D Minor: Possibly The Most Nefarious Key In Western Music

Between scales, drills, sight-reading and recitation of a few standards, I've also spent some time improvising on my brand-new piano, and I've determined that if you want to convey that you or someone else is up to no good, you can't go wrong with d minor.

Witness:

• This lovely Beethoven symphony

• Toccata and fugue in d minor by J.S. Bach

• This piano concerto by Mozart

• This symphony by Shostakovich

• This violin concerto by Sibelius

Notable exceptions:

• Grieg's "In The Hall Of The Mountain King"

• "Imperial March" from Star Wars