Re: [Harp-L] Why do we associate major with happy and minor with sad?

[Winslow Yerxa <winslowyerxa@xxxxxxxxx>]

Only some minor keys have flats. Plenty of them have sharps - E minor (1 sharp), 
C# minor (4 sharps), etc.

The natural minor scale is identical to the major scale in its intervallic 
structure , so it really doesn't have any more inherent  tension. However, in 
much minor music, the 6th and 7th degrees of the scale are raised at certain 
points in the music, which can introduce additional tensions.

The overtones generated by a bass note form a major triad. For instance, a C 
bass note generates, C, G,C again, then E, then G again, then a very flat 
Bb. When you voice an Eb (third of a C minor chord) against the implied 
E-natural, you set up tension.

Frankly, I think a lot of this minor = sad stuff is purely cultural.

Winslow
Winslow Yerxa
Author, Harmonica For Dummies ISBN 978-0-470-33729-5
Harmonica instructor, The Jazzschool for Music Study and Performance
Resident expert, bluesharmonica.com
Columnist, harmonicasessions.com




________________________________
From: Chesper Nevins <chespernevins@xxxxxxxxx>
To: michaelrubinharmonica@xxxxxxxxx; harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Wed, November 24, 2010 7:32:39 AM
Subject: Re: [Harp-L] Why do we associate major with happy and minor with sad?

Michael,

I was thinking that it's because minor keys have more flats than major keys.

C D E F G A B resolving to a C major chord has only the F tension note
resolving down to the E.  The B resolves "up" to C, while the A is
pretty consonant with the C Major chord.

C D Eb F G Ab Bb resolving to a C Minor chord has Ab resolving to the
G, F resolving to the Eb, and Bb could optionally resolve down to G.
Even when the Bb resolves up to the C, it is not as "naturally
uplifting" as the B -> C of the major.

I just feel that in minor, there are more notes that have a tendency
to carry the "weight" of wanting to resolve downwards, giving us a
sadder feel.

Jason

>> > Date: Tue, 23 Nov 2010 09:50:59 -0600
>> > From: michaelrubinharmonica@xxxxxxxxx
>> > To: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx
>> > Subject: [Harp-L] Why do we associate major with happy and minor with
>> > sad? (No harp content)
>> >
>> > Guesses?
>> > Michael Rubin
>> > Michaelrubinharmonica.com

http://myspace.com/jasonharmonica