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Happy songs in a minor key?

Jaycat

Jaycat

Supporting Member
Sep 8, 2018
408
841
#1
I took part in an interesting experiment today. We had a pickup band (bass, guitar, banjo, fiddle) doing nothing but minor-key songs for two hours. Playing at a farmers' market, where no one pays attention anyway.

Most of the tunes were bluegrass/country, but we also did Bang Bang, Heart Full of Soul, Love Potion #9, and Paint It Black.

The crowd (what there was of it) commented that things sounded dirge-y (I know, what do you expect?) So, trying to think up some other minor-key songs that might be a bit perkier.

So far, I have: And I Love Her, It's a Man's Word, Move On Up (which we probably couldn't pull off ), Coconut Grove, and Moondance (which the whole world is sick of).

Your suggestions are most welcome!
 
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#2
Jaycat said:
I took part in an interesting experiment today. We had a pickup band (bass, guitar, banjo, fiddle) doing nothing but minor-key songs for two hours. Playing at a farmers' market, where no one pays attention anyway.

Most of the tunes were bluegrass/country, but we also did Bang Bang, Heart Full of Soul, Love Potion #9, and Paint It Black.

The crowd (what there was of it) commented that things sounded dirge-y (I know, what do you expect?) So, trying to think up some other minor-key songs that might be a bit perkier.

So far, I have: And I Love Her, It's a Man's Word, Move On Up (which we probably couldn't pull off ), Coconut Grove, and Moondance (which the whole world is sick of).

Your suggestions are most welcome!
Click to expand...

IMHO, all of the songs you mentioned sound sad/dirgey to me, which isn't necessarily a bad thing, it's music either way.
I have a lot of respect for the immense musical power that the Third holds, and how it is used (-/0/+), respectfully.
My answer is, I don't think there is any.
 
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#9
Apparently someone was paying attention.

I would say Get Lucky has a positive sound. To me the is something like overcoming an obstacle...or maybe a team in the process of winning a big game.



I would say Loose Yourself to Dance is not sad either. Seems more like offering encouragement, support, and companionship to someone who has had a rough day. Not quite as positive as Get Lucky but the mood of the song still seems to have somewhat of a triumphant quality.

 
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#13
Jaycat said:
I took part in an interesting experiment today. We had a pickup band (bass, guitar, banjo, fiddle) doing nothing but minor-key songs for two hours. Playing at a farmers' market, where no one pays attention anyway.

Most of the tunes were bluegrass/country, but we also did Bang Bang, Heart Full of Soul, Love Potion #9, and Paint It Black.

The crowd (what there was of it) commented that things sounded dirge-y (I know, what do you expect?) So, trying to think up some other minor-key songs that might be a bit perkier.

So far, I have: And I Love Her, It's a Man's Word, Move On Up (which we probably couldn't pull off ), Coconut Grove, and Moondance (which the whole world is sick of).

Your suggestions are most welcome!
Click to expand...
"And I Love Her" is interesting! I don't know what key it's in, but hear the changes as: ii /vi /ii /vi /ii /vi /IV /V /I /I. Likewise, the B section lands on a fat V chord. So is it major or minor? I leave the labels to better-educated folks, but I kinda think of it as major, with those minor chords insinuating wistfulness, then major resolution with the declaration that "I Love Her." Lennon-McCartney were astounding writers....
 
#17
"Danza Kuduro", "Balada boa", "Despacito", "Lean On", "Wake Me Up", "We Found Love", "Timber"... I might be wrong about one or two of those but a lot of really really big hits from the past 20 years or so. A lot of that is electronics-based but Gusttavo Lima's "Balada boa" isn't.

"Get Busy" isn't even minor but tonally darker, the "shake that thing" part is Fm-Gb and the bass goes F-Ab-G-Gb throughout the rest. Still a very happy song.
 
#18
Joebone said:
"And I Love Her" is interesting! I don't know what key it's in, but hear the changes as: ii /vi /ii /vi /ii /vi /IV /V /I /I. Likewise, the B section lands on a fat V chord. So is it major or minor? I leave the labels to better-educated folks, but I kinda think of it as major, with those minor chords insinuating wistfulness, then major resolution with the declaration that "I Love Her." Lennon-McCartney were astounding writers....
Click to expand...

Yeah, I was gonna comment on this - I agree, I think it's a little questionable to claim that it's in a minor key. I also hear it as ii, vi etc. I think it's one of those pop songs that just doesn't land on the root chord very often. The key is E, BTW (the verse is F#m C#m etc), then going up to F at the guitar solo.
 
#19
If I'm not mistaken, this is in E minor.

And yeah, I listen to video game music. The composer of this soundtrack is a big influence to me.

EDIT: This one is in D minor, although there's a slight sad section in the middle.
 
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