Affective Key Characteristics

[theledge]

I dont get it. A key is a key. an A Major Scale has all the same intervals as any other Major scale. Its just that its played at a different position. Minor scales (which are modes) are a different story. They do sound more melancholy. Maybe this list has more to do with the pitch of the root note as opposed to the actual scales.

If you want to start experimenting with different *feelings* with scales\notes\ etc then look at the Major scale modes and the Chords that go with them. Dorian, Locrian, Aeolian etc...

i think that it was not always the case that all the scales were equal

this is reflected in instruments that can only play in certain keys (trumpets, horns etc)

equal temperament was the shoe horning of all the different keys characteristics into a standardized system, prior to the classical period of music

highly fascinating as this all is, my music theory unfortunately peters out at about this point. i'd love to understand this better

i think the 'characteristics' of each key have kept on being associated with them even today, even though they don't really apply as they did, as well as you correctly say the characteristics of the root note

perhaps someone more musically knowledgeable can help me out here

[massplanck]

highly fascinating as this all is, my music theory unfortunately peters out at about this point. i'd love to understand this better

ditto.