minor key

noun

, Music.

1. a key or mode based on a minor scale.
2. a less jubilant or more restrained mood, atmosphere, or quality:

   The conversation shifted to a minor key with news of the defeat.

minor key

noun

1. music a key based on notes taken from a corresponding minor scale

Word History and Origins

Origin of minor key¹

First recorded in 1810–20

Example Sentences

Its reflective, minor key melancholy was embraced by fans after the band went on hiatus in 2016.

From BBC

Best of all is the lively triple-time finale, which evokes the long history of courtly hunting music, with an alluring short section in minor key.

From New York Times

A “major key” music piece communicates cheer, while a “minor key” mirrors grief.

From Literature

Even as she rejoices, “A home in you I’ve found,” the chords circle around a minor key and she sounds cautious, almost disbelieving.

From New York Times

The mood is melancholic, redoubled by long, drawn-out notes from the strings and minor key piano arpeggios; passages of happiness feel fragile, fleeting, untrustworthy.

From Los Angeles Times