What does it mean when a song is played in a particular "key"? Does this refer to the first note the song has?
by 
ChrisDG
ANSWERS: 3
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Often--but not always..this is the way wikipedia describes it: In music theory, the key identifies the tonic triad, the chord, major or minor, which represents the final point of rest for a piece, or the focal point of a section. Although the key of a piece may be named in the title (e.g. Symphony in C), or inferred from the key signature, the establishment of key is brought about via functional harmony, a sequence of chords leading to one or more cadences. A key may be major or minor; music in the Dorian, Phrygian, and so on are usually considered to be in a mode rather than a key. When a particular key is not being described in the English language, different key naming systems may be used.
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The key (or key signature) identifies the tonic note (doh, a deer a female deer....) and what sharps or flats will be used in that key. Each key has it's own specific sharps or flats (either or, not both!) In the key of C there are no sharps or flats and Doh is C, Re is D, Mi is E and so on.... In the Key of G, G is tonic and there is one sharp : F#, Thus Doh is G, Re A, Mi B, Fa C, So D,La E, Te F# Doh.G) Though the name of the key identifies the tonic, it is not necessarily the first note of a piece of music. Wow.... Mr. M (my high school music teacher) would be sooooo proud of me right now.
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Any certain song can be played in many different "keys." A key signifies what the major and minor chords are, and you have to follow that key signature in the song otherwise the notes sound all wrong together.
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