Have you ever listened to a song and wondered what made it sound the way it did?
Why do certain notes go together well, while others sound discordant?
What is key in music, and why is it important?
You’re not alone! Many people have wondered what the key of a song is. So if you’re curious about what a song key is and why it matters, keep reading!
What is a Song Key?
Song key is the foundation that all music is built on. It’s what gives a song its structure and determines how the melody and harmony will sound.
Understanding song key can help you better understand how to create interesting sounding chord progressions, write melodies that complement the chords, and generally make your music sound more polished and professional.
Song key is simply the tonality or pitch of a song. It can be major or minor, and it determines the mood of the song. If you are a musician, it is important to know about song keys so that you can write songs in the correct key and create the desired effect.
Why is key important?
Key is important because it gives a song its overall sound and feel. The key of a song determines the song’s melody and harmony. It also sets the foundation for the song’s chord progression.
The key of a song can be major or minor, and each one creates a different feeling. Major keys are generally happy and upbeat, while minor keys are usually sadder and more mellow.
Knowing the key of a song can help you understand why certain notes sound good together and why others sound discordant. It can also help you create your own songs!
How many notes may be used as a key?
There are twelve different notes that may be used as a key of a song. These include all 12 notes in the musical alphabet: C, C♯, D, D♯, E, F, F♯, G, G♯, A , A♯, and B.
A minor key of these 12 notes is another possibility. Each note has its own scale and tonic note. The key of a song is determined by the tonic note.
The tonic note is the starting note of a scale. For example, if the key of a song is C, then the tonic note would be C.
When it comes to choosing what key to write a song in, there are no rules. Some people prefer to write in a major key, while others prefer to write in a minor key.
However, it is important to be aware of the different keys and scales when composing or playing a song. This way, you can ensure that your song sounds its best.
What is the Scale of a Key?
Each key has a corresponding scale, which is a group of notes that creates the melody and harmony of a song. The notes in a scale are related to each other by intervals, or the distance between two notes.
The scale of a key refers to the notes that are used in that key. A scale consists of seven notes, and each note has a corresponding degree or number. The first note of the scale is called the tonic, and it is the most important note in the key.
This is how to identify a scale’s seven-note interval: W-W-H-W-W-W-H from the twelve notes of a musical alphabet.
A, A#/Bb, B, C, C#/Db, D, D#/Eb, E, F, F#/Bb, G, G#/Ab
- Key of C: C, D, E, F, G, A, B
- Key of C#/Db: C#, Eb, F, F#, G#, Bb, C
- Key of D: D, E, F#, G, A, B, C#
- Key of D#/Eb: Eb, F, G, G#, Bb, C, D
- Key of E: E, F#, G#, A, B, C#, Eb
- Key of F: F, G, A, Bb, C, D, E
- Key of F#/Gb: F#, G#, Bb, B, C#, Eb, F
- Key of G: G, A, B, C, D, E, F#
- Key of G#/Ab: G#, Bb, C, C#, Eb, F, G
- Key of A: A, B, C#, D, E, F#, G#
- Key of A#/Bb: Bb, C, D, Eb, F, G, A
- Key of B: B, C#, Eb, E, F#, G#, Bb
When you’re playing music in a particular key, you should always use the notes in that key’s scale. If you don’t use the correct notes, your music will sound out of tune.
Chords in a Scale and Chord Progressions
Instead of running a scale of a single note at a time, we use chords to play a song on guitar. A chord is simply a group of notes played together.
We make chords out of the notes of the scale for any key. The chords in a scale are the harmonic relationships between the notes in that key.
The following are the degrees and qualities of a scale:
Scale degrees in Roman numerals – I ii iii IV V vi vii°
- Tonic (I) – Major
- Supertonic (ii) – minor
- Mediant (iii) – minor
- Subdominant (IV) – Major
- Dominant (V) – Major
- Submediant (vi) – minor
- Leading tone (vii) – diminished
To summarize, I-IV-V are major chords, ii-iii-vi minor chords, and vii° is a diminished chord.
The chords in your scale in the key of C and key of G,
- C – C, Dm, Em, F, G, Am, B°
- G – G, Am, Bm, C, D, Em, F#°
The set of chords that make up a scale form the family of chords in a specific key.
A chord progression is simply a series of chords that are played in succession. The most common chord progression is I-vi-IV-V. This means that the chords are played in this order:
- Key of C: C, Am, F, G
- Key of G: G, Em, C, D
There are countless chord progressions that you can use in your music. A chord progression can also be more complex than this. However, all chord progressions are based on the relationships between the notes in a key.
When you’re playing music in a particular key of a song, it’s important to use chords from that key’s scale. This will ensure that your music sounds harmonious and in tune.
What is the Tonic Note?
The tonic note is the first note of the scale, and it is the most important note in a key. It’s the note that gives the key its name, and it’s also the root or foundation of the scale.
The tonic note is what everything else in the key revolves around. It’s the starting point and the end point of the scale.
The key of a song is determined by its tonic note. It gives a song its characteristic sound or mood.
The tonic note is the root or “home” note of a scale, and it determines the key signature of a piece of music. In other words, when you see sharps (#) or flats (b) written in the key signature, it means that those notes are part of the scale for that particular key.
Keys, Scales and Chord Progressions
Knowing about key, scale, and chord progression is essential for any musician. It will help you better understand the music that you are playing and give you a deeper understanding of how to create your own music. By learning about keys, scales, and chord progressions, you can develop your musicianship skills and take your playing to the next level.
Key
Key is important because it determines the mood of a song. A song in a major key will sound happy and upbeat, while a minor key will sound sad and melancholy. Knowing which key to write a song in is essential for creating the desired effect.
Scale
Scale in a single key may assist you to play your music in tune. When you’re playing in a particular key, you need to use the correct notes within the scale so that your music sounds pleasant to the ear.
Chord Progressions
Chord progressions are sequences of chords that can aid you in expressing your thoughts in song. It’s all about telling a narrative by creating tensions and then resolving them through music. Chord progressions create a sense of movement and help to propel the song forward.
All of these three can also help you when you’re writing a song and they are the building blocks of music theory. If you understand how keys, scales, chord progressions work, you can write songs in any key that you want.
By understanding these concepts, you can better understand the music you’re playing and create your own musical masterpieces. So don’t be afraid to learn more about them.
Conclusion: It All Starts with a Key!
“In the key of…” This is when everything starts to play a song.
Now you know what a song key is and why it matters. If you’re a musician, keep this information in mind the next time you sit down to write or play a song. And if you’re just a casual listener, pay attention to the key of the songs you hear and see how it affects the mood. You might be surprised at how much key can impact a song!
