How can you tell???

[alquarles]

How can you tell what key a song is in when you listen to it for the first time???

[T-Block]

I listen for progressions.  If you can hear 3-6-2-5-1 at the end of a verse or chorus, and that is the main progression, then that 1 will more than likely be your key.  Example:

G (3)
C (6)
F (2)
Bb (5)
Eb (1)

If this is your main progression, then you are more than likely in the key of Eb.

If you hear 7-3-6 at the end of a verse of chours, and that is the main progression, then that 6 will be your key.  You will be in a minor key in this case, so u have to count up 1 1/2 steps to find its relative major.  Example:

D (7)
G (3)
C (6)

If this is your main progression, then you are more than likely in the key of Cm.  The relative major is Eb.