By Your Good Sign — In Every Key
By Your Good Sign — KLMN613 (DJ KLMN). A slow Afro-house meditation, presented here in all twelve minor keys. Original key: G minor. Chord progression: Gm – F, lifting into Cm and Eb (i – VII – iv – VI) — the same rolling minor vamp behind ‘All Along the Watchtower,’ ‘Sultans of Swing,’ ‘Smooth’ by Santana, ‘Another Brick in the Wall,’ ‘Zombie’ by The Cranberries, ‘Ain’t No Sunshine,’ and ‘Feeling Good.’ Each version below is paired with famous hit songs written in that key.
G minor — THE ORIGINAL
Famous in G minor: “Dirty Diana” — Michael Jackson (1988) · “Money for Nothing” — Dire Straits (1985) · “I Shot the Sheriff” — Bob Marley (1973) · “Roxanne” — The Police (1978) · “Still Loving You” — Scorpions (1984) · “Shout” — Tears for Fears (1985) · “Shine On You Crazy Diamond” — Pink Floyd (1975) · “Feeling Good” — Nina Simone (1965) · “Hot Stuff” — Donna Summer (1979) · “Evil Ways” — Santana (1969) · “You Should Be Dancing” — Bee Gees (1976) · “Blue (Da Ba Dee)” — Eiffel 65 (1999) · “Da Funk” — Daft Punk (1995) · “My All” — Mariah Carey (1998) · “Doin’ Time” — Sublime (1997) · “California Love” — 2Pac (1996; verified G minor, NOT F minor) · “Rocket Man” — Elton John (1972; verses Gm, chorus Bb major; original sheet music opens Gm7) · “Tainted Love” — Soft Cell (1981)
G# minor, often written Ab minor — one of the rarest keys in pop
Famous in G# minor: “Brothers in Arms” — Dire Straits (1985) · “Heart-Shaped Box” — Nirvana (1993) · “Earth Song” — Michael Jackson (1995; Ab melodic minor, climaxes in Bb minor) · “New Year’s Day” — U2 (1983) · “No Scrubs” — TLC (1999) · “Don’t Cry” — Guns N’ Roses (1991; sounds G#m, tuned-down)
A minor
Famous in A minor: “Losing My Religion” — R.E.M. (1991) · “Smooth Criminal” — Michael Jackson (1988) · “One” — U2 (1992) · “When Doves Cry” — Prince (1984) · “Mary Jane’s Last Dance” — Tom Petty (1993) · “Hells Bells” — AC/DC (1980) · “Hurricane” — Bob Dylan (1976) · “Who’s Crying Now” — Journey (1981) · “Lovesong” — The Cure (1989) · “Smooth” — Santana ft. Rob Thomas (1999) · “Rhiannon” — Fleetwood Mac (1976) · “Californication” — Red Hot Chili Peppers (1999) · “Stairway to Heaven” — Led Zeppelin (1971) · “House of the Rising Sun” — The Animals (1964) · “Ain’t No Sunshine” — Bill Withers (1971) · “I Will Survive” — Gloria Gaynor (1978) · “Karma Police” — Radiohead (1997; first half Am, coda Bm)
Bb minor
Famous in Bb minor: “Papa Was a Rollin’ Stone” — The Temptations (1972) · “Say Say Say” — Paul McCartney & Michael Jackson (1983) · “I’m Still Standing” — Elton John (1983; intro/choruses Bbm, verses Bb major — NOT an Am song modulating up) · “Sunday Bloody Sunday” — U2 (1983; sounds Bbm — band tunes down; NOT B minor) · “Part-Time Lover” — Stevie Wonder (1985) · “The Sweetest Taboo” — Sade (1985) · “Chameleon” — Herbie Hancock (1973; instrumental built on a Bbm7–Eb7 vamp) · “Love Is Blindness” — U2 (1991) · “Earth Song” — Michael Jackson (1995; climax) · “Waiting for Tonight” — Jennifer Lopez (1999)
B minor
Famous in B minor: “Hotel California” — Eagles (1976) · “Money” — Pink Floyd (1973) · “Comfortably Numb” — Pink Floyd (1979) · “Could You Be Loved” — Bob Marley (1980) · “Ballad of a Thin Man” — Bob Dylan (1965) · “Down Under” — Men at Work (1981) · “Maneater” — Hall & Oates (1982) · “In Your Eyes” — Peter Gabriel (1986) · “(I Just) Died in Your Arms” — Cutting Crew (1986) · “Listen to Your Heart” — Roxette (1988) · “Wicked Game” — Chris Isaak (1989) · “Crazy” — Seal (1990) · “Rasputin” — Boney M. (1978) · “Un-Break My Heart” — Toni Braxton (1996)
C minor
Famous in C minor: “Get Up, Stand Up” — Bob Marley (1973) · “Eye of the Tiger” — Survivor (1982) · “Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)” — Eurythmics (1983) · “The Logical Song” — Supertramp (1979) · “Rock Lobster” — The B-52’s (1978; chorus in F minor) · “Running Up That Hill” — Kate Bush (1985) · “You Give Love a Bad Name” — Bon Jovi (1986) · “It’s a Sin” — Pet Shop Boys (1987) · “Enjoy the Silence” — Depeche Mode (1990) · “High Hopes” — Pink Floyd (1994) · “Gangsta’s Paradise” — Coolio (1995) · “Don’t Speak” — No Doubt (1996) · “…Baby One More Time” — Britney Spears (1998) · “Desert Rose” — Sting (1999)
C# minor
Famous in C# minor: “Thriller” — Michael Jackson (1982) · “All Along the Watchtower” — Bob Dylan (1967; Hendrix version sounds C minor, tuned down) · “La Isla Bonita” — Madonna (1987) · “Somebody’s Watching Me” — Rockwell (1984) · “Livin’ la Vida Loca” — Ricky Martin (1999) · “Barbie Girl” — Aqua (1997) · “California Dreamin’” — The Mamas & The Papas (1965) · “Jolene” — Dolly Parton (1973) · “Lullaby” — The Cure (1989) · “Cloudbusting” — Kate Bush (1985)
D minor
Famous in D minor: “Another Brick in the Wall Part 2” — Pink Floyd (1979) · “They Don’t Care About Us” — Michael Jackson (1996) · “In the Air Tonight” — Phil Collins (1981) · “Careless Whisper” — George Michael (1984) · “Like a Prayer” — Madonna (1989) · “Call Me” — Blondie (1980) · “Sultans of Swing” — Dire Straits (1978) · “Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!” — ABBA (1979) · “Black Magic Woman” — Santana (1970) · “White Room” — Cream (1968) · “Drive” — R.E.M. (1992) · “Layla” — Derek and the Dominos (1970; split key) · “S.O.S.” — ABBA (1975; verses) · “Come Together” — The Beatles (1969) · “Blue Monday” — New Order (1983) · “Love Is a Battlefield” — Pat Benatar (1983) · “Movin’ Out” — Billy Joel (1977)
Eb minor
Famous in Eb minor: “Beat It” — Michael Jackson (1983) · “Leave Me Alone” — Michael Jackson (1989) · “The Sound of Silence” — Simon & Garfunkel (1965) · “Ain’t Nobody” — Rufus & Chaka Khan (1983) · “I Want to Know What Love Is” — Foreigner (1984; verses Ebm, chorus Gb major) · “Land of Confusion” — Genesis (1986) · “Send Me an Angel” — Scorpions (1990; modulates) · “Games Without Frontiers” — Peter Gabriel (1980) · “Glory Box” — Portishead (1994) · “Take Five” — Dave Brubeck Quartet (1959) · “I Heard It Through the Grapevine” — Marvin Gaye (1968) · “Superstition” — Stevie Wonder (1972) · “Higher Ground” — Stevie Wonder (1973) · “I Wish” — Stevie Wonder (1976) · “Lady” — Kenny Rogers (1980)
E minor
Famous in E minor: “Paint It Black” — The Rolling Stones (1966) · “Eleanor Rigby” — The Beatles (1966) · “Nights in White Satin” — The Moody Blues (1967) · “Riders on the Storm” — The Doors (1971) · “Behind Blue Eyes” — The Who (1971) · “School’s Out” — Alice Cooper (1972) · “Turn the Page” — Bob Seger (1973) · “Barracuda” — Heart (1977) · “The Chain” — Fleetwood Mac (1977) · “Hey You” — Pink Floyd (1979) · “Edge of Seventeen” — Stevie Nicks (1981) · “Separate Ways” — Journey (1983) · “Livin’ on a Prayer” — Bon Jovi (1986; final chorus up to Gm) · “The One I Love” — R.E.M. (1987) · “I Won’t Back Down” — Tom Petty (1989) · “About a Girl” — Nirvana (1989) · “Black Cat” — Janet Jackson (1990) · “Come As You Are” — Nirvana (1992) · “Zombie” — The Cranberries (1994) · “Use Me” — Bill Withers (1972)
F minor
Famous in F minor: “Dream On” — Aerosmith (1973) · “Pick Up the Pieces” — Average White Band (1974) · “Stayin’ Alive” — Bee Gees (1977) · “Heartbreaker” — Pat Benatar (1979) · “It’s Raining Men” — The Weather Girls (1982) · “Just the Two of Us” — Grover Washington Jr. & Bill Withers (1981) · “Easy Lover” — Philip Bailey & Phil Collins (1984) · “Axel F” — Harold Faltermeyer (1985) · “Another Day in Paradise” — Phil Collins (1989) · “Smells Like Teen Spirit” — Nirvana (1991) · “Cantaloop” — Us3 (1993) · “Children” — Robert Miles (1995) · “Frozen” — Madonna (1998) · “Genie in a Bottle” — Christina Aguilera (1999)
F# minor
Famous in F# minor: “Somebody to Love” — Jefferson Airplane (1967) · “Foxy Lady” — Jimi Hendrix (1967) · “Immigrant Song” — Led Zeppelin (1970) · “Time” — Pink Floyd (1973) · “Is This Love” — Bob Marley (1978) · “Hold the Line” — Toto (1978) · “Refugee” — Tom Petty (1980) · “Mad World” — Tears for Fears (1982; original — the Gary Jules cover is F minor) · “Billie Jean” — Michael Jackson (1983) · “Run to You” — Bryan Adams (1984) · “Self Control” — Laura Branigan (1984) · “You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)” — Dead or Alive (1984) · “Personal Jesus” — Depeche Mode (1989) · “Shape of My Heart” — Sting (1993) · “Wonderwall” — Oasis (1995) · “You Oughta Know” — Alanis Morissette (1995) · “One of Us” — Joan Osborne (1995) · “The Way” — Fastball (1998)