In this article, the focus will be on the Beatles and their use of four chords or less in their songs. The four chords used in these songs are G major, D major, E minor, and C. While these chords are commonly known as the "four chords chord sequence," the Beatles did not frequently use this progression. The songs chosen for this list are those that use these four chords throughout the entire song without any other chords.
The article will cover a variety of Beatles songs that can be played with just four chords or less. Some songs use only two chords, such as "Paperback Writer" and "Eleanor Rigby," while others use three chords, like "Love Me Do" and "Taxman." There is also one song, "Let It Be," that uses the classic four-chord progression. The article will provide chord sheets and tutorials for each song to help readers learn and play along.
Key Takeaways
- The Beatles did not frequently use the "four chords chord sequence" in their songs.
- Several Beatles songs can be played with just four chords or less, including some with only two or three chords.
- Chord sheets and tutorials are available for each song to help readers learn and play along.
Four Chords for Every Song
There are 10 Beatles songs that can be played with just four chords or less, and these four chords are the same for every song. The chords are G major, D major, E minor, and C. However, the speaker clarifies that only one song on the list actually uses these four chords in the same progression. It took a lot of sorting and finding to identify these songs that use the same chords throughout and no other chords in the song at all.
The first song on the list is "Paperback Writer," which uses only G major and C major chords and a simple strumming pattern of down, down, up, up, down. The second song is "Eleanor Rigby," which uses only E minor and C major chords.
There are a few Beatles songs that use only three chords, and the most famous one is "Love Me Do," which uses G major, C major, and D major chords. "Taxman" is another simple three-chord song.
Other songs that use the same four chords as "Paperback Writer" include "Obladi Oblada," "Come Together," and "Hey Jude." The speaker notes that "Let It Be" also uses these four chords, but it deviates from the classic four-chord song progression.
The speaker provides full song tutorials for more songs on the list on their YouTube channel and website, where they have all the song tutorials in a list with chord sheets and everything. The speaker emphasizes the importance of learning a few chords and trying to get as many songs under your belt with those chords as possible, especially in the early days of learning guitar.
Two-Chord Beatles Songs
The Beatles are known for their complex and innovative chord progressions, but there are a few songs that only require two chords. These songs are great for beginners who are just starting to learn guitar or for anyone who wants to play some simple yet classic tunes. The two chords used in these songs are G major and C major.
One of the most famous two-chord Beatles songs is "Paperback Writer." The song features a fantastic riff and uses the chords G major and C major. The strumming pattern used in this song is down, down, up, up, down.
Another popular two-chord Beatles song is "Eleanor Rigby." The song uses the chords E minor and C major and has a haunting melody that is instantly recognizable.
There are also a few Beatles songs that use just three chords. One of the most famous three-chord Beatles songs is "Love Me Do," which uses G major, C major, and D major. "Taxman" is another three-chord Beatles song that uses G major, C major, and D major.
For those who want to learn more songs with the same four chords, G major, D major, E minor, and C major, "Let It Be" is a classic example. The song starts with the chord progression G, D, Em, C, and then goes back to G and C.
Other songs that use these four chords include "Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da," "Come Together," and "Hey Jude." With just a few chords, you can play some of the greatest songs ever written and impress your friends and family with your guitar skills.
Three-Chord Beatles Songs
The Beatles are known for their complex and innovative chord progressions, but there are still a number of their songs that can be played with just three or four chords. In this section, we will explore some of the Beatles' songs that can be played with just three chords: G major, D major, and E minor.
One of the most famous two-chord Beatles songs is "Eleanor Rigby," which just uses the two chords E minor and C major. Another famous two-chord Beatles song is "Paperback Writer," which just uses the chords G major and C major.
There are also a few Beatles songs that use just three chords. Perhaps the most famous and well-known is "Love Me Do," which uses G major, C major, and D major. "Taxman" is another simple three-chord song that uses G major, C major, and D major.
The Beatles also have a number of songs that can be played with the four-chord sequence of G major, D major, E minor, and C major. One of the most famous of these songs is "Let It Be," which uses this chord progression throughout most of the song. Other songs that use this chord progression include "Obla Di Obla Da," "Come Together," and "Hey Jude."
It's important to note that while the four-chord sequence is often referred to as the "four chords" progression, the Beatles did not use this progression often. It took a lot of sorting and finding to find these songs that use these same chords throughout and no other chords in the song at all.
Overall, these three and four-chord Beatles songs are great for beginners who are just learning guitar and want to play some classic songs. With just a few chords, you can play some of the most iconic songs in rock history.
Three-Chord Beatles Songs with a Different Chord
There are ten Beatles songs that can be played using four chords or less, specifically G major, D major, E minor, and C. While these chords are often referred to as the "four chords chord sequence," there is only one song on the list that uses these chords exclusively. The rest of the songs on the list utilize these chords throughout the song, with no other chords included.
The first song on the list is "Paperback Writer," which uses only G major and C major chords. The speaker demonstrates the strumming pattern of "down down up up down" used in the song. The next song on the list is "Eleanor Rigby," which uses only E minor and C major chords.
Several Beatles songs that use only three chords, including "Love Me Do," which uses G major, C major, and D major chords. "Taxman" is another three-chord song, which uses the same chords as "Love Me Do," but with a different rhythm. The speaker notes that a full tutorial for "Taxman" will be available soon.
Two bonus songs that use the chords D major, G major, and A major, including "Twist and Shout" and "Get Back." The speaker notes that these songs are simple three-chord songs that can be played with just a few minutes of practice.
Four songs that use the same four chords as "Let It Be," including "Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da," "Come Together," and "Hey Jude." The speaker notes that playing these songs with the same chords as "Let It Be" requires a capo on the second fret.
So you see the importance of learning a few chords and using them to play as many songs as possible.
The Classic Four-Chord Song
The Beatles are known for their catchy melodies and memorable lyrics. However, what many people don't know is that they often used the same four chords in many of their songs. These chords are G major, D major, E minor, and C major. Although this chord progression is commonly referred to as the "four chords chord sequence," there is only one song on this list that uses these chords exclusively.
The first song on the list is "Paperback Writer." This song uses only two chords, G major and C major, and a simple strumming pattern. The song's catchy riff is a highlight, but the rest of the song relies solely on these two chords.
Another famous two-chord Beatles song is "Eleanor Rigby," which uses the chords E minor and C major. The song's haunting melody and lyrics make it a fan favorite.
There are a few Beatles songs that use just three chords, such as "Love Me Do," which uses G major, C major, and D major. "Taxman" is another simple song that uses just three chords, but the original recording has more complexity.
"Rock and Roll Music" is a 12-bar blues song that can be played with the three chords G, C, and D. "Can't Buy Me Love" is another song that uses the same 12-bar blues chord progression.
Two other bonus songs that use the chords D, G, and A major are "Twist and Shout" and "Get Back." These songs are simple three-chord songs that anyone can play with just a few minutes of practice.
The classic four-chord song that uses the chords G major, D major, E minor, and C major is "Let It Be." This song is in the key of C major, so to play it with these chords, a capo is needed on the fifth fret.
Other songs that use these same four chords include "Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da," "Come Together," and "Hey Jude." These songs demonstrate the capabilities of what can be done with just a few chords and a little creativity.
In conclusion, the Beatles were masters at creating memorable songs with simple chord progressions. By using the same four chords in many of their songs, they were able to create a unique sound that is still beloved by fans today.
The song book below is one of my favorites. It's an exhaustive collection of Beatles' songs. Click the picture to purchase it on Amazon.
Harlan Kilstein began playing piano during covid with no piano background at all. He taught himself how to play learning what to do and what not to do.
Today he's an advanced intermediate player and can help you grow in your skills because he learned all this on his own.
