March 3, 2009
Fourier Analysis Solves Beatles Mystery Chord
For years the chord at the beginning of the Beatles’ ‘A Hard Day’s Night’ has remained a mystery, and provided fodder for intense debate. Now, a mathematician has broken the code.
Four years ago, Jason Brown was inspired by reading news coverage about the song’s 40th anniversary – so much so that he decided to try and see if he could apply a mathematical calculation known as Fourier transform to solve the Beatles’ riddle. The process allowed him to break the sound into distinct frequencies using computer software to find out exactly which notes were on the record.
What he found was interesting: the frequencies he found didn’t match the instruments on the song. George played a 12-string Rickenbacker, John Lennon played his 6 string, Paul had his bass – none of them quite fit what he found. He then realized what was missing – the 5th Beatle. George Martin was also on the record, playing a piano in the opening chord, which accounted for the problematic frequencies.”
So, what was the chord?
George Harrison was playing the following notes on his 12 string guitar: a2, a3, d3, d4, g3, g4, c4, and another c4; Paul McCartney played a d3 on his bass; producer George Martin was playing d3, f3, d5, g5, and e6 on the piano, while Lennon played a loud c5 on his six-string guitar.
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2 Responses to “Fourier Analysis Solves Beatles Mystery Chord”
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Momentary pandiatonicism. “Hit the white notes, boys!”
Now only if someone could figure out the opening chord to “Christine”!