Music · Harmony

Double plagal

I → ♭VII → IV – two plagal motions chained together, descending by fourths. Common in rock and folk (e.g. C → B♭ → F).

songs

Paul McCartney uses "Double plagal" on 11% of his sole-written songs (8 of 70) – roughly 5.4× the rate at which the other Beatles do (2% average).

Analysis

Song count per year

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

Early2 · 14%

Mid-period5 · 36%

Late7 · 50%

Year

Album

Writer

Lead vocal(s)

#	Title	Year	Album	Lead Vocal(s)	Notes
1	Please Please Me	1963	Please Please Me	John, Paul	–
2	Every Little Thing	1964	Beatles For Sale	John	–
3	The Night Before	1965	Help!	Paul	–
4	Norwegian Wood (This Bird Has Flown)	1965	Rubber Soul	John	–
5	She Said She Said	1966	Revolver	John	–
6	Lovely Rita	1967	Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band	Paul	–
7	With a Little Help from My Friends	1967	Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band	Ringo	–
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8	Hey Jude	1968	Past Masters	Paul	as F → E♭6 → B♭
9	Birthday	1968	The Beatles (The White Album)	Paul, John	–
10	Get Back	1969	Let It Be	Paul	–
11	You Never Give Me Your Money	1969	Abbey Road	Paul	as C → B♭ → F
12	Polythene Pam	1969	Abbey Road	John	–
13	Let It Be	1970	Let It Be	Paul	as C → B♭ → F/A
14	Dig a Pony	1970	Let It Be	John	–