eli5: music theory, particularly how changing the key so radically alters the sound of a piece.

Question

My middle school band class knowledge of music states that changing the key signature changes the number of sharps and flats in the piece. Fine.

But how exactly does this so radically alter a compositions?

When you switch a piece to a major or minor key it sounds completely different. Major keys are happy, minor keys are sad, as I understand it.

I really don’t understand what “happens” to a piece when it’s key signature is changed aside from the number of sharps and flats or why such a shift affects such a dramatic change.

I’ve seen videos of famous pieces put into different keys than we know them in and the change is both drastic and amusing. Any chance someone could help me understand this?

In: 1

Answer 1

The intervals between notes are different in major and minor keys. Major keys sound bright and happy. Minor keys sound moody and melancholy. Most pop and rock music is written in minor keys.