Minor and Major

[Charles Kozierok]

Minor scales are generally associated with "sad" music and major scales with "happy" music. Here's an apt illustration of this.

First, the original of REM's 'Losing My Religion'.
Second, the same song digitally modified to a major key.

An amazing difference in the mood of the song.

 

[A Casual Fitz]

Don't fuck with the original.

 

[Slew Foot]

That might be one of my least favorite songs of theirs

 

[Cerpin Taxt]

Mettalica - "Nothing Else Majeur"

 

[IronWing]

This is what makes this the second saddest song of all time.

 

[Mixolydian]

OK?

I typically prefer songs in minor keys. Not really sure why.

 

[lxskllr]

There's no love song finer, but how strange the change from major to
minor,
Everytime we say goodbye.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GGNLLJz4Ajw

 

[ElFenix]

music theory is something i really wish i knew more about

 

[Mixolydian]

music theory is something i really wish i knew more about

Music theory is a bitch. One of the hardest subjects I ever learned.

 

[MetalMat]

Music theory is a bitch. One of the hardest subjects I ever learned.

I prefer a Phrygian mode to a Mixolydian mode myself.

 

[Mixolydian]

I prefer a Phrygian mode to a Mixolydian mode myself.

Come at me bro. :whiste:

 

[ElFenix]

Music theory is a bitch. One of the hardest subjects I ever learned.

4 years of high school band does not help out much when reading the wikipedia article on mixolydian

 

[lxskllr]

I prefer a Phrygian mode to a Mixolydian mode myself.

Bow to His Holy Modal Majesty

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C7Srl6ED2sA

 

[SheHateMe]

6 years of Piano and I still have issues with Music Theory. It can be a bitch to learn.

Not harder than Scales and Arpeggios, tho.

 

[Kadarin]

Minor scales are generally associated with "sad" music and major scales with "happy" music. Here's an apt illustration of this.

First, the original of REM's 'Losing My Religion'.
Second, the same song digitally modified to a major key.

An amazing difference in the mood of the song.

Interesting!

 

[Fritzo]

If you want to get exact, there's actually different modes that correspond to mood. As a rule of thumb, you flatten a note in a scale to get a "sadder" version of it:

Powerful/happy/strong modes:

LYDIAN = the major scale with a sharp 4th (ex: C-D-E-F#-G-A B)
IONIAN = plain major scale (C-D-E-F-G-A-B)
MIXOLYDIAN = major scale a flat 7th (C-D-E-F-G-A-Bb)

Then you have the sad/dark/somber modes:

DORIAN = minor scale with a major 6th (C-D-Eb-F-G-A-Bb)
AEOLIAN = natural minor (C-D-Eb-F-G-Ab-Bb)
PHRYGIAN = minor with a a flat 2 (C-Db-Eb-F-G-Ab-Bb)
LOCRIAN = minor with a flat 5 and a flat 2 (like a "super-phrygian: C-Db-Eb-F-Gb-Ab-Bb)

My favorite modes tend to be phrygian and aeolian...very moody and sad. Here's a great example of aeolian at work:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qK59nhh1tcg

 

[KillerCharlie]

Pfft, different modes are for beginners.

Let's talk about temperament!

 

[slugg]

4 years of high school band does not help out much when reading the wikipedia article on mixolydian

You've got to be phrygian kidding me. You must have had a craptacular band program. I was in band for 2 years as a percussionist and I still know my fair share of music theory, today, 6 years later.

Ah, but I worked as a professional musician to pay my way through school. Yea, I guess I left that part out. But hey, I'm just a stupid drummer, right? :awe:

 

[Fritzo]

You've got to be phrygian kidding me. You must have had a craptacular band program. I was in band for 2 years as a percussionist and I still know my fair share of music theory, today, 6 years later.

Ah, but I worked as a professional musician to pay my way through school. Yea, I guess I left that part out. But hey, I'm just a stupid drummer, right? :awe:

Why do you know theory? All you need to know is "ONE two three four ONE two three four..."

 

[phucheneh]

I thought this was a Thrice thread.

I am disappoint(ed). There are really people that don't know that minor chord = sad chord? I'm shit with music theory, but I knew that one. All I remember is the third (middle finger on a three note piano chord) moves down a key. And that makes it saaadddd.

I don't quite get how it affects individual notes, though. As evidenced by the Metallica song, obviously it does...I mean, I know there are minor scales and major scales...but...ah I dunno, I gave up on [making/understanding] music, it's just not something for my brain.

Also, the REM song, when changed to major, sounds kinda like 'Margaritaville.'

Oh, and I did four years of band during middle school. Was a pretty decent sax player and could read music well. But theory? Didn't get none o' that. I doubt high school would've been different.

 

[Markbnj]

I am disappoint(ed). There are really people that don't know that minor chord = sad chord?

I think most people would recognize the melancholy tone of minor modes, even if they don't know the words. The interesting question is why do these modes sound sad to us?

 

[brianmanahan]

6 years of Piano and I still have issues with Music Theory. It can be a b***h to learn.

Not harder than Scales and Arpeggios, tho.

cool, i play piano too. whats your favorite key?

E FLAT ALL THE WAY BABY :awe:

 

[phucheneh]

I think most people would recognize the melancholy tone of minor modes, even if they don't know the words. The interesting question is why do these modes sound sad to us?

Bad news = flat delivery perhaps?

I'd have to think it has something to do with speech. But I dunno...there are just 'bright' sounds and 'sad' sounds and most of us have just accepted that as preprogrammed into us. But surely it had to be an evolutionary thing at some point.

 

[MetalMat]

I only took band in middle school and I don't remember jack squat about learning modes (or I don't remember). I learned modes taking bass guitar lessons in high school but I never really used them.

 

[Mixolydian]

E FLAT ALL THE WAY BABY :awe:

Mmmm, that's a good key. I also like B minor and F minor.