Ostinato
A short musical phrase repeated persistently throughout a section.
Analysis
By Year
Song count per year
By Songwriter
% of each member's catalogue with this tag (by writing credit)
By Era
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Songs(17 of 18)
| # | Title | Year | Album | Lead Vocal(s) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hold Me Tight | 1963 | With The Beatles | Paul | a repeating figure shared by the bass and the guitar |
| 2 | I Call Your Name | 1964 | Past Masters | John | a lead-guitar figure through the bridge, close cousin to the one in Hold Me Tight |
| 3 | You Can't Do That | 1964 | A Hard Day's Night | John | a figure that swings between the major and minor third |
| 4 | Ticket to Ride | 1965 | Help! | John | the opening figure, built on the same bare interval as the song's ninth chords |
| 5 | Day Tripper | 1965 | Past Masters | John, Paul | Riff loops under verses and outro fade |
| 6 | If I Needed Someone | 1965 | Rubber Soul | George | - |
| 7 | The Word | 1965 | Rubber Soul | John, Paul | - |
| 8 | Paperback Writer | 1966 | Past Masters | Paul | the whole backing ensemble takes up the figure in the second half |
| 9 | Tomorrow Never Knows | 1966 | Revolver | John | Ringo plays essentially the same bar throughout |
| 10 | I Want to Tell You | 1966 | Revolver | George | a guitar figure runs the length of the song |
| 11 | Taxman | 1966 | Revolver | George | McCartney's bassline figure under the verses |
| 12 | Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds | 1967 | Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band | John | the opening lick, on a Hammond organ stop voiced like a celeste |
| 13 | Dear Prudence | 1968 | The Beatles (The White Album) | John | two repeating patterns run the length of the piece |
| 14 | Hey Bulldog | 1969 | Yellow Submarine | John | the lead-guitar riff, split across two tracks alongside the bass |
| 15 | I Want You (She's So Heavy) | 1969 | Abbey Road | John | a bassline figure carries the instrumental stretches against the fuller verses |
| 16 | Because | 1969 | Abbey Road | John, Paul, George | Arpeggiated harpsichord/guitar figure |
| 17 | Dig a Pony | 1970 | Let It Be | John | bass and lead guitar play the riff an octave apart |
Hold Me Tight
a repeating figure shared by the bass and the guitar
I Call Your Name
a lead-guitar figure through the bridge, close cousin to the one in Hold Me Tight
You Can't Do That
a figure that swings between the major and minor third
Ticket to Ride
the opening figure, built on the same bare interval as the song's ninth chords
Day Tripper
Riff loops under verses and outro fade
If I Needed Someone
The Word
Paperback Writer
the whole backing ensemble takes up the figure in the second half
Tomorrow Never Knows
Ringo plays essentially the same bar throughout
I Want to Tell You
a guitar figure runs the length of the song
Taxman
McCartney's bassline figure under the verses
Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds
the opening lick, on a Hammond organ stop voiced like a celeste
Dear Prudence
two repeating patterns run the length of the piece
Hey Bulldog
the lead-guitar riff, split across two tracks alongside the bass
I Want You (She's So Heavy)
a bassline figure carries the instrumental stretches against the fuller verses
Because
Arpeggiated harpsichord/guitar figure
Dig a Pony
bass and lead guitar play the riff an octave apart
Updated