Re: [Harp-L] How to tell the key of any song or music

[Robert Hale <robert@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Students may learn to identify song keys in three ways, arranged in the
order of increasing ear awareness/skill/development:

CHORD
trial and error with harps till there's a match with 1-4 blow or draw chords

MELODY
use a C harp middle scale (4-7) to hit, or get close to, one root tone

EAR
sing (hum) with them to hear the root tones

Often, new students arrive believing they have no ear for music. Usually
that's not accurate, and following a few experiments, they not only hear
something to build on, they acknowledge that they DO have an ear. They leave
with new confidence in their ability.

PARALLEL
A modern art abstract painting in a museum may have no meaning at first
glance. When you overhear another discussing color, shape, and pattern, you
may then discover the image (or message) was there all the time. Your own
powers of observation are sharpened and focussed.

SELECTIVE LISTENING
Have a student listen to a simple track at first: drums, bass, and guitar.
On each play, ask them to hear and emulate a different sound, verbally or
visually. This "mental magnification" encourages them to hear music as
parts, as well as in total.

Robert Hale
 dukeofwail.com
Gilbert AZ (Phoenix)
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