In the song Dignity of Labor, what is its key?
Answers
Answer:
A song can be in any key, and it can change key (modulate) at any time, ending in a different key, or not. You need to match the pitches with an instrument. The least expensive instrument for this purpose is a pitch pipe.
Explanation:
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Answer:
as update is proceeding ( an hour to go - this amazing technology to use iphone WHILE downloading from a Starbucks WiFi !!) I was still amazingly able to call up the (unknown to me), song , about labour, The french spelling for labor
assuming YouTube version is in original key
The first Chord was Gm. Then the moving to the common Eb ( Vi degree in Gm )
to F. To a cool C. It’s a cool C because it is not a pure C triad but It may or may not have the third ( E ) In the chord. And also seems to have a D in its structure- maybe C G Bb D.
I’m not sure if there is a Bb in it !!
when the. Beat commenced, The chord was Gminor
what I mean by the beat starting is. This “announces “ the song is beginning - its structure - “you are hearing the first measure of the song “
I did not listen to song for long .
just intro
so let’s see if it is actually G Minor
edit
I took a little more time
and so far it is unmistakably key of G minor
I don’t have patience for a lot of music - sorry about that. - but the first section had Gm at the first measure of what I took to be the melody
usually the first chord is a primary tip off that we are IN THAT KEY ( in simplest music. The first chord is very often the key of the song )
so key of Gm is strong candidate
you see the distinction Gm chord. And KEY OF Gm?? KEY OF Gm versus a Gm Chord. A Gm chord can exist in any key!! Yes
a chord and a key center are not the same
Again simpler music key and first chord are very often synonymous. Or the Dominant chord of the Key. Eg in key of C major. C is the 1 chord and G chord is the 5 chord
those two chords are by far the most common chords used in simple music they are also called the TONIC AND THE DOMINANT
LABOUR OF WHATEVER Song:
Eg. Gm to Eb. To F. To C add 2 all suggest to me the Key of Gm. Not the key of C maj or F maj or Eb
moving ahead :
in key of C major
these seven chords can be found to exist
C Dm Em F G Am B dim
so just roll that around in your head
a key center ( aka tonality ) and chord progression. Two related yet different concepts
Labour song
but listening further I heard a Cm which is iv minor in KEY OF G minor
that is what a professional musician fairly quickly knows
he doesn’t confuse Eg the C minor chord as tonic or I chord
he knows it for what it is. A IV MINOR CHORD
I did not listen to the second section
———
Second edit
with time to dwell on this - I am reminded of another valuable nugget
how does one know the key center ?
Eg a chord progression contains many C major and Am and F major and G chords
all of these chords easily can be found in
key of C
key of F
key of Am
and key of G
trust me. Ok!
it takes a little experience to divine the key center ( key signature will not help much of the time unless it’s the simplest music )
I have to make general statements or give guides here
I would say it has to do with harmonic Emphasis ( and your ability to notice that emphasis whether a song is Eg Am or C )
you have to take time and consider multiple possible key centers
in rare cases it is very difficult and maybe in those cases , where ambiguity rules … it doesn’t matter !!
I’m thinking of the infamous song Sweet Home Alabama
it’s three simple chords that people argue about
I think the chords are G D and C
some say key of G major and some say D major
no one says key of C
yet there are songs with those same 3 chords that ARE in key of C!! What’s going on here!!
emphasis is the answer.
and melody is the other factor. Don’t forget the melody !!!
also, what you hear or perceive as the first measure
but experience plays a role too.
so you will need to be thinking about this stuff a lot
I suggest starting with simpler music and little by little move into pop music where it is not immediately clear
Melodies and chord progressions can be very simple or not so simple aka. Ambiguous
take an easy song Three Blind Mice. The melody dictates the harmony
UNTIL YOU MASTER THE SIMPLE MUSIC you will be confused with more modern music
take “Adventures of a lifetime”
3 chords Am Dm G. With a strong E pedal
I tend to guess it is in Am because of the melodies going on.
but frankly the harmonies make it a bit ambiguous until intuition answers the question what key is this!
there is one song called “Natural Man” by Lou Rawls that is maybe unique in that all 7–10 chords ( approx ) are clearly, unambiguously in the key of Bb major , YET. not once does the song use a Bb chord !!!! That amazes me.
Another seemingly simple song but with some ambiguity is Dreams by Stevie Nicks. I haven’t bothered to worry about the key. It’s endless F to G. Maybe it’s F major 7 and G6. Some Am
all three chords are in C and in Am! And in G for that matter .
It’s situations like this that make me speak of the mystery of music the relationship between chords and chords with melody
With a simple song , you can hear the harmony …the melody dictates it. ( 3 blind mice or Amazing Grace or Pop Goes the Weasel ) but as soon as you move into pop music things can get a little less clear