Definition of Key (music)
In Western tonal music, a key represents the most common pitches and the center of tonal stability in a song or other composition.
A key has two components: a tonic pitch and a mode. The tonic pitch is represented by a letter from A through G, sometimes modified by the accidental symbols ♯ (sharp) and ♭ (flat). This tonic represents the musical pitch which a piece will be oriented around and almost always conclude with. The mode may be Major or Minor; if no mode is specified, Major is usually implied. This mode represents a pattern of ascending or descending pitches, which can create a major or minor musical scale beginning with the tonic pitch. Music in a given key will use the pitches from this scale (called diatonic pitches) more often than the pitches outside it (chromatic pitches). Together, these result in keys with names like C Major, A Minor, and B♭ Major. Not all music has a well-defined key.
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Questions people ask
Real questions from the Stack Exchange community – follow a link to read the discussion.
- What does it mean to write a song in a certain key? · Music SE
- Will a 61-key keyboard severely restrict my piano repertoire? · Music SE
- Does it really make difference to play a song in a different key? · Music SE
- Key signature for writing in modes other than major and minor · Music SE
- How do I know when I'm singing in key? · Music SE
- Why do instruments have a key? · Music SE
Frequently asked questions
What is Key (music)?
In Western tonal music, a key represents the most common pitches and the center of tonal stability in a song or other composition.