One and One and One is bIII: How The Beatles Use Flat Mediant Chords

47 of The Beatles' 211 tracks employ a major flat mediant chord (bIII). Those 47 are listed below, along with exhaustive documentation of how they are approached (what chord comes immediately before it) and how they progress (what comes immediately after it):

​[3] 'Please Please Me'
bIII: 4 approach: I x4
progress: IV x3, bVI x1

[6b] 'A Taste Of Honey'
bIII: 5 approach: i x3, IV x2
progress: bVII x5

[7] 'Do You Want To Know A Secret'
bIII: 1 approach: i x1
progress: bII x1

[9] 'Hold Me Tight'
bIII: 4 approach: I x4
progress: I x4

[14] 'It Won't Be Long'
bIII: 1 approach: I x1
progress: II x1

[20] 'Don't Bother Me'
bIII: 10 approach: IV x10
progress: i x10

[35] 'Things We Said Today'
bIII: 4 approach: i x4
progress: bVI x4

[48] 'Another Girl'
bIII: 4 approach: Ø x2, IV x2
progress: Ø x2, V x2

[51] 'The Night Before'
bIII: 4 approach: I x4
progress: I x1, IV x3

[52] 'You Like Me Too Much'
bIII: 2 approach: I x2
progress: V x2

[61] 'Wait'
bIII: 10 approach: Ø x6, i x4
progress: Ø x4, V x6

[71] 'Michelle'
bIII: 3 approach: i x3
progress: bVI x3

[73] 'Think For Yourself'
bIII: 6 approach: v x6
progress: IV x6

[74] 'The Word'
bIII: 5 approach: bVII x5
progress: Ø x1, IV x4

[76] 'Girl'
bIII: 5 approach: i x1, iv x4
progress: Ø x1, V x4

[84] 'Taxman'
bIII: 1 approach: I x1
progress: I x1

[85] 'I'm Only Sleeping'
bIII: 16 approach: iv x8, bVI x8
progress: V x4, bVI x12

[91] 'Here There And Everywhere'
bIII: 1 approach: iii x1
progress: ii x1

[95] 'Penny Lane'
bIII: 3 approach: Ø x3
progress: V x3

[96] 'A Day in the Life'
bIII: 2 approach: bVI x2
progress: bVII x2

[97] 'Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band'
bIII: 2 approach: I x2
progress: IV x2

[100] 'Only A Northern Song'
bIII: 5 approach: Ø x1, V x4
progress: Ø x4, IV x1

[102] 'Lovely Rita'
bIII: 4 approach: bVII x4
progress: I x4

[108] 'Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (reprise)'
bIII: 5 approach: I x5
progress: IV x5

[109] 'Magical Mystery Tour'
bIII: 12 approach: I x12
progress: IV x12

[110] 'Baby, You're a Rich Man'
bIII: 2 approach: IV x2
progress: I x2

[115] 'Your Mother Should Know'
bIII: 5 approach: Ø x5
progress: V x5

[116] 'I Am the Walrus'
bIII: 12 approach: I x6, II x4, IV x2
progress: II x2, IV x10

[128] 'Blackbird'
bIII: 4 approach: IV x4
progress: II x2, IV x2

[129] 'Everybody's Got Something to Hide Except for Me and My Monkey'
bIII: 6 approach: I x3, bVII x3
progress: I x3, bVII x3

[134] 'Helter Skelter'
bIII: 5 approach: I x5
progress: I x2, IV x3

[136] 'While My Guitar Gently Weeps'
bIII: 5 approach: bVII x5
progress: V x5

[138] 'Mother Nature's Son'
bIII: 6 approach: I x6
progress: IV x6

[139] 'Yer Blues'
bIII: 8 approach: I x8
progress: V x8

[142] 'Back in the USSR'
bIII: 12 approach: I x4, IV x8
progress: IV x12

[143] 'Dear Prudence'
bIII: 1 approach: IV x1
progress: bV x1

[144] 'Glass Onion'
A MINOR:
bIII: 6 approach: bvii x6
progress: bVI x3, bvii x3

[148] 'Happiness is a Warm Gun'
bIII: 5 approach: I x5
progress: I x3, i x2

[150] 'Savoy Truffle'
bIII: 8 approach: IV x8
progress: V x8

[154] 'The Continuing Story of Bungalow Bill'
bIII: 6 approach: i x6
progress: bVI x6

[167] 'I Want You (She's So Heavy)'
bIII: 8 approach: i x8
progress: IV x4, bVII x4

[170] 'Something'
bIII: 6 approach: IV x6
progress: V x6

[173] 'You Never Give Me Your Money'
bIII: 10 approach: I x4, II x3, bVII x3
progress: V x2, bVI x3, bVII x5

[176] 'Carry that Weight'
bIII: 4 approach: Ø x1, I x1, bVII x2
progress: V x2, bVI x2

[177] 'Here Comes the Sun'
bIII: 6 approach: V x6
progress: bVII x6

[180] 'The End'
bIII: 1 approach: II x1
progress: IV x1

[183] 'Polythene Pam'
bIII: 2 approach: I x2
progress: V x2

Those 47 songs use a total of 247 major flat mediants, making it the 12th most common chord in The Beatles' catalog.

Here's how those 247 bIIIs are approached:

​Ø: 18 instances (7.3%) in 6 songs

• x2 [48] 'Another Girl'
• x6 [61] 'Wait'
• x3 [95] 'Penny Lane'
• x1 [100] 'Only A Northern Song'
• x5 [115] 'Your Mother Should Know'
• x1 [176] 'Carry that Weight'

I: 79 instances (32.0%) in 19 songs

• x4 [3] 'Please Please Me'
• x4 [9] 'Hold Me Tight'
• x1 [14] 'It Won't Be Long'
• x4 [51] 'The Night Before'
• x2 [52] 'You Like Me Too Much'
• x1 [84] 'Taxman'
• x2 [97] 'Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band'
• x5 [108] 'Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (reprise)'
• x12 [109] 'Magical Mystery Tour'
• x6 [116] 'I Am the Walrus'
• x3 [129] 'Everybody's Got Something to Hide Except for Me and My Monkey'
• x5 [134] 'Helter Skelter'
• x6 [138] 'Mother Nature's Son'
• x8 [139] 'Yer Blues'
• x4 [142] 'Back in the USSR'
• x5 [148] 'Happiness is a Warm Gun'
• x4 [173] 'You Never Give Me Your Money'
• x1 [176] 'Carry that Weight'
• x2 [183] 'Polythene Pam'

i: 30 instances (12.1%) in 8 songs

• x3 [6b] 'A Taste Of Honey'
• x1 [7] 'Do You Want To Know A Secret'
• x4 [35] 'Things We Said Today'
• x4 [61] 'Wait'
• x3 [71] 'Michelle'
• x1 [76] 'Girl'
• x6 [154] 'The Continuing Story of Bungalow Bill'
• x8 [167] 'I Want You (She's So Heavy)'

II: 8 instances (3.2%) in 3 songs

• x4 [116] 'I Am the Walrus'
• x3 [173] 'You Never Give Me Your Money'
• x1 [180] 'The End'

iii: 1 instance (0.4%) in 1 song

• x1 [91] 'Here There And Everywhere'

IV: 45 instances (18.2%) in 10 songs

• x2 [6b] 'A Taste Of Honey'
• x10 [20] 'Don't Bother Me'
• x2 [48] 'Another Girl'
• x2 [110] 'Baby, You're a Rich Man'
• x2 [116] 'I Am the Walrus'
• x4 [128] 'Blackbird'
• x8 [142] 'Back in the USSR'
• x1 [143] 'Dear Prudence'
• x8 [150] 'Savoy Truffle'
• x6 [170] 'Something'

iv: 12 instances (4.9%) in 2 songs

• x4 [76] 'Girl'
• x8 [85] 'I'm Only Sleeping'

V: 10 instances (4.0%) in 2 songs

• x4 [100] 'Only A Northern Song'
• x6 [177] 'Here Comes the Sun'

v: 6 instances in (2.4%) 1 song

• x6 [73] 'Think For Yourself'

bVI: 10 instances (4.0%) in 2 songs

• x8 [85] 'I'm Only Sleeping'
• x2 [96] 'A Day in the Life'

bVII: 22 instances (8.9%) in 6 songs

• x5 [74] 'The Word'
• x4 [102] 'Lovely Rita'
• x3 [129] 'Everybody's Got Something to Hide Except for Me and My Monkey'
• x5 [136] 'While My Guitar Gently Weeps'
• x3 [173] 'You Never Give Me Your Money'
• x2 [176] 'Carry that Weight'

bvii: 6 instances (2.4%) in 1 song

• x6 [144] 'Glass Onion'​

And here's how they progress:

​Ø: 12 instances (4.9%) in 5 songs

• x2 [48] 'Another Girl'
• x4 [61] 'Wait'
• x1 [74] 'The Word'
• x1 [76] 'Girl'
• x4 [100] 'Only A Northern Song'

I: 20 instances (8.1%) in 8 songs

• x4 [9] 'Hold Me Tight'
• x1 [51] 'The Night Before'
• x1 [84] 'Taxman'
• x4 [102] 'Lovely Rita'
• x2 [110] 'Baby, You're a Rich Man'
• x3 [129] 'Everybody's Got Something to Hide Except for Me and My Monkey'
• x2 [134] 'Helter Skelter'
• x3 [148] 'Happiness is a Warm Gun'

i: 12 instances (4.9%) in 2 songs

• x10 [20] 'Don't Bother Me'
• x2 [148] 'Happiness is a Warm Gun'

bII: 1 instance (0.4%) in 1 song

• x1 [7] 'Do You Want To Know A Secret'

II: 5 instances (2.0%) in 3 songs

• x1 [14] 'It Won't Be Long'
• x2 [116] 'I Am the Walrus'
• x2 [128] 'Blackbird'

ii: 1 instance (0.4%) in 1 song

• x1 [91] 'Here There And Everywhere'

IV: 74 instances (30.0%) in 15 songs

• x3 [3] 'Please Please Me'
• x3 [51] 'The Night Before'
• x6 [73] 'Think For Yourself'
• x4 [74] 'The Word'
• x2 [97] 'Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band'
• x1 [100] 'Only A Northern Song'
• x5 [108] 'Sergeant Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (reprise)'
• x12 [109] 'Magical Mystery Tour'
• x10 [116] 'I Am the Walrus'
• x2 [128] 'Blackbird'
• x3 [134] 'Helter Skelter'
• x6 [138] 'Mother Nature's Son'
• x12 [142] 'Back in the USSR'
• x4 [167] 'I Want You (She's So Heavy)'
• x1 [180] 'The End'

bV: 1 instance (0.4%) in 1 song

• x1 [143] 'Dear Prudence'

V: 59 instances (23.9%) in 14 songs

• x2 [48] 'Another Girl'
• x2 [52] 'You Like Me Too Much'
• x6 [61] 'Wait'
• x4 [76] 'Girl'
• x4 [85] 'I'm Only Sleeping'
• x3 [95] 'Penny Lane'
• x5 [115] 'Your Mother Should Know'
• x5 [136] 'While My Guitar Gently Weeps'
• x8 [139] 'Yer Blues'
• x8 [150] 'Savoy Truffle'
• x6 [170] 'Something'
• x2 [173] 'You Never Give Me Your Money'
• x2 [176] 'Carry that Weight'
• x2 [183] 'Polythene Pam'

bVI: 34 instances (13.8%) in 8 songs

• x1 [3] 'Please Please Me'
• x4 [35] 'Things We Said Today'
• x3 [71] 'Michelle'
• x12 [85] 'I'm Only Sleeping'
• x3 [144] 'Glass Onion'
• x6 [154] 'The Continuing Story of Bungalow Bill'
• x3 [173] 'You Never Give Me Your Money'
• x2 [176] 'Carry that Weight'

bVII: 25 instances (10.1%) in 6 songs

• x5 [6b] 'A Taste Of Honey'
• x2 [96] 'A Day in the Life'
• x3 [129] 'Everybody's Got Something to Hide Except for Me and My Monkey'
• x4 [167] 'I Want You (She's So Heavy)'
• x5 [173] 'You Never Give Me Your Money'
• x6 [177] 'Here Comes the Sun'

bvii: 3 instances (1.2%) in 1 song

• x3 [144] 'Glass Onion'

Far less common is the minor flat mediant (biii), found 22 times in 3 songs:
[7] 'Do You Want To Know A Secret'
biii: 15 approach: iii x15
progress: ii x15

[13e] 'Till There Was You'
biii: 5 approach: iii x5
progress: ii x5

[122] 'Lady Madonna'
biii: 2 approach: ii x2
progress: ii x2

​And rarer still is the diminished flat mediant (biii°), used 8 times in 1 song:
[28] 'If I Fell'
biii°: 8 approach: iii x8
progress: ii x8

CONCLUSIONS: So what do all these numbers means, and who really cares?
My entire career is designed to answer one fundamental question: Why were The Beatles so great? Every presentation I deliver, every book I author, every interview I give, and every blog I write is designed to contribute to answering that inquiry.

In traditional classical contexts, tonal chords function in relatively few ways: Certain chords are "required" to progress to others. But The Beatles often use chords that function in multiple ways. And the major flat mediant (by far the most commonly used variety of flat mediants) is a prime example, being approached in 12 different ways and progressing also in 12 different ways.

​In other words, we can better understand The Beatles' extraordinary use of harmony on a macro level by examining and understanding their use of harmony on a micro level - in this case by studying their use of flat mediant chords in great detail.

---

The tour continues tomorrow as I head even further south. 

Tuesday, 24 January 2017, 7:00-8:00 p.m.
Amory Municipal Library, 401 2nd Ave N, Amory, MS
The Beatles: Band of the Sixties
Explore the music of The Beatles in this 60-minute multimedia presentation (part history and part musical analysis) spanning the full 1960's: beginning with the band's seminal visits to Hamburg, continuing through Beatlemania, and concluding with Abbey Road. The program will be supplemented with audio clips of music and excerpts from interviews with the band members.

​For the record, I won't be discussing flat mediant chords at all!