Basically…what I want to know is…
What part of a song or discipline of music theory (chord, melody, scale, root note) determines the “KEY” of a song….???
Because I started exploring music theory in regards to key signatures, scales, chords and melodies and nowhere could I find what determines the key of a song.
The thing is…I firstly come from a DJing background and in DJing…we have something called “mixing in key”. Meaning…it’s harmonically and musically better for us to mix 2 songs together that are “in key” or that complement each other in regards to their key.
You see…On a basic and fundamental level I have a natural ear/ability for knowing when 2 songs complement each other musically and vice versa when they don’t and therefore create a clash.
So…even with the little music theory that I have… I know why it’s musically and harmonically necessary for me to mix 2 songs together in regards to their key. So naturally...when I came across key signatures in music theory...I immediately came to the conclusion that it also had to do with the key of song.
But...I know I am wrong and therefore the reason for my confusion….and that is the “THEORY” part!!!!
Basically…when we DJ’s refer to finding the key of a song…..
1. What we really mean is finding the “root note” of the lowest/bass note of the song’s main chord progression as what you just stated….right…???
Because the root note is what is used to determine the key of a song…right…??
2. Its definitely not the key signature like how I thought and isn’t the "sharps" and "flats" you mentioned...right…???
And if it is different…than to that extent…What’s the difference between the key signature (sharps/flats) and the musical key (root note) of a song…???
Hopefully that made sense. Hopefully there is also a DJ in here that knows what I am talking about and can chime in.
Thanks.
Music Theory is sooooo Complicating and Difficult. Its also BORING. But its easily the most essential and important for all things music and audio too. Ugggghhhhh.