Every piece of music has a tonality. Musicians with perfect pitch are able to easily identify it. It is a little more difficult for other people to find out the key of the composition, but it is also quite possible.
It is necessary
Sheet music (optional), musical instrument (optional)
Instructions
Step 1
If you have sheet music for a piece of interest, follow a simple algorithm. First, determine the number of key characters (sharp or flat at the key). Find the last key sign.
Step 2
If the key is sharp, add a half tone to the note with the last key sharp, and subtract the tone from it. In the first case, you will get a major key corresponding to the given number of sharps, in the second - a minor key. For example, if you see F sharp and C sharp at the key, then adding C to a semitone for a C sharp will give you the name of the major key - D major. Subtracting from C sharp, you get the name of the minor - B minor.
Step 3
If the key is flat, add two tones to the note with the last key flat and subtract two and a half tones from it. In the first case, you will get a minor key corresponding to the given number of flats, in the second - a major one. For example, if the key has B flat and E flat, then adding two tones to E flat gives the key of G minor, and subtracting two and a half tones - the key of B flat major.
Step 4
In the event that there are no signs at the key, you are dealing with either C major or A minor.
Step 5
If you can't tell by ear whether it's a minor key or a major key, find the last note in the piece. Most often, it will correspond to the name of the key.
Step 6
If you don't have the notes of a piece, try to find the most stable note in it by ear. Most often, the composition will end there. Play a major and minor chord that matches that note. Your ear will tell you which one fits well and which one doesn't. The resulting chord will correspond to the name of the desired key.
