Questions tagged [key]
For questions about key signatures, scales, modes and similar topics. Most questions should also be tagged with "theory".
524 questions
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Why are there so few songs written in D♯ major or E♭ minor?
I noticed this graph on https://annas-archive.li/blog/backing-up-spotify.html computed over 86 million music files, representing around 99.6% of Spotify listens:
Why are there so few songs written ...
- 1,637
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Transcriptions differ in key from the original recording
I am transcribing the song Smooth Criminal by Michael Jackson.
I hear this as Bb minor, but when I search online for sheet music to compare to my transcription, it is always transcribed in A minor. ...
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Notated Cm7 under C7 chord symbol: how does one determine which is correct?
I am a Sound Innovations concert band student.
Piano part from Sound Innovations Book 1:
A dominant seventh chord (indicated by the "7") is constructed by the root (C), the major third (E♮),...
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Role of major chords in minor key
In a minor key, what role ( predom, dom, tonic) do these chords play: the major III, major VI, major VII and also the minor v( seems it doesnt act as the dominant because the minor v lacks the tritone?...
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If The Doobie Brothers' Long Train Runnin' is down-tuned by a half-step, what harmonica key would be used?
The Doobie Brothers' song Long Train Runnin' is played in the key of G, and the harmonica that is played is in C.
If the band down-tunes a half-step, which harmonica would be used?
I thought it would ...
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How many accidentals can there be in a song? (Can a song use all 12 notes and still have tonality?)
How many accidentals can there be in a song and it still have a clearly defined key, rather than sounding atonal?
Accidental's definition is "a temporary alteration of a note's pitch, moving it ...
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Why have people told me I don’t need to worry about being fully in key when I write lead vocals? How many notes of the vocal part need to be in key?
In my past questions pertaining to establishing a key, a lot of people say a key doesn’t need to be established especially not early in songwriting. So now i’m trying to understand how that could be ...
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How does lilypond know when to print accidentals in any key?
I'll try to clarify my question, but I'll keep the original below. What is keeping track of whether a sharp, flat or natural sign needs to be printed in Lilypond?
It's not the key signature thing, as ...
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Bitonality in Debussy’s String Quartet? Seeking Insights and References
I’d like to ask for your insights regarding Claude Debussy’s compositional techniques. While analyzing the first dozen or so measures of his ambitious String Quartet, written in 1893 when he was 30, I ...
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Key of Eb but using an E
I am working on a song and have started with the key of Eb for some inspiration. I am finding many times that I want to play an E.
In the verse, I am playing an Eb Major chord and then a G minor ...
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Why is Chopin's Nocturne Op 37 No 1 in the key of G minor although it ends with a natural B?
I have a question about this particular piano piece, keep in mind I have a very limited music theory knowledge.
Okay, so I'm playing Chopin's Nocturne Op 37 No 1 in G minor. But the piece ends on ...
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Is there a best or most natural key for a guitar in standard tuning?
Many musical instruments have a preferred key. Even the piano, which like the guitar can be played in any key, may be easier to play in some key signatures because of the physical layout and size ...
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Can I keep my thumb on the B♭ Briccialdi key?
A couple of elementary flute books lead me to believe that the standard fingering for the note B♭ on the flute is:
Note
Thumb
Left Hand
Right Hand
Little Finger
B♭(i)
B♮
1 – –
1 – –
D♯
It follows ...
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Reasons why certain key changes work better than others
When a song has a key change, often towards the end, it goes up, rather than down. There is probably a reason for this.
Not asking about modulations, but actual key changes (tonicization), as in the ...
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Why can a song contain chords that are not exactly in its key? [closed]
Studying music theory on my own, I try to practice song analysis.
The song "Girl You'll Be a Woman" by Neil Diamond has the following chords:
Gm C F and D#
Now, the feel of the song and ...
