can G major sounds be used in an A minor song, and why..

[darkarchitech]

So, recently a lot of my productions have more than one key when I use key detection software like Mixedinkey studio edition, or Waves key detector. I currently have a song that was supposed to be wrote in A minor, but some of the sounds when I analyzed them days later said they were G Major. The song sounds in key to me, i checked a few things on google and it says those keys can work together, but I don't understand why.. I was hoping someone could explain this so a 10 year old could understand it.

I was also wondering if there is a chart like the circle of 5ths that can tell me what major notes could work in minor songs or vice versa, or if that is what the circle of 5ths is for? Ive previously only used it for mixing in key while djing, so don't understand all the theory behind it with making music.

Is there any musical terminology that turns those 2 paragraphs above into a few words so its easier to search google? haha

This all might sound ridiculous lol, sorry. Having a hard time trying to get what i need to say out of my head and form it into text.

[donkey tugger]

With the proviso that I know f**k all about theory - I think the term would be 'relative minor key'!

[planetearth]

The music theory term for "cramming 3 notes of one chord next to 3 notes of another chord where they're all within a half-step of each other" is "Jazz".

Steve

[darkarchitech]

The music theory term for "cramming 3 notes of one chord next to 3 notes of another chord where they're all within a half-step of each other" is "Jazz".

Steve

Thats crazy you say that.... The scales I use are Blues/Jazz scales, I use them for writing genres like Minimal Deep House though.

So are you saying this is ok? lol

If so, it means the person i am getting feedback from doesnt know what they are talking about.

or you joking?

[planetearth]

The music theory term for "cramming 3 notes of one chord next to 3 notes of another chord where they're all within a half-step of each other" is "Jazz".

Steve

Thats crazy you say that.... The scales I use are Blues/Jazz scales, I use them for writing genres like Minimal Deep House though.

So are you saying this is ok? lol

If so, it means the person i am getting feedback from doesnt know what they are talking about.

or you joking?

I'm half joking, half serious. People who know music theory well enough will always find a way to put two chords together that you don't think would go together, and then give it a name. For example, an A minor chord with a G major an octave above (as you're describing) it is an Am11 (A minor eleventh). But you rarely hear this outside of Jazz or maybe Classical music. And "keys" are relative when you start getting into modes, where some notes aren't exactly in the same key.

And there's absolutely nothing wrong with using "Blues" or "Jazz" chords in any type of music. They're just usually not heard outside of Blues or Jazz (or Classical, in this case). Actually, if you're using chords like this in "Techno" music, you're probably making it more interesting than it would otherwise be.

Steve

[markp]

Am is one note away from G Maj. Most of the chords are the same except Am (which is relative to C Maj) has an F Maj, and G Maj (which is relative to Em) has an F# Maj.

Look up standard chords in both scales and you’ll see how similar they are.

[BertKoor]

If you compare the scales of G major and A minor, you'll find only one note differs between them.
The major scale of G is all the white keys, but with an F#. But you can play that whole scale with an F instead: then you get the G Mixolydian scale.
The minor scale of A is all the white keys. Period. But you can play that whole scale with an F# instead: then you get the A Dorian scale.

If a piece is in Am, then if there's a G chord in it (and why not) then that wants to be resolved back to Am again. If you have lots of that happening in the song, then I can understand that some random software detects lots of G's, not so much A, and will decide the piece is in G.

I'd rather do all that by ear. Plus, you wrote the piece. You know what chords and scales are in it. Why even bother let the computer analyse it.

[topaz]

To find the relative m of a Maj count back 3 semi tones.

With the proviso that I know f**k all about theory - I think the term would be 'relative minor key'!

[sjm]

Am is one note away from G Maj. Most of the chords are the same except Am (which is relative to C Maj) has an F Maj, and G Maj (which is relative to Em) has an F# Maj.

The F# chord in G major is not a major chord. It's a diminished chord. The triad is F# A C, not F# A# C# (F# major). Neither A# nor C# are present in G major.

[markp]

Am is one note away from G Maj. Most of the chords are the same except Am (which is relative to C Maj) has an F Maj, and G Maj (which is relative to Em) has an F# Maj.

The F# chord in G major is not a major chord. It's a diminished chord. The triad is F# A C, not F# A# C# (F# major). Neither A# nor C# are present in G major.

Yeah sorry you’re right

[camsr]

To find the relative m of a Maj count back 3 semi tones.

With the proviso that I know f**k all about theory - I think the term would be 'relative minor key'!

4 semitones... C major to A minor
Sixth degree of the Major scale becomes the Minor root.

[M1st]

To find the relative m of a Maj count back 3 semi tones.

With the proviso that I know f**k all about theory - I think the term would be 'relative minor key'!

4 semitones... C major to A minor
Sixth degree of the Major scale becomes the Minor root.

Dude... It's 3 semitones.

[MadBrain]

Song key detectors are unreliable. The proper way to know the song key is to listen when the chord playing is the "root" chord (usually this is the first chord of your chord loop... normally people figure this by instinct basically). Then the bass note for that chord should be your song key. Another typical tell is that melodies will usually conclude by landing on the root note (it feels much more final).

It is possible that song key detectors get confused between A minor and G major because they contain a lot of overlapping chords: Amin C Emin G chords happen in both keys. A minor has Dmin F Bdim (plus E for the turnaround) and G major has D F#dim Bmin, however songs can very very easily borrow chords from the other key, so the set of chords present will not let you figure out your root note either way.

[NKF]

b vii is in the chords one would say is native to the minor key. It often is used in its dominant form too modulate to the relative major.

So A minor

BVII is G major , which can also be V or III/I c major.

In recent years

The use of chords I bVII VI have almost become the new ii V I

People are conflating keys with scales. This is probably the most common harmonic movement in the last decade. It's weird people are struggling to notice or describe it.

Anyways , there ya go.

[eLawnMust]

Best to forget scales & concentrate on chords that sound good together... Also try to use compound chords rather than basic triads... one must admit that Aminor & GMajor are pretty boring chords... Try using Aminor7th then GMajor7th, much better sounding, richer & leaves you more options for more notes to play with for the next step of concocting a melody... Do it!