How to find the key of a song

This a reply to a question from Marco on how to know what key a song is in.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• music
• guitar
• allen
• van
• wert
• robot
• musichopper
• theory
• key
• song
• shred
• virtuoso
• beginner
• help

[musichopper]

I don't have a guitar with me right now to test it but I can tell you this...The melody is a key factor in this one since the chord progression seems to be non standard sounding in my head. in the chorus "Id like TO make myself believe" The word "TO" Its note for the vocal melody should be the key of the song in Major. Same as in the verse "Ten mill-ION fireflies" On the "ion" on million.. same root note I think.

[RS358]

so if ur in the right key but not the right mode can u still solo over it?

[musichopper]

sure

[ajb2k9]

so if you were trying to figure out like a metallica song where theyre constantly repeating the e string then would most of their songs be in the key of e

[musichopper]

I would firstly guess it was in E minor or some sort of E minor mode because almost all of their songs are in that key lol.

[digestiontactics]

in any key, there are 7 notes, for example in the key of Cmajor: *C D E F G A B*. these seven notes are reffered to as the "intervals" or "tones" of the key. so in the Cmajor example, C is 1 (often called the "root" or "tonic" or "home" note.) D is 2, E 3, F 4, G 5, A 6, and B is 7. the difference between a major and minor key, is the 3rd interval (or tone). in a major key the 3rd interval is natural, in a minor key it is flat. so in C major, you get CDEFGAB. in C minor you get CDEbFGAB.

[HatsDownProductions]

sound like seth rogan

[nishantkumar05]

i like that mario tee

[maahiy2k]

can u tell me in what oclives owl city was singing in fireflies

[tabber87]

"Ya happen to hear that note a lot and it sounds like home!"

LOL! Great video. Very informative.

[djavocard]

I wish you had explained this with an instrument than keep yapping for 8 and a quarter min!!

[realjuvelive]

2:06 progression ?

[realjuvelive]

@digestiontactics Thank you! did you take any lessons in music theory?

[nurbSoldier]

I hate to say it, but so many music lessons, especially for beginners lack a rational, consistent, articulate explanation

[Chris1000ist]

dang dude you help me out alot thankx 4 da info