figuring out key

leen · Unread post by **leen** » Wed Jun 25, 2003 5:30 pm

How would i figure out what key a song is in or a part of a song...like that end jam on liog for example.

fatjack · Unread post by **fatjack** » Wed Jun 25, 2003 6:43 pm

well, tell me what chords are in the song and i will tell you the key (do this just once then i'll try to explain)

as for the jam of LIOG... it's in d-major, just like the rest of the song

leen · Unread post by **leen** » Wed Jun 25, 2003 7:50 pm

The chords for the verse G,C,Bb,....this is that main riff but i dont know what you would call the chords for it

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fearless by pink floyd

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Dakial · Unread post by **Dakial** » Wed Jun 25, 2003 8:18 pm

The key of the song can be defined by the type of chords in it...for example,
C key songs have these chords:
C Dm Em F G Am Bdim

leen wrote:The chords for the verse G,C,Bb,....this is that main riff but i dont know what you would call the chords for it

Code: Select all

fearless by pink floyd

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--1---3---5---7---/8--------------10/12-------
------------------------repeat-----10/12-------
------------------------------------10/12-------
--3---5---7---9---/10---------------------------
--------------------------------------------------

fatjack · Unread post by **fatjack** » Wed Jun 25, 2003 8:26 pm

for the most part this stays in the key of Cmajor with a few exceptions.

in truth it would be almost impossible to explain diatonic theory (scale theory) to you over a message board post, but i will give you a quick lesson nonetheless

all keys have seven different notes, and each note has a chord that corresponds to it. for example the key of C contains C-D-E-F-G-A-B. when each of these notes is used a the root of a chord, either a major or minor chord is made. the order for all major scales goes like this: major,minor,minor,major, major, minor, and minor(flat5). confusing, well here it is is the key of C: C-Dm-Em-F-G-Am-Bm(flat5)

the song you picked doesn't exactly stay in C because it contains the notes Bflat and F#.

you would think that these notes would fit into another major scale, but they don't. basically you could take this song (or any other ) and dissect every part of it into different keys. for instance the song you used as an example: the chorus would be in C-Mixolydian (or F Major) and the other part would be in G major (you could say that the whole thing is in G-Major, but the Bflat would make it G minor, which would be too different). this just makes things too complicated, and its just easier to say its in C.

and if you want to be REAL technical... the song is in G melodic minor (but i don't feel like explaining that...)

leen · Unread post by **leen** » Wed Jun 25, 2003 8:41 pm

thanks how did you learn all this theory? from a teacher or books?

fatjack · Unread post by **fatjack** » Wed Jun 25, 2003 8:54 pm

books yo

, and just figuring stuff out on my own.

leen · Unread post by **leen** » Wed Jun 25, 2003 9:24 pm

recommend any beginners books?

fatjack · Unread post by **fatjack** » Wed Jun 25, 2003 9:28 pm

Beginning Jazz Guitar by Jody Fisher. it is published by Alfred and the National Guitar Workshop

littlefriend · Unread post by **littlefriend** » Thu Jun 26, 2003 8:19 pm

So what key would a song containing F#m, G, and Em be in? From what I can discern it is in D major, but it's that's based on only slightly more than a guess. Is there a trick to knowing or do you just have to know? My theory is horribly lacking, but I've got a song in mind with those chords and need to know the key for adding a solo and what not. Guess I'm just going to have to hit the books.

fatjack · Unread post by **fatjack** » Thu Jun 26, 2003 9:15 pm

quess what... you're right! it is in d major. if you look at my earlier post you may be able to tell why. there is d major of course which is the first in the scale, and f#minor is the third, and gmajor is the fourth...

when you hit the books look out for the term DIATONIC HARMONY :wink:

littlefriend · Unread post by **littlefriend** » Fri Jun 27, 2003 3:50 am

Yeah, yeah! I get it. So in D major you'd have D maj, of course, then Em, F#m, G maj, A maj, Bm, and C#dim. And that pattern, of course holds true for whichever key you're in. And you know where the sharps/flats are due to the whole, whole, half, whole, whole, whole, half step pattern through the scale, correct? Some things are becoming clearer.

BTW, should I be worried about the Diatonic Harmony thing?

fatjack · Unread post by **fatjack** » Fri Jun 27, 2003 11:53 am

all the stuff you just said is the basis of diatonic harmony, good job!

btw, its good you know the steps in the major scale, from their you can go wherever you want with theory, just keep at it!

Arete · Unread post by **Arete** » Fri Jun 27, 2003 11:14 pm

leen wrote:recommend any beginners books?

I am cheap myself and with the technology of the internet there is so much out there to learn for free. My favorite site out there that gives lesssons and great theory articles is.

http://www.guitarnoise.com/index.php

The Online Guitar College, oh without the tuition

littlefriend · Unread post by **littlefriend** » Tue Jul 01, 2003 2:42 am

That site is so great! I don't spend nearly enough time there.

DMBTabs.com

figuring out key

figuring out key

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