Riaan wrote
Is this why I must learn Theory? I just use my Ear now, but it's very limiting
Same problem here...I am sometimes embarrassed by not being able to even say what key I'm playing in. I would say (simple example) "Uhmm...the chords are Dminor, Bflat and this one up here, so, like this..." "Oh, that's an F, so you're in F". So apart from simply memorising all the chords of a key or chord shapes, how does one work it out that quickly?
I can just hear the trained muso's cracking up with laughter...BTW I also bought that e-book after reading this thread.
Riaan it's real simple to define keys.... especialy if no chord substitution has been done like in many jazz songs....
theory is real simple..... don't be intimidated by it .....
2 methods
firstly if you have the sheet music you simply look at the top of the page and in the staff lines you will see even before the notes begin a few sharp or flats in the bar lines... these will tel you what key you in... co if you see one b(flat) .... you will know the key is F cos the major scale of F has only one b and thats a Bb ...
and you will see that the key of C wil have nothing in the bar lines since there are no sharps or flats in key of C ..... and using something called the circle of 5th's and fourths you can easily work out how many sharps or flats are in each key ... ... but lets not explain further .... mabe in another post....
but 2nd method is that keys relate to the major scale.... which is your (do- ray -me –far- so- la- tee- do) scale for the uninformed ....
and also a major scale has a simple formula...
it starts on the root note which becomes the name of the scale... and the formula for a major scale is simply refering to the distance beween the notes... namely (tone-tone - semi tone- tone - tone - tone - semi tone) ..... and once you know this you can play the major scale in any key..... by simply starting on the note you want to play the scale in..and inserting the notes according to the preset formula....
so scale of C is C-D -E -F -G -A -B -C
( to prove the formulae see how the distance between C and D is a tone and so on and so on...)
but now once you understand this... heres the fabulous thing is that chords are also assigned to each note of the major scale...
and they also in a preset formulae...
namely major7th / minor /minor/major 7th/dominant 7th/minor/half diminished 7th /octave
so the chords relating to the C scale are
Cmaj7 - Dm - Em - Fmaj7 -G7 - Am -B half dim 7-Cmaj7
Also lets number each not on the scale using roman numerals…
(ever hear people refering to the I chord or the V chord or sequences like II -V -I ect it refers to these numbers...so simple... yes ????? )
So the C scale will be shown as ……..
Chord /note number : I II III IV V VI VII VIII
Distance between notes : T T S/T T T T S/T
Notes of major scale in C: C D E F G A B C
Chords built in key of C ; Cmaj7- Dm7 - Em7 - Fmaj7 – G7 - Am7 – B half dim7 -Cmaj7
right so we see in key of C ( to get this into any other key just place the starting note of the key you want the scale to be in ...in the place of the I note and apply the formula and you will work out that scale and the chord type assigned to each number will also remain constant .... so for example all VI chords will be minor 7th's and so on) ...
there is really only 6 chords we mosty use…. Namely chords I –VI since the VII chord the half diminished rarey comes up in pop /rock music and the VIII chord is the octave of the I chord….
Also notice that in pop /rock music although they are used the classical /jazz style major seventh is usually just played as a dominant seventh
( the diference between dominant 7th and major 7th is purely that it is the same chord and a dominant 7th is simply a b7 in the chord while a maj7 is the natural 7th from the scale….)
So now to get to keys also notice that the II and III chords are both minors and that the IV and V chords are both 7th and each lies a tone apart…. This is your biggest clue in finding keys….
Meaning if you find a chord sequence where you see 2 minors in the song and they a tone apart you will know that they must be the II and the III chord then simply take whatever the II cord is and go a Tone flat and you will have the key of the song…that easy
Same applies if you find two 7th chords in a song and they a tone apart ….. they must be the IV and V chords….
Example …. A song has chords F / Bb / Am /Gm
1. we see two minors that are a tone apart …..the Am and the Gm then we know the Gm in the scale will appear before the Am since all scales are alphabetically ascending so even though they in the wrong order in the song the Gm must be a II chord and the Am a III chord….and because we know the fomula for the major scale …. The I chord and the key of the song must be a tone flat from the II chord….
So wha la … the key is F (since F is a tone flat from Gm)
But remember sometimes artists insert chords which are technically out of the scale …either by ignorance or cos they just sound great..... so this method works as a guide…. And a quick way to find key… but the more complex the music as in jazz or classical the more chance of there being chords in the song that somehow don’t fit … but for pop/rock this is a sure winner ....
Right now my account number is …………. Please deposit the lesson fee into the account hehehehheheheh
peace and light Keira
(if you in Jhb and want lessons i do teach music professionally)
