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Trance written in major or minor scales?
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| ClearVision |
Wanted to confirm this little rumor I've heard for a long time now... that trance music is typically written in minor scales rather than major... From the maybe 50 or so songs I've had to check the key on myself because mixmeister got it wrong, it does seem that the majority are minor, but I've caught a few major here and there.
It would seem to make more sense to me that the split should be an even 50/50... Major for the more uplifting tunes and minor for the more somber tunes... |
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| MrJiveBoJingles |
| I think that major veers into "cheesy" too easily for a lot of people, so they generally use minor even for uplifting songs. |
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| DigiNut |
| Since the majority of trance uses the "natural" minor without raised 6ths or 7ths, it really doesn't make a difference. |
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| ralpheeee |
| quote: | Originally posted by DigiNut
Since the majority of trance uses the "natural" minor without raised 6ths or 7ths, it really doesn't make a difference. |
hmm, interesting comment Dijinut.
Now would this mean that for me to play in this mode i simply need to raise the third, coz if thats the case, that is a seriously easy minor mode to remember.
I'm still trying to learn all my scales. For me its a long process....... |
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| Anti-Derivative |
| quote: | Originally posted by ralpheeee
hmm, interesting comment Dijinut.
Now would this mean that for me to play in this mode i simply need to raise the third, coz if thats the case, that is a seriously easy minor mode to remember.
I'm still trying to learn all my scales. For me its a long process....... |
i'm not sure i understand your question but you would raise the seventh a semitone (G# on an a-minor scale [a,b,c,d,e,f,g#,a]) or sometimes the sixth and seventh. |
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| ralpheeee |
Well I thought that technicaly, to go from major to minor, u raise the 3rd 6th and 7th key of the scale.
So what Im asking dijinut is whether just raising the 3rd is an acceptable way of doing things.
I think thats what he was saying |
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| MrJiveBoJingles |
| quote: | Originally posted by ralpheeee
Well I thought that technicaly, to go from major to minor, u raise the 3rd 6th and 7th key of the scale. |
No, to go from major to minor you flat (lower) the 3rd, 6th, and 7th. Example:
C D E F G A B C
...goes to...
C D Eb F G Ab Bb C
See this page for an explanation of harmonic and melodic minor:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harmon...d_melodic_minor
Compared to the natural minor, harmonic minor has a raised seventh, so in C Minor the seventh would be just B rather than Bb. For some types of music the sixth will be raised as well (to A instead of Ab), so you don't have an awkward step-and-a-half between the sixth and the seventh of the scale. |
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| ralpheeee |
Ok thats fine, that is exactly what I meant.
I guess I was using Dijinuts terminology incorectly.
But when I was saying raise, thats what I meant, lower the 3rd, 6th and 7th. ( damm that sounds realy stupid doesnt it lol )
So if i was to lower just the 3rd, and ignore the 6th and 7th, is this a valid form of a minor scale? |
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| thoughtlessjex |
| quote: | Originally posted by ralpheeee
Ok thats fine, that is exactly what I meant.
I guess I was using Dijinuts terminology incorectly.
But when I was saying raise, thats what I meant, lower the 3rd, 6th and 7th. ( damm that sounds realy stupid doesnt it lol )
So if i was to lower just the 3rd, and ignore the 6th and 7th, is this a valid form of a minor scale? |
I don't think so. I'm pretty sure either one or the other can be raised but not both.
Digi's comment was refering to the fact that the minor scale and major scale are, as far as keys are concerned, the same thing. Observe:
C major:
C-D-E-F-G-A-B-C
A minor:
A-B-C-D-E-F-G-A
Note how the only difference is that the root note of A minor is three semitones down from that of C major. In effect, they're interchangable, which is exactly what the uplifting melodies need. They use the age old effect of switching between major and minor to create an alternation of melancholy and elation. As always, it is emotionally moving. |
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| ClearVision |
| So is there any point to writing trance music in anything other than natural minor? How often do you use chromatic keys? Is there any advantage to using a scale that has more of an Eastern flavor, jazz/blues, funk, or anything other than tradition??? |
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| Anti-Derivative |
| quote: | Originally posted by ClearVision
So is there any point to writing trance music in anything other than natural minor? How often do you use chromatic keys? Is there any advantage to using a scale that has more of an Eastern flavor, jazz/blues, funk, or anything other than tradition??? |
it just sounds different. it's really just a matter of preference. if it fits in your song, use it, if not don't. |
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| ClearVision |
| is there an example of any trance songs out there that use odd scalings??? |
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