Music · Arrangement

Viola

Bowed orchestral string instrument, alto range, lower than the violin.

songs

26 Beatles recordings feature a string section. The first was 'Yesterday' (1965); after that, strings became a recurring colour.

Analysis

Song count per year

% of each member's catalogue with this tag (by writing credit)

Early0 · 0%

Mid-period5 · 28%

Late13 · 72%

Year

Album

Writer

Lead vocal(s)

#	Title	Year	Album	Lead Vocal(s)	Performer(s)	Notes
1	Yesterday	1965	Help!	Paul	Kenneth Essex	–
2	Eleanor Rigby	1966	Revolver	Paul	Stephen Shingles,John Underwood	2 violas
3	A Day in the Life	1967	Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band	John, Paul	John Underwood,Bernard Davis,John Meek,Gwynne Edwards	4 violas
4	She's Leaving Home	1967	Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band	Paul, John	Stephen Shingles,John Underwood	2 violas
5	Hello, Goodbye	1967	Magical Mystery Tour	Paul	Ken Essex,Leo Birnbaum,Kenneth Essex	2 violas
6	Hey Jude	1968	Past Masters	Paul	–	3 violas
7	Glass Onion	1968	The Beatles (The White Album)	John	John Underwood,Keith Cummings	2 violas
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8	Good Night	1968	The Beatles (The White Album)	Ringo	Uncredited	3 violas
9	Martha My Dear	1968	The Beatles (The White Album)	Paul	Henry Myerscough,Leo Birnbaum	2 violas
10	Piggies	1968	The Beatles (The White Album)	George	Keith Cummings,John Underwood	2 violas
11	Carry That Weight	1969	Abbey Road	Paul, John, George, Ringo	Uncredited	–
12	Golden Slumbers	1969	Abbey Road	Paul	Uncredited	4 violas
13	Here Comes the Sun	1969	Abbey Road	George	Uncredited	4 violas
14	Something	1969	Abbey Road	George	Uncredited	4 violas
15	The End	1969	Abbey Road	Paul	–	–
16	Across the Universe	1970	Let It Be	John	–	Spector orchestral overdub
17	I Me Mine	1970	Let It Be	George	Uncredited	4 violas
18	The Long and Winding Road	1970	Let It Be	Paul	–	4 violas
19	Now and Then	2023	Reunion singles	John	Linnea Powell,Drew Forde,Caroline Buckman,Ayvren Harrison	–