All Questions
74 questions
0
votes
2
answers
148
views
Isn’t the root progression or chord progression of a song meant to anchor in a foundation for rest of the instruments to experiment over?
What I mean is, isn’t the idea of creating and using a root progression or chord progression for it to be the foundation for a composition. With pop music (rap, r&b, latin, pop rock, country) the ...
- 29
0
votes
1
answer
107
views
why does this descending whole-tone chord progression work?
i've been writing this piece and there is this section that sounds very nice to me but it goes against most of what I've been taught. here is the passage:
(sorry for the poor notation- I was in a ...
- 331
4
votes
4
answers
313
views
Is there a way to describe this type of non-functional music?
As far as I could tell, this instrumental piece has the static chord vamp Bbmaj9-Am7 that never deviates in any section (let me know if I'm wrong). The main focus that the composer has chosen here is ...
- 41
11
votes
5
answers
2k
views
Why is the key typically the first and/or last note (or chord) of a song?
Is there a strategical reason when composing for the key to commonly be the first and/or last note (or chord) of a song?
- 347
3
votes
3
answers
91
views
Do added-tone chords change depending on the key?
I'm so confused. I have three questions.
1. Is the added tone (or note) counted from the tonic of a key or the root note of the chord?
2. Since, with the same scale degree, a note changes depending on ...
1
vote
2
answers
117
views
Why do the chords of one song work with the melody of the other perfectly
Specifically, these 2 songs:
Redbone:
(Chords are B, C#, D#m in original key)
Snooze:
(Chords are G#m7, A#m7, Bmaj7 transposed + 6 ...
- 11
1
vote
1
answer
100
views
What is it called when a chord progression in a specific key uses root/tonic notes that are in-key, but other members of the chord are not?
What is it called when a chord progression in a specific key uses root/tonic notes that are in-key, but other members of the chord are not?
For example, say I am in the key of C major and I pay C Maj, ...
- 201
4
votes
3
answers
835
views
Could minor-third be used to judge major or minor key?
As my background is engineering, I often notice the occurrence of repeated things. I am learning to play pop songs by ear. It seems if a pop song has more minor-third intervals at or around the ...
- 319
6
votes
5
answers
1k
views
Dm in the key of Em
I am trying to analyze the song 505 by Arctic Monkeys. And as many do, I went to Ultimate Guitar (UG) to look the chord progressions for the song. The song has only two chords, Dm and Em and UG ...
- 133
3
votes
4
answers
714
views
Why is there only a viiᵒ chord and no vii chord?
So I have this chord progression in A minor:
Am, Fm, Dm, Gm, Gmaj
The first three chords are fine in roman numerals:
i, VI, iv
However at Gm I got stuck, as none of the online analysis generators did ...
- 33
3
votes
2
answers
167
views
For a better understanding of scale harmonization
I'm pretty much a newbie in music, and I wanted to ear train a little, to be able to improvize with my guitar. So I learned what I thought to be the minimum before that : major scales, minor scales (...
- 31
19
votes
8
answers
2k
views
"Wrong" key signature for a score in F dorian?
TL;DR I'm a bit confused on which key signature to use for a score in F dorian: 4 flats or 3 flats?
I wrote this arrangement of Mad World by Gary Jules back in 2012 using 3 flats as key signature. ...
- 291
1
vote
2
answers
389
views
Lowering the key of the song Drive by Incubus
I don't have a lot of knowledge of music theory and I am trying to learn all by myself online. I am trying to play and sing the song Drive by Incubus on my guitar. The original song seems to be in the ...
- 13
-3
votes
2
answers
244
views
What are the formulas for chord qualities relative to natural minor?
Every chord formula chart I've found (over three dozen so far through Google search or Google images) gives chord formulas relative to a major scale.
For example the major formula is 1-3-5 and the ...
- 2,199
2
votes
0
answers
663
views
What is the tonalilty/mode of Sitting on the dock of the bay -Ottis Redding? [closed]
I was wondering what is the tonality of Sitting on the dock of the bay (
) since no diatonic scales fit the chord progression.
Here is the chord progression :
G | B7 | ...
- 121
9
votes
7
answers
2k
views
Can the same song be written in a minor key and major key with the progression written differently?
quick question that's been bugging me lately. When it comes to a songs key specifically major and minor relatives- is it correct to say it can be written in two different keys with the same ...
- 91
0
votes
3
answers
323
views
Problem with determine key of a song using chords
I'm a newbie.
Let's take for example Radiohead - Creep song
It has 4 chords
G B C Cm
So i started to writing G Ionian scale progressions
It seems that G and C matches, so i tried to use relative E ...
6
votes
3
answers
667
views
Will two versions of a song, in the same key, fit together if supporting chords differ?
I get that the title is vague, but that's kind of the problem. Basically, I've learned a jazzy version of the song "Heart and Soul" on the piano (you know, the one everyone learns to play ...
- 284
2
votes
1
answer
208
views
Finding root keys and chord progression for arpeggios
I have a riff I've composed using the following power cords notes (here is what is sounds on piano https://soundcloud.com/tomasz-jasku-a-133883769/keyboardforsolo-rzczywistosc) :
Time 1 & 2: C#, A#...
- 163
0
votes
4
answers
285
views
How do I know what note is #11 in my Fmaj9#11 chord
I am working my way through music theory. I play acoustic guitar - or try to.
One of the exercises was in C and mentioned a Fmaj9#11 chord. So I dutifully worked out the notes for the chord and was ...
- 1
6
votes
3
answers
4k
views
Minor Key (and other key?) Roman Numeral Analysis
What is the general standard in RNA for the natural minor key, as well as keys that are neither major nor nat. minor?
So in studying RNA, I found the major key pretty straightforward: I ii iii IV V ...
- 309
0
votes
2
answers
171
views
is this song written in dorian or mixolydian mode? [closed]
i have a question about the modes hopefully someone sees this
if a song follows a chord progression of
verse
Bb-Ab-Eb
Bb-Ab-Eb
then pre chorus
Ab-Eb-Bb //
Ab-Eb-Db-Eb
and then the chorus is
Bb-...
- 1
4
votes
6
answers
2k
views
How do I contextualize chords from different keys that sound good together?
For instance, an E major triad followed by an A minor sounds really good to me. I don't believe these can belong to the same key, because you can't have a sharp g and a natural C in the same scale as ...
- 1,125
3
votes
3
answers
281
views
Does minor/major affect scale degrees when talking about chords?
Say I'm playing a song in C Minor, and I play the chords
Cm, B♭, A♭, G
If I was talking about, or analyzing these chords using roman numerals, which way is more correct to refer to them?
i, VII, VI,...
- 221
0
votes
3
answers
873
views
how change key while solo/improvisation on guitar?
I'm playing a song with the chord progression:
Am7-Am7 Gm7-C7 F-F
When the song starts I am in the key of A, but in wich key am I when the Gm7 or the F chord is playing?
And how am I supposed to ...
- 341
5
votes
2
answers
335
views
what kind of chord progession is this?
im quite new in music theory and i really dont understand what he is doing here.
is he changing the key after every chord?
he talks about c minor being the root note. after that he switches to c# ...
- 61
3
votes
2
answers
289
views
Are there any cases where the ii chord is replaced by the Neapolitan chord in the Circle of Fifths Progression?
I know that the circle of fifths progression is extremely common, and it is "I-IV-viio-iii-vi-ii-V-I" in major and "i-iv-VII-III-VI-iio-V-i" in minor. However, are there any cases where the ii / iio ...
user53472
1
vote
0
answers
182
views
E-flat minor vs D-sharp minor? [duplicate]
I'm a beginner guitar player, and I was working a little bit on my theory as well as learning songs I like with the song Feel Good Inc., by Gorillaz. So, I was looking at the chords and I was trying ...
- 327
6
votes
3
answers
2k
views
Can I use this chord progression in G major?
I am trying to write a song in G major and I am wondering if it would be ok to use this chord progression in G major:
G - Em - D - Am
- 95
6
votes
4
answers
6k
views
Determining the seventh chords of a key
I know that every key has a set of 7 chords by taking each note of the scale as a root. I also know that the pattern for naming these chords go as follows: Major, minor, minor,major,major,minor and ...
- 443
3
votes
1
answer
90
views
Can someone help me figure out this music theory KEY finding question
Messing around Sunday I came up with a song that has the following Chord Progression. I'm just learning music theory and am having trouble on identifying the key.
The chord progression is:
C7 D7 F7 ...
0
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Why is the fifth chord a dominant 7? And if it is a dominant 7, why most of the songs use just D major along with G and not D7?
He says here that D7 is the fifth chord in the key of G. Still in most songs and places, you'll see D being used instead of D7 along with G.
-1
votes
3
answers
78
views
Help with root chord
Quick question.
I thought my chord progression was written in B maj and when I play it it sounds the most wecoming sound. But it sounds better as a B min but I'm pretty sure it's in B maj.
Is it ...
- 33
3
votes
2
answers
239
views
Can't seem to figure out the key of a chord progression?
Ab min7 - Db min - Eb min7 - Gb7
I looked it up and it said it was in the key of B and Ab min? Not very good with theory so I don't know how it could be a major and minor key at the same time.
...
- 33
0
votes
3
answers
7k
views
F Dm Am C (Lydian?) Progression
I've been recently wrapping my head around the analysis of the following progression: F Dm Am C. Would you agree it's got an undeniable lydian vibe? I know an explicit lydian progression should ...
- 115
5
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Why isn't there a closely related key to C minor that has D as tonic?
For minor keys, there are no closely related keys built on the second scale degree. Why? Is it because the chord built from the second scale degree is diminished?
- 55
2
votes
2
answers
445
views
Find notes by chords and key
How can I find the notes of a song if I have the song key and chords?
For example, the song “In my Blood” by Shawn Mendes is in the key of F and the chords are F, A♯, Dm; so now how can I find the ...
- 181
6
votes
6
answers
940
views
Why do jazz chord symbols give absolute, not relative, roots?
Answers to the question How do they decide the key? point out how useful it is for a jazz musician to be able to play a piece in any key.
So, in jazz, why does sheet music give chord symbols with ...
- 5,230
1
vote
2
answers
338
views
Can a song contain pitches outside of its intended key? [duplicate]
I'm new to music theory and am self teaching so I apologise if this has already been asked but I'd be extremely grateful if you could point me in the right direction.
I'm trying to learn the best way ...
-1
votes
3
answers
1k
views
Combining chords from relative keys [closed]
I came across the theme for flowers in the attic:
Please forward to the main theme at 1:33. I'm trying to figure if it is using relative keys.
It seems it uses a ...
user34288
1
vote
1
answer
83
views
Having a set of notes from a song how can I find out the right key which is written in, from the possible ones (considering modes) that fit those?
Having a set of notes that fit in both the G major scale and D mixolydian scale how can I find out which key is it in? What if it's hard to even find the tonic, because maybe it is rarely used?
- 25
0
votes
1
answer
143
views
Scale Chords are different. Why?
So I saw this chart:
http://guitarteacher.com/2009/02/17/major-scale-chords-guitar-keys-of-caged/
Now I am asking myself: if you take a simple chord with 1-3-5, why do they look different in ...
0
votes
1
answer
111
views
S.O.S my Upright Piano keys aren'r working
please someone help me! I have an ED.SEILER upright wood piano with ivory keys, that's from 1911 (so it's 106 years old) and some of the black keys stopped working! It was working perfectly like a ...
- 1
2
votes
5
answers
432
views
B5 power chord in A minor
I'm trying to write a rock/punk song in the key of A minor and the chorus goes: B5, C5, G5, F5. The B chord in A minor is B diminished, does that mean I have to use the diminished chord or can I use ...
- 193
1
vote
3
answers
11k
views
How to quickly know the notes in a key?
I'm a guitar player. I know about all the basic music theory for the simple major, minor and pentatonic scales. I know that a major chord consists of the 1,3 and the 5 and a minor of the 1, the b3 and ...
- 11
5
votes
2
answers
3k
views
Why is the C♯ chord in B minor diminished?
When I was looking through what chords I should use in the key of B minor, I realized that C sharp diminished is one of them. But C sharp diminished has a B flat in it, which isn't in the scale of B ...
user33976
0
votes
1
answer
234
views
Is it Acceptable to Build Chords on Accidental Notes in Classical Music?
I'm writing a clarinet solo with piano accompaniment in B minor. Is is normal to use a D minor chord (or just the first two notes) in classical music (specifically romantic)? I do have a regular chord ...
user33976
2
votes
1
answer
848
views
How to find the key from chords [duplicate]
This is a danish song, but that shoud not matter. My problem is and has always been, how to figure out the key when presented to chords like the following:
D D#- Em A7
Tyggegummikongen Bobbel
D D#- ...
- 125
2
votes
6
answers
864
views
Why is a Major sixth A interval an A minor chord in the Key of C?
In key signature of C major the notes used are CDEFGABC and I came to know that in Chord signature become C Dmin Emin F G Amin Bdim and C. D is major second and A is major sixth interval but it is ...
- 35
1
vote
2
answers
160
views
I've found the chords to Chicago by Meg & Dia but can't figure out the theory
Chicago is one of my favourite Meg & Dia songs (RIP 2012). I've tabbed out a few of their songs and figured out their keys and such, but this one seems to be more than your standard vi-IV-I-V ...
- 11