[picassov7]

hey all,

i am a beginner and had a question about keys. i have read several articles on the theory and think that i understand the basics. the music house metaphor, given by Kirk, was especially helpful. my question is how do i tell what key someone is playing or singing in when i hear it or read the tab. for example, i am trying to pick up "Rivers of Babylon" by Sublime. it consists of three chords: G, D, and C. Now, these three notes are both in the Key of C and G (if i'm reading this info i have correctly). so is there something i am missing in the basic theory or what? thx alot.

[Matty22]

Assuming you know the major scale formula TTsTTTs.

If the chords are Gmaj Cmaj Dmaj, its in the Key of G

Where the notes fit the intervals

I ii iii IV V vi vii VIII (I)
G a b C D e f G

Where uppercase is major, lower case is minor

[picassov7]

hey fretsource, i think i got my prob figured out thx to your reply to another post. if im wrong please let me know. so because of the make up of the key (i.e. the I-VII chords). therefore "Rivers of Babylon" by Sublime would be in the key of G b/c the three chords are all maj. and the key of G is the only key that has those three maj. chords.

am i close? now i guess that i just have to memorize the floorplans for every floor in the music house so that i can be able to tell keys by listening.

[picassov7]

thx matty22. it makes alot of sense now.

[Fretsource]

Originally Posted by picassov7

hey fretsource, i think i got my prob figured out thx to your reply to another post. if im wrong please let me know. so because of the make up of the key (i.e. the I-VII chords). therefore "Rivers of Babylon" by Sublime would be in the key of G b/c the three chords are all maj. and the key of G is the only key that has those three maj. chords.

am i close? now i guess that i just have to memorize the floorplans for every floor in the music house so that i can be able to tell keys by listening.

That's it Picasso - more or less. But Matty's answer is more to the point. If the the three chords in question correspond to scale degrees I, IV & V, then you have the key.

Another tip: Look at the last chord in the song. Almost all songs end on chord I, the key chord.

[Nutty]

Another way of determining the key from the key signature:

If it is written in flats, the second last flat is the key. Exception: There is only 1 flat in the key of F (i.e. Bb); therefore, you just have to memorize that one.

If it is written in sharps, the note that follows the last sharp is the key. For example, the Key of G has an F# (only one sharp in this case), so G is the next note and thus it is in the key of G.

Hope this helps.

Nutty