Top Ten Rock Songs Written in a Minor Key
Many rock songs are written in a major key, but some artists tend to use minor. Major key songs typically sound bright and happy, while minor keys usually sound dark or sad. Be sure to check each song and make sure it's minor before adding it to the list. There are plenty of music theory websites that explain the difference if you're confused.
I love the parallel major/parallel minor concept, I use it a lot in my writing
For someone who doesn't know any theory, Gilmour sure does use a lot of theory
This song is in G minor. What's cool about it is that the very last chord is a G Major chord. This is known professionally as a Picardy Third. (Note: ending a minor song on a major chord does not automatically make it major).
This one's in E minor, but the tape got sped up slightly when they mixed it, putting it halfway between E and F minor. They play it live in E, so I'm going to assume that it was meant to be in E.
This song is also in D minor. Many of R.E.M.'s songs are in a minor key.
A minor. Plenty of their other songs are also in minor (i.e. Lucky, I Might Be Wrong, Exit Music, Idioteque, etc).
This song is in A minor. I love the chord changes in this song; it's great for beginners to learn new chords.
This song's in E minor.
E minor. The original version of this song by Screamin' Jay Hawkins is in F minor.
Another song in E minor. Two of their other songs, Heart Full of Soul and Evil Hearted You, are also in minor. All three songs were written by a young Graham Gouldman. Coincidence? I don't think so.
E-flat minor. I read that they wanted to make a spaghetti western rock song, so choosing a minor key perfectly fits that vibe.
This song's also in E minor. It gives it the perfect dark, melancholy atmosphere.
A minor with plenty of melodic minor and Dorian, and a borrowed G minor chord from A Phrygian in one section of pt. 1
