What Key Am I Playing In????

  • Thread starter Thread starter Raydio
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Raydio

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I am over here producing and mixing tracks with Cool Edit Pro and Cubase SX and I have a quick question. Is there any program or plug-in out there that allows you to play a few notes via MIDI or something; and it tells you what key you are playing in? I know a little theory, but it would really help to know what key Im playing in when Im playing by ear. That way, I will know which chords will work and some that wont. Any programs or plugins; no matter the price, I am willing to pay. Thanks!!!
 
Raydio said:
Any programs or plugins; no matter the price, I am willing to pay. Thanks!!!
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There is always the TexRoadkill musical theory consultation program. Send me an email with the notes or post a link and I will tell you the key. I am available 9AM-12AM PST. $10 per song and I accept paypal.

A computer program wouldn't be 100% accurate unless you gave it the scale and chords. You can have the same scale but it could actually be in different keys depending on the starting note. That's where 'modes' come into confuse things.
 
I have Nut Chords, and allows you to click on scales and it tells you what notes are in the scales; but I have my own melodies in my head that I play; but i would like to know the Key, or if you have any tips on how I can find this out easily; let me know. Thanks!
 
It's pretty common to start melodies on the first, third or fifth note in a major scale. First and fifth are most common. That will give you a good way of narrowing down the possibilities. When you are playing minor scales it gets a bit more tricky.

The way anyone would figure out the key is to play the melody then figure out what scale you're playing. Play the other notes next to your melody and find the ones that sound right. That scale is usually what key your playing in. Training your ear to hear the scale and learning the differnt keys that scale could be used in are all part of learning music.

You would be surprised how many musicians are completely clueless about keys, scales and chord forms.
 
TexRoadkill said:

You would be surprised how many musicians are completely clueless about keys, scales and chord forms.
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yep ...people like me for instance...lol..i cant even read music at all...and i have asked the "what key is this?" many many times...:D ..



damn
j
 
Raydio. Do you have a keyboard at your studio or crib?

If you do have one (keyboard) at your disposal, I can show you how to train your ears to hear the notes.

BTW....... TexRoadkill was correct in what he shared with you. "It's pretty common to start melodies on the first, third or fifth note in a major scale. First and fifth are most common. That will give you a good way of narrowing down the possibilities. When you are playing minor scales it gets a bit more tricky".

I'll show you exactly what TRk means by that statement. :)

I'd come by the crib tonight, but I have to spin @ LAN's (100 E. Walton), then Gramercy (Fullerton and Lincoln).

Give me a ring on Saturday afternoon.

BTW.... the majority of R&B is constructed using the third note in the major scale, while a lot of rock uses the fifth major note as the root key in its chords. ;)

Peace...

spin
 
Good info Spin; I have a 61 Key Triton at the crib. Ill be availiable this week in the mornings and afternoons so give me a call and let me know whats a good time for you. This scale and note theory talk is confusing due to the fact that Im reading and not being shown. I appreciate the info from you too Tex, as always man. Peace!
 
get a book of chords/scales (but skim it first). I have one that shows a scale, and underneath the scale it lists the chords that work with that scale. Then all you have to do is look at the chords you are playing, flip through the book and see which scale has those chords associated with it. IN the event that more than one scale has those chords (which is likely), check out the other chords that scale lists and try them out to see if they sound right.
 
I've gotta say, I'm amazed by the fact of competent musicians not knowing what key they're in...

Anyway, writing a computer program to figure out what key you're playing is no mean feat, I reckon. You could write one that would do a pretty reasonable job (it wouldn't be a small task though, I think) - but I think it does require intelligence to be able to figure out keys.

And some tunes, don't even have an easily discernable key - and some modulate so much that it might be difficult to analyse it to find out what one key you would say is the "home key" if you like.
 
Moley, With only a melody you would still have tell the computer if you are playing in a mode or not. The problem with using software to try and cheat is that if you know enough of the variables to setup the software right then you probably don't need it.
 
its also common to use a I VI V I chord progression

Say you got a F chord, you can use a Bb and a C7 or C

For the melody you have A Bb C D E F G A

another help.
 
moley said:
I've gotta say, I'm amazed by the fact of competent musicians not knowing what key they're in...
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I lost my keys.... In the words of Edward VanHalen, "learn the rules and then forget them" Many musicians like myself once prided themselves on all the theory and knowledge of what key they were in. Those days sucked. I started to hate music cause It was mathematical. Then I smoked a doobie and said now its time to create art. I left it behind. Unfortunantly many bypass learning the rules altogether and I cant find it in my heart to recommend that. The best thing for someone that hasent learned some theory and what keys they are in plus some site reading should take some private lessons until they can apply it to their music. Its the best way, cause if it cost ya money you are going to have more disipline and learn the stuff, cause it can be tedious and you will more than likly give up early if you go the self taught way. This is IMHO of course.......
Myx
 
Myx62 said:
I lost my keys.... In the words of Edward VanHalen, "learn the rules and then forget them" Many musicians like myself once prided themselves on all the theory and knowledge of what key they were in. Those days sucked. I started to hate music cause It was mathematical. Then I smoked a doobie and said now its time to create art. I left it behind. Unfortunantly many bypass learning the rules altogether and I cant find it in my heart to recommend that. The best thing for someone that hasent learned some theory and what keys they are in plus some site reading should take some private lessons until they can apply it to their music. Its the best way, cause if it cost ya money you are going to have more disipline and learn the stuff, cause it can be tedious and you will more than likly give up early if you go the self taught way. This is IMHO of course.......
Myx
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Yes, you're right there about "learn the rules so you can forget them" - but I think you nailed it when you said that you can't recommend not learning the theory altogether. You need to know it, so that you can forget it. You need to get to the stage that you don't have to think about it.

So, yes - Ideally, you're not thinking "Oh, I'm in Eb Major now" - because you don't need to think about it - you've done all that in the past, now you can just do it naturally.

But that's not to say that if someone asked you, you couldn't tell them what key you're in (if you're in a key!). You could tell them, but you don't need to think about what key you're in while you're playing.

See, there's a huge difference between learning the theory so that you can transcend it, and not having bothered with it in the first place, IMHO...
 
TexRoadkill said:
Moley, With only a melody you would still have tell the computer if you are playing in a mode or not. The problem with using software to try and cheat is that if you know enough of the variables to setup the software right then you probably don't need it.
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You may well be right there.
 
you need to understand theory of music so when you bend the rules, you know what you are doing, to try it again.
 
cstockdale said:
get a book of chords/scales (but skim it first). I have one that shows a scale, and underneath the scale it lists the chords that work with that scale.
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Whats the name of the book; I know Im cheating but that book doesnt sound bad at all. Thanks guys, keep the info coming.
 
Autotune

Thats Exactly why I cannot properly use Vox correction apps like Autotune , etc. I dont know the scales nor what key I may have played in.

My mother is teaching me now though. LOL

I would like to know them by ear.

Malcolm824
 
Re: Autotune

malcolm123 said:
Thats Exactly why I cannot properly use Vox correction apps like Autotune , etc. I dont know the scales nor what key I may have played in.
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If you ask me, you're at an advantage not being able to use AutoTune :D
 
Re: Re: Autotune

moley said:
If you ask me, you're at an advantage not being able to use AutoTune :D
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I know my keys and scales and autotune still doesnt work right....I got rid of it. I still use the antares mic modeler but it only works in mono. Just the opposite of what they say that it only works in stereo. Go figure.
 
Autotune also has a lil option on there in which you can play notes to a melody via MIDI and it will configure it self or something like that. Maybe that will help. But in the mean time... I would like to know when Im playing in whatever key; any more tips at least??
 
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