October 17, 2004 -- Edmonton Journal
PROFESSOR STRIKES THE RIGHT CHORD
The mystery of the opening chord of The Beatles' "A Hard Day's Night" has finally been unravelled, after four decades. The chord has generally been attributed to the late George Harrison and his Rickenbacker guitar, but how he played it has eluded Beatles fans.
Now a mathematics professor claims he's proven Harrison was not solely responsible.
Dr. Jason Brown, of Dalhousie University in Nova Scotia, came up with a way to break down the chord's components by digitizing it and using a mathematical equation.
He reached the conclusion that there must have been another instrument involved. Brown said, "I was left with a 12-string guitar, and there were some tones and harmonics that weren't playable on it." He believes Harrison, John Lennon, Paul McCartney and even producer George Martin were all involved.
Brown broke the chord down to show that Harrison played eight notes on his Rickenbacker.
He believes Lennon is responsible for one note that may have come from a six-string guitar, while McCartney played one note on bass.
According to Brown, Martin played five notes on piano.
The findings will be published in an upcoming issue of Guitar Player magazine.
NOTE: No mystery. It's an open D7 chord with a "G" (11th chord added)
http://www.canada.com/ottawa/ottawacitizen/news/story.html...9-b3ed-4576-b44e-2aef9fecc84d
