Quick music theory question

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[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Quick music theory question

Posted: 3/2/2006 7:12:27 PM EDT

I'm trying to puzzle my way through elementary music theory, and I was curious if it is "acceptable" to use a chord progressions with chords completly outside the key of the song. As an example, take Emajor- Gmajor- Dmajor. It sounds alright to my untrained ears, but none of those chords fall in the key of Emajor.

Posted: 3/2/2006 7:14:56 PM EDT

[#1]

I forget what they call that but yes its legal.

Go listen to some of the shit thats getting passed off as music these days and then ask again about whats "acceptable"

Posted: 3/2/2006 7:15:20 PM EDT

[#2]

i predect a correct response within the next 87 posts.

Posted: 3/2/2006 7:15:56 PM EDT

[#3]

It really depends. My rule with music, when all else fails, claim artistic license.

Posted: 3/2/2006 7:18:01 PM EDT

[#4]

Depends on what you call acceptable. The Beatles made a career out of stepping just outside of the lines. If you're truly in E major then you're only "legal" major chords would be E, A, and B, but F# major wouldn't be far out of line if you went from F# to B then E to resolve the end of a phrase. You may have slipped into a mode that makes these chords sound friendly to your ear, but to answer your question...no, it wouldn't fly from a theory point of view. YMMV

Legal chords in E major:

E, F#m, G#m, A, B, C#m.D#dim, E

Posted: 3/2/2006 7:24:00 PM EDT

[#5]

If it sounds good, it is good. IMO

Posted: 3/2/2006 7:28:37 PM EDT

[#6]

Change the E major to minor and you are in G

Posted: 3/2/2006 8:31:26 PM EDT

[#7]

Quoted:
Depends on what you call acceptable. The Beatles made a career out of stepping just outside of the lines. If you're truly in E major then you're only "legal" major chords would be E, A, and B, but F# major wouldn't be far out of line if you went from F# to B then E to resolve the end of a phrase. You may have slipped into a mode that makes these chords sound friendly to your ear, but to answer your question...no, it wouldn't fly from a theory point of view. YMMV

Legal chords in E major:

E, F#m, G#m, A, B, C#m.D#dim, E

Yes, what he said is correct!!!!!!!

Posted: 3/2/2006 9:47:11 PM EDT

[#8]

Quoted:
It really depends. My rule with music, when all else fails, claim artistic license.

Absolutely correct... if it sounds right, it is.

Posted: 3/2/2006 9:55:00 PM EDT

[#9]

You might not actually be in E Major. You might be in some other mode of another scale....

Or it's an 'accidental'.. or whatver it's called when you use a chord outside of the key you're in...

Posted: 3/2/2006 10:58:18 PM EDT

[#10]

Quoted:
If it sounds good, it is good. IMO

That's all you really need to know.

I've heard so much crappy music put out by technical musicians that I'll take good music by an untrained musician any day over them.

Posted: 3/2/2006 11:25:22 PM EDT

[#11]

There are no rules to notes/chords/progressions. There are only traditional pairings.

Posted: 3/3/2006 4:27:10 AM EDT

[#12]

Always remember this,

IF YOU MAKE A MISTAKE ONCE, ITS A MISTAKE.
IF YOU MAKE IT TWICE ITS JAZZ!

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Quick music theory question

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