The vast majority of songs out there are written in a major key, so for those of you who avoid minor keys, you're missing out on an entire palette of colours. Minor key music has a different feel, and a different effect on the listener.
If you've written a song but you can't seem to get the lyrics to sound right, it may be useful to try switching over to the minor mode. This will not only mean that your chords will be different, but (of course) the melody will likely have to change slightly.
To give you an idea of the effect we're talking about, here are some simple short melodic fragments, first given in a major key, and then in a minor key equivalent:
Ex.1:
A D A Bm A
Am Dm Am G Am
Ex. 2:
A A/G# F#m E
Am G F G
Ex. 3:
A D/A A D/A Bm/A A
Am G/A Am Dm G/A A
The minor mode gives the music a darker mood, with potential for a bit more edge. These are just midi files that I've posted here, so you'll have to use your imagination and your own instrumentation to bring them to life.
-Gary Ewer
Songwriting tips! Write Better Chords, Melodies and
Hooks!.
4 Comments
October 18, 2008 at 1:06 pm
Thinking in terms of I IV V or I vi IV V7 etc
If I want to add modal chords to progressions my choices are most likely what chords? biii,bVi and bVII? I know that’s not the way too look at it, but will that work?
October 18, 2008 at 5:55 pm
What we call “modal chords” are often the ones you mentioned: bIII, bVI and bVII, and can involve others, like bV. So some examples might be:
I bV IV bVI I
I bIII bVI IV I
December 2, 2008 at 9:28 pm
Thanks, very helpful.
If you don’t mind, I’m confused by the modal chords(?) in a minor key.
Let’s say I have a iii V i progression so that is:
Em G Am ? and bVI Vii i is Bb C Dm. Obviously, I’m cowardly trying to transpose to an easier key although I guess you’d say there are no “Easier keys” only lazier musicians.
December 3, 2008 at 9:57 am
The progression iii – V – i is a bit strange… I think the one you’re using is iii – V- vi.
Transposing to an easier key is not cowardly… sometimes it’s necessary for singing.