This IS the best thread on this site !!

I play mainly by ear now. I dropped the theory stuff too early when I realised I was improving faster as a player when I didn't concentrate on the labels which belonged to what I was playing. I do regret it now.

Anyway, to the guys who know the labels ... what's the B flat chord on the word 'wish' in Sometimes It Snows In April all about? I've NEVER heard this anywhere else ... but I'm guessing there's a technical name for putting a B flat in an E Major (something) key.

L

*** Paisley, Im happy u r appreciating this topic and if Prince does it 2, im happier.....

Its really hard finding somebody who is in2 music theory....Usually I talk about it with my teachers...but Im in summer vacation.....so THANX.....

It could sound a contraddiction I know.....In my opinion u do well keeping on playing by ear.....I study 2 the conservatory, but with Prince music I do a different work, something I couldnt learn from the main theory....
Prince music sheets arent so accurate.....4 example they wrote E 2 sing while Prince sings a lower note (C) in my opinion....

I've just finished 2 listen 2 One Nite Alone cd.....I've heard a familiar sound.....Do u think Prince used the SUS4 in "Arboretum"? Any opinion?




paisley2002 said:[quote]

nayroo2002 said:

Sorry Ice....I think u r wrong about "The Marrying Kind".....I didnt perceived any harmonic minor and NO HARPS.....I can hear electric guitar, bass, drums (plates....possible brushes used), trumpet and KEYS (they could sound like harp).....I feel it as G maj.....so its impossible its harmonic....

I will let u know about "When doves cry".....




Yeah, I think the harp phrase in the segue into "The Marrying Kind" in Musicology is in harmonic minor. I also think that parts of the keyboard solo in the extended version of "When Doves Cry," although being heavily chromatic at times, tend to have a harmonic minor kind of flavor.

Levi said:

I think it's Bb/C, the same chord that opens "Purple Rain".

Lilith said:

Now this is a thread. But wait a minute... What "extended version of When Doves Cry"?? There isn't one.

Giovanni777 said:

I think they mean the album version. I guess if u compare it 2 the edit on The Hits it would be "extended".

Levi said:

I think that Bb chord is intended as sort of a "bridge" from A major to B major: "Sometimes I"/A major, "wish"/Bb major, "that life was never ending"/B major. He's just going straight up the scale, half note by half note. I don't know what u would call this either...

Ok....i will listen 2 "when doves cry"

There is Lonely & Thunder use melodic minor in the melody. Mostly just that natural 7th.

Also I think that keyboard solo on WDC is melodic minor. You can hear the last three notes of the song are natural 6, natural 7, tonic.

I can't think of any examples of harmonic minor.

Very good thread.

So after he says the line " a g flat major with an e in the bass " in electric chair is he actually playing the same thing ? silly question maybe , but I guess you guys know for sure

moonshine said:

Yep

andyman91 said:

me likey g flat majors with e's in the bass

Lilith said:

Offhand, I know "North" is pretty much in C minor, and the first 4 minutes of "West" are in Eb major. I'd have 2 go back and listen 2 the rest of the CD...

Lilith...

The harp actually comes out in the segue to "The Marrying Kind," which is the last thirty seconds or so of "What Do U Want Me 2 Do?", during the part where the girl is speaking in Italian.

Levi...

That chord in "Sometimes It Snows In April" is, I believe, a B-flat Major ninth chord, the notes of which are Bb, C, D, F and A, not necessarily in that order. It is really just a passing chord, as paisley said, a non-harmonic chord that connects the AMaj7 with the B7. Yeah, it does sound great, though. I love that chord. Sometimes, putting non-harmonic chords in the song makes it sound great. One recent example is "What Do U Want Me 2 Do?" The chorus alternates between CMaj7 and AbMaj7 (or AbMaj9). It's a really cool device that Prince utilizes quite a bit, to a great effect.

nayroo...

Can you believe I don't have a recording of "Endorphinmachine?" Am I deprived or what?
[Edited 8/31/05 17:57pm]
[Edited 8/31/05 17:58pm]

Ice9sFine said:[quote]Lilith...

The harp actually comes out in the segue to "The Marrying Kind," which is the last thirty seconds or so of "What Do U Want Me 2 Do?", during the part where the girl is speaking in Italian.

**** Ok, I will listen 2 it again .....The harmonic minor gives an "arab" flavour 2 music .....Its a difference of 1 1/2 tune that grants it....
U r making me curious.....

I would have loved this thread when I was 17.

Now you know everything and you dont care. -_-

Since we have some great musicians reading this thread, I would like to ask a favor.

Can anyone tell me the chords for "The One"? Nothing I've tried sounds right, so obviously the song is a lot more sophisticated than I am.

Thanks.

RodeoSchro said:

It pretty much goes back and forth between C minor and G major. Once u get 2 the part where he sings "If U're looking 4 a man that'll sweep u off ur tired old weary feet", then it alternates between Eb major and Bb major. "Look no further" holds a G major, leading u back into C minor. There may be some sevenths in there, just can't think where...

paisley2002 said:

MUCHAS GRACIAS. I got as far as the C minor and then my tin ear let me down. Thanks again.

7salles said:

Bah. I knew everything back then. At least I thought I did.

What about "Best Prince song in each metre"?

7/8: Old friends for sale
4/4: Computer blue

Has he ever used other ones?

(Desperately trying to keep this thread alive until Prince releases something new.)

svengali said:

3/4: Damn U

I think She Loves Me 4 Me is in a non-4/4 metre as well.

svengali said:

I think Old Friends for Sale is 6/8

Prince has never really been one to mess around with meter a whole bunch. His harmonic palette is so complex, his fountain of melody so rich that he never really has needed to. Just as I've admitted before, there is still a plethora of the Prince ouevre that I am still unfamiliar with, so maybe more lies in store. Maybe we could talk about best songs in each Prince sub-genre, like straight-ahead jazz, funk, rock, pop, twelve-bar blues...

Ice9sFine said:

That would be a pretty mess!

Schöne Gruß

nayroo2002 said:

No kidding! I'm sure plenty of Prince's songs could fall into multiple categories...many, MANY categories...

Mhhhh.....I've noticed that Prince doesnt use so much "composed meters/times".....He often uses 4/4 or 2/4.....