Why do musicians prefer for the 5th chord in the minor scale to be major?
Why do musicians write songs where the 5th chord (or V chord) is major rather than minor? Why not Am, Dm, Em? Why Am, Dm, E7? Is there some "better flavor" to using E7 instead of Em? And why isn’t the G# for that chord included in the key signature? It would be better if the sharp was included in the key signature instead of having to write it every time it is used. Why not?
This is because the V chord in major has the leading tone: say we’re in C Major, a V chord would have G B D. The B, the third, is the leading tone to C. The B is only a half step from C and wants to move to C. In a minor key, the leading tone isn’t there. Say we are in C natural minor. That would mean that it is Bb instead of B. This Bb is a whole step from C and doesn’t want to resolve quite as much. When you raise that Bb to a B natural, it sounds like it wants to go up, giving a song a sense of direction.
As for why is the G# in A minor not written in the key signature, there are a few reasons. The best is that It is common practice that the sharps and flats in a key signature will follow the same order. If you see three flats in a key signature, you will know what they will be, Bb, Eb, and Ab. If there is one sharp you know that it will be F#. There are also some music theory reasons: A musician (one that has been well trained in Tonal Harmony and Tonal Theory) will see that G# and can see how it fits into the music. In a group, they would be able to know how it fits in with a chord and to tune it properly. This is because in a chord, you have to tune a note differently than in a scale or a melody. The third of a chord will be a little lower than it would be if you were playing it in a scale.
Finally, if you are writing a song, do what sounds good. Music Theory was only invented after composers had been writing what they thought sounded good for many centuries. If you think a song will sound better without the raised third in a V chord, then try it out. If it sounds good to you, use it. If it doesn’t, maybe try something else.
Rock On, music lovers, Rock on.
This is due to the fact that the most accepted and pleasing minor scale to the ear is called the ‘harmonic minor’ scale. This scale has a raised seventh accidental note. For example, in A minor the scale would be:
A B C D E F G# A
While this G# is not in the key signiture, it is vital to the ear to distinguish a proper minor scale.
If you take that information over to the triads, you will see that that fifth of A minor if in fact an E major chord, which should contain the notes E G B. However, since the harmonic scale is technically correct, you must raise the G to a sharp making the V chord E G# B.
All that said however, as a musician it is up to you what you want the chord to be. The rules I mentioned are based on classical theory and not contemporary styles. Feel free to use whatever chords you would like to use!
Any other questions, just ask and I will try to clarify or answer.
References :
This is because the V chord in major has the leading tone: say we’re in C Major, a V chord would have G B D. The B, the third, is the leading tone to C. The B is only a half step from C and wants to move to C. In a minor key, the leading tone isn’t there. Say we are in C natural minor. That would mean that it is Bb instead of B. This Bb is a whole step from C and doesn’t want to resolve quite as much. When you raise that Bb to a B natural, it sounds like it wants to go up, giving a song a sense of direction.
As for why is the G# in A minor not written in the key signature, there are a few reasons. The best is that It is common practice that the sharps and flats in a key signature will follow the same order. If you see three flats in a key signature, you will know what they will be, Bb, Eb, and Ab. If there is one sharp you know that it will be F#. There are also some music theory reasons: A musician (one that has been well trained in Tonal Harmony and Tonal Theory) will see that G# and can see how it fits into the music. In a group, they would be able to know how it fits in with a chord and to tune it properly. This is because in a chord, you have to tune a note differently than in a scale or a melody. The third of a chord will be a little lower than it would be if you were playing it in a scale.
Finally, if you are writing a song, do what sounds good. Music Theory was only invented after composers had been writing what they thought sounded good for many centuries. If you think a song will sound better without the raised third in a V chord, then try it out. If it sounds good to you, use it. If it doesn’t, maybe try something else.
Rock On, music lovers, Rock on.
References :