The Hidden Theory Behind The Beatles While My Guitar Gently Weeps
Break down the music theory behind While My Guitar Gently Weeps — modes, slash chords, borrowed chords, harmonic minor & more. This Beatles classic is a masterclass in emotional songwriting.
Thanks so much to @distrokid for sponsoring this video. Get 7% off your first year's DistroKid membership here: http://distrokid.com/vip/marty
Ever wondered why While My Guitar Gently Weeps hits so hard emotionally?
In this deep-dive theory lesson, I break down the musical ingredients that make this Beatles song a masterclass in songwriting and emotional expression. We’ll look at:
⦿ A minor & its relative major
⦿ Slash chords
⦿ Borrowed chords from A Dorian & harmonic minor
⦿ Why E7 pulls so hard into A minor
⦿ The surprise modulation to A major in the bridge
⦿ Chromatic bass lines and emotional movement
This is the kind of theory that actually helps your musicianship — whether you're learning to solo, write your own music, or just understand great songs on a deeper level.
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More Guitar Resources:
? Get my FREE Guitar Guide PDF—packed with chords, scales, triads, arpeggios, and more: https://www.martymusic.com/the-ultimate-guitar-guide-ebook
? More Guitar Lessons & FREE Courses: https://www.martymusic.com/free-courses
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Disclosure: I only recommend products I would use myself and all opinions expressed here are my own. The link above is an affiliate link, that at no additional cost to you, I may earn a small commission on.
0:00 Intro
1:45 Start of Lesson
5:00 Relative Minor vs Major
7:00 Chromatic Bass Line & Emotional Movement
9:00 Slash Chords
10:00 Borrowed Chords
13:00 Building the Chord Progression
17:00 A Dorian vs A Minor
21:00 E7 and Harmonic Minor
26:00 Soloing Tips – Arpeggios & Target Notes
28:00 Surprise Modulation to A Major
30:20 Recap & Final Thoughts
Thanks so much to @distrokid for sponsoring this video. Get 7% off your first year's DistroKid membership here: http://distrokid.com/vip/marty
Ever wondered why While My Guitar Gently Weeps hits so hard emotionally?
In this deep-dive theory lesson, I break down the musical ingredients that make this Beatles song a masterclass in songwriting and emotional expression. We’ll look at:
⦿ A minor & its relative major
⦿ Slash chords
⦿ Borrowed chords from A Dorian & harmonic minor
⦿ Why E7 pulls so hard into A minor
⦿ The surprise modulation to A major in the bridge
⦿ Chromatic bass lines and emotional movement
This is the kind of theory that actually helps your musicianship — whether you're learning to solo, write your own music, or just understand great songs on a deeper level.
? Join the Marty Music Community & Unlock ALL My Courses!
Monthly membership includes livestreams with me & tons of premium content — you can even start for FREE! → https://www.martymusic.com/memberships
More Guitar Resources:
? Get my FREE Guitar Guide PDF—packed with chords, scales, triads, arpeggios, and more: https://www.martymusic.com/the-ultimate-guitar-guide-ebook
? More Guitar Lessons & FREE Courses: https://www.martymusic.com/free-courses
Follow me everywhere: https://linktr.ee/martyschwartz
Check out the Epiphone Marty Schwartz ES-335 Guitar - https://sweetwater.sjv.io/xkQ6Zy
Free Boss Katana Patches - https://bosstoneexchange.com/creator/125b3da8-184c-48b5-83d8-cbcbe9a15807/?utm_source=share
My Favorite Guitar + Filming Gear at Sweetwater https://imp.i114863.net/e4A326
My Favorite Guitar + Filming Gear at Amazon https://www.amazon.com/shop/martymusic
Disclosure: I only recommend products I would use myself and all opinions expressed here are my own. The link above is an affiliate link, that at no additional cost to you, I may earn a small commission on.
0:00 Intro
1:45 Start of Lesson
5:00 Relative Minor vs Major
7:00 Chromatic Bass Line & Emotional Movement
9:00 Slash Chords
10:00 Borrowed Chords
13:00 Building the Chord Progression
17:00 A Dorian vs A Minor
21:00 E7 and Harmonic Minor
26:00 Soloing Tips – Arpeggios & Target Notes
28:00 Surprise Modulation to A Major
30:20 Recap & Final Thoughts
Marty Music
Marty Music is the premier destination for guitar instruction on YouTube. Host Marty Schwartz is a modern classic who combines his love and knowledge of music to help others improve their musical abilities. With everything from guitar lessons to gear revi...