Topic: How can you tell what key a song is in? (Read 4940 times)

muzak · « **on:** December 08, 2003, 08:27:11 PM »

I want to thank everyone who posts theory lessons and chords to songs. I have learned more in the past few months than I have in the past six years of trying to learn on my own. One question, how can you tell what key a song is in, especially if it uses substitutions? If I knew they key, I may be able to put some theory to use instead of sitting at my keyboard for hours picking around trying to match what I hear. It gets fustrating because I cant always match what I hear, and I waste a lot of time. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

« **Reply #1 on:** December 09, 2003, 12:33:35 AM »

YOU NEED TO KNOW THERE THE VOICE 'FALLS' AT IN A SONG, IT'S THE TRUE KEY OF THE SONG, ALSO THE BASS NEVER LIES! IT'LL ALWAYS FALL ON THE 1, ALWAYS!

A = 5
MAZE = 1
ING = 3
GRACE = 3

THAT'S THE KEY POINTS, OR STRESS POINTS OF THE SONG, USING THE PENTATONIC SCALE: 1_2_3_5_6, IT'S THE MELODY SCALE SO YOU CAN PUT THAT IN ANY KEY, THE NUMERIC VALUE WILL NEVER CHANGE
~~~~~~~~~~
IN GOSPEL, YOU HAVE THE 1_4_5, IN THE KEY OF Eb, IT'LL BE Eb_Ab_Bb
THE PENT. SCALE WILL BE: Eb_F_G_Bb_C = 1_2_3_5_6, NOW PLAY THE ABOVE WITH THAT SCALE, AND YOU'LL HEAR THE CHANGES, YOU CAN FOLLOW ANY VOCAL PATERN WITH THAT SCALE, EVEN MINOR SONGS WITH THE MINOR PENT. Eb_F_Gb_Bb_C = 1_2_b3_5_6

muzak · « **Reply #2 on:** December 09, 2003, 06:53:42 PM »

Thanks Folk! This site has really been a blessing, I'm actually learing a lot.
I want to ask you, the midi file for Yes Lord, I love your version, is it the same as the chords you posted?

« **Reply #3 on:** December 09, 2003, 07:14:32 PM »

TO BE HONEST WITH YOU, I HAVE NO IDEA! I DID A FEW VERSIONS OF THE SONG AND I DON'T KNOW! IF YOU HAVE YAHOO IM OR MSN, I CAN SEND YOU AN MP3 OF ME PLAYIN IT AT A SERVICE, ON A HAMMOND IF YOU'D LIKE.

muzak · « **Reply #4 on:** December 09, 2003, 10:11:53 PM »

Take Judith McAllister's song Hallelujah for example, is it in Ab? I base this on the song "falling" on the 3rd syllable of the word Hallelujah.

« **Reply #5 on:** December 10, 2003, 12:30:43 AM »

You can get the key to the song from the intro, Muzak, it is in Ab, follow the bass !
And it follows the pattern of: 1_3_6_2_5_4_3_6_2, then that akward passing chord: (superimposed chord)

AbEb / Ab = 1
CG / Eb = 3
FC / Fm7 = 6
~~~~~~~~~~
BbF / Bbm7 = 2
EbBb / = 5
DbAb / = 4
~~~~~~~~~~
CG / Eb = 3
FC / Fm7 = 6
BbF / Bbm7 = 2
~~~~~~~~~~~
EbA / DGB = "SUPER
EBb / EbAbC = IMPOSED"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~BACK INTO IT AGAIN

UP 2 U 2 FIGURE OUT THE REST! :wink:

muzak · « **Reply #6 on:** December 10, 2003, 06:40:35 PM »

Thats a big help. Thanks.

Author Topic: How can you tell what key a song is in? (Read 4940 times)