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Originally Posted by ethic
So, are keys based on the root note of the chord and not the actual individual notes? I mean, if I have a progression that's something like C, B, Gm, F7, C (just made up) would that be in the key of C even though B, Gm and F7 contain notes that aren't part of the key? I mean, do you just determine what scale those root notes are in, and that's the key?
Or does it matter what chord the piece resolves to? Just from Kirk's lessons, I know that something in the key of Am doesn't actually have to start with that chord. But, at least in one lesson I can think of, the piece does end with it. So, what exactly determines what key something is in?
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I think the chord sequence you made up is a bad example as it jumps through so many keys in such an unpredictable manner.It sounds really dissonant and would be hard to make a catchy tune from. Most chord progressions follow quite predictable patterns and rely on particular resolutions to produce their effect ( such as G7-C). Furthermore modulations from the usual key ( at least the ones that people want to listen to again follow fairly well described patterns - such as changing to a relative minor key . I find it easier to think of the home key of a piece and then think of any modulations separately.
As far as a progression beginning and ending in C major goes you could make a progression like this: Cmaj, Amin, Bbmaj, Cmaj.
That progression begins and ends in Cmajor but actually uses only chords from Fmajor so I would put it in F major ( I think it could also be described as Fmyxolidian- but here I am at the limit of my knowledge.