Originally posted by Cryptic Excretions
I want to add on to the questions by asking what makes keys and chords major and minor? Thanks.

look at the chords part of the explanation above. If the 3rd of the chord is a minor 3rd above the root note, it's minor. If it's a major 3rd, it's major.

Example C to E is a major 3rd.

C - Db = minor 2nd
C - D = major 2nd
C - Eb = minor 3rd
C - E = major 3rd

So if the chord is made up of

C, Eb, and G it's a minor chord.

If it's made up of

C, E, G it's a major chord. <~ correction from before

It's the same thing with scales.

C to E is major.
A to C is minor.

[Edited by noticingthemistake on 02-13-2004 at 02:18 PM]