Music key


darickmendes
Registered User
Joined: 04/15/21
Posts: 47
darickmendes
Registered User
Joined: 04/15/21
Posts: 47
08/14/2021 12:02 pm

So in order to figure out the key of a song is by figuring out the first and last chord or note in the song and that be the key ?


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ChristopherSchlegel
Guitar Tricks Instructor
Joined: 08/09/05
Posts: 8,347
ChristopherSchlegel
Guitar Tricks Instructor
Joined: 08/09/05
Posts: 8,347
08/14/2021 1:39 pm
Originally Posted by: darickmendes

So in order to figure out the key of a song is by figuring out the first and last chord or note in the song and that be the key ?

In much music the tonic chord, or root note is often the first, the last, or both. But there is no guarantee that it is any of those!

When you are just starting out it's best to just look at the music notation because the key signature is indicated at the beginning of the music with accidentals (sharps or flats), or the lack of them for the key of C major.

The key signature is based on the major or minor scale that all (or most) of the notes in the song belong to. You figure out all the notes of the melody & the notes in the chords used. Then figure out which scale they belong to.

After you do this for a while patterns emerge & it becomes easier to grasp the key signature based on the chords & melody.

These are little advanced for beginner level studies, but these tutorials explain the concept of key signature.

Major Scale Harmony

https://www.guitartricks.com/tutorial.php?input=2387

Introduction to Improvisation

https://www.guitartricks.com/tutorial.php?input=876

Hope that helps!


Christopher Schlegel
Guitar Tricks Instructor

Christopher Schlegel Lesson Directory
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