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"Happy" Minor

Discussion in 'Tips, Tricks & Talk' started by Rohann van Rensburg, Dec 5, 2018.

  1. #1 Rohann van Rensburg, Dec 5, 2018
    Last edited: Dec 5, 2018
    Been transcribing some simple music from a series I grew up with, and I noticed there are a lot of minor-based melodies and progressions that sound heroic and awe-filled, but not particularly "minor". Still can't figure out why, but need to transcribe more.





    This one is more of a short intro:

    i.e. iv - i - iv - i - VI - VII - ivsus4 - I
    Or something like that.
     
  2. #2 Mattia Chiappa, Dec 5, 2018
    In minor contexts it's the major 6th that gives it that particular vibe in my opinion. Those Dorian progression can have that quality, if you change chord iV from major to minor the mood will also change drastically.
     
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  3. #3 Sylvain Provenzano, Dec 5, 2018
    What I hear is :
    #1. Dorian
    #2. Dorian again
    #3. i v i v III IV Vsus4 V V7 hum... Dorian (by the IV and v, the V is not dorian) !

    @Mattia Chiappa ! How dare you typing this faster than me ! :D
     
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  4. #4 Doug Gibson, Dec 5, 2018
    You were born 400 years too late for your musical taste. Even your name sounds out of the 1600's. Dilly Dilly
     
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  5. #5 Rohann van Rensburg, Dec 5, 2018
    Last edited: Dec 5, 2018
    Hahaha isn't that the truth. I just got the "Dilly Dilly" reference the other day, by the way.

    [​IMG]
     
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  6. #6 Rohann van Rensburg, Dec 5, 2018
    I haven't transcribed #1 enough; #2 is definitely Dorian. #3 though has a standard minor progression and I don't think it jumps to the #6 (major six, whatever, we're in minor)? The progression I wrote down seems to modulate the i to I but that may work differently functionally (it's in G minor and then hits a Gmaj?).
     
  7. #7 Aaron Olson, Dec 9, 2018
    I think the reason you're confused is because it's actually in Cm (let's say C dorian). Here are the chords I hear:

    Cm, Gm, Cm, Gm, Eb, F, Gsus4, G, G7 (around 0:51, listen to the basses), Cm, Gm, Cm, Gm​

    Functionally (a bit weird in dorian mode but whatever), you get this:

    i, v, i, v, III, IV, Vsus4, V, V7, i, v, i, v​

    As you say, it's a pretty standard minor progression - or at least, it feels like one. :)
     
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  8. #8 Rohann van Rensburg, Dec 10, 2018
    Last edited: Dec 10, 2018
    Ah, good point! Just my ineptitude after all, C Dorian being a mode of Bb major. So Dorian is the answer, in the end -- not that I approach writing from consciously doing it modally, but it's good to know from an analytical perspective.

    So what would one "name" or do with the G becoming major?
     
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