Notes not in the scale are considered to be outside of the key. Can a Piece of Music Only Use Notes Within the Key? There are a couple of audio examples of the sense of tonality. This effect is possible because of everyone’s natural sense of tonality. When the end of a song goes unresolved it often has a comical effect.
It’s a very natural sound to expect and it will sound strange when you don’t hear it. Most songs finish on the tonic of the key to make the song sound complete or finished. Although points of resolution occur all throughout a song, you will most noticeably hear it at the end of a song. Listen for the TonicĪs you listen to music, try to pay attention to these concepts of tonality and resolution. Most people don't like the sound of atonal music. When a piece of music lacks a tonal center it is said to be atonal (pronounced AY-toe-nul). Almost all music to which we listen is tonal. When music has this centered sound to it, it is said to be tonal (pronounced TOE-nul), or possessing tonality. It’s exciting much like a pole-vaulter, basketball player, or juggler might be. Continuing the gravity analogy, music momentarily defies gravity, but then comes back down. Moving away from and back to the tonic resting point of the key is partly what makes music interesting and why it has a pleasing effect on us. The tonic is the most resolved note in a key. When you play music, the music is constantly being pulled toward the tonic, or root of the key, wanting to come to a state of rest or completion. Objects can move away from Earth, but eventually come back down. All objects are constantly pulled toward Earth until they come to a state of rest on its surface. I think of keys and the tonic like gravity on Earth. When speaking of keys, the root note of the key is called the tonic (pronounced TAWN-ik). The root note of an Eb minor scale would be Eb. For example, the root of the C major scale is C. Similar to the root notes of chords, the root note of a scale is the note on which a scale is built. The root note of the key acts as the center of the key.
For example, a song in the ‘key of D minor’ uses the notes of the D minor scale D, E, F, G, A, Bb, and C.Īny major scale or natural minor scale can serve as a key for a piece of music. Similarly, a piece of music can be in a minor key and revolve around a natural minor scale. That means the fundamental notes making up the song’s melody, chords, and bassline are all derived from that group of notes.Ī song in the ‘key of F major’ uses the notes of the F major scale F, G, A, Bb, C, D, and E. A song in a minor key is based on a minor scale.Ī song played in the ‘key of C major’ revolves around the seven notes of the C major scale C, D, E, F, G, A, and B. A song in a major key is based on a major scale. In music a key is the major or minor scale around which a piece of music revolves. You might consider rereading this lesson from time to time until you solidfy your understanding of this essential musical concept. With experience the concept will become more and more clear. The idea is a bit abstract and can be confusing, even mystifying, in the beginning. The concept of keys in music is important to understand.
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