Minor Keys

Definition

Minor keys are tonalities built on the minor scale, characterized by a darker and more somber sound compared to major keys. The fundamental note of a minor key is the tonic, which is the first note of the scale, and the overall mood typically evokes feelings of melancholy or introspection. In Western music, minor keys often use specific alterations and harmonizations to create tension and resolution, which can influence compositional techniques such as cadential chords.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The tonic triad in a minor key is typically built using the 1st, 3rd (which is lowered), and 5th degrees of the minor scale.
2. Cadences in minor keys often require specific alterations to create strong resolutions, such as using the V7 chord that includes a raised leading tone.
3. The relative major key shares the same key signature as its parallel minor key but has a different tonic, providing opportunities for modulation between these keys.
4. Chords built on the 2nd, 3rd, and 6th degrees of the scale are typically diminished or minor in nature within a minor key context.
5. The use of modal interchange can bring in chords from related modes, enhancing harmonic richness when composing in minor keys.

Review Questions

• How do cadential chords function differently in minor keys compared to major keys?
  • Cadential chords in minor keys often involve modifications to create stronger resolutions. In major keys, the dominant chord is typically built on the fifth scale degree. However, in minor keys, it's common to raise the seventh degree to form a leading tone, creating a V7 chord that resolves more strongly to the tonic. This difference emphasizes the darker mood of minor keys while also enhancing tension leading up to cadences.
• Discuss how the harmonic and melodic minor scales impact chord progressions in minor keys.
  • The harmonic minor scale alters the seventh degree of the natural minor scale, creating a leading tone that forms dominant seventh chords crucial for establishing tension and resolution. This leads to common chord progressions that use V7-I resolutions more effectively. The melodic minor scale further influences progressions by raising both the sixth and seventh degrees while ascending, providing additional harmonic options and color. This versatility allows composers to create more complex emotional landscapes within their works.
• Evaluate how composers might use modal interchange in works based in minor keys and its effects on musical expression.
  • Composers can utilize modal interchange by borrowing chords from related modes to add depth and contrast within compositions set in minor keys. For instance, integrating chords from the parallel major or even Dorian mode introduces unexpected harmonic colors that enhance emotional expression. This technique can transform standard progressions by infusing elements of surprise and complexity, allowing for richer storytelling through music while maintaining ties to the underlying tonal center.

Related terms

Natural Minor Scale:

A seven-note scale consisting of the tonic, supertonic, mediant, subdominant, dominant, submediant, and leading tone, following the pattern of whole and half steps: W-H-W-W-H-W-W.

Harmonic Minor Scale:

A variation of the natural minor scale that raises the seventh degree by a half step to create a leading tone, resulting in a distinctive sound often used for melodic lines and harmonization.

Melodic Minor Scale:

Another variation of the natural minor scale that raises both the sixth and seventh degrees when ascending and reverts to the natural form when descending, used primarily in melodic contexts.