Skip to content

Unit 17 · Song analysis · Lesson 3 of 4

and modal tunes

Need a definition? Tap or click a dotted word. You can hear examples there, too.

The House of the Rising Sun

A with two borrowed brightenings: D (from the raised 6th) and E (from the raised 7th).

The House of the Rising Sun

Traditional American folk song · A minor · 6/8

  1. Bar 1
    Ami
  2. Bar 2
    CIII
  3. Bar 3
    DIV
    IV (major) in a minor key: the bright raised 6th.
  4. Bar 4
    FVI
  5. Bar 5
    Ami
  6. Bar 6
    CIII
  7. Bar 7
    EV
    V with a raised leading tone - the half cadence.
  8. Bar 8
    EV
  • D major in A minor uses F♯ - the raised 6th of melodic minor (or the Dorian 6th).
  • E major uses G♯, the leading tone from harmonic minor.
Step 1 of 3