The Mystery Opening Chord of “Hard Day’s Night” Solved by Randy Bachman

May 30, 2015 Alan Cross 1 Comment

What, exactly, do we hear being played at the beginning of the Beatles’ 1964 hit, “Hard Day’s Night?” One guitar or two? And what is that goddamn chord? And I don’t mean approximately. I mean f**kin’ exactly.

I heard Randy Bachman deconstruct things a couple of years ago and it’s brilliant–and definitive. Thanks to Boing Boing for the reminder.

There. Let us speak no more about it.

Alan Cross

is an internationally known broadcaster, interviewer, writer, consultant, blogger and speaker. In his 40+ years in the music business, Alan has interviewed the biggest names in rock, from David Bowie and U2 to Pearl Jam and the Foo Fighters. He’s also known as a musicologist and documentarian through programs like The Ongoing History of New Music.

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