chords are A, E, B that's it, but assuming the key is B that would make the song a b7-4-1 chord progression....one I've not seen before?

[url="https://youtu.be/9F4os8XlS3U"]https://youtu.be/9F4os8XlS3U[/url]

https://youtu.be/RlJGrIyt-X8


thanks for your help and patience

Edited May 1, 2015 by iconic

[visog]

... then don't assume the key's 'B'. Assume it's E' and you've got a very common 1-4-5 variant.

[jrixn1]

Yes, it is b7-4-1. Some other examples: Praise You; With a Little Help from My Friends (chorus); Last Name (chorus).

[Dave Vader]

But all of those resolve on what you are calling the 4, pretty sure it is in E, and is 4-1-5

I think, at least that's how i've always seen them, and heard them (except Last Name, which i have never heard of)

[paul_5]

The 'parent' key is E Major, but it's starting on the 4th note of that key, which makes it a modal tune. The 4th mode of a parent scale (starting the Major scale on the 4th note) is a Lydian mode, so this is an A Lydian.

You've playing an E major scale, but going from A to A (A, B, C#, D#, E F#, G#, A) instead of going E to E (E, F#, G#, A, B, C#, D#, E) - same notes, different start and end points.

[jrixn1]

[quote name='jrixn1' timestamp='1430488457' post='2761957']
Yes, it is b7-4-1. Some other examples: Praise You; With a Little Help from My Friends (chorus); Last Name (chorus).
[/quote]

[quote name='Dave Vader' timestamp='1430488782' post='2761961']
But all of those resolve on what you are calling the 4
[/quote]

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jBDF04fQKtQ[/media]

The chords of 'With a Little Help from My Friends' are:

Verse:
[font=courier new,courier,monospace]| E / B / | F#m / / / | F#m / B / | E / / / |
| E / B / | F#m / / / | F#m / B / | E / / / |[/font]

The verse is surely in the key of E. (Does anyone disagree with that?)

Chorus:
[font=courier new,courier,monospace]| D / A / | E / / / |
| D / A / | E / / / |
| D / A / | E / / / |[/font]

Are you saying that it feels to you that the chorus is in the key of A?

The final chorus at the end of the song is:
[font=courier new,courier,monospace]...
| D / A / | E / / / |
| D / A / | A / / / |
| C / / / | D / / / | E ||[/font]

What key would you say the end of the song is in?

To me, the whole song never leaves the key of E. But if others hear it differently, then fair enough.

[JapanAxe]

Key centre of the OP is E. This sequence is sometimes referred to as a double plagal cadence.

[iconic]

thanks guys for the response learnt a lot from the help

[Hector]

If in doubt, you can always use your ears - what are the song's melody notes? This also applies to more complicated chord progressions.

[Dave Vader]

[quote name='jrixn1' timestamp='1430507425' post='2762217']
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jBDF04fQKtQ[/media]
To me, the whole song never leaves the key of E. But if others hear it differently, then fair enough.
[/quote]

To be fair, I try not to listen to it if I can help it, I was humming the chorus in isolation and forgetting the rest of it. It looks like you are probably right, in my head the long run down at the end resolves to an A, but I suspect that is just in my head and the record is different.