Hi guys,

I always assumed Start me Up was in the key of C (major), like Brown Sugar. I saw the playlist of Ahoy 2003 and it listed Start Me UP with the key of F.
How does this work because the base chord seems C to me?
So Ronnie plays the solo in F major or minor?

Cheers,
Wuudy

Ronnie plays mostly in F minor but does throw in a couple major notes in there.

The difference between STU vs BS is where the riff resolves itself. In BS, the main riff ends on the C because that is the last chord being struck. In STU, the song revolves around that first half of the riff played on the fifth fret that ends with the sus4 which makes the song lean towards the key of F.

Take a look at how Ronnie accompanies Keith on this song. He's in the first position playing F and Bb chords.

Yeah Wuudy it's weird huh? The whole song from memory is F, B flat and C. The note that Jagger's vox end on is F and that just follows the sus4 that Keith finishes the riff with on C/F and as Justin says that definitely leans straight toward F.

Always liked Ronnie's leads on this track. Interesting considering the one the whole world knows doesn't have one.

Wuudy,

Try playing the main rhythm part like Ronnie does: (low-to-high) 0-3-x-x-x-x followed by 1-3-x-x-x-x. Then you'll get better sense of why the key center is F. If memory serves, Ronnie's lead is mostly F major pentatonic, with some bluesy accents.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2014-11-05 02:19 by Mel Belli.

Cool, thanks for explaining guys!

Cheers,
Wuudy

The C is an add-on to the base chord, which is F.

That makes the SMU a direct opposite to all the well-know Keef-riffs

Great version here. Woody throws in some good hook lines towards the end of the song.