Examples of song without a root note played?

[LemonCats]

Anyone got examples of songs that never actually play the root note of the key(s) its in?

[jazzereh]

First of all - why?

Second, do you mean in the melody line? Or throughout the progression in the chord structure?

Thirdly, why?

[soma5]

4'33" by John Cage. No root note, or any other note.

[lanielsen]

Originally Posted by LemonCats

Anyone got examples of songs that never actually play the root note of the key(s) its in?

Julia The Beatles

[davidbeinct]

Originally Posted by soma5

4'33" by John Cage. No root note, or any other note.

Cries out for like button.

[jaymarsch]

Originally Posted by soma5

4'33" by John Cage. No root note, or any other note.

Fabulous answer. I studied with John Cage back in the early ‘70s at the Art Institute of Chicago. A very engaging guy with a creative mind and adventurous spirit.

Now back to the question at hand...

Best,
Jayne

[mr. beaumont]

You mean in the melody (tonic) or in the chords?

[rick-slo]

I can make up a tune for you without a root note used.

For example in key of G major in standard tuning (first half of a well know tune)

---------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------------
---2--4--4--2----2--4--------2--4--5--4--2--------------------
0--------------0--------4--0------------------4--0--2--4-------
---------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------------

[DukeX]

I could, but I'd have to do an internet search...

[merlin666]

Much of the new pop music where a melody can hardly be identified and it just goes up and down by three or four semi tones through autotune might qualify.

[NormanKliman]

Originally Posted by rick-slo

I can make up a tune for you without a root note used.

For example in key of D major in standard tuning (first half of a well know tune)

---------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------------
--2--4--4--2--2--4--------2--4--5--4--2--------------------
----------------------4--0------------------4--0--2--4-------
---------------------------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------------------

Derek, wouldn't that open fourth string be the root note?

[rick-slo]

Originally Posted by NormanKliman

Derek, wouldn't that open fourth string be the root note?

Thanks. Meant to write notes on strings 4 and 5 instead of 3 and 4 so key is G, not D.

[FrankHudson]

Key is kind of a abstract concept, even within our already abstract art of music. Still in a melody that never sounds the putative* key's note, I have to say that almost none of us would hear it as being in the key of the missing note. You could notate it your "key signature" and such a phrase or section could occur in a piece of music that otherwise uses the key note in a way that establishes a key center, without screaming out "I've modulated to a new key!" in that section.

If as a composer I'd want to do what the OP asks, just to make a point, I'd setup a melody, perhaps a well known one, or a chord progression with a strong expectation or resolution to the key center and then with intent drop out (tacit, rest) that note or chord. The listener, sensitive to those expectations would supply that note or root chord, mentally. That actually sounds like a neat concept.

[nightchef]

It's Raining, It's Pouring

Some versions end with the root, but the version I learned as a kid sticks to the 3, 4, 5, and 6.

[Andyrondack]

Originally Posted by nightchef

It's Raining, It's Pouring

Some versions end with the root, but the version I learned as a kid sticks to the 3, 4, 5, and 6.

Lots of old traditional tunes don't resolve to the root, which produces the effect that they don't quite resolve at all, the root is ambivalent and the listener has a choice of two notes generally a fifth appart such as in The Lewis Bridal Song (Maries Wedding) The Blarney Pilgrim and Down In Yon Forest ( some versions of the melody), it's a neat trick for short dance tunes because the players can go round and round the same tune for hours without it ever sounding like it's finnished, you don't really notice this till you take music that is traditionally not harmonised with chords and then try to arrange it for a chordal instrument like guitar.
But that's not what the OP is asking, he/she is looking for a song which never plays the root of the key it's in which is a nonsensical question , if you remove the root from a scale you get a 6 note scale in a different key just remove a second note and you have a choice of a minor and a major pentatonic scale, starting from C major remove C and F you get Emin Pent and Gmaj Pent, so zillions of songs really.