What Scale is this song in?

sjs94704 · 12-07-2018, 03:09 AM

Hey ALL:

I am a singer. I buy and download my background music.
I also use Waves Tune Real-Time Plugin and it asks for the key which the website helps with, but, the plugin also asks for the scale of the song.

Here is a link to one of the songs I own. Let me be clear, I do NOT know how to read music!
For me, I buy the music, learn the song by listening to the guide vocal over and over and when I got it I record it .... No reading music involved ......

https://www.karaoke-version.com/cust...-of-stars.html

In this case I decided to download the song in the key of C#m.

In the waves plugin there are multiple choices for scale. So, how do I figure out which these songs are in?

I would be grateful for anyone's assistance on this .....

composerguy78 · 12-07-2018, 05:09 AM

It sound like c# natural minor to me but I haven’t checked with a keyboard yet.

You may need to add C (enharmonic B Sharp!) as that note may be used or it may not. I also haven’t listened to the whole song so there may be a key change which would affect these settings

Dark River · 12-07-2018, 07:35 AM

F# Major scale - for the key that the song plays in (relative to Ebmi)

If you want C#mi then the relative major scale is E Major.

sjs94704 · 12-07-2018, 09:03 AM

Thank You-All!!

My issue as I originally said, I don't read music and I have a couple hundred songs.

To be honest, for many people who do know how it might be easy to determine such things, but, for me and my perspective this whole topic is VERY confusion and I feel intimidated by it all.

So, with that said, is there a 'music for dummies' way of figuring this out as I go from one song to the other?

I am hoping for something simple, simple, simple ....easy easy easy ......

Dark River · 12-07-2018, 01:13 PM

I highly recommend a few lessons focused on scale theory and basic major-key harmony from a qualified instructor. Having someone to answer questions as you go along is, in my opinion more helpful than any book.
Understand the basic inner workings of music is important for composing, analyzing and improvising and is also a fun and addictive quest.

karbomusic · 12-07-2018, 02:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sjs94704

I am hoping for something simple, simple, simple ....easy easy easy ......

It's still going to take work, work, work but anything worthwhile does or everyone would be doing it and doing it well. But if you want easy as in "I just want to know what the key is" you might try this:

https://www.hornetplugins.com/plugin...t-songkey-mk2/

martifingers · 12-08-2018, 04:16 PM

You might find this useful.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=imj7FniRzyY

Jason Lyon · 12-11-2018, 12:35 AM

Haven't listened to the song, but please be careful with autotune.
There's a terrible modern trend of badly using/overusing it.

vanhaze · 12-11-2018, 01:42 AM

Lemme first say, i am not musictheory educated but this is how i do it:

I learned myself to first detect the root note (dunno if thats the right terminology) of a Song, by ear.
That root note is the note that sounds as a "The final ending", as if the Song ends and comes to rest (sorry, aboit hard to explain).
Many songs (in my experience) do end on that note, cause it makes your ears experience it as , indeed, the end of the song, the total rest.

Just import a song into Reaper, then create an Instrument track and put a simple piano vsti on it.
Now play the Song and hit all keys on your midi keyboard (or Reaper's Virtual Keyboard), from C to B.
There will be one note that totally "fits" the Song, it will sit exactly right in the Song, so to speak.
You could also go to the end of a song and find the last note played at the end, which (again in my experience) will be the root note.
When you practise this alot, you will find yourself finding that root note of a Song easier and faster.

Now, when you sure you have a found the root note of a song, do this:

Play the note which is 3 notes (semitones) to the right of the found root note.
Doe this note sound ok to you in the song ? (so not out of tune), then the scale is a Minor scale.
If this note does NOT sound ok in the song, then play the first note on your keyboard that follows, this note should sound ok in the song and it means that the scale of the song is Major.
So, now you have found the root note and the scale of the song, so presto !

Sidenote: i am aware of the fact that this workflow / theory is not fullproof, cause you have many scales, not only Minor and Major.
But, the majority of regular (pop) songs is written in just Minor or Major.
I find this method to determine a song's key much more reliable than using thirdparty software tools like MixedInKey and/or Hornet Songkey plugin.

johnteddy · 12-12-2018, 03:19 PM

You may find ibreathemusic.com helpful. If you want to learn a bit of theory. This will also help you understand finding the Home/rest note. It will help you undestand the relative minor and major scale. You can start learning the major scale it will all be useful and you may surprise yourself. If I was you and i could sing i would learn to play a musical instrument. You dont have to master it. for example a guitar. learn a few chords and your on your way. use a capo and you can change key. add a bit of music theory and you can understand and communicate more easily. The deeper you go the higher you fly. Your voice is a gift. use it to the max is my opinion.