How to work out Key?

Hi,

I have just made a new chord sequence on my guitar.

What is the quickest and most efficiant way of working out what key the chords are in?

Also the same again but for a melodic line?

Thank you for your help in advance

Darren.:D

Both need the same process - you identify the notes you have, fill in the blanks, and apply.

So say you have EFG#EFA#C - totally random collection of notes.

For ease, I'm gonna "put them in order," which doesn't change the key, just makes it easier to see what I know.

C_EFG#A#_

You can see the missing notes in the scale easier now. Those missing notes can be filled in however you want, they're for color only at this point, since they're not in the melody line.

For what's left, you see a M3, m2, A2, M2. The augmented 2nd is a pretty abnormal interval, so I'd make it happen twice, and it can fit as D#. Adding in B, since that's all that can fit in that spot makes the scale A2 m2 m2 A2 M2 m2 (or whatever mode of it you need/want).

Apply the same thing if you want chords, but instead of a line you have stacked notes. All the same :)

I wouldn't be concerned with finding names, since the names for unusual keys are not standardized anyway.

This way isn't quick, but its efficient

Hi,

Thank you for the great reply.

This has helped me and solved my question.

Thanks again.

Darren.:D