Sad songs written in major keys

[McNutt]

I was listening to Ringo Star's fantastic song Photograph and was wondering what other sad or dark songs are written in a major key. The grandaddy of them all is probably Last Caress by the Misfits, but that's on a whole other level of darkness.

I can also think of Last Kiss. What else?

[YellowKing]

Bear with me, but this is such a perfect example of what you're talking about. One of the saddest songs on Taylor Swift's new album is also the most upbeat song on the whole album. "I Can Do It With a Broken Heart" is basically a confession of how she was performing the Eras tour night after night during her breakup and convincing everyone she was fine:



By extension it's also recognition of how many people are out there suffering from depression, anxiety, etc. but putting on a show that everything's OK.

[Unagi]

I was listening to Ringo Star's fantastic song Photograph

This is very weird timing for me. An hour ago I asked Alexa to play songs from 1983 and she played Photograph (Def Leppard), which I hadn't heard in about 25 years.

[Jaymann]

Not a minor chord in sight.

[Unagi]

I was listening to Ringo Star's fantastic song Photograph and was wondering what other sad or dark songs are written in a major key. The grandaddy of them all is probably Last Caress by the Misfits, but that's on a whole other level of darkness.

I can also think of Last Kiss. What else?

Yesterday?

[Unagi]

Bye Bye Love (Everly Brothers)
No Woman No Cry
Free Fallin'
Sitting on the Dock of the Bay
Homeward Bound (S&G)
Imagine
Knockin on Heaven's Door


maybe not exactly dark, but sorta sad.

[Unagi]

Oh Oh Oh!


Country Death Song, Violent Femmes

dark as hell

also, has the added dimension of: banjo

[Daehawk]

Not really sad lol

[Skinypupy]

First one that comes to mind.



Another one of my favorites. This one is especially eerie to listen to, considering the song basically predicts the singer’s actual death in a car crash which happened a few weeks after this album released.

Back on the highway
Under the moon
My final moments
Still wondering about you

[Kraken]

IDK what major keys are but this will make your day.

[Kraken]

One for Mother's Day. This is my favorite of many recordings of this song.

[Carpet_pissr]

Not a minor chord in sight.

As my kids would say, that song slaps.

[Rumpy]

IDK what major keys are..

Same, not being musically inclined. But it sounds like the theme is sad songs that sound happy?

Well, I think the Irish have quite a bit of experience with that, given the whole 'wake' thing and the idea of celebrating one's life vs death. And my fav example of an upbeat sad song would be something like this:

[YellowKing]

Maybe not sad but scary as hell - Beck's "Girl." I listened to this song for months thinking it was a fun-filled summer bop about a girl the singer likes. Then I read the lyrics and realized it evokes the thoughts of a serial killer stalking his next victim.

[Jaymann]

Here is a site where you can easily tell the difference between a Major and a minor chord. It starts with C Major, you can click on the letter to change the chord and on the word Major to change it to a minor of that chord, and hit play to hear the sounds.

https://killerrig.com/free-guitar-chord-library/

Generally minor chords are considered to have a "sad" sound, so they are often used for sad songs.

[Hipolito]

"It's Quiet Uptown" from Hamilton.

[disarm]

"It's Quiet Uptown" from Hamilton.

Good choice...super sad moment in a fantastic musical.