Why are both D and D# fitting into my E minor key?Understanding minor key harmonyIn a song in G major the sound F appears and sounds good. Is there a name for such a phenomenon?How to determine what key changes are appropriate?Understanding minor key harmonyHow to interpret non-diatonic note?Definition of minor keyWhen writing a melody, is the scale used determined by the current chord playing (in the chord progression) or by the song's key as a whole?Are all modes/scales in a given key signature perceived as equally bright/dark?Being limited to the natural minor/major, relative minor/major and parallel key

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Why are both D and D# fitting into my E minor key?


Understanding minor key harmonyIn a song in G major the sound F appears and sounds good. Is there a name for such a phenomenon?How to determine what key changes are appropriate?Understanding minor key harmonyHow to interpret non-diatonic note?Definition of minor keyWhen writing a melody, is the scale used determined by the current chord playing (in the chord progression) or by the song's key as a whole?Are all modes/scales in a given key signature perceived as equally bright/dark?Being limited to the natural minor/major, relative minor/major and parallel key






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16















I tried to look around for an answer to this problem but don't know how to ask the proper question in a search engine. I've been working on a song and realized recently that while I had been working on the song in the key of Em (E, F#, G, A, B, C, D) I had accidentally placed D# notes in several of my melodies. The confusing part is it sounds fine and I didn't even notice until I looked closer. What's more, if I change them to D it sounds off key and if I change them to E it just sounds wrong for what the melody is supposed to be doing. I don't have much music theory knowledge but this confused what I thought I knew. Am I misunderstanding something here? Any help and clarification would be appreciated.










share|improve this question





















  • 4





    Not-so-random question: do the D sharps tend to occur when the melody is going upward, and the D naturals when it is going down? Alternatively, if you have harmonies, or chords, worked out, do you notice certain chords attracting the D naturals and others the D sharps?

    – user48353
    Apr 17 at 3:46







  • 1





    Read the answers to this question for more information on minor key harmony.

    – Matt L.
    Apr 17 at 5:31











  • @replete yes I think you're right. At first I thought I wasn't but it's true, I go from a C to a D# but I had dropped the D# an octave. So I was technically ascending even if it looked descending on a keyboard. I'm glad I explored this question. I was tempted to just not worry about it cus it was working so why care? But exploring it is teaching me some music theory I didn't know.

    – Ben
    Apr 17 at 15:13











  • It looks like we have some good answers to this, but I also want to add that this is incredibly contextual - it depends what OP means when they say "key of Eminor", and since they are focused on the melody (without harmonic context), lots of possible things could explain what sounds "right" or not. For example, a couple of D7-G chord changes could make that D sound just right, and the D# sound "out".

    – cduston
    Apr 18 at 3:08

















16















I tried to look around for an answer to this problem but don't know how to ask the proper question in a search engine. I've been working on a song and realized recently that while I had been working on the song in the key of Em (E, F#, G, A, B, C, D) I had accidentally placed D# notes in several of my melodies. The confusing part is it sounds fine and I didn't even notice until I looked closer. What's more, if I change them to D it sounds off key and if I change them to E it just sounds wrong for what the melody is supposed to be doing. I don't have much music theory knowledge but this confused what I thought I knew. Am I misunderstanding something here? Any help and clarification would be appreciated.










share|improve this question





















  • 4





    Not-so-random question: do the D sharps tend to occur when the melody is going upward, and the D naturals when it is going down? Alternatively, if you have harmonies, or chords, worked out, do you notice certain chords attracting the D naturals and others the D sharps?

    – user48353
    Apr 17 at 3:46







  • 1





    Read the answers to this question for more information on minor key harmony.

    – Matt L.
    Apr 17 at 5:31











  • @replete yes I think you're right. At first I thought I wasn't but it's true, I go from a C to a D# but I had dropped the D# an octave. So I was technically ascending even if it looked descending on a keyboard. I'm glad I explored this question. I was tempted to just not worry about it cus it was working so why care? But exploring it is teaching me some music theory I didn't know.

    – Ben
    Apr 17 at 15:13











  • It looks like we have some good answers to this, but I also want to add that this is incredibly contextual - it depends what OP means when they say "key of Eminor", and since they are focused on the melody (without harmonic context), lots of possible things could explain what sounds "right" or not. For example, a couple of D7-G chord changes could make that D sound just right, and the D# sound "out".

    – cduston
    Apr 18 at 3:08













16












16








16


4






I tried to look around for an answer to this problem but don't know how to ask the proper question in a search engine. I've been working on a song and realized recently that while I had been working on the song in the key of Em (E, F#, G, A, B, C, D) I had accidentally placed D# notes in several of my melodies. The confusing part is it sounds fine and I didn't even notice until I looked closer. What's more, if I change them to D it sounds off key and if I change them to E it just sounds wrong for what the melody is supposed to be doing. I don't have much music theory knowledge but this confused what I thought I knew. Am I misunderstanding something here? Any help and clarification would be appreciated.










share|improve this question
















I tried to look around for an answer to this problem but don't know how to ask the proper question in a search engine. I've been working on a song and realized recently that while I had been working on the song in the key of Em (E, F#, G, A, B, C, D) I had accidentally placed D# notes in several of my melodies. The confusing part is it sounds fine and I didn't even notice until I looked closer. What's more, if I change them to D it sounds off key and if I change them to E it just sounds wrong for what the melody is supposed to be doing. I don't have much music theory knowledge but this confused what I thought I knew. Am I misunderstanding something here? Any help and clarification would be appreciated.







theory scales key






share|improve this question















share|improve this question













share|improve this question




share|improve this question








edited Apr 17 at 6:13









Shevliaskovic

23k15 gold badges87 silver badges189 bronze badges




23k15 gold badges87 silver badges189 bronze badges










asked Apr 17 at 3:32









BenBen

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  • 4





    Not-so-random question: do the D sharps tend to occur when the melody is going upward, and the D naturals when it is going down? Alternatively, if you have harmonies, or chords, worked out, do you notice certain chords attracting the D naturals and others the D sharps?

    – user48353
    Apr 17 at 3:46







  • 1





    Read the answers to this question for more information on minor key harmony.

    – Matt L.
    Apr 17 at 5:31











  • @replete yes I think you're right. At first I thought I wasn't but it's true, I go from a C to a D# but I had dropped the D# an octave. So I was technically ascending even if it looked descending on a keyboard. I'm glad I explored this question. I was tempted to just not worry about it cus it was working so why care? But exploring it is teaching me some music theory I didn't know.

    – Ben
    Apr 17 at 15:13











  • It looks like we have some good answers to this, but I also want to add that this is incredibly contextual - it depends what OP means when they say "key of Eminor", and since they are focused on the melody (without harmonic context), lots of possible things could explain what sounds "right" or not. For example, a couple of D7-G chord changes could make that D sound just right, and the D# sound "out".

    – cduston
    Apr 18 at 3:08












  • 4





    Not-so-random question: do the D sharps tend to occur when the melody is going upward, and the D naturals when it is going down? Alternatively, if you have harmonies, or chords, worked out, do you notice certain chords attracting the D naturals and others the D sharps?

    – user48353
    Apr 17 at 3:46







  • 1





    Read the answers to this question for more information on minor key harmony.

    – Matt L.
    Apr 17 at 5:31











  • @replete yes I think you're right. At first I thought I wasn't but it's true, I go from a C to a D# but I had dropped the D# an octave. So I was technically ascending even if it looked descending on a keyboard. I'm glad I explored this question. I was tempted to just not worry about it cus it was working so why care? But exploring it is teaching me some music theory I didn't know.

    – Ben
    Apr 17 at 15:13











  • It looks like we have some good answers to this, but I also want to add that this is incredibly contextual - it depends what OP means when they say "key of Eminor", and since they are focused on the melody (without harmonic context), lots of possible things could explain what sounds "right" or not. For example, a couple of D7-G chord changes could make that D sound just right, and the D# sound "out".

    – cduston
    Apr 18 at 3:08







4




4





Not-so-random question: do the D sharps tend to occur when the melody is going upward, and the D naturals when it is going down? Alternatively, if you have harmonies, or chords, worked out, do you notice certain chords attracting the D naturals and others the D sharps?

– user48353
Apr 17 at 3:46






Not-so-random question: do the D sharps tend to occur when the melody is going upward, and the D naturals when it is going down? Alternatively, if you have harmonies, or chords, worked out, do you notice certain chords attracting the D naturals and others the D sharps?

– user48353
Apr 17 at 3:46





1




1





Read the answers to this question for more information on minor key harmony.

– Matt L.
Apr 17 at 5:31





Read the answers to this question for more information on minor key harmony.

– Matt L.
Apr 17 at 5:31













@replete yes I think you're right. At first I thought I wasn't but it's true, I go from a C to a D# but I had dropped the D# an octave. So I was technically ascending even if it looked descending on a keyboard. I'm glad I explored this question. I was tempted to just not worry about it cus it was working so why care? But exploring it is teaching me some music theory I didn't know.

– Ben
Apr 17 at 15:13





@replete yes I think you're right. At first I thought I wasn't but it's true, I go from a C to a D# but I had dropped the D# an octave. So I was technically ascending even if it looked descending on a keyboard. I'm glad I explored this question. I was tempted to just not worry about it cus it was working so why care? But exploring it is teaching me some music theory I didn't know.

– Ben
Apr 17 at 15:13













It looks like we have some good answers to this, but I also want to add that this is incredibly contextual - it depends what OP means when they say "key of Eminor", and since they are focused on the melody (without harmonic context), lots of possible things could explain what sounds "right" or not. For example, a couple of D7-G chord changes could make that D sound just right, and the D# sound "out".

– cduston
Apr 18 at 3:08





It looks like we have some good answers to this, but I also want to add that this is incredibly contextual - it depends what OP means when they say "key of Eminor", and since they are focused on the melody (without harmonic context), lots of possible things could explain what sounds "right" or not. For example, a couple of D7-G chord changes could make that D sound just right, and the D# sound "out".

– cduston
Apr 18 at 3:08










4 Answers
4






active

oldest

votes


















22
















Your confusion is understandable because you have the choice of using one, or a combination, of three minor scales: the natural minor, the harmonic minor or the melodic minor. In using a D# you have strayed from the natural minor scale to the melodic minor scale, and this scale has worked for you.



The natural minor scale flattens the 3rd, 6th and 7th degrees of the parallel major scale. The harmonic minor scale flattens the 3rd and 6th. The melodic minor (ascending) only flattens the 3rd, but when descending it is identical to the natural minor, flattening the 3rd, 6th and 7th. The jazz melodic minor just flattens the 3rd, ascending and descending.



These scales are all legitimate minor scales (there are others too). What's known as the Leading Tone, in this case D#, has a strong pull towards the tonic and it is often used in popular songs. At present you seem to prefer that semitone sound between D# and E, and that's fine.






share|improve this answer






















  • 2





    It'd be good to point out that the reason D# sounds good is that it's the leading tone and general in popular music, the resolutions are usually D#->E rather than D->E

    – Shevliaskovic
    Apr 17 at 6:15











  • Thanks, @Shevliaskovic. Done.

    – Areel Xocha
    Apr 17 at 6:32






  • 3





    “In using a D# you have strayed from the natural minor scale to the melodic minor scale” …or harmonic, see Tim’s answer.

    – Melebius
    Apr 17 at 9:30






  • 1





    Thanks for the awesome response. So if I'm understanding you correctly the E melodic minor scale has D# in the ascending scale (i.e. moving towards higher pitched notes) but D in descending. And that I'm probably switching between the E natural minor scale and the E melodic minor scale? If I understand the concepts of ascending and descending scales this means that if you are at E and going down a note in this scale you'd go to D, but if you were at C going up you'd go to D#

    – Ben
    Apr 17 at 15:08






  • 1





    @LuckyB today there is a lot of material, but from my personal experience, google for "hooktheory" -- they also have 2 android apps which are interactive books and totally worth the price, and also I find youtube to be a great source of information, just google for videos and look for the music tutorial channel that works best for you, there are a lot of them.. I can recommend "Signals Music Studio" for starters, for example

    – noncom
    Apr 18 at 16:01


















6
















You'll most likely find that the chord used where D♯ fits better is either B major or B7. That has the D♯ in it. The D ♮ will fit in other places, notably when going from an Em chord to an Am. It's the reason centuries ago that the natural minor scale morphed into the harmonic minor, with a raised leading note ( here, the D♯), and later, because there was then a great big jump of a tone ane a half created, the 6th note of that natural minor got sharpened too, to remove a big jump.



All the minor scales have the same first five notes, but the melodic minor (classical) has the same 6 and 7 as the parallel major scale.






share|improve this answer



























  • Very slight nitpick (fixed in edit): "B major, or B7" seems like an appositive stating that B major is the same as B7.

    – user45266
    Apr 17 at 6:28






  • 1





    @user45266 - that's fine. Do you mean apposition? Not heard of appositive.

    – Tim
    Apr 17 at 6:37











  • Well, I thought that was the correct term, but now I'm not sure... I was always better at music theory than English grammar (funnily enough, reflected well in my reputation on ELL compared to MP&T)

    – user45266
    Apr 17 at 6:39











  • english.stackexchange.com/search?q=appositive seems to confirm my suspicion. Although England may have a different term than the U.S. uses.

    – user45266
    Apr 17 at 6:48






  • 1





    @user45266 - non the wiser! Can't find appositive in my Engish dictionaries, but apposition is there. May be the Atlantic Ocean is to blame.

    – Tim
    Apr 17 at 6:55


















2
















D# makes a nice lower neighbor to E. Likewise, in E-minor, the dominant (B) often has its third raised at cadence points. Minor keys (at least in classical theory) have two mutable notes; scale steps 6 and 7 may be raised to make voice leading smoother or just because it sounds good.






share|improve this answer
































    2

















    I tried to look around for an answer to this problem but don't know how to ask the proper question in a search engine.




    So you are writing a piece in e-minor and obviously you know what is e-minor, you know the scale of e-minor is and you know that there are D and D#.




    I had accidentally placed D# notes in several of my melodies.




    Why sounds D# more harmonic?



    As you will see you are not the first that The human mind already in earlier times of music history obviouly wanted to have a tension to the final note (the root) and so they constructed a leading tone by augmenting the 7th degree.



    This was the "invention" of the harmonic minor scale.




    What's more, if I change them to D it sounds off key and if I change them to E it just sounds wrong for what the melody is supposed to be doing.




    By augmenting of the seventh degree was a gap of 1+1/2 tone between the 6th and the 7th degree: in e-minor between C-D#.



    So to become a more "natural" ending and easier to sing (for instruments it didn't matter) but also for listening they augmented the 6th degree too. This was only needed when the melody was leading upward to the upper octave. In a downward melodic formula the leading tone was not needed and so



    the the melodic minor scale had been developped.



    You are free to use all kind of the 3 scales at your "gusto".



    Just looking for e-minor:



    here is explained the e-minor (and all minor scales have 3 variant models)



    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E_minor




    I don't have much music theory knowledge but this confused what I thought I knew. Am I misunderstanding something here?




    If you want to continue composing my advice is to read first the basics of music theory (scales, chords, harmony).



    and again:




    I tried to look around for an answer to this problem but don't know how to ask the proper question in a search engine.




    I was looking up developpement of melodic and harmonic minor and found this link:



    https://study.com/academy/lesson/harmonic-minor-scale-formula-modes-quiz.html






    share|improve this answer




























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      4 Answers
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      4 Answers
      4






      active

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      active

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      22
















      Your confusion is understandable because you have the choice of using one, or a combination, of three minor scales: the natural minor, the harmonic minor or the melodic minor. In using a D# you have strayed from the natural minor scale to the melodic minor scale, and this scale has worked for you.



      The natural minor scale flattens the 3rd, 6th and 7th degrees of the parallel major scale. The harmonic minor scale flattens the 3rd and 6th. The melodic minor (ascending) only flattens the 3rd, but when descending it is identical to the natural minor, flattening the 3rd, 6th and 7th. The jazz melodic minor just flattens the 3rd, ascending and descending.



      These scales are all legitimate minor scales (there are others too). What's known as the Leading Tone, in this case D#, has a strong pull towards the tonic and it is often used in popular songs. At present you seem to prefer that semitone sound between D# and E, and that's fine.






      share|improve this answer






















      • 2





        It'd be good to point out that the reason D# sounds good is that it's the leading tone and general in popular music, the resolutions are usually D#->E rather than D->E

        – Shevliaskovic
        Apr 17 at 6:15











      • Thanks, @Shevliaskovic. Done.

        – Areel Xocha
        Apr 17 at 6:32






      • 3





        “In using a D# you have strayed from the natural minor scale to the melodic minor scale” …or harmonic, see Tim’s answer.

        – Melebius
        Apr 17 at 9:30






      • 1





        Thanks for the awesome response. So if I'm understanding you correctly the E melodic minor scale has D# in the ascending scale (i.e. moving towards higher pitched notes) but D in descending. And that I'm probably switching between the E natural minor scale and the E melodic minor scale? If I understand the concepts of ascending and descending scales this means that if you are at E and going down a note in this scale you'd go to D, but if you were at C going up you'd go to D#

        – Ben
        Apr 17 at 15:08






      • 1





        @LuckyB today there is a lot of material, but from my personal experience, google for "hooktheory" -- they also have 2 android apps which are interactive books and totally worth the price, and also I find youtube to be a great source of information, just google for videos and look for the music tutorial channel that works best for you, there are a lot of them.. I can recommend "Signals Music Studio" for starters, for example

        – noncom
        Apr 18 at 16:01















      22
















      Your confusion is understandable because you have the choice of using one, or a combination, of three minor scales: the natural minor, the harmonic minor or the melodic minor. In using a D# you have strayed from the natural minor scale to the melodic minor scale, and this scale has worked for you.



      The natural minor scale flattens the 3rd, 6th and 7th degrees of the parallel major scale. The harmonic minor scale flattens the 3rd and 6th. The melodic minor (ascending) only flattens the 3rd, but when descending it is identical to the natural minor, flattening the 3rd, 6th and 7th. The jazz melodic minor just flattens the 3rd, ascending and descending.



      These scales are all legitimate minor scales (there are others too). What's known as the Leading Tone, in this case D#, has a strong pull towards the tonic and it is often used in popular songs. At present you seem to prefer that semitone sound between D# and E, and that's fine.






      share|improve this answer






















      • 2





        It'd be good to point out that the reason D# sounds good is that it's the leading tone and general in popular music, the resolutions are usually D#->E rather than D->E

        – Shevliaskovic
        Apr 17 at 6:15











      • Thanks, @Shevliaskovic. Done.

        – Areel Xocha
        Apr 17 at 6:32






      • 3





        “In using a D# you have strayed from the natural minor scale to the melodic minor scale” …or harmonic, see Tim’s answer.

        – Melebius
        Apr 17 at 9:30






      • 1





        Thanks for the awesome response. So if I'm understanding you correctly the E melodic minor scale has D# in the ascending scale (i.e. moving towards higher pitched notes) but D in descending. And that I'm probably switching between the E natural minor scale and the E melodic minor scale? If I understand the concepts of ascending and descending scales this means that if you are at E and going down a note in this scale you'd go to D, but if you were at C going up you'd go to D#

        – Ben
        Apr 17 at 15:08






      • 1





        @LuckyB today there is a lot of material, but from my personal experience, google for "hooktheory" -- they also have 2 android apps which are interactive books and totally worth the price, and also I find youtube to be a great source of information, just google for videos and look for the music tutorial channel that works best for you, there are a lot of them.. I can recommend "Signals Music Studio" for starters, for example

        – noncom
        Apr 18 at 16:01













      22














      22










      22









      Your confusion is understandable because you have the choice of using one, or a combination, of three minor scales: the natural minor, the harmonic minor or the melodic minor. In using a D# you have strayed from the natural minor scale to the melodic minor scale, and this scale has worked for you.



      The natural minor scale flattens the 3rd, 6th and 7th degrees of the parallel major scale. The harmonic minor scale flattens the 3rd and 6th. The melodic minor (ascending) only flattens the 3rd, but when descending it is identical to the natural minor, flattening the 3rd, 6th and 7th. The jazz melodic minor just flattens the 3rd, ascending and descending.



      These scales are all legitimate minor scales (there are others too). What's known as the Leading Tone, in this case D#, has a strong pull towards the tonic and it is often used in popular songs. At present you seem to prefer that semitone sound between D# and E, and that's fine.






      share|improve this answer















      Your confusion is understandable because you have the choice of using one, or a combination, of three minor scales: the natural minor, the harmonic minor or the melodic minor. In using a D# you have strayed from the natural minor scale to the melodic minor scale, and this scale has worked for you.



      The natural minor scale flattens the 3rd, 6th and 7th degrees of the parallel major scale. The harmonic minor scale flattens the 3rd and 6th. The melodic minor (ascending) only flattens the 3rd, but when descending it is identical to the natural minor, flattening the 3rd, 6th and 7th. The jazz melodic minor just flattens the 3rd, ascending and descending.



      These scales are all legitimate minor scales (there are others too). What's known as the Leading Tone, in this case D#, has a strong pull towards the tonic and it is often used in popular songs. At present you seem to prefer that semitone sound between D# and E, and that's fine.







      share|improve this answer














      share|improve this answer



      share|improve this answer








      edited Apr 17 at 6:31

























      answered Apr 17 at 4:26









      Areel XochaAreel Xocha

      2,2394 silver badges13 bronze badges




      2,2394 silver badges13 bronze badges










      • 2





        It'd be good to point out that the reason D# sounds good is that it's the leading tone and general in popular music, the resolutions are usually D#->E rather than D->E

        – Shevliaskovic
        Apr 17 at 6:15











      • Thanks, @Shevliaskovic. Done.

        – Areel Xocha
        Apr 17 at 6:32






      • 3





        “In using a D# you have strayed from the natural minor scale to the melodic minor scale” …or harmonic, see Tim’s answer.

        – Melebius
        Apr 17 at 9:30






      • 1





        Thanks for the awesome response. So if I'm understanding you correctly the E melodic minor scale has D# in the ascending scale (i.e. moving towards higher pitched notes) but D in descending. And that I'm probably switching between the E natural minor scale and the E melodic minor scale? If I understand the concepts of ascending and descending scales this means that if you are at E and going down a note in this scale you'd go to D, but if you were at C going up you'd go to D#

        – Ben
        Apr 17 at 15:08






      • 1





        @LuckyB today there is a lot of material, but from my personal experience, google for "hooktheory" -- they also have 2 android apps which are interactive books and totally worth the price, and also I find youtube to be a great source of information, just google for videos and look for the music tutorial channel that works best for you, there are a lot of them.. I can recommend "Signals Music Studio" for starters, for example

        – noncom
        Apr 18 at 16:01












      • 2





        It'd be good to point out that the reason D# sounds good is that it's the leading tone and general in popular music, the resolutions are usually D#->E rather than D->E

        – Shevliaskovic
        Apr 17 at 6:15











      • Thanks, @Shevliaskovic. Done.

        – Areel Xocha
        Apr 17 at 6:32






      • 3





        “In using a D# you have strayed from the natural minor scale to the melodic minor scale” …or harmonic, see Tim’s answer.

        – Melebius
        Apr 17 at 9:30






      • 1





        Thanks for the awesome response. So if I'm understanding you correctly the E melodic minor scale has D# in the ascending scale (i.e. moving towards higher pitched notes) but D in descending. And that I'm probably switching between the E natural minor scale and the E melodic minor scale? If I understand the concepts of ascending and descending scales this means that if you are at E and going down a note in this scale you'd go to D, but if you were at C going up you'd go to D#

        – Ben
        Apr 17 at 15:08






      • 1





        @LuckyB today there is a lot of material, but from my personal experience, google for "hooktheory" -- they also have 2 android apps which are interactive books and totally worth the price, and also I find youtube to be a great source of information, just google for videos and look for the music tutorial channel that works best for you, there are a lot of them.. I can recommend "Signals Music Studio" for starters, for example

        – noncom
        Apr 18 at 16:01







      2




      2





      It'd be good to point out that the reason D# sounds good is that it's the leading tone and general in popular music, the resolutions are usually D#->E rather than D->E

      – Shevliaskovic
      Apr 17 at 6:15





      It'd be good to point out that the reason D# sounds good is that it's the leading tone and general in popular music, the resolutions are usually D#->E rather than D->E

      – Shevliaskovic
      Apr 17 at 6:15













      Thanks, @Shevliaskovic. Done.

      – Areel Xocha
      Apr 17 at 6:32





      Thanks, @Shevliaskovic. Done.

      – Areel Xocha
      Apr 17 at 6:32




      3




      3





      “In using a D# you have strayed from the natural minor scale to the melodic minor scale” …or harmonic, see Tim’s answer.

      – Melebius
      Apr 17 at 9:30





      “In using a D# you have strayed from the natural minor scale to the melodic minor scale” …or harmonic, see Tim’s answer.

      – Melebius
      Apr 17 at 9:30




      1




      1





      Thanks for the awesome response. So if I'm understanding you correctly the E melodic minor scale has D# in the ascending scale (i.e. moving towards higher pitched notes) but D in descending. And that I'm probably switching between the E natural minor scale and the E melodic minor scale? If I understand the concepts of ascending and descending scales this means that if you are at E and going down a note in this scale you'd go to D, but if you were at C going up you'd go to D#

      – Ben
      Apr 17 at 15:08





      Thanks for the awesome response. So if I'm understanding you correctly the E melodic minor scale has D# in the ascending scale (i.e. moving towards higher pitched notes) but D in descending. And that I'm probably switching between the E natural minor scale and the E melodic minor scale? If I understand the concepts of ascending and descending scales this means that if you are at E and going down a note in this scale you'd go to D, but if you were at C going up you'd go to D#

      – Ben
      Apr 17 at 15:08




      1




      1





      @LuckyB today there is a lot of material, but from my personal experience, google for "hooktheory" -- they also have 2 android apps which are interactive books and totally worth the price, and also I find youtube to be a great source of information, just google for videos and look for the music tutorial channel that works best for you, there are a lot of them.. I can recommend "Signals Music Studio" for starters, for example

      – noncom
      Apr 18 at 16:01





      @LuckyB today there is a lot of material, but from my personal experience, google for "hooktheory" -- they also have 2 android apps which are interactive books and totally worth the price, and also I find youtube to be a great source of information, just google for videos and look for the music tutorial channel that works best for you, there are a lot of them.. I can recommend "Signals Music Studio" for starters, for example

      – noncom
      Apr 18 at 16:01













      6
















      You'll most likely find that the chord used where D♯ fits better is either B major or B7. That has the D♯ in it. The D ♮ will fit in other places, notably when going from an Em chord to an Am. It's the reason centuries ago that the natural minor scale morphed into the harmonic minor, with a raised leading note ( here, the D♯), and later, because there was then a great big jump of a tone ane a half created, the 6th note of that natural minor got sharpened too, to remove a big jump.



      All the minor scales have the same first five notes, but the melodic minor (classical) has the same 6 and 7 as the parallel major scale.






      share|improve this answer



























      • Very slight nitpick (fixed in edit): "B major, or B7" seems like an appositive stating that B major is the same as B7.

        – user45266
        Apr 17 at 6:28






      • 1





        @user45266 - that's fine. Do you mean apposition? Not heard of appositive.

        – Tim
        Apr 17 at 6:37











      • Well, I thought that was the correct term, but now I'm not sure... I was always better at music theory than English grammar (funnily enough, reflected well in my reputation on ELL compared to MP&T)

        – user45266
        Apr 17 at 6:39











      • english.stackexchange.com/search?q=appositive seems to confirm my suspicion. Although England may have a different term than the U.S. uses.

        – user45266
        Apr 17 at 6:48






      • 1





        @user45266 - non the wiser! Can't find appositive in my Engish dictionaries, but apposition is there. May be the Atlantic Ocean is to blame.

        – Tim
        Apr 17 at 6:55















      6
















      You'll most likely find that the chord used where D♯ fits better is either B major or B7. That has the D♯ in it. The D ♮ will fit in other places, notably when going from an Em chord to an Am. It's the reason centuries ago that the natural minor scale morphed into the harmonic minor, with a raised leading note ( here, the D♯), and later, because there was then a great big jump of a tone ane a half created, the 6th note of that natural minor got sharpened too, to remove a big jump.



      All the minor scales have the same first five notes, but the melodic minor (classical) has the same 6 and 7 as the parallel major scale.






      share|improve this answer



























      • Very slight nitpick (fixed in edit): "B major, or B7" seems like an appositive stating that B major is the same as B7.

        – user45266
        Apr 17 at 6:28






      • 1





        @user45266 - that's fine. Do you mean apposition? Not heard of appositive.

        – Tim
        Apr 17 at 6:37











      • Well, I thought that was the correct term, but now I'm not sure... I was always better at music theory than English grammar (funnily enough, reflected well in my reputation on ELL compared to MP&T)

        – user45266
        Apr 17 at 6:39











      • english.stackexchange.com/search?q=appositive seems to confirm my suspicion. Although England may have a different term than the U.S. uses.

        – user45266
        Apr 17 at 6:48






      • 1





        @user45266 - non the wiser! Can't find appositive in my Engish dictionaries, but apposition is there. May be the Atlantic Ocean is to blame.

        – Tim
        Apr 17 at 6:55













      6














      6










      6









      You'll most likely find that the chord used where D♯ fits better is either B major or B7. That has the D♯ in it. The D ♮ will fit in other places, notably when going from an Em chord to an Am. It's the reason centuries ago that the natural minor scale morphed into the harmonic minor, with a raised leading note ( here, the D♯), and later, because there was then a great big jump of a tone ane a half created, the 6th note of that natural minor got sharpened too, to remove a big jump.



      All the minor scales have the same first five notes, but the melodic minor (classical) has the same 6 and 7 as the parallel major scale.






      share|improve this answer















      You'll most likely find that the chord used where D♯ fits better is either B major or B7. That has the D♯ in it. The D ♮ will fit in other places, notably when going from an Em chord to an Am. It's the reason centuries ago that the natural minor scale morphed into the harmonic minor, with a raised leading note ( here, the D♯), and later, because there was then a great big jump of a tone ane a half created, the 6th note of that natural minor got sharpened too, to remove a big jump.



      All the minor scales have the same first five notes, but the melodic minor (classical) has the same 6 and 7 as the parallel major scale.







      share|improve this answer














      share|improve this answer



      share|improve this answer








      edited Apr 17 at 6:29









      user45266

      6,6571 gold badge11 silver badges49 bronze badges




      6,6571 gold badge11 silver badges49 bronze badges










      answered Apr 17 at 6:02









      TimTim

      115k12 gold badges113 silver badges290 bronze badges




      115k12 gold badges113 silver badges290 bronze badges















      • Very slight nitpick (fixed in edit): "B major, or B7" seems like an appositive stating that B major is the same as B7.

        – user45266
        Apr 17 at 6:28






      • 1





        @user45266 - that's fine. Do you mean apposition? Not heard of appositive.

        – Tim
        Apr 17 at 6:37











      • Well, I thought that was the correct term, but now I'm not sure... I was always better at music theory than English grammar (funnily enough, reflected well in my reputation on ELL compared to MP&T)

        – user45266
        Apr 17 at 6:39











      • english.stackexchange.com/search?q=appositive seems to confirm my suspicion. Although England may have a different term than the U.S. uses.

        – user45266
        Apr 17 at 6:48






      • 1





        @user45266 - non the wiser! Can't find appositive in my Engish dictionaries, but apposition is there. May be the Atlantic Ocean is to blame.

        – Tim
        Apr 17 at 6:55

















      • Very slight nitpick (fixed in edit): "B major, or B7" seems like an appositive stating that B major is the same as B7.

        – user45266
        Apr 17 at 6:28






      • 1





        @user45266 - that's fine. Do you mean apposition? Not heard of appositive.

        – Tim
        Apr 17 at 6:37











      • Well, I thought that was the correct term, but now I'm not sure... I was always better at music theory than English grammar (funnily enough, reflected well in my reputation on ELL compared to MP&T)

        – user45266
        Apr 17 at 6:39











      • english.stackexchange.com/search?q=appositive seems to confirm my suspicion. Although England may have a different term than the U.S. uses.

        – user45266
        Apr 17 at 6:48






      • 1





        @user45266 - non the wiser! Can't find appositive in my Engish dictionaries, but apposition is there. May be the Atlantic Ocean is to blame.

        – Tim
        Apr 17 at 6:55
















      Very slight nitpick (fixed in edit): "B major, or B7" seems like an appositive stating that B major is the same as B7.

      – user45266
      Apr 17 at 6:28





      Very slight nitpick (fixed in edit): "B major, or B7" seems like an appositive stating that B major is the same as B7.

      – user45266
      Apr 17 at 6:28




      1




      1





      @user45266 - that's fine. Do you mean apposition? Not heard of appositive.

      – Tim
      Apr 17 at 6:37





      @user45266 - that's fine. Do you mean apposition? Not heard of appositive.

      – Tim
      Apr 17 at 6:37













      Well, I thought that was the correct term, but now I'm not sure... I was always better at music theory than English grammar (funnily enough, reflected well in my reputation on ELL compared to MP&T)

      – user45266
      Apr 17 at 6:39





      Well, I thought that was the correct term, but now I'm not sure... I was always better at music theory than English grammar (funnily enough, reflected well in my reputation on ELL compared to MP&T)

      – user45266
      Apr 17 at 6:39













      english.stackexchange.com/search?q=appositive seems to confirm my suspicion. Although England may have a different term than the U.S. uses.

      – user45266
      Apr 17 at 6:48





      english.stackexchange.com/search?q=appositive seems to confirm my suspicion. Although England may have a different term than the U.S. uses.

      – user45266
      Apr 17 at 6:48




      1




      1





      @user45266 - non the wiser! Can't find appositive in my Engish dictionaries, but apposition is there. May be the Atlantic Ocean is to blame.

      – Tim
      Apr 17 at 6:55





      @user45266 - non the wiser! Can't find appositive in my Engish dictionaries, but apposition is there. May be the Atlantic Ocean is to blame.

      – Tim
      Apr 17 at 6:55











      2
















      D# makes a nice lower neighbor to E. Likewise, in E-minor, the dominant (B) often has its third raised at cadence points. Minor keys (at least in classical theory) have two mutable notes; scale steps 6 and 7 may be raised to make voice leading smoother or just because it sounds good.






      share|improve this answer





























        2
















        D# makes a nice lower neighbor to E. Likewise, in E-minor, the dominant (B) often has its third raised at cadence points. Minor keys (at least in classical theory) have two mutable notes; scale steps 6 and 7 may be raised to make voice leading smoother or just because it sounds good.






        share|improve this answer



























          2














          2










          2









          D# makes a nice lower neighbor to E. Likewise, in E-minor, the dominant (B) often has its third raised at cadence points. Minor keys (at least in classical theory) have two mutable notes; scale steps 6 and 7 may be raised to make voice leading smoother or just because it sounds good.






          share|improve this answer













          D# makes a nice lower neighbor to E. Likewise, in E-minor, the dominant (B) often has its third raised at cadence points. Minor keys (at least in classical theory) have two mutable notes; scale steps 6 and 7 may be raised to make voice leading smoother or just because it sounds good.







          share|improve this answer












          share|improve this answer



          share|improve this answer










          answered Apr 17 at 4:19









          ttwttw

          11.4k13 silver badges41 bronze badges




          11.4k13 silver badges41 bronze badges
























              2

















              I tried to look around for an answer to this problem but don't know how to ask the proper question in a search engine.




              So you are writing a piece in e-minor and obviously you know what is e-minor, you know the scale of e-minor is and you know that there are D and D#.




              I had accidentally placed D# notes in several of my melodies.




              Why sounds D# more harmonic?



              As you will see you are not the first that The human mind already in earlier times of music history obviouly wanted to have a tension to the final note (the root) and so they constructed a leading tone by augmenting the 7th degree.



              This was the "invention" of the harmonic minor scale.




              What's more, if I change them to D it sounds off key and if I change them to E it just sounds wrong for what the melody is supposed to be doing.




              By augmenting of the seventh degree was a gap of 1+1/2 tone between the 6th and the 7th degree: in e-minor between C-D#.



              So to become a more "natural" ending and easier to sing (for instruments it didn't matter) but also for listening they augmented the 6th degree too. This was only needed when the melody was leading upward to the upper octave. In a downward melodic formula the leading tone was not needed and so



              the the melodic minor scale had been developped.



              You are free to use all kind of the 3 scales at your "gusto".



              Just looking for e-minor:



              here is explained the e-minor (and all minor scales have 3 variant models)



              https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E_minor




              I don't have much music theory knowledge but this confused what I thought I knew. Am I misunderstanding something here?




              If you want to continue composing my advice is to read first the basics of music theory (scales, chords, harmony).



              and again:




              I tried to look around for an answer to this problem but don't know how to ask the proper question in a search engine.




              I was looking up developpement of melodic and harmonic minor and found this link:



              https://study.com/academy/lesson/harmonic-minor-scale-formula-modes-quiz.html






              share|improve this answer































                2

















                I tried to look around for an answer to this problem but don't know how to ask the proper question in a search engine.




                So you are writing a piece in e-minor and obviously you know what is e-minor, you know the scale of e-minor is and you know that there are D and D#.




                I had accidentally placed D# notes in several of my melodies.




                Why sounds D# more harmonic?



                As you will see you are not the first that The human mind already in earlier times of music history obviouly wanted to have a tension to the final note (the root) and so they constructed a leading tone by augmenting the 7th degree.



                This was the "invention" of the harmonic minor scale.




                What's more, if I change them to D it sounds off key and if I change them to E it just sounds wrong for what the melody is supposed to be doing.




                By augmenting of the seventh degree was a gap of 1+1/2 tone between the 6th and the 7th degree: in e-minor between C-D#.



                So to become a more "natural" ending and easier to sing (for instruments it didn't matter) but also for listening they augmented the 6th degree too. This was only needed when the melody was leading upward to the upper octave. In a downward melodic formula the leading tone was not needed and so



                the the melodic minor scale had been developped.



                You are free to use all kind of the 3 scales at your "gusto".



                Just looking for e-minor:



                here is explained the e-minor (and all minor scales have 3 variant models)



                https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E_minor




                I don't have much music theory knowledge but this confused what I thought I knew. Am I misunderstanding something here?




                If you want to continue composing my advice is to read first the basics of music theory (scales, chords, harmony).



                and again:




                I tried to look around for an answer to this problem but don't know how to ask the proper question in a search engine.




                I was looking up developpement of melodic and harmonic minor and found this link:



                https://study.com/academy/lesson/harmonic-minor-scale-formula-modes-quiz.html






                share|improve this answer





























                  2














                  2










                  2










                  I tried to look around for an answer to this problem but don't know how to ask the proper question in a search engine.




                  So you are writing a piece in e-minor and obviously you know what is e-minor, you know the scale of e-minor is and you know that there are D and D#.




                  I had accidentally placed D# notes in several of my melodies.




                  Why sounds D# more harmonic?



                  As you will see you are not the first that The human mind already in earlier times of music history obviouly wanted to have a tension to the final note (the root) and so they constructed a leading tone by augmenting the 7th degree.



                  This was the "invention" of the harmonic minor scale.




                  What's more, if I change them to D it sounds off key and if I change them to E it just sounds wrong for what the melody is supposed to be doing.




                  By augmenting of the seventh degree was a gap of 1+1/2 tone between the 6th and the 7th degree: in e-minor between C-D#.



                  So to become a more "natural" ending and easier to sing (for instruments it didn't matter) but also for listening they augmented the 6th degree too. This was only needed when the melody was leading upward to the upper octave. In a downward melodic formula the leading tone was not needed and so



                  the the melodic minor scale had been developped.



                  You are free to use all kind of the 3 scales at your "gusto".



                  Just looking for e-minor:



                  here is explained the e-minor (and all minor scales have 3 variant models)



                  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E_minor




                  I don't have much music theory knowledge but this confused what I thought I knew. Am I misunderstanding something here?




                  If you want to continue composing my advice is to read first the basics of music theory (scales, chords, harmony).



                  and again:




                  I tried to look around for an answer to this problem but don't know how to ask the proper question in a search engine.




                  I was looking up developpement of melodic and harmonic minor and found this link:



                  https://study.com/academy/lesson/harmonic-minor-scale-formula-modes-quiz.html






                  share|improve this answer
















                  I tried to look around for an answer to this problem but don't know how to ask the proper question in a search engine.




                  So you are writing a piece in e-minor and obviously you know what is e-minor, you know the scale of e-minor is and you know that there are D and D#.




                  I had accidentally placed D# notes in several of my melodies.




                  Why sounds D# more harmonic?



                  As you will see you are not the first that The human mind already in earlier times of music history obviouly wanted to have a tension to the final note (the root) and so they constructed a leading tone by augmenting the 7th degree.



                  This was the "invention" of the harmonic minor scale.




                  What's more, if I change them to D it sounds off key and if I change them to E it just sounds wrong for what the melody is supposed to be doing.




                  By augmenting of the seventh degree was a gap of 1+1/2 tone between the 6th and the 7th degree: in e-minor between C-D#.



                  So to become a more "natural" ending and easier to sing (for instruments it didn't matter) but also for listening they augmented the 6th degree too. This was only needed when the melody was leading upward to the upper octave. In a downward melodic formula the leading tone was not needed and so



                  the the melodic minor scale had been developped.



                  You are free to use all kind of the 3 scales at your "gusto".



                  Just looking for e-minor:



                  here is explained the e-minor (and all minor scales have 3 variant models)



                  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E_minor




                  I don't have much music theory knowledge but this confused what I thought I knew. Am I misunderstanding something here?




                  If you want to continue composing my advice is to read first the basics of music theory (scales, chords, harmony).



                  and again:




                  I tried to look around for an answer to this problem but don't know how to ask the proper question in a search engine.




                  I was looking up developpement of melodic and harmonic minor and found this link:



                  https://study.com/academy/lesson/harmonic-minor-scale-formula-modes-quiz.html







                  share|improve this answer














                  share|improve this answer



                  share|improve this answer








                  edited Apr 17 at 10:12

























                  answered Apr 17 at 10:03









                  Albrecht HügliAlbrecht Hügli

                  8,2771 gold badge9 silver badges30 bronze badges




                  8,2771 gold badge9 silver badges30 bronze badges































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