“Get Back” by the Beatles - A True Original

There is nothing like Get Back among the Beatles catalog. Sure, you can say the same of so many of their songs but Get Back is unique.

Get Back is based around just two chords (A and D), which is rare for the Beatles - it’s a simple rocker. Paul has an unusual ability to vary his voice and this vocal is different from anything else he sings. George again shows us how his rhythm guitar can drive a song. John plays a simple yet effective lead and Ringo’s drumming is superb. The only time he plays this drum pattern. And don’t forget Billy Preston. The organ part adds a different dimension and the Beatles give him a credit on the single - awesome, they didn’t need to.

I first heard Get Back in the 70’s and have loved it since.

 

Strange - I was just thinking about "Get Back" today! (Not even listening.)
I think "Love Me Do" has only two chords as well - but there's a universe of difference between the two songs. "Get Back" has a level of sophistication acquired over six or seven years. It sounds simple but there is a lot going on. A brilliant song!

 

Get Back to the USSR

 

I think it sounds a bit like a mellow play on the the Back in the USSR structure. Love it!

 

A very interesting read

Get Back - Wikipedia

 

There’s a G chord in there too I think. Great song regardless.

 

None of Paul's live drummers has effectively pulled off Ringo's part on this.

 

There is a G and it’s an A5 not a straight A.

 

D7 in there too. Great song, nice laid back groove, simple but lots going on

 

I had posted years ago that during the Get Back sessions Paul favorably referenced Canned Heat and " Going Up the Country" specifically and did a sample of the vocal for the others if memory serves me.
That song ALSO has a kind of unusual vocal that I thought maybe Paul used as a jumping off point.
Ben (theMess) mentioned that Paul had worked with Jackie Lomax and that Paul's vocal sounded a bit like Jackie Lomax on Get Back also.
I can see either of these two styles sort of inspiring Paul's Get Back vocal.

 

Personally I've always felt he was influenced by Canned Heat's Going Up The Country, his vocal and the song's style, lyrically it's not too dissimilar, both songs are about 'going' somewhere. Even the flute solo reminds me of John's solo to a degree.

(Ha well Glenn's appeared while I was correcting spelling errors)

 

The great "Sour Milk Sea" as performed by Jackie Lomax, with Jackie saying "get back to where you should be" throughout the tune and scatting about getting back at the end. As Paul played on "Sour Milk Sea", it may have been a lyrical inspiration for the "Get Back" theme.

 

Truly awesome in almost every way.

I always felt the lyrics were a bit rushed...a bit more polish needed, perhaps. Sacrilege, I know, but...

 

Undeniable groove. If these guys were ever "in the pocket", this is it.

 

of course I have to agree...love it.

 

Yes there is but it is an embellishing chord, not part of the melody.

 

You must be reading the chord books. It’s an A and that’s what George plays. John plays a standard rock riff which starts with the first two strings of an A chord (A note, E note) which can be called an A5.

The pattern goes AE to AFsharp etc. Standard 50s (and before) progression.

 

There’s a surprise!

 

I believe a poster here before described the keyboard as “noise.”

 

It would be more challenging to find a song where the Fabs did not throw a 7th in.

 

I remember reading the magazine Hit Parader back in the day when Ringo was talking about it before its release. He said something like, " You'll love it. It's a real toetapper".

 

very funny...HAHA!

 

Good song. I remember the first time that I heard the single.