Which Key is this Piece of Music in? - Music Theory

Music Matters
10 Jan 201911:30
EducationalLearning
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TLDRA musician analyzes a challenging melody with many accidentals to determine the key. Through noting the E-sharp and E-natural in the same phrase and that three sharps match F-sharp minor's key signature, it is likely in the key of F-sharp minor. The E-sharp and E-natural represent the raised and natural seventh scale degree of F-sharp minor. Additional evidence confirming F-sharp minor includes emphasizing the tonic F-sharp, the sound feeling minor, and melodic motion from dominant to tonic.

Takeaways
  • 😀 Identifying the key signature is an important musical skill, especially for exams and theory tests.
  • 👂 Look for clues like accidentals and modal mixture that indicate major vs minor keys.
  • 🔍 The sequence of E-sharp followed by E-natural strongly suggests a minor key using melodic minor scale.
  • 🤔 Analyze if the key signature matches expected sharps/flats for potential key candidates like F-sharp minor.
  • 🔎 The presence and absence of certain accidentals can help confirm or eliminate key options.
  • 🎵 Listen for the tonal center and cadences to hear if a key feels resolved, like ending on an F-sharp tonic.
  • 👍 The anacrusis starting on C-sharp leads to an F-sharp downbeat, suggesting dominant-tonic in F-sharp minor.
  • ✏️ Cautionary accidentals like D-natural are redundant but remind players of alterations.
  • 🎹 Try playing/sight-reading the melody to directly hear the key and cadences.
  • 📝 Multiple points of musical evidence together build the case for establishing the key signature.
Q & A

  • What are the key clues that tell us this melody is in a minor key?

    -The E-sharp followed by an E-natural in the same phrase indicates we are likely in a minor key, specifically where the 6th or 7th scale degree is being altered as occurs in melodic minor.

  • Why does the E-natural not need an accidental sign?

    -The E-natural has a cautionary accidental that is not necessarily needed but reminds the player that the E is natural after previously seeing an E-sharp.

  • What feature of melodic minor scales explains the E-sharp and E-natural?

    -In the ascending melodic minor scale, the 6th and 7th degrees are raised, while when descending the scale follows the key signature. So the E-sharp goes up with raised 7th degree and E-natural comes down following key signature.

  • What evidence suggests this melody is in F-sharp minor specifically?

    -We see the key signature sharps - F#, C#, and G# - which match F-sharp minor. Additionally the E-sharp and E-natural match the raised and natural 7th degree in F-sharp melodic minor.

  • Why does the missing D-sharp and A-sharp also point to minor key?

    -In a major key we would see all sharps in order. The gap where D-sharp and A-sharp are missing sharps indicates this is likely a minor key.

  • What is the purpose of the opening C-sharp?

    -The opening C-sharp is an anacrusis or pick-up note before the first bar line, so the first strong melodic note is actually the F-sharp, fitting with F-sharp minor tonality.

  • How does the ending confirm F-sharp minor?

    -The ending cadence emphasizes the tonic F-sharp note, with a V-i (dominant-tonic) resolution, clearly establishing F-sharp as the tonal center.

  • Could this melody actually modulate to another key?

    -No, the lecturer confirms that despite the many accidentals, there is no modulation occurring - it remains firmly in F-sharp minor throughout.

  • What sight-reading exercise is suggested?

    -The lecturer recommends trying to sight-read the melody to internalize the sound of the key and accidentals, as a way to develop key identification ability.

  • What other types of minor scales could be used in analyzing this?

    -The lecturer notes we could also analyze harmonic minor and other forms of melodic minor usage, but for this exercise focused on melodic minor as the clearest fit.

Outlines
00:00
😌 Identifying the Key of a Melody

This paragraph introduces a melody written without a key signature and many accidentals, making it difficult to identify the key. It explains the importance of identifying key for musicians and on exams. The goal is to analyze the melody to determine if it is in a major or minor key.

05:01
😉 Evidence Suggesting the Key is F-Sharp Minor

This paragraph analyzes specific notes and patterns in the melody to gather evidence that it is likely in the key of F-sharp minor. This includes the appearance of E-sharp and E-natural indicating a minor key, the presence of F-sharp, C-sharp, and G-sharp as the 3 sharps of F-sharp minor, and the lack of a 4th sharp ruling out other related major keys.

10:03
🎵 Confirming F-Sharp Minor by Listening

This paragraph encourages listening to the melody to confirm the feeling of F-sharp minor, rather than only relying on visual pattern analysis. It points out the opening dominant-tonic motion from C-sharp to F-sharp and the final cadence landing on F-sharp, supporting the tonal center of F-sharp minor.

Mindmap
Keywords
💡melody
A melody refers to a sequence of musical notes that forms an identifiable, repeating tune in a piece of music. Identifying the key that a melody is in is an important skill for musicians. In this video, the narrator provides a melody written with accidentals instead of a key signature and challenges viewers to identify what key it is in.
💡key signature
A key signature is a group of sharps or flats at the beginning of a music score that indicates the key of the music. This melody does not have a key signature, so identifying its key requires paying attention to accidentals and scale degree patterns instead.
💡accidental
An accidental is a music notation symbol that raises or lowers the pitch of a note from what is indicated in the key signature. This melody uses many accidentals, making it more difficult to identify the key. The pattern of accidentals, especially on the 6th and 7th scale degrees, provides clues about whether the key is major or minor.
💡scale degree
A scale degree refers to the numeric position of a note within a key's scale. So the first note of a scale is scale degree 1 or the tonic, the second note is scale degree 2 or supertonic etc. Noticing the accidentals on the 6th and 7th scale degrees in this melody helped identify it as being in a minor key.
💡melodic minor
A melodic minor scale is a type of minor scale in which the 6th and 7th notes of the scale are raised by a semitone when ascending, but left natural when descending. The pattern of E-sharp and E-natural in this melody indicates the use of a melodic minor scale.
💡harmonic minor
A harmonic minor scale differs from a melodic minor in that the 7th scale degree is consistently raised both ascending and descending. The E-sharp could indicate the use of a harmonic minor with a raised 7th degree.
💡tonic
The tonic is the first note of a scale, also called the home note. Identifying accidentals on the 7th scale degree helped determine that the tonic and thus the key of this melody is F-sharp minor.
💡dominant
The dominant is the 5th scale degree of a key. The melody starts on the dominant (C-sharp) before resolving to the tonic F-sharp, which helps confirm F-sharp minor as the key.
💡chord progression
A chord progression is a series of chords played in sequence. The narrator mentions that adding chords to this melody emphasizes the sense of F-sharp as the tonic and home note, further confirming the key.
💡anacrusis
An anacrusis is an introductory note or notes before the first downbeat or full bar of music. So while this melody starts on a C-sharp, it functions as an upbeat to the F-sharp on the downbeat which establishes the key of F-sharp minor.
Highlights

The E sharp and E natural in the melody indicate it is likely in a minor key using melodic minor scale

The melody probably modulates between harmonic, melodic and natural minor scales rather than strictly following one minor scale

The E sharp followed by E natural suggests the E notes relate to the raised 6th or 7th degree of a minor scale

The key signature of 3 sharps (F#, C#, G#) fits with F# minor, and the E sharps fit as the raised 7th degree

The missing D# and A# sharps between the G# and E# confirm it is in a minor key rather than major

The tonic finishes on a long F# note, confirming F# minor as the key

The opening notes of C# down to F# outline the dominant to tonic movement, further indicating F# minor

It is useful to internally hear the melody to sense F# as the homing note and tonic

The lack of a major key sound confirms it is in a minor key

The E# and En in the same bar indicate a modulation between harmonic and melodic minor scales

The key signature plus prevalence of F#, C# and G# sharps point to F# minor

Missing D# and A# sharps create a gap indicating a minor key

Final cadence stresses F# minor through dominant-tonic movement

Internalizing the sound of the melody confirms F# minor tonality

Lack of major sound reinforces minor tonality

Transcripts

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