Alan Cross

is an internationally known broadcaster, interviewer, writer, consultant, blogger and speaker. In his 40+ years in the music business, Alan has interviewed the biggest names in rock, from David Bowie and U2 to Pearl Jam and the Foo Fighters. He’s also known as a musicologist and documentarian through programs like The Ongoing History of New Music.

Alan Cross has 38022 posts and counting. See all posts by Alan Cross

7 thoughts on “What Would It Sound Like If Sad Minor Key Songs Were Transposed into Major Keys?

  • Doesn't even sound that bad! And I'm not a fan of happy music. 😉
    I wonder how they did it…

    Reply
  • Major and Minor – the Strebetendenz theory
    If you want to answer the question, why major sounds happy and minor sounds sad, there is the problem, that some minor chords don't sound sad. The solution of this problem is the Strebetendenz-Theory. It says, that music is not able to transmit emotions directly. Music can just convey processes of will, but the music listener fills this processes of will with emotions. Similary, when you watch a dramatic film in television, the film cannot transmit emotions directly, but processes of will. The spectator perceives the processes of will dyed with emotions – identifying with the protagonist. When you listen music you identify too, but with an anonymous will now.
    If you perceive a major chord, you normally identify with the will "Yes, I want to…". If you perceive a minor chord, you identify normally with the will "I don't want anymore…". If you play the minor chord softly, you connect the will "I don't want anymore…" with a feeling of sadness. If you play the minor chord loudly, you connect the same will with a feeling of rage. You distinguish in the same way as you would distinguish, if someone would say the words "I don't want anymore…" the first time softly and the second time loudly.
    This operations of will in the music were unknown until the Strebetendenz-Theory discovered them. And therefore many previous researches in psycholgy of music failed. If you want more information about music and emotions and get the answer, why music touches us emotionally, you can download the essay "Vibrating Molecules and the Secret of their Feelings" for free. You can get it on the link:
    http://www.willimekmusic.homepage.t-online.de/homepage/Striving/Striving.doc
    Enjoy reading
    Bernd Willimek

    Reply
  • Those actually sound really good.

    As AG said though, I prefer it when bands take a happy song and make it dark.

    My old band used to do a version of The Times They Are A Changing that was a little different. Made it not hopeful.

    Reply

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