What is the scale in this song?

[Zasdg]

I would like to ask you what is the scale in this song (F major or D minor)?

Vangelis - Conquest of paradise

[BertKoor]

Why do you think either could be the key?

(asking in the spirit of learning a man to fish instead of giving him one fish)

[jancivil]

exactly. I could tell you but what are your thoughts

[Zasdg]

When I played this melody on the piano, I got notes in the F major or D minor scale, but the last note is A. I don't know what to think about it?

[jancivil]

Ok, it begins in D minor; the first two turnarounds are on an A, which is not at all unusual, it's known as a half-cadence, on the dominant harmony of the key, A, V (the pop or jazz term for that, as it goes back to tonic D, is a 'turnaround'). That one having a third or not doesn't change its 'V-ness'. The second turnaround seems to be the first place a 6th degree of D minor occurs, where a B - C# in the turnaround resolves to D, so D melodic minor insofar as that move; before that it seems if you have to call a scale it's hexatonic, D E F G A C#.

It does a V-I cadence on key of F later.

[jancivil]

If you're received the impression a melody must begin and/or end on the tonic to be completely that key or scale, lose that, it's not true at all.

[Zasdg]

Thank you for that exact answer. I am constantly learning music theory and analyzing songs. Your answer helped me a lot.

[Zasdg]

It does a V-I cadence on key of F later.

I am not sure if I am thinking correctly, but it seems to me that the notes of the piece starting at 4:40 are in the D major scale (a, b, a, g, a, b, a, g, a, b, c#, d, f#, e ). Do I think correctly?

[NAD]

It starts out in D minor. At 1:41 it moves to D major, then back to D minor at 2:19, then again to D major at 3:01, D minor at 3:40, and finally D major again at 4:28.

[NAD]

The chords in the first section are:

Code: Select all

i V i VII III VII VI V

The chords in the second section are:

Code: Select all

I IV I IV I IV I V

[fmr]

It's main tonality is D minor. Very classical progressions (even the modulations), as is usual in Vangelis.

Second section (which may be regarded as the chorus) is in D Major, a classic change done countless times.

[Zasdg]

It starts out in D minor

As far as I understand it, at 0:15 to 0:24 it is in D harmonic minor scale and then at 0:25 to 0:34 it is D natural minor scale?

[fmr]

It starts out in D minor

As far as I understand it, at 0:15 to 0:24 it is in D harmonic minor scale and then at 0:25 to 0:34 it is D natural minor scale?

D minor is D minor. Harmonic, natural, melodic, it's just occuring alterations, they don't change the tonality.

[Zasdg]

I understand. Thank you