Modal Question ( Music Theory )

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GazEcc

GazEcc

mBallstát atá tiomanta
Hey guys,

Just a quick theory question, I'm currently working on a piece and trying to score it so I can get to work writing for the brass section and (formally) the bass but the issue is that I can't quite find the mode, overall it feels like a restless D harmonic minor (verse) or D phrygian mode but theory would tell me that they have a C minor this piece has a C major.

Either way chords l Dm l Bb l C(note major here) l Eb (restless sound, really nice fitting for the tension in the progression)l and the vocal / melody line contains only A Bb D E F G . Can anyone give the correct mode for this?

Thanks Gaz

Edit: Like I mean the E shouldn't even be in the melody (or the C chord for that matter) but it seems to fit with both?
 
You're out-expertising me with the phrygian business, but I'll just note (so to speak) that your melody notes are in the key of F, or the relative minor (D). Indeed, the only note in the F scale that's missing from the melody is C, which is the one that would get sharped to be the leading tone in D minor.

In F, your chord progression is pretty normal: vi IV V bVII. The slightly oddball chord is the Eb, which is the subtonic and not all that uncommon. Well, that, and the fact you're missing the I altogether, I suppose.
 
Overall I resembles an F / Dm but the real question comes into play with the chorus which contains a lDmlAmlBblF C(Both Major)l Which would indicate that its a keychange of sorts to a more traditional F / Dm key and less modal. I think I might just be over thinking this, If I show it to an ensemble eventually they're gonna get the drift of it I guess. Who would have though a simple Ska piece could be so complicated. :P
 
Yes, seems logical in the key of Bb that C minor would be used for that first chord progression. However, by adding the major third on the C chord they've created a false-relation chord or a "syntax error", basically a chromatic contradiction between two notes, "Eb" & "E". If possible, I wouldn't approach it diatonically, but if you do... it does seem D natural/harmonic minor should work, given the first melody line and second chord progression.
 
It's d minor aeolian, where the Eb is really just a tritone substitution for the V (A7).
 
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