Matthew wrote:The vast majority of the swing music I hear is played in a major key. Do you have any idea why?
I found this thread again by chance while searching for something else, and my first thought was that you're wrong, the balance is pretty even. Then I listened to a few of my favourite tracks to decide which were major and which were minor -
Ain't Misbehavin' - MAJOR
All God's Chillun Got Rhythm - MAJOR
Be Careful (If You Can't Be Good) - MAJOR
Between The Devil And Deep Blue Sea - MAJOR
Bei Mir Bist Du Schoen - MINOR
Blazin - MAJOR
Business in Q - MAJOR
Diga Diga Doo - MINOR
Doin' The Jive - MINOR
Flat Foot Floogee - MAJOR
Harlem - MINOR
Hit The Road Jack - MINOR
Honeysuckle Rose - MAJOR
I'm Crazy 'Bout My Baby - MAJOR
In The Mood - MAJOR
Is You Is Or Is You Ain't My Baby - MINOR
It Ain't Right - MINOR
Jeepers Creepers - MAJOR
Joshua Fit De Battle of Jericho - MINOR
Just A-Sittin' And A-Rockin' - MAJOR
Mr Ghost Goes To Town - MAJOR
No More Love - MINOR
One Scotch, One Bourbon, One Beer - MAJOR
Organ Grinder's Swing - MAJOR
Pennsylvania 6-5000 - MAJOR
Posin' - MAJOR
Puttin' On The Ritz - MINOR
Riverboat Shuffle - MINOR
Rockhouse Parts 1 & 2 - MINOR
Shades of Hades - MAJOR
Shortnin' Bread - MAJOR
Spreadin' Rhythm Around - MAJOR
Stompin' Around - MAJOR
Stompin' At The Savoy - MAJOR
Stop, Look And Listen - MAJOR
Sugar Foot Stomp - MAJOR
Symphony in Riffs - MAJOR
The Big Apple - MAJOR
The Gal From Joe's - MINOR
The Jitterbug - MAJOR
There's Rhythm In Harlem - MAJOR
Walkin' The Dog - MAJOR
- and the vast majority are major. One quick thought is perhaps they need to be in the 'happier' major key to have that swinging feeling that makes you want to dance?