You're welcome! Glad you are getting my point about applying the theory you learn.

Originally Posted by: cj.stevens[p]Heard two songs today on the old-fashioned FM radio: Fleetwood Mac's 'Gold Dust Woman' and The Allman Bros. 'In Memory of Elizabeth Reed'- are those minor key.?

Gold Dust Woman is in the key of D major. It has a B-flat chord which is borrowed from the key of D minor'. And that can give it a minor sound. Here's the intro chord progression.

D (I chord) / B-flat major (bVI chord)

So, that a modulation right off the bat! But it clearly starts in D major & then the melody & most of the chords refer to D major (or D mixolydian, a mode that suggests D major).

Most songs have some kind of twist that jumps out of key. That's where songs get their character from! That's how you add a little variety. Staying completely in only one key can sound a little bland or plain vanilla. Some artists like that sound, others don't.

In Memory of Elizabeth Reed is mostly A minor. The melodies & guitar solos use mostly A pentatonic minor (just going from memory here!) & the chords mostly suggest a modal jam in A dorian (minor scale with a major 6th degree).

For a totally minor key sound, think House of the Rising Sun. But even that song has major chords (from the minor key) that can add a happy major sound temporarily.

Hope that helps!