How do I find out what key a song is in?

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Level 1

15 points

How do I find out what key a song is in?

Is there a plug-in that will tell me what key a pre-recorded song is in? Sometimes i can play around with a keyboard until i figure out what notes go well with the song, and therefore what key it's in. That doesn't always work however. Is there software that will listen to a song and tell me the key? I also own logic pro, so if there is something in there, then that would work. Thanks

MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.6.1)

Posted on Mar 25, 2010 11:18 AM

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Answer 1

Mar 25, 2010 11:33 AM in response to aperch

It's not that hard - first find out if it has a major or minor feeling, then sing the melody until the end. That note is the fundamental note and the key in 99 % of all songs.

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Answer 2

aperch Author

Level 1

15 points

Mar 25, 2010 12:08 PM in response to Christoph Drösser

I've taken a year of AP music theory so I agree with what you're saying, but my ear is not always as good as I would like. Most of the time I figure it out, I would just like a more difinitive way of finding the key.

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Answer 3

Mar 25, 2010 2:24 PM in response to aperch

There's no other way I can think of, at least not in GB. I doubt that there's any software out there that looks at a sound file and tells you what key it is in.

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