Finding the key of a piece of music involves identifying the "tonic," which is the note that provides a sense of stability and resolution; the key is named after this tonic.
Here's a breakdown of how to find the key:
- Identify the Tonic: The note we begin on is called the "tonic" and it gives us the name of the song's "key". The tonic is the most stable and comfortable sounding note.
- Listen for Stability: The tonic sounds like the "home" note. A piece often resolves to this note, giving a sense of completion.
- Consider the First Chord: The tonic also gives us the first chord of a song's chord progression.
- Major Scale Association: If you start on the note “C” and play a major scale, you are “in the key” of C major.
