Originally posted by griphon2
The only difference between a G maj or E min is one note, D#.

D# doesn't exist in either of those scales bro. I think your thinking of E major instead of E minor. The difference is the texture of what your playing a certain riff in or chord progression. If your playing something that sounds minor then your playing in a minor key. If it's something that sounds major, it's in a major key. There is nothing hard about it, and they wouldn't have wasted time calling them different when they do have the same notes. This idea works whether or not the riff ends on the tonic. You could have a chord progression like II - VI - III - v. As you can see it doesn't end on the tonic but yet you can tell by playing it, it's minor. Just by it's sound.

[Edited by noticingthemistake on 04-15-2003 at 10:19 PM]