For Kicks: What Key is SWEET HOME ALABAMA In?

[TB72]

Originally Posted by TheRockDoc

I am absoLUTEly convinced that the phrases 'mixolydian' and 'guhbner' were never used in the same thread anywhere on the planet... until this thread

Well said.

[s2y]

Key of whisKEY

[Polynitro]

key of overplayed fm radio garbage

[edgewound]

Originally Posted by drewl

yeah, yeah, and the Kid rock song too....we kinda' segue' all three

wasn't my idea.

I feel your pain...but the party crowd usually eats it up.

[edgewound]

Originally Posted by Kenny Blue

Yes... thanks for the clarification...

I do realize that actually. I just meant the progression was based on those 3 chords.... but not in that order.

I agree that it is in G using the I, IV and V chords .

[benxiwf]

Originally Posted by gtrdave

Go ahead; play an A7 chord while Sweet Home Alabama is playing and tell me what you hear.
If you don't hear all kinds of wrong...

This is because an A7 is not in D mixolydian. It is not D major but D is the tonal center. The tensions in modal music are not the same or as strong. It is for this very reason that major and harmonic minor are the tonalities. That dominated the classical era.
A minor would be the chord and it would sound fine.

[Baminated]

Friends Don't Let Friends Solo in "D" Over Sweet Home Alabama

[edgewound]

Originally Posted by Baminated

Friends Don't Let Friends Solo in "D" Over Sweet Home Alabama

Double werd.

[gtrdave]

Originally Posted by benxiwf

This is because an A7 is not in D mixolydian. It is not D major but D is the tonal center.

Yes, I know that you and many others want it to be in D and want to play D mixolydian over it, but you're providing no logic nor proof why it should be in D.
Again, the V chord of the song if it were in D would be an A or A7, similar to the Hey Jude example that was giving earlier which, being in the key of F has a C7 as it's V and it works beautifully, leading the progression back to the tonic.
Play an A or A7 over Sweet Home and you'll sound like an idiot musician. Mixolydian has NOTHING to do with the key center.
Songs can linger on the V chord and have melodies that are based off of the V. Sweet Home Alabama is such a song. It's tonic is G, the V chord is D, the melody is based around the V and the D chord leads it nicely back to...G.

Werewolves of London, anyone? Same chords but w/ the melody is based around the I chord. V chord is D, resolves to G.

Another example: the theme to The Simpsons is in the key of C (before the modulation), but the melody is based on C lydian. Guess what the V chord is? G. Melodies and/or solos in lydian and mixolydian do not mess w/ the V chord at all.

[Fretzel]

Cool discussion idea. I couldn't possibly read all 32 pages so forgive me if someone has made this point already.

I find it funny that Can't Get Enough by Bad Company uses a similiar chord progression C,A#,F but is in C.

[Baminated]

Originally Posted by Fretzel

Cool discussion idea. I couldn't possibly read all 32 pages so forgive me if someone has made this point already.

I find it funny that Can't Get Enough by Bad Company uses a similiar chord progression C,A#,F but is in C.

Ahh, but it goes to the V of C, which is G - which underscores the "C" tonality. SWA does not have the V of D , which is A

PLUS, the solo for Can't Get is C to F, I believe, thus a I-IV sound

[gtrdave]

Originally Posted by Fretzel

Cool discussion idea. I couldn't possibly read all 32 pages so forgive me if someone has made this point already.

I find it funny that Can't Get Enough by Bad Company uses a similiar chord progression C,A#,F but is in C.

That's because the V chord is a G and it's played at the close of every chorus (and elsewhere).
The V chord is the dominant chord for a reason. It leads the progression to the tonic or the I. You can play a G chord at random in Can't Get Enough and it fits.

IF Sweet Home Alabama had an A chord in the progression, it would lead the song to the D.
It doesn't. Play an A chord in it and it's out of place.

[arthur rotfeld]

If a mixolydian-type tune had a v chord, it would be minor, A minor in D.

Also it's quite common in modal progressions to not have v chords, and by no means a requirement.

[Fretzel]

I see what you guys are saying. How it resolves to the V. I guess I should have used the word interesting instead of funny. I like how you can change one little thing and it can have such a huge impact musically.

[dlguitar64]

I just thank god i never have to play or think about this song except when this thread gets revived.