Maybe it's just me, but I like to compose in minor a lot, when keeping a straight-through course, most especially in F minor (ALL my songs are in F minor or Ab Major). How about you?

I don't have a consious preferance, but I went through my compositions folder and counted and minor has the clear majority. I guess you can just do more with minor. I like D minor and Db major.

mm..I'm not sure I understand. Isn't a sad song in minor, and a happy song in major? So if I compose a sad song, is it then in Minor?

Usually so, but take Rondo Alla Turca. It starts off in A minor, but it isn't really sad. It's actually playfull. It all depends. I'm trying to think of a sad sounding song in a Major key, but none are coming.

It also depends on what kind of minor key. Melodic and Harmonic minor sounds "sad," but natural minor can be happyish...

Looks like minor seems to get the majority. :heh:

I'd have to say I have a soft spot for pieces composed in the minor key. But there are countless gems composed in the major key, so really -- it doesn't matter. It depends on what kind of piece you are planning to compose.

I prefer to compose in major, but some of my best ideas come to me in minor. Um . . . I'll just vote major!

Taken that I'm still trying to understand minor, I have to vote for major. I like happier anyway. :P

Minor :mellow:

d-minor is such a nice key ^_^

Never! :P F minor is better! :D (I love Vivaldi's Winter!!)

Originally posted by Gnomish@Jun 10 2004, 06:33 PM
Never! :P F minor is better! :D (I love Vivaldi's Winter!!)
Yay! Someone who understands! :D

I'm not really concerned about what specific key it is in though. When listening, it's sometimes difficult to tell anyway. Some scores are written in a signature, but are heard in a completely different key.

Then you've got those famous great composers, who have many favourite keys and will usually stick to them. But only they will understand why. XD Sorry I don't have an example.

I don't know. Things just seem to flow for me better in D minor than any other minor key. I hear it in D before I start composing. I can totally understand why some composers prefer certain keys.

Major. I'm mostly writing in the key of F or B flat.

Blasphemers! :P The minor keys will reign victorious in the end! Right, Alphonse? ;)

Read my old post again Gnomish. I voted for major. :P

By the way, it seems like most of us have one or more favourite keys. But how about a different approach? I know a guy who first hears the melody/harmony in his head. Then he'll find the exact note on a nearby piano, and that'll be his key, whatever it may be. It's an interesting approach I think, because it comes straight from inside of him. And as a bonus, his fans will never be stuck listening to the same key all the time. Just a thought, hehe. (I myself tend to use C major/minor for solo piano pieces, just for the convenience!)

Doh! I meant Zero. :D