Question about the key of a song - Dan - 20:17 02-12-05
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Ok. If a song is in the key of A-minor, what key would I solo in according
to the Circle of Fifths? Would it be C or Gb/F#? Just a bit confused on
this.
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Re: Question about the key of a song - Nil - 20:57 02-12-05
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On 02 Dec 2005, "Dan" <iron500@adelphia.net> wrote in
news:OOSdnZzIPNujbw3enZ2dnUVZ_sadnZ2d@adelphia.com:
> Ok. If a song is in the key of A-minor, what key would I solo in
> according to the Circle of Fifths? Would it be C or Gb/F#? Just
> a bit confused on this.
You would solo in the key of A minor.
I think you're confused about what pentatonic scale to use. The C major
pentatonic scale has the same notes in it as the A minor pentatonic
scale. Therefore, any fingerings you know for either are
interchangeable.
Similarly, the C major scale has the same notes as the A aolean minor
scale. Therefore, if you want an A aolean minor sound, you can play the
notes in a C major scale (but you need to emphasize different notes.)
The key of C and A minor are said to be "relative". That is, the
relative minor or C major is A minor. The relative major of A minor is
C major.
Keep in mind that there are a number of different flavors of A minor.
Neither of the above approaches will work in every situations.
To answer your question they way you want to hear it would be to
reinforce a misconception, but I'll do it anyway... The answer is "C".
Of course, the easiest way to find out would be to try it. Did you? If
you had tried to play either an F# major or minor scale over an A minor
chord, you would know real quick that it's they are a very bad fit.
Clashes galore.
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Re: Question about the key of a song - Dan - 21:11 02-12-05
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Unfortunately, I haven't learned the pentatonic scales yet. My instructor
taught me the 5 patterns of the major scale and now has me working on
figuring out relative minor keys. I just fiddled around in the relative
minor C key to "House of the Rising Sun" (which is in the key of A-minor)
and it sounded great. I'll be working on pentatonics soon. I've been told
that they are easy to figure out once one gets the major scale patterns
down. We'll see. Lol. Thanks.
"Nil" <rednoise@REMOVETHIScomcast.net> wrote in message
news:Xns9720D52D91BECnilch1@216.196.97.136... />
> On 02 Dec 2005, "Dan" <iron500@adelphia.net> wrote in
> news:OOSdnZzIPNujbw3enZ2dnUVZ_sadnZ2d@adelphia.com:
>
>> Ok. If a song is in the key of A-minor, what key would I solo in
>> according to the Circle of Fifths? Would it be C or Gb/F#? Just
>> a bit confused on this.
>
> You would solo in the key of A minor.
>
> I think you're confused about what pentatonic scale to use. The C major
> pentatonic scale has the same notes in it as the A minor pentatonic
> scale. Therefore, any fingerings you know for either are
> interchangeable.
>
> Similarly, the C major scale has the same notes as the A aolean minor
> scale. Therefore, if you want an A aolean minor sound, you can play the
> notes in a C major scale (but you need to emphasize different notes.)
> The key of C and A minor are said to be "relative". That is, the
> relative minor or C major is A minor. The relative major of A minor is
> C major.
>
> Keep in mind that there are a number of different flavors of A minor.
> Neither of the above approaches will work in every situations.
>
> To answer your question they way you want to hear it would be to
> reinforce a misconception, but I'll do it anyway... The answer is "C".
>
> Of course, the easiest way to find out would be to try it. Did you? If
> you had tried to play either an F# major or minor scale over an A minor
> chord, you would know real quick that it's they are a very bad fit.
> Clashes galore.
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Re: Question about the key of a song - CWB - 21:16 02-12-05
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On Fri, 2 Dec 2005 20:17:47 -0500, "Dan" <iron500@adelphia.net> wrote:
>Ok. If a song is in the key of A-minor, what key would I solo in according
>to the Circle of Fifths? Would it be C or Gb/F#? Just a bit confused on
>this.
>
Hi,
How do you know what key it is in the first place? I know nothing
about theory at this time.
Charlie
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Re: Question about the key of a song - Dan - 21:29 02-12-05
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Well, I know "House of the Rising Sun" is in A-minor because my instructor
told me so. Lol. I didn't know either. He mentioned that often the key of
the song is the first note of the song...and A-minor is the first note on
that song. I'm sure there are exceptions.
"CWB" <cwb_2005@cox.net> wrote in message
news:1uv1p1d2f8k9h3uohmpevvhpm7clf76upj@4ax.com...
> On Fri, 2 Dec 2005 20:17:47 -0500, "Dan" <iron500@adelphia.net> wrote:
>
>>Ok. If a song is in the key of A-minor, what key would I solo in
>>according
>>to the Circle of Fifths? Would it be C or Gb/F#? Just a bit confused on
>>this.
>>
>
> Hi,
>
> How do you know what key it is in the first place? I know nothing
> about theory at this time.
>
> Charlie
>
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Re: Question about the key of a song - Burnham Treezdown - 21:30 02-12-05
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On Fri, 2 Dec 2005 21:11:50 -0500, "Dan" <iron500@adelphia.net> wrote:
>Unfortunately, I haven't learned the pentatonic scales yet. My instructor
>taught me the 5 patterns of the major scale and now has me working on
>figuring out relative minor keys. I just fiddled around in the relative
>minor C key to "House of the Rising Sun" (which is in the key of A-minor)
>and it sounded great. I'll be working on pentatonics soon. I've been told
>that they are easy to figure out once one gets the major scale patterns
>down. We'll see. Lol. Thanks.
There's an important lesson for you here - while "fiddling around" you
found something on your own that sounded great. That's what it's all
about in the end.
Not to dismiss the value of learning music theory in any way, that's
valuable too...depending on what musical direction you go in, having
some solid theory may be indispensible - but above all, take the time
to set your music books aside occasionally and ROCK LIKE A BASTARD!
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Re: Question about the key of a song - Dan - 21:42 02-12-05
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My musical direction is essentially rock. I guess what I call rock is now
considered "classic" rock. My favorite group is "The Cult." As far as I
know, they are no longer together. I'm about 10 or 20 years behind modern
times. I do my best to make my lessons fun. I really have to because,
let's face it, playing scales over and over and over gets insanely
monotonous. That's why I'm happy I'm now actually applying scales to songs.
It's getting to be fun again.
"Burnham Treezdown" <dolphins@inmy.net> wrote in message
news:0d02p1tdb5sbsr67n2ft07mrttvmlkk4fg@4ax.com...
> On Fri, 2 Dec 2005 21:11:50 -0500, "Dan" <iron500@adelphia.net> wrote:
>
>>Unfortunately, I haven't learned the pentatonic scales yet. My instructor
>>taught me the 5 patterns of the major scale and now has me working on
>>figuring out relative minor keys. I just fiddled around in the relative
>>minor C key to "House of the Rising Sun" (which is in the key of A-minor)
>>and it sounded great. I'll be working on pentatonics soon. I've been
>>told
>>that they are easy to figure out once one gets the major scale patterns
>>down. We'll see. Lol. Thanks.
>
>
> There's an important lesson for you here - while "fiddling around" you
> found something on your own that sounded great. That's what it's all
> about in the end.
>
> Not to dismiss the value of learning music theory in any way, that's
> valuable too...depending on what musical direction you go in, having
> some solid theory may be indispensible - but above all, take the time
> to set your music books aside occasionally and ROCK LIKE A BASTARD!
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Re: Question about the key of a song -
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On 2-Dec-2005, "Dan" <iron500@adelphia.net> wrote:
> Well, I know "House of the Rising Sun" is in A-minor because my instructor
>
> told me so. Lol. I didn't know either. He mentioned that often the key
> of
> the song is the first note of the song...and A-minor is the first note on
> that song. I'm sure there are exceptions.
This was the subject of my first day of music theory classes many years ago.
The rule we were taught is that last note of the melody is the root of the
key the song is in. Seems to work most of the time. A melody frequently
starts on a note other than the root of the key.
Jukeman
>
> "CWB" <cwb_2005@cox.net> wrote in message
> news:1uv1p1d2f8k9h3uohmpevvhpm7clf76upj@4ax.com...
> > On Fri, 2 Dec 2005 20:17:47 -0500, "Dan" <iron500@adelphia.net> wrote:
> >
> >>Ok. If a song is in the key of A-minor, what key would I solo in
> >>according
> >>to the Circle of Fifths? Would it be C or Gb/F#? Just a bit confused
> >>on
> >>this.
> >>
> >
> > Hi,
> >
> > How do you know what key it is in the first place? I know nothing
> > about theory at this time.
> >
> > Charlie
> >
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Re: Question about the key of a song - Nil - 01:12 03-12-05
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On 02 Dec 2005, "Dan" <iron500@adelphia.net> wrote in
news:DoOdnQe_hdR3Yw3enZ2dnUVZ_smdnZ2d@adelphia.com:
> Unfortunately, I haven't learned the pentatonic scales yet. My
> instructor taught me the 5 patterns of the major scale and now has
> me working on figuring out relative minor keys. I just fiddled
> around in the relative minor C key to "House of the Rising Sun"
> (which is in the key of A-minor) and it sounded great. I'll be
> working on pentatonics soon. I've been told that they are easy to
> figure out once one gets the major scale patterns down. We'll
> see. Lol. Thanks.
I think you'll like the pentatonics when you get to them. Effectively,
they are skeletons of other scales with most of the "dangerous" notes
left out, so they sound good over many things. Plus, they are easy to
play. Plus they tend to not sound so much like you're running scales.
Plus, they resemble chord arpeggios. Pentatonic scales are fun and
useful. And the concept that you're working on now, about relative
major and minor keys is applicable to those, too. It sounds like your
teacher is leading you down a productive path, and you're keeping right
up with him!
Good luck.
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Re: Question about the key of a song -
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When you find that scales simply sound like scales, look to chord tones
to outline your melodic excursions. I haven't bothered thinking
'scales' since about 1969. The chord says it all. Just another way of
thinking ... a more contextual way in my opinion.
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