Q&A for How to Work Out Which Key You're In

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How do I know which key I sing in?

Michael Noble, PhD
Professional Pianist
Michael Noble is a professional concert pianist who received his PhD in Piano Performance from the Yale School of Music. He is a previous contemporary music fellow of the Belgian American Educational Foundation and has performed at Carnegie Hall and at other venues across the United States, Europe, and Asia.

Michael Noble, PhD

Professional Pianist

Expert Answer

If you're trying to determine the key of a piece of sheet music, find the last chord or note. Most of the time, that will be the key.

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Question

If a song is in the key of E, and I lower it 2 steps, what key is it in?

Community Answer

If you are lowering it two tones down, it would be in the key of C, but if you're lowering it two semi-tones down, it would be D.

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Question

What does perfect pitch mean?

Community Answer

It means you can name a note by just hearing it played. If someone plays the note C, for example, you would be able to identify the note without looking at the piano. This makes it easier for you to identify the key of a piece by ear.

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How do know what key to play on an E flat instrument when playing music in a minor key?

Community Answer

If you're playing from sheet music it should already be transposed into the correct key for you to sound at pitch with the rest of the instruments (whether that be an orchestra, piano or chamber group). E flat instruments are pitched a minor third below concert pitch, meaning that if the piano was playing in C, your instrument plays in A. If the piano were to play in B, your instrument plays in G#, and so on.

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