How to Use a Minor Key in Pop Music
Contents
How to Use a Minor Key in Pop Music
If you’re looking to add a bit of melancholy to your pop music, using a minor key is a great way to do it. In this blog post, we’ll show you how to use a minor key to give your music a darker, more emotional feel.
Introduction
Most pop songs are in a major key, which creates a bright, cheerful sound. However, minor keys can also be used to create beautiful, emotive melodies. If you want to add a bit of drama or elegance to your pop songwriting, try using a minor key.
There are a few things to keep in mind when writing in a minor key. First, the tonic (or root) note of the scale should be lowered by a half step, creating a more somber sound. Second, the chords you use should be mostly minor chords, with maybe one or two major chords thrown in for contrast. And finally, the melody should avoid the major scale notes as much as possible; notes from the natural minor scale will sound more fitting.
With these guidelines in mind, let’s take a look at how to use a minor key in pop music.
What is a Minor Key?
In music, a minor key is a key whose tonic is a minor scale. Minor keys are usually thought of as sadder or more serious than major keys. Pop music often uses minor keys to create a sense of atmosphere or tension.
The Three Types of Minor Keys
There are three types of minor keys: natural, harmonic, and melodic. Natural minor keys have no sharps or flats, while harmonic minor keys have one sharp or flat. Melodic minor keys have two sharps or flats.
Natural minor keys are used in many different styles of music, including rock, pop, and classical. Harmonic minor keys are often used in classical and jazz music. Melodic minor keys are used in a variety of genres, including pop, rock, blues, and soul.
The Relationship Between Major and Minor Keys
In music, the terms major and minor can describe two different things: keys and scale degrees. Major and minor keys are two of the most common types of keys in Western music. A key is a group of notes that creates a particular sound or feeling. The major key creates a happy sound, while the minor key creates a sad sound.
There are 12 notes in total in Western music: A, B, C, D, E, F, G, A#/Bb, C#/Db, D#/Eb, F#/Gb, G#/Ab. Each one of these notes can be the starting note of a major or minor key. For example, the key of C major contains the notes C, D, E, F, G, A, B. The key of A minor contains the notes A, B, C, D, E ,F ,G .
When we talk about scale degrees in music theory, we are talking about the position of a note within a scale. There are seven different scale degrees in Western music: tonic (I), supertonic (II), mediant (III), subdominant (IV), dominant (V), submediant (VI), and leading tone (VII). The tonic is the starting note and the rest of the scale degrees build off of it. In major keys ,the tonic ,supertonic ,and mediant scale degrees are always major ,while the subdominant ,dominant ,submediant ,and leading tone scale degrees can be either major or minor . In minor keys ,the tonic ,supertonic ,and mediant scale degrees can be either major or minor while the subdominant ,dominant ,submediant ,and leading tone scale degrees are always minor .
The relationship between major and minor keys can be summarized like this: Major keys have all major scale degrees while minor keys have at least one minor scale degree.
How to Use a Minor Key in Pop Music
Music theorists have long debated the implications of keys and tonality on emotion and mood. In the Western tradition, major keys are said to evoke feelings of happiness and minor keys of sadness. Pop songs often use major keys, as they are typically more upbeat and positive. However, minor keys can be used in pop music to create a variety of different emotions.
Identify the Type of Minor Key
In order to use a minor key in pop music, you need to first understand the different types of minor keys. There are three main types of minor keys: natural, harmonic, and melodic. Each type has its own unique sound, and each can be used in different ways in pop music.
Natural minor keys are the most common type of minor key. They have a sad sounding quality that can be used to add emotion to a song. Natural minor keys are often used in ballads and slow songs.
Harmonic minor keys are less common than natural minor keys, but they can be just as emotional. Harmonic minor keys have a more dramatic sound, and they can be used to add suspense or tension to a song.
Melodic minor keys are the least common type of minor key. They have a happy sound that can be used to add energy or excitement to a song. Melodic minor keys are often used in upbeat songs or chorus sections.
Now that you know the different types of minor keys, you can start using them in your own pop music!
Use the Correct Chord Progression
There are only a few basic chord progressions that you need to know in order to write a pop song in a minor key. The most important thing to remember is that the tonic chord (i.e. the chord built on the first note of the scale) will always be minor. The other chords in the progression can be either major or minor, but they must follow this pattern: minor, diminished, major, minor. For example, in the key of A minor, a typical chord progression might be Am, Dm, Em, Am.
It’s also important to remember that the melody of a pop song should always be catchy and accessible. This means avoiding overly complex melodies or too many chromatic notes (notes that are not part of the scale). A good rule of thumb is to keep your melodies relatively concise and make sure that they end on either the tonic note or the fifth degree of the scale (also known as the “dominant”).
Finally, don’t forget about the lyrics! Like any good pop song, your lyrics should be clever and interesting, but they should also avoid being too cryptic or vague. Minor keys often have a associations with sadness or melancholy, so it’s important to strike the right balance between these emotions and more positive themes like hope and redemption.
Incorporate Appropriate Melodic Elements
Fans of pop music often enjoy the simple, catchy melodies that are a staple of the genre. However, some writers and performers find ways to incorporate more complex melodic elements into their songs while still keeping the overall feel accessible to a wider audience. One way to do this is by making use of minor key tonality.
While major keys are often associated with feelings of happiness and positivity, minor keys can create a more somber or even sinister mood. This contrast can be used to great effect in pop music, providing listeners with a more nuanced and interesting experience.
There are a few different ways to incorporate minor key tonality into your pop songs. The most straightforward method is to simply write your melody in a minor key. This will give the song an overall darker feel, which can be used to add emotional depth or create an unsettling atmosphere.
Another option is to use chord progressions typically found in minor keys. For example, the well-known “E-minor to C” progression (i.e., E-minor, A-minor, C) is often used in songs with sad or introspective lyrics. This progression can create a feeling of melancholy or nostalgia, which can be effective in certain types of pop songs.
Finally, you can also use gestures typically found in minor key melodies (e.g., descending melodic lines) to add a sense of despair or unease. These techniques can be combined in various ways to produce the desired effect in your song.
Keep in mind that using minor key tonality does not necessarily mean your song will be sad or depressing—it all depends on how you use it. For example, some writers use minor keys to create playful “spooky” songs for children (e.g., “The Addams Family” theme song). Others use it for comic effect, as in Weird Al Yankovic’s “My Bologna” (a parody of The Knack’s “My Sharona”). Ultimately, it’s up to you how you want to incorporate minor key tonality into your pop songs—just be sure it fits with the overall atmosphere you’re trying to create.
