This is the first episode of a series of posts that I’ll do from time to time called “What Key Am I In?”
Basically, I give you chords and you tell me the major key they’re from.
Here’s a list to help you out:
The first degree of a scale is associated with the major seventh chord.
The second degree of a scale is associated with the minor seventh chord.
The third degree of a scale is associated with the minor seventh chord.
The fourth degree of a scale is associated with the major seventh chord.
The fifth degree of a scale is associated with the dominant seventh chord.
The sixth degree of a scale is associated with the minor seventh chord.
The seventh degree of a scale is associated with the half-diminished seventh chord.
Recap:
The 1st and 4th degrees are major seventh chords.
The 2nd, 3rd, and 6th degrees are minor seventh chords.
The 5th degree is a dominant seventh chord.
The 7th degree is a half-diminished seventh chord.
So what key am I in?
- I have an “A minor 7″ chord.
- I have an “E minor 7″ chord.
- I have a “G major 7″ chord.
(scroll down for answer but don’t peak until you think you’ve got one!)
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Answer: G major
Explanation: Since minor seventh chords are found on the 2nd, 3rd, and 6th tones, I used the process of elimination to rule out keys that didn’t have “A” or “E” as their 2nd, 3rd, or 6th tone.
This left me with the key of C major and G major.
C major has an E minor seventh as its 3rd chord and an A minor seventh as its 6th chord.
G major has an E minor seventh as its 6th chord and an A minor seventh as its 3rd chord (sort of like the opposite of C).
The chord that gives it away is the “G major seventh chord.”
C major doesn’t have a G major seventh chord… only a G dominant seventh chord.
So it was this one little nuance that gave it away.
G major takes this round of “What Key Am I In!”
Until next time,
JG
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August 14th, 2008 (comment#1)
keep these coming. This was neat.
August 14th, 2008 (comment#2)
at first i was going to guess C but the Gmajor did give it away. exactly what he said.
August 14th, 2008 (comment#3)
cool game..loving it..
What key am I in If I play (using same rules you gave):
F#min7
C#min7
DMaj7
?
August 14th, 2008 (comment#4)
I got the correct answer but had to do my process of elimination on paper by creating a grid. Is there a “trick” for coming up with an answer in my head or is it just experience and practice?
August 14th, 2008 (comment#5)
The above is in A Major… what about this one?
What key am I in if i play…
D half-diminished
G Minor
B flat Major
(a) C Minor
(b) E flat Major
(c) Both of the above
(here’s a hint… know the pattern.)
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The answer is BOTH!
See, Because major and minor scales overlap at the sixth note, chords also overlap. for example, if you begin to play the C Major scale from a register woth a lot of treble room, by the time you reach “A” and continue up the board, listening to it may begin to souund a lot like “A Minor…” because it is! Here’s a handy way to remember the Major and Minor scales:
“W” = a whole step–siply stated, moving from one note to another on the keyboard, with one note between. e.g., from “E” to “F sharp;” “E” is in the middle.
“h” = a half step–logically, moving from one note to another note on the keyboard, with no notes between. e.g., from “E” to “F;” two white notes, nothing in the middle.
for Major: W__W__h__W__W__W__h
>for all 12 keys!
for Minor: W__H__W__W__h__W__W
Can you see the pattern?
Two whole steps, then a half, then three whole steps, then another half. As this goes on forever on the keyboard, not only can you play this theory and NEVER be wrong, you can play this and it will continue from one end of the board to the other in any key… cool huh?
Now for chords. they too have an overlapping effect in the same position. In this case, the sixth chord. as stated above so well by the H.A.P. staff, the major chords’ degrees are mentioned… but the melodic minor chord thoery, beginning from the sixth note, would be like this:
1. Minor 7th
2. Half-Diminished
3. Major 7th
4. Minor 7th
5. Minor 7th
6. Major 7th
7. Doninant 7th
…See the pattern? They allways overlap. again the same rules apply as in the key center scales (one-key scales). It is the same for all 12 keys, and can be played continuously throughout the keyboard.
BIG SHOUT OUT to my boy Jermaine…we grew up together… ‘member Youth On The Move for Christ? Pastor Fluker? Portia James? Quaker Meadow?
August 14th, 2008 (comment#6)
Small correction… “F” is between “E” and “F” sharp.
August 14th, 2008 (comment#7)
uuh…no. first time explorer.
August 15th, 2008 (comment#8)
@Jukebox (Rodney)…
Good to see you on here. I just replied to your e-mail.
Take care bro,
JG
August 15th, 2008 (comment#9)
Man this is becoming like baby stuff to be mow
Thanks JG
August 22nd, 2008 (comment#10)
Very interesting lesson. I have and still is learning alot of information on this blog. Keep it up! You’re helping me and a lot of other people who wouldn’t be where we are in our music playing.
August 25th, 2008 (comment#11)
It’s a pretty nice lesson/game every music learner should be interested in. Helps one appreciate the key of a piece by mere seeing what chord is played.