Rhiannon Chords

Rhiannon's harmony is deceptively simple — built almost entirely on three chords (Am, F, C) within A natural minor. The magic lies in what is absent: there is no dominant chord (E or E7), so the song never resolves in the traditional sense. Instead, it cycles between tonic and submediant in the verse, then pivots to the relative major area in the chorus, creating a sense of eternal suspension that perfectly serves the song's theme of an elusive, untouchable figure. The tonal ambiguity between A minor and C major gives the song its distinctive dreamy, otherworldly quality.

Stevie Nicks wrote 'Rhiannon' after reading the novel Triad by Mary Bartlet Leader. She was so taken by the character of Rhiannon that she felt compelled to write about her. Nicks composed the song on piano and recorded a demo onto a cassette tape. While the Welsh legend of Rhiannon is mentioned in the novel, the characters bear little resemblance to their original Welsh namesakes.

Written by Stevie Nicks after reading a novel that referenced the Welsh goddess Rhiannon, this 1975 track melds hypnotic guitar work with Nicks's bewitching vocals. Released as a single in 1976, it peaked at No. 11 in the US and solidified Fleetwood Mac's reinvention as one of rock's most compelling acts.