Last nights minor triad lesson

[Daveguitar_61]

Hello all,

this is more of a theory question

Steve was nice to answer my question on minor progressions towards the end of the broadcast 

He mention a b minor progression with the five chord being a F#, wouldn't it be a minor chord, since it's a minor progression

starting with b minor? b minor/ c #half dim/ D maj/ e minor\ f#. min/Gmaj/Amaj ?

Thanks for any info

Dave

[DianeB]

@Daveguitar_61  If I understand your question correctly, yes, in a harmonized B natural minor scale the fifth is a v minor (F#m = F#-A-C#). But in the context of this example, we have a specific form, that of "Hotel California," with a descending B-A#-A-E line. That specific fall requires F# major (F#-A#-C#). Felder used a common flamenco (but not pop) progression. Its working title was "Mexican Reggae". Of course, Henley and Walsh shaped it into the rock standard we all know, but in later years, the band returned it to its acoustic, flamenco-flavored origins. 

[Steve Krenz]

Dave,

Great question and I knew when I talked about it last night that there would be some confusion on it.

So, here we go.  I'll try to make this as concise as possible.

The Question:  Why is the V chord in a minor key a dominant 7th?  Shouldn't it be a minor?

The Short Answer:  Yes, technically the V chord in a minor key should be a minor chord.  BUT, dominant 7th chords work so great at leading to other chords that we use them to lead to minor chords just like we use them to lead to major chords.

The Longer Answer...

Let's go on a little music theory journey...

THE HARMONIZED MAJOR SCALE

If I harmonize a major scale in triads you get this...

I - iim - iiim - IV - V - vim - vii dim

If I harmonize a major scale in four note chords (sevenths) you get this...

Imaj7 - iim7 - iiim7 - IVmaj7 - V7 - vim7 - vii half-dim7

RELATIVE MAJOR AND MINOR KEYS

Each major scale derives a key signature that is also shared by it's relative minor key.

For example, a C major scale and A minor share the same notes and same key signature.  They are the same combination of notes.  A C major scale is C-D-E-F-G-A-B-C and an A (natural) minor scale is A-B-C-D-E-F-G-A.  (The same pitches, just starting on different notes.)

THE HARMONIZED NATURAL MINOR SCALE

With this in mind, I could harmonize an A minor scale and it would end up with the same combination of chords as the harmonized major scale - just starting on a different note. Because it starts on a different note, the harmonized minor scale would be this...

im - ii dim - bIII - ivm - vm - bVI - bVII or Am - Bdim7 - Cmaj - Dm - Em - F - G - Am (The same chords as the harmonized C major scale - just starting on A and named in relation to A.)

So, the five chord is a minor chord.

Playing chords like this sounds very modal and medieval.

DOMINANT CHORDS ARE GREAT! LET'S USE THEM IN MINOR!

So, along came some wild monk in the middle ages that said to himself... "Hey, these new fangled Dominant 7th chords work great going to major chords. Let's try using one to go to a minor chord!"

So, he scratched out his Gm chord on his parchment and wrote in a G7th and promptly put it in front of a C minor chord. 

(He relished his forbidden musical concoction and somehow he escaped being burned at the stake for being a heretic.)

A NEW HARMONIZED MINOR SCALE WAS BORN...

Just changing one chord - substituting in a V7 for the vm, the new minor chords became...

im - ii dim - bIII - ivm - V7 - bVI - bVII

Then came along a fancy new version of the natural minor scale came along and it was called the Harmonic Minor Scale!

in C it would be C - D - Eb - F - G - Ab - B - C

We love this new leading tone (B) which resolves so well to C!

So, that's my humorous take on why the V chord is still major in a minor key.

Learn all you can!

- Steve

 

[ShadowBoxer86]

Thanks Steve, I just copied this and put it in with the minor triads print outs.  I know you said this before and I should have remembered it.

[Daveguitar_61]

Wow, very cool I will never forget this now& thank you  for spending the time to educate!

Thanks!

Dave & all the rest of your guitar family!