How To Know Which Key A Song Is In

If you don’t know music theory and the formula for telling the key signature of a song by the number of flats and sharps in it — here is a SNEAKY MUSICIAN’S TRICK (one in a long series — collect them all).

This works for MOST songs — there will always be exceptions.  But I’d say at least 90% or 95% or maybe even 99% will follow this rule.

If you have sheet music or a guitar tab or anything else that shows what chords to play for the song — just flip back to the very end.

The last chord of the song is usually the root — the key of the song.

So if the last chord is a G, what key is the song in?  Class? Anyone?  Bueller?

That’s right — key of G.

One kinda cool trick that proves this wrong is taking a minor song and ending it in a major chord (or vice-versa).

For example, Am (which is the relative minor of the key of C) is a popular key for rock songs.  Chords in the key will be all the chords of the key of C (C-F-G7) as well as the Am-Dm-G.

The full range of chords in this key is —

Am-Bm (or Bm7b5)-C-Dm-Em-F-G7

These are the same chords as in the key of C.

So what if we are playing a cool sounding chord progression of Am-F-Dm-G and then we end it (resolve to) the A MAJOR?

Well, Am or A Maj — what’s the difference?

Obviously, A Maj is in the key of A — right? and Am is in the Key of C

so we’ve technically changed keys for the last chord.

Now, go online and find some chord charts or tabs and see for yourself — what keys are the songs in?

WADE

tags: guitar, chords, music theory, tabs, sheet music, key, relative minor