Music · Opening chord

i

Songs whose opening chord is the i scale-degree chord of the home key.

songs

Eighteen recordings have it, across almost the whole of the band's recording life, 1963 to 1970. 'Do You Want to Know a Secret' came first, on the Please Please Me album, and 'I Me Mine' last, on the Let It Be album. It never skips a year. The singing splits John on six, Paul on six and George on three. Three of them share it on 'Because'.

Unsurprisingly, the tonic (I) opens more Beatles songs than any other chord (144). The runner-up is more telling: i opens 18.

Analysis

Song count per year

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

Early2 · 13%

Mid-period6 · 38%

Late8 · 50%

Book

All the Songs

Margotin & Guesdon

Book

The Beatles: Complete Scores

Hal Leonard

Sheet music

Musicnotes – Beatles Piano/Vocal/Guitar

Musicnotes

affiliate link - supports this wiki

Year

Album

Writer

Lead vocal(s)

#	Title	Year	Album	Lead Vocal(s)	Notes
1	Do You Want to Know a Secret	1963	Please Please Me	George	Em
2	Things We Said Today	1964	A Hard Day's Night	Paul	Am
3	Michelle	1965	Rubber Soul	Paul	Fm
4	Wait	1965	Rubber Soul	John, Paul	F♯m
5	Girl	1965	Rubber Soul	John	Cm
6	I'm Only Sleeping	1966	Revolver	John	Em
7	Eleanor Rigby	1966	Revolver	Paul	Em

8	Your Mother Should Know	1967	Magical Mystery Tour	Paul	Am
9	Glass Onion	1968	The Beatles (The White Album)	John	Am
10	Happiness Is a Warm Gun	1968	The Beatles (The White Album)	John	Am7
11	While My Guitar Gently Weeps	1968	The Beatles (The White Album)	George	Am
12	Because	1969	Abbey Road	John, Paul, George	C♯m
13	I Want You (She's So Heavy)	1969	Abbey Road	John	Dm
14	You Never Give Me Your Money	1969	Abbey Road	Paul	Am7
15	Come Together	1969	Abbey Road	John	Dm7
16	I Me Mine	1970	Let It Be	George	Am
17	Now and Then	2023	Reunion singles	John	Am