staying in key

[sozay]

in hotel california, in the verses, there is both an E maj and an E minor chord. have the eagles changed key midway thru the verse, or is there some justification for doing this even though those chords cant be in the same key? or am i just be to bloody minded about it?

[chris mood]

The verse section to Hotel California cycles through about 2 or 3 different keys if I remember correctly

[lalimacefolle]

in many different songs, you have a change from minor to major with a minor 7th... It's a common chord change, and it hads tension to the song...
The theory behind it??? We go from ionian to myxolydian. Actually, the first and forth chord of those scales have a strong relationship, so strong you can sub them for each other. That's why in blues, you can play the 1 4 5 but, they're all 7 chords, instead of being a M7, M7, and 7, according to the major chord scale.
In hotel california, that's what happens, and it is the same in gospel songs.

[chris mood]

I must disagree w/u on this one.
this is how I learned Hotel California;

B- F#7 A E G D E- F#7

what we have here is a modulation from the key of B minor to the key of E maj(or A maj depending on how you hear it) then to the key of Gmaj then back to the 5 chord of B-

what you described is known as a Picardy 3rd, where you take the 4 chord of a major 1 4 5 progression and turn it from major into minor, a technique often used by the Beatles and found in many Gospel changes.

[lalimacefolle]

I thought that such a short change through keys would be better understood if you used the pitch axis theory instead of modulation, well anyway, that's how I have got it in my head (if there's anything in my head) thanks for the precision (who was picardy?)

[chris mood]

Picard was the captain of the starship enterprise.

[lalimacefolle]

lol

[Dick]

If I'm playing a solo over a chord, say Em, can I use any of the seven modes as long as I start on E? i.e. could I play the Aeolian mode staring on E over it. (E, F#, G, A, B, C, D#... I think) or would that be madness?

[lalimacefolle]

if the chord stays around Em, you can play the modes that have a minor third, or play the other ones to had tension
Otherwise, you have to be aware of the changes, some changes imply a set of notes (or scale), while others don't
There's a saying that goes "you can play anything anytime as long as it resolves on a chord tone" and you know what??? It's true

[chris mood]

you might find this interesting
I checked out Picardy 3rd in a music reference book and it said there was no known origin as to who or what it was named after. I also did a reference check on the internet and found that there is a town in France called Picardy.Coincidence?

[lalimacefolle]

Well, I'm from Marseille, france, and Picardie is actually a region, but I don't think it has a link with music... That's weird that such a common thing has an undetermined origin!!!

[ekstasis16]

I dug out my old music theory notes, and I think this is what a Picardy third is:

"Picardy third - The term for the raising of the third, making a major triad, in the final chord of a composition which is in a minor key. The practice originated in c. 1500 and extended through the Baroque period."

I don't think Hotel California uses it, but I could be wrong. And I can't find out where it originated from either.