This is the first episode of a series of posts that I’ll do from time to time called “What Key Am I In?”
Basically, I give you chords and you tell me the major key they’re from.
Here’s a list to help you out:
The first degree of a scale is associated with the major seventh chord.
The second degree of a scale is associated with the minor seventh chord.
The third degree of a scale is associated with the minor seventh chord.
The fourth degree of a scale is associated with the major seventh chord.
The fifth degree of a scale is associated with the dominant seventh chord.
The sixth degree of a scale is associated with the minor seventh chord.
The seventh degree of a scale is associated with the half-diminished seventh chord.
Recap:
The 1st and 4th degrees are major seventh chords.
The 2nd, 3rd, and 6th degrees are minor seventh chords.
The 5th degree is a dominant seventh chord.
The 7th degree is a half-diminished seventh chord.
So what key am I in?
- I have an “A minor 7” chord.
- I have an “E minor 7” chord.
- I have a “G major 7” chord.
(scroll down for answer but don’t peak until you think you’ve got one!)
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Answer: G major
Explanation: Since minor seventh chords are found on the 2nd, 3rd, and 6th tones, I used the process of elimination to rule out keys that didn’t have “A” or “E” as their 2nd, 3rd, or 6th tone.
This left me with the key of C major and G major.
C major has an E minor7 as its 3rd chord and an A minor7 as its 6th chord.
G major has an E minor7 as its 6th chord and an A minor7 as its 2nd chord.
The chord that gives it away is the “G major7 chord.”
C major doesn’t have a G major7 chord… only a G dominant7 chord.
So it was this one little nuance that gave it away.
G major takes this round of “What Key Am I In!”
Until next time,
JG
