The Most COMPLEX Two Chord Song

In this episode, we take a look at what makes The Beatles' legendary song "Eleanor Rigby" so strange yet so beautiful.

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[__doc___]

Long time watcher, first time commenting. This one really hit me, this was my granddad’s favourite song. We played it at his funeral as he requested it before he died. My god I wish he was here to watch this with me and breakdown McCartney’s genius. Thank you Rick for helping me understand what my grandad heard in this masterpiece.

[hansverrezen]

I am a retired music teacher and I used this song for years in my arrangement and composition classes as a perfect example of creative 'less is more' writing. Apart from the fantastic melody there is the syncopated rhythm of the melody set against the steady quarter note beat of the strings that really propels the song forward. Also there is the strange harmonic rhythm. (three measures of Em followed by one and a half measure of C followed by three and a half measures of Em) which gives this song this weird sense of instability. Pure genius. And there's the lyrics of course.

[davidk]

I had a HS English teacher in the early 70s who used Beatles songs in our poetry explorations. Not the music, just the words. We spent a whole class dissecting the meanings and emotions of Eleanor Rigby. It is a very special memory that I cherish. Thank you, Mr. John Sollers.

[gregb]

Paul McCartney has a musical mind all his own. From the Beatles to Wings and his solo work he has such an original melodic and harmonic sense.

[HabAnagarek]

I think it's fair to say we would never tire of you analyzing, discussing, praising, playing the Beatles. A bottomless well.

[kimfank]

My ear is not nearly as developed as it should be, but ER is so lush and sophisticated that it never dawned on me that it only has two chords. Fricken Beatles man.

[donaldmilne]

It is not only one of the greatest 2-chord songs ever written, it is one of the greatest songs ever written period.

[nurabsalxc]

One of my peeves is the "Beatles are overrated" stuff that goes around these days online... obviously no one who's ever tried to play a Beatles song correctly. It's just mind blowing how complex their songs can be yet still be as palatable to a mainstream listener as it is.

[gkm]

The more you examine the Beatles' music the more impressed you are of their genius.

[kevinconville]

In just over two minutes Paul describes two characters, Eleanor Rigby and Father MacKenzie, and their mundane, inconsequential lives. A masterpiece of concise writing. No Beatle played an instrument on this song, and yet it's a stand-out song on a stand-out album and whenever the topic comes up asking "what is your favorite Beatles song", I, unlike most people, actually give an answer. Eleanor Rigby.

[ZonkerRoberts]

I think you could do a video on just George Martin's genius string arrangement for this song.

[disneyscott]

Let's be real, we're never gonna really be *done* talking about the Beatles. I've been listening to them for my entire 24 years of living and I'm still catching things I've never noticed before. Not many bands can say they have 13 albums and every single one is a masterpiece.

[ysguys]

I made it to 52 seconds and just stopped for a second. I thought for a good 5 minutes about how Eleanor Rigby is really two chords. I was mindblown. Now what gets overshadowed here is not the genius of Macca, it’s the musical prowess of Rick Beato that talks about these things I have never seen or heard or thought of ever before. Thank you so much for bringing us all this great knowledge!

[coertvisser]

When I discovered The Beatles, I was immediately drawn most to Mccartney's songs without understanding why. Songs like And I love her, Eleanor Rigby, For No one, Good Day Sunshine, She's Leaving Home, Penny Lane, Martha my dear, Hey Jude, (the list goes on) they all pluck at your heart strings. Their music seems simple yet they contain some elements which always move and surprise you. But in all these songs the lyrics have the same quality. They seem simple but they all contain some beautiful images. Also, the music fits so well with the sentiment of the lyrics.

[shumookerjee]

I'm a sucker for simplicity. And no one does it better than The Beatles. I think of "Paperback Writer", which is only two chords (G & C) with a simple pentatonic riff and a TON of great production around it. Simply amazing.

[ryadachaibou]

This song is so good it's scary. If it were any other band, it'd be regarded as the best song ever. But since it's the Beatles, it's one among many. To me, it's untouchable.

[peteryoung]

This not only shows McCartney's genious but shows that you dont have to craft a song from complex chord sequences. You can use simple chords and then build interesting melodies around them. Songwriting at its best.

[tomandaj]

And the dynamic sadness of the harmonies on “ah look at all the lonely (lovely) people” is truly heartbreaking. Where John’s note is, is just stunning

[usahot]

Great video as usual.... During Rick Wakeman's 2006 solo piano tour he covered a "Help/Elenor Rigby" medley and stopped in the middle.... explaining to the crowd precisely the melody changes you taught us about here... spot on dude as always!!!

[YoffiBeauty]

This is why this song has never sound to me like a two chord song. It's so complex in its melody and arrangement.