Help me find this song's key

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cordura21

cordura21

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I have this song which has three parts, and the structure repeats this cycle:
A-A-A-B-C (the first A is instrumental, the others has lyrics).

The chords are these:
Code: 
PART A: 
|   D   |   Am  |   C   |   G   |  
|   D   |   Am  |   C   |  C/G  |   

PART "B":
|   D   |   Am  |   F#  |   G   |
|   D   |   Am  |   C   |  C/G  |

PART "C":
|   D   |   F#  |   G   | C   F |
|   D   |   F#  |   G   | C   F |
|   D   |   F#  |   G   |       |
|   C   |       |   G   |       |
My question is what key is it in? Is it in D, in G? Although it starts in D it seems to me it's in G, but then again I have the F# and the F, which don't go well with that key. Maybe it's a modulation or something, I don't know much theory so any help will be great.
Cheers, Andrés
 
It has a lot of "C" keys on the piano, but the again it has the D chord with it's 2rd. being an F#, and the full F# chord which is out of the scale.

As of being a D, it should have an A and not Am, plus the C on that scale is sharp and not natural, like the C chord on the 3rd bar.

(these are my speculations, but then again I don't know much of this. Thanks for any help)
 
Think of the tune by Ringo "It Don't Come Easy". It's in D, first change to Am to C back to D. Very simular in structure and it's in D
 
Although the melody that's suspended over the chords could also imply that it's in a different key like the C or the G.
 
good point. The melody is played all over the D chord form:
Code: 
 --DF#D C          --CE C D          
|   D    |   Am   |   C    |   G    |  

   DF#D A G F#E  G F#EDEF#ED         
|   D    |   Am   |   C    |   C/G  |
But then again I wonder what's the function of chords like C or F in this. Just out of curiosity. Even the Am chord, is all around the song, and it has the c note, which is the 7th minor on the D scale.
(The F# doesn't fit since it has a 5+, but I guess this one is used as a passing chord to the G).
Thanks for the Ringo suggestion, Rat. I don't know the song but I will search for it.
 
that melody seems to imply the key of D.....sure there are some chords and notes that arent diatonic, but if it sounds good, it is good....its good to go out of the box.......
 
It could be argued either way, as if it's the key of G or D. Both would have valid arguments based upon theory.

In either case, it doesn't really matter that much, as both keys would have out of key elements based upon this chord chart.

Given the chords, you are mainly playing in the key of G (ie. the D, G, C, Am seem to be the bulk of the first two section, which are all in the key of G), but implying the mixolidian mode of the key given you start on the D everytime. An Fadd9 chord can sound good in the key of G, but straight Fs and F#s tend to be a little iffy. So the final section starts to stray a little from the key of G.

The key of D does not contain the C note...which is found in the Am and the F. While the F# contains a Bb (which is not in the key of D) F# is a very common out of key chord for the key of D.

Arguments could be made either way. Your song isn't strictly in one key though, to answer your question.

Guitar.com has a great theory forum for those interested in learning more.
 
I'd say D. It's not uncommon to have a flat seven throughout (C-natural).
 
Well it starts in D and the end phrase is G which tonicizes D. By any definition, I think this would make the song in D.
 
Alot of people hide them under the door mat. You could check there.
 
The key of the song is D and D shall be the key. Thou shalt not play in C but shall proceed on to D, the key of the Song. E is right out......
 
Track Rat said:
The key of the song is D and D shall be the key. Thou shalt not play in C but shall proceed on to D, the key of the Song. E is right out......
Click to expand...
LOL :D

1... 2... E!
D, sir!!
D!

:)
 
Hmm, I think I'm leaning towards D.

Judging by all those Cs in there (The C, F, and Am chords), you're largely sticking to D Mixolydian as opposed to D Major.

Which is cool. Many many rock & pop songs use a lot of the ol' flat 7th.

Also, that F# chord I think suggests it's in D. You're more likely to see an F# chord in a tune in D, than one in C or G, I reckon. Because, in D, F# represents the dominant chord of the relative minor (B Minor).

If you look, every time you see an F# in that chord sequence, it moves to a G. You could say the G is a substitute for B Minor - like an interrupted cadence. The F# chord (or even stronger, an F#7) leads naturally to B Minor, you've gone to G instead of B Minor. Which works, because G and B Minor are "similar chords" - i.e. they've got 2 of the 3 notes in common.

So yeah, I'm going with D.
 
Going from C to G to D I believe is called a double plagal cadence in D. I was wrong before to say that G is the tonic of D when actually the opposite is true, which might argue for G. However the plagal cadence makes me lean toward D.
 
it's D. i don't know the shmancy terms to explain "this is in D", but the fact that nearly every chord either shares many notes with d or d minor or are derived thereof (for example, f# is just a derivative of d sonically/perceptibly). f and c are very commonly used with d minor.

everything in these progressions transitions very organically back to D. it sounds like D, so therefore it's D. that's my story, and i'm stickin' to it! :D
 
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