ulrichburke

Dear Anyone.

OK, so as a wannabe composer I should be able to answer this already, so laugh and flame away (like the other forums have where I posted this question) but I wouldn't mind a sensible answer...

So generally speaking, if you wanna write something sad you choose a minor key. BUT - every minor key is also a major key (like B major is the same key sig. as G# minor - that's without checking, I think I'm right!)

As the minor and relative major are the same (if not, please say why) how do you differentiate? How do you write something that's using a minor key's sadness when the minor key is also a major key? I KNOW there's gotta be a simple answer to this because people use minor keys all the time for sadness but I've got a complete blind spot on this one and can't find a decent answer! Why don't major keys also sound sad when they're also minor keys?

I think I'll go and hide somewhere till the thousands of people on this website have stopped guffawing too.....

Yours puzzledly

ulrichburke.