Being relatively new here, I couldn't help noticing the absence of Aeolian mode in the list of "keys" for tunes. Now to my mind a tune isn't in "minor" just because it has the right key signature and key note - to be in a minor key it would need to have a significant number of sharpened 7ths (ie lots of g#s in A minor) like you would find in classical music or many other genres. Whereas a modal minor - specifically Aeolian mode - adheres strictly to the key signature so the 7th degree stays a full tone below the key note. This means the chords in A Aeolian would be primarily Am and G - with lots of others thrown in maybe; but in A minor they would be Am and E or E7 and maybe Dm.
I won't hold my breath waiting for you to change a system that's up and running, but I had to mention it. (Yes, I really had to...)
Correct me if I'm wrong,but A aeolian, (or A natural minor), would run A,B,c,d,e,f,g,a.A dorian is A,B,c,d,e,f# ,g,a. A aeolian is often referred to as A minor.How can you have g sharps in the key of A minor?
There are lots of different types of minor. Minor just means that the scale's 3rd is flat, so in A minor scales it goes A-B-C (not major A-B-C#). A aeolian, like David says, is A natural minor, or A minor for short. A melodic minor or A jazz minor has F#s and G#s, and A harmonic minor (used in classical music) has only the G sharped. The harmonic minor was only invented because a long time ago, people thought that the Aeolian mode sounded horrible and unfinished. For them it meant that you couldn't use a chord of E7 in the key of A minor and that was just unacceptable. For us it's acceptable.
Think of it this way - the "natural minor" is the relative minor of the major (ionian) mode. If you wanted to quibble the terminology on this site, then you'd have to quibble "major" as well, since there are other types of major. "Minor" refers to "harmonic minor" by default only in the classical world.
Most Irish tunes that are called "minor" by just about everyone are actually in Dorian... both harmonically and melodically. This is why, when you are accompanying in A minor (ok... A Dorian), D major usually works quite well in chord progressions. But you'll almost never hear a trad player call it Dorian. The terminology is a bit too based in traditional music theory to have wormed its way into the trad scene much.
Also, since few tunes Irish tunes are actually in "classical minor," you don't have any confusion or a need to classify it separately. Your exceptions would be tunes like "Reel Beatrice" (which isn't even an Irish tune). A very different sound than your normal Irish minor.
Mixolydian has worked its way a bit father into trad terminology, and you'll often here of a tune in "A mix." But you're just as likely to hear it being called "A modal," which technically doesn't make much sense, but most people know what is meant by it.
On a humorous note, Chris Smith's book "Celtic Backup for All Musical Instruments," he refers to D major as "D Ionian," which I find greatly amusing as I picture walking up to someone at a session and asking, "Hey, was that last tune in D Ionian?"
modal anorak comment
modal anorak comment
Being relatively new here, I couldn't help noticing the absence of Aeolian mode in the list of "keys" for tunes. Now to my mind a tune isn't in "minor" just because it has the right key signature and key note - to be in a minor key it would need to have a significant number of sharpened 7ths (ie lots of g#s in A minor) like you would find in classical music or many other genres. Whereas a modal minor - specifically Aeolian mode - adheres strictly to the key signature so the 7th degree stays a full tone below the key note. This means the chords in A Aeolian would be primarily Am and G - with lots of others thrown in maybe; but in A minor they would be Am and E or E7 and maybe Dm.
I won't hold my breath waiting for you to change a system that's up and running, but I had to mention it. (Yes, I really had to...)
# Posted on April 16th 2004 by kris
Re: modal anorak comment
Correct me if I'm wrong,but A aeolian, (or A natural minor), would run A,B,c,d,e,f,g,a.A dorian is A,B,c,d,e,f# ,g,a. A aeolian is often referred to as A minor.How can you have g sharps in the key of A minor?
# Posted on March 1st 2003 by dafydd
Re: modal anorak reply
There are lots of different types of minor. Minor just means that the scale's 3rd is flat, so in A minor scales it goes A-B-C (not major A-B-C#). A aeolian, like David says, is A natural minor, or A minor for short. A melodic minor or A jazz minor has F#s and G#s, and A harmonic minor (used in classical music) has only the G sharped. The harmonic minor was only invented because a long time ago, people thought that the Aeolian mode sounded horrible and unfinished. For them it meant that you couldn't use a chord of E7 in the key of A minor and that was just unacceptable. For us it's acceptable.
# Posted on April 16th 2004 by Dr. Dow
Re: modal anorak comment
Think of it this way - the "natural minor" is the relative minor of the major (ionian) mode. If you wanted to quibble the terminology on this site, then you'd have to quibble "major" as well, since there are other types of major. "Minor" refers to "harmonic minor" by default only in the classical world.
# Posted on April 16th 2004 by Dr. Dow
Re: modal anorak comment
BTW Bags I "The Modal Anorak" as a tune name
# Posted on April 16th 2004 by Dr. Dow
Re: modal anorak comment
*splorf*
Brings it on!
# Posted on April 17th 2004 by Q
Re: modal anorak comment
Most Irish tunes that are called "minor" by just about everyone are actually in Dorian... both harmonically and melodically. This is why, when you are accompanying in A minor (ok... A Dorian), D major usually works quite well in chord progressions. But you'll almost never hear a trad player call it Dorian. The terminology is a bit too based in traditional music theory to have wormed its way into the trad scene much.
Also, since few tunes Irish tunes are actually in "classical minor," you don't have any confusion or a need to classify it separately. Your exceptions would be tunes like "Reel Beatrice" (which isn't even an Irish tune). A very different sound than your normal Irish minor.
Mixolydian has worked its way a bit father into trad terminology, and you'll often here of a tune in "A mix." But you're just as likely to hear it being called "A modal," which technically doesn't make much sense, but most people know what is meant by it.
On a humorous note, Chris Smith's book "Celtic Backup for All Musical Instruments," he refers to D major as "D Ionian," which I find greatly amusing as I picture walking up to someone at a session and asking, "Hey, was that last tune in D Ionian?"
# Posted on April 20th 2004 by fiddlerpianist