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How do I know if a musical composition was originally written in A minor or in C mayor.?
Both scales have no alterations/accidentals. For example, Bethoveen wrote For Elise in A minor, why should I asume it's in A minor and not C mayor (both scales are identical).
best answer for the first satisfactory answer. Thanks!
Thanks! all of you have given great answers, and eevryone has given exellent info. Nevertheless, I think that Allison's answers is very insightful and answers ina very simple and understandable way. Once again, thanks :o)
5 Answers
- Anonymous1 decade agoFavorite Answer
Although they both have the same key signature, the two keys are not the same because the minor keys have a tendency to raise certain notes.
Imagine the piece is either written in C major or A minor, there are some things to look for that will help you figure out which key its in:
1. If you can play it, or have a recording of, what does it sound like? Happy?( major) or sad? ( minor)
2. what note does the melody start on? Is it C or G? ( notes of the tonic chord in C) or does it start on A ?
3. Look for specific raised notes:
The scale for C major is as follows
C D E F G A B C
with no accidentals
The natural minor scale for A minor is
A B C D E F G A
HOWEVER.
When composers write in a minor key, they often raise the " leading tone" so that there is a semitone relationship between the tonic and the note below it. In the case of A minor, A is the tonic and G is the subtonic ( literally "note below the tonic"), but if you raise it ( to G#) so that there is a semitone between the two notes, it will become the "leading tone".
In order to make a piece sound like its in A minor and not just in C, the composer will often use the notes of the harmonic minor scale, that is:
Harmonic minor scale
A B C D E F G# A
Sometimes they will use the notes of the Melodic minor scale
Melodic minor
A B C D E F# G# A
And as a result, you will probably see a bunch of G# ( and maybe a few F# )
When in doubt, the composer will often have written it in the score. Good luck!
Source(s): working on my BM in voice-- several years of theory - 1 decade ago
Most classical works in a minor will have a g# leading tone. The best way is to analyze the harmony of the piece. If the cadences and tonal progressions resolve to a, then it's most likely in a minor. Fer Elise uses an E major chord as a dominant, which strongly suggests a minor. Also, only A natural minor is identical to C major. Melodic and harmonic minor, both more commonly used, have accidentals.
hope this helps
- 1 decade ago
There are 2 quick and easy ways to distinguish relative major/minor from each other.
#1 Look at the first couple chords. Specifically look for chords that contain either A - C - E or C - E - G. Lots of A's signifies A minor. If you see any G-B-D, G Major chords, it's more likely C Major. Also look at the end to see what notes the piece ends on. The bass notes will be especially indicative here.
#2 Look for the leading tone of A minor. The leading tone of a minor key is the 7th scale degree raised a half step so that it is a half step down from the tonic. So that means to look for G#. G# will frequently appear in a piece that is in A minor, as will the dominant chord of A minor, E Major -> E G# B
- brienLv 51 decade ago
The most accurate way is to ask the composer. Beethoven told us that piece is in A minor. Yeah, it sounds silly, but it's true.
If you don't have that info, you have to look at the tonal center and/or chord progression of the piece. Sometimes it takes a big handful of theory knowledge, but usually a piece starts and/or ends with the chord in the key in which it's written.
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- ?Lv 71 decade ago
You can tell by the chordal structure used. In you're example, Fur Elise, the first arpeggio is on Am.