Major to Minor: 12 Classic Riffs Re-Imagined in "Opposite" Keys

By Damian Fanelli
published

(Image credit: Shinko Music/Getty Images)

How would Black Sabbath's iconic "Iron Man" riff sound if it were played in a major—instead of a minor—key?

How about the famously "major" opening riff from Lynyrd Skynyrd's "Sweet Home Alabama"?

Well, wonder no more! A guitar-centric Facebook page called Music Is Win has posted a new clip that demonstrates 12 classic guitar riffs played in the "opposite" (or parallel/relative) key. Besides the two examples above, the guitarist in the clip also plays GNR's "Sweet Child O' Mine" in a minor key (as opposed to major), AC/DC's "Back in Black" (minor), Metallica's "Nothing Else Matters" (major) and more.

Feel free to disagree, but the one that sounds the most natural is Aeromith's "Walk This Way," which is played as a nasty-sounding minor-key riff.

As always, enjoy!

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Damian Fanelli
Damian Fanelli
Editor-in-Chief, Guitar World

Damian is Editor-in-Chief of Guitar World magazine. In past lives, he was GW’s managing editor and online managing editor. He's written liner notes for major-label releases, including Stevie Ray Vaughan's 'The Complete Epic Recordings Collection' (Sony Legacy) and has interviewed everyone from Yngwie Malmsteen to Kevin Bacon (with a few memorable Eric Clapton chats thrown into the mix). Damian, a former member of Brooklyn's The Gas House Gorillas, was the sole guitarist in Mister Neutron, a trio that toured the U.S. and released three albums. He now plays in two NYC-area bands.