How to key my music??
Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 13
  1. #1
    Tech Wizard
    Join Date
    Apr 2011
    Location
    Philly
    Posts
    68

    Default How to key my music??

    What is the best way to key my music....manually not with software. i have MIK but I want to learn to do it by ear. I've looked online and on here and keep reading articles about the root note but still confused. looking for a little know how from the community.

  2. #2
    Tech Wizard Quist's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2012
    Location
    Sweden
    Posts
    21

    Default

    Buy a basic musictheorybook? Practice hearing chords and so on? Ears bro, ears.

  3. #3
    Tech Guru AllDay's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2012
    Location
    From The Okanagan. Canada!
    Posts
    1,182

    Default

    I cant listen to 2 songs and determine the key, but I cant easily determine if the song will work or not.

    Its all on your own ears and practice.

    I wish i could hear something and be like yea.. its a C# major..

  4. #4
    Tech Wizard underwaterrobots's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2012
    Location
    Berkeley, CA
    Posts
    81

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by DJ_JCohh View Post
    What is the best way to key my music....manually not with software. i have MIK but I want to learn to do it by ear. I've looked online and on here and keep reading articles about the root note but still confused. looking for a little know how from the community.
    For 95% of popular music, the key of the song is the first chord of the verse/chorus/drop/what-have-you. So set a 1-bar loop on that first beat, and then sweep through all the notes in a scale on an instrument or in software until you've found the note that matches what you're looping. In most cases, that note is going to be the key of the song.
    Check out my Youtube channel for controllerism routines, mashups, tutorials, etc. using Midi Fighters and other tasty gear.

    http://www.youtube.com/user/underwaterrobots

  5. #5
    Tech Mentor rjc's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2012
    Location
    Wollongong, NSW, AU
    Posts
    129

    Default

    ^ What he said. Mind you, that will only determine what the Root note of the key is, but not whether it's a Major or Minor key.

    Buy a few books on basic music foundation, or take up learning an instrument. Having this secondary skill won't only improve your ear for music, it will significantly increase your understanding of the structure of music and give you new mixing possibilities.

    Also bitches dig singers and guitarists.
    Traktor Pro 2 | DB2 | 2x X1 | Macbook Air | HDJ1500 | KRK RP6G2 | KRK 12s | Crane Stand Pro

  6. #6
    Tech Guru AllDay's Avatar
    Join Date
    May 2012
    Location
    From The Okanagan. Canada!
    Posts
    1,182

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by rjc View Post
    Also bitches dig singers and guitarists.
    This sidenote is worth noting!

  7. #7
    Tech Guru Coldfuzion's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2010
    Location
    Southern California
    Posts
    2,102

    Default

    Easiest way to do it, for free? Go download Rekordbox and let it analyze your tracks. It will tell you what key it's in as well. Also, even if its slightly off, if you use it to analyze all your tracks they'll all be off by the same so you can still successfully mix in key.

  8. #8
    Tech Mentor rjc's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2012
    Location
    Wollongong, NSW, AU
    Posts
    129

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Coldfuzion View Post
    Easiest way to do it, for free? Go download Rekordbox and let it analyze your tracks. It will tell you what key it's in as well. Also, even if its slightly off, if you use it to analyze all your tracks they'll all be off by the same so you can still successfully mix in key.
    He mentioned that he already has MIK, so I'd assume it's less a problem with using the software, more that he wants to increase his knowledge
    Traktor Pro 2 | DB2 | 2x X1 | Macbook Air | HDJ1500 | KRK RP6G2 | KRK 12s | Crane Stand Pro

  9. #9
    Tech Guru Coldfuzion's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2010
    Location
    Southern California
    Posts
    2,102

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by rjc View Post
    He mentioned that he already has MIK, so I'd assume it's less a problem with using the software, more that he wants to increase his knowledge
    Damn maybe I should've read the thread first. Whatever though, it's way too early (that's my excuse anyway). So I guess the answer to his question is "listen attentively to everything you hear in life and go get a theory book and CD to listen to what each key is supposed to sound like"?

  10. #10
    Tech Guru Gryz's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2010
    Location
    Pennsylvania
    Posts
    690

    Default

    Grab an electric keyboard and +1 to the music theory.
    CDJ400s, Ecler Nuo, XD 53
    KRK RP8sFG


Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast

Tags for this Thread

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •