Using Minor Keys to create an uplifting/happy track?

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amphibian
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Using Minor Keys to create an uplifting/happy track?

Post by amphibian » Tue Jan 11, 2011 10:06 pm

I've tried using major scales - I know this is meant to be the "happier" scale to use, but I just don't like it as much. Minor scales reonsate with me a lot more than major scales, which is probably why I absolutely love the more melancholic/thoughtful type songs.

In Run Around, I've been able to produce a more uplifting feeling in the second half of the song, and yet I don't really know how or why, when it's using the same notes as the first half, but in a different arrangement. Hoping someone can clear this up for me so that I can focus on this part of musical theory. Even a link or some references would suffice - I'm not sure what to search for :)

Thanks guys!
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Re: Using Minor Keys to create an uplifting/happy track?

Post by filthy_ » Tue Jan 11, 2011 10:13 pm

its all about chord progression.
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amphibian
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Re: Using Minor Keys to create an uplifting/happy track?

Post by amphibian » Tue Jan 11, 2011 10:20 pm

filthy_ wrote:its all about chord progression.
Yeah I've kinda figured that out already - I want the theory behind it so I can understand why and work on it some more, rather than just bashing random keys.
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EDN
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Re: Using Minor Keys to create an uplifting/happy track?

Post by EDN » Tue Jan 11, 2011 10:44 pm

Diatonics beyotch!
Basically in a minor scale your chords go (from your root triad) minor, Diminished, Major, minor, minor, Major, Major so if you switch up your chord progression to revolve around the third and the seventh chords (both major) you will get a more major sounding section.
I'm no music theory buff but I'm pretty sure it works something like that.

Check out this website though, I just found it when looking up this stuff, and it seems to be awesome.
http://www.free-online-piano-lessons.com/index.html
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amphibian
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Re: Using Minor Keys to create an uplifting/happy track?

Post by amphibian » Tue Jan 11, 2011 11:02 pm

Thanks EDN - exactly the kind of reference I needed to get started. I think I'll be studying this next few days. Cheers! :D
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S0VEREIGNTY
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Re: Using Minor Keys to create an uplifting/happy track?

Post by S0VEREIGNTY » Wed Jan 12, 2011 1:21 am

to sound major in a minor key, use the relative major. Move up a minor third from your root, and that's your major key. Play a major scale starting on the minor 3rd from the root. That's the diatonic major scale to your minor key.

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Kaiden
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Re: Using Minor Keys to create an uplifting/happy track?

Post by Kaiden » Wed Jan 12, 2011 10:07 am

First post! Like others posted above, you're probably using the relative major key yeah. But you can also go a lot further with the concept, cause a minor key also has other relative keys than major. Meaning you can move between different moods and keys while still using the exact same notes.

Lots of good theory sites about if you google for relative keys, and I'd be interested to hear how the track turns out.

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