Songs with a Downwards Key Change

The vast majority of key changes in pop songs move up, not down! So I've analysed the few songs that do modulate downwards, including Penny Lane, Layla, Wouldn't It Be Nice, Bohemian Rhapsody and You Are The Sunshine Of My Life, to get a better idea of what the downwards key change has to offer.

❗️CORRECTION: I transcribed “You Are The Sunshine of My Life” all one semitone up from the original key! So it should be in B major modulating down to Ab major, not C major modulating down to A major. My analysis and all of that is still 100% accurate and relevant! Thanks to those who pointed that out. Sorry!

And an extra special thanks goes to Daniel Long, Christopher Ryan & Paul Peijzel, the channel’s Patreon saints! 😇

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Howard Goodall's appreciation of The Beatles:

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