The British Steelies Society

just got an email through today, its a set list with keys, for an upcoming gig with a band i haven;t worked with before, maybe Basil will like this, one of the songs is listed in the key of A # Minor, if i play it in Bb Minor, do you think they will notice? ? ?
ps. not as bad i suppose as playing in B# ? ? ?
PPS. bit quiet on this forum innit ? ? ?

I hate having to play steel to songs in minor keys.

I do internet sessions for various bands, and my heart sinks when I have to try to think of something--------anything------for minor key songs

When I end up (as I invariably do), playing one long, whining note after another, I know that I have to stop work on that particular song, and move on to something else, preferably with three (major) chords, to clear my mind.

songs or tunes in a minor key tend to be very sad and mournful, if i listened to any of the old jewish/hungarian type tunes performed on violin, it always takes me on a sad dark journey, many composers who wrote a piece of music in say a minor key, gave that same piece a real joyful lift, by taking it into the same major chord, im trying to think of an example off the top of my head, the only piece of music that springs to mind is the 'red rose cafe' recorded by the Fureys, that sort of flits in and out of the minors and majors very effectively, very 'light and shade'

...Play it in C# Major instead.

The C# pentatonic scale would work well on top of the A# minor chord..

I love minor keys and songs with minor cadences in a major key too. Using an E6 non pedal tuning, I find I can soar or weep (sonically) at will.
On the other hand, I find three chord songs impossible to remember, and basically busk every time.
It may be because my musical background is more folk than country or maybe I'm just naturally morose!
Isn't it strange that "Heatwave" is minor and upbeat, and "He'll Have to Go" is major and as miserable as sin?
Cheers
Dave