How to know what scale or what is the key of the composition(lyrics and singing) is this song?

Question

I always have trouble finding the key of the song, actually when ever I write a song just lyrics and I know how I sing it I mean I know the composition, but I don’t get to know what should be what scale or what key these lyrics are in. I need help to know how to know what scale I wrote these lyrics in so that I can easily extract chords and put the vocals in my DWA to make more music on them.

Answer 1

Firstly, lyrics don't have a key, they are simply words, like a poem.

A melody does not have a key. It may imply a key but this is open to interpretation and opinion based.

Eg consider the first seven notes of 'twinkle twinkle little star" (starting from a C note)
C C G G A A G

These notes appear in:

• these keys: Cmaj, Dm, Em, Am, Fmaj, Bbmaj, Gm, Gmaj
• And these scales (from this applet).

(these lists shorten somewhat if you analyse the entire melody)

As you can see there are many choices and there are literally thousands of ways to harmonize a melody. You use your ears to guide you to the appropriate chords for your melody.

The original composer chose to do it in this way:

Melody notes: C C G G    A A      G
Chords:       Cmaj       Fmaj     Cmaj

Major, very consonant, simple I IV I progression, perfect for a childrens song.

Here are some alternatives:

Melody notes: C C   G G    A A      G
Chords:       Am    Am7    D7       G

Melody notes: C C   G G    A A      G
Chords:       Am    Em     Dm       Cmaj

Melody notes: C C   G G    A A      G
Chords:       F     Gm     Am       Em

Melody notes: C  C     G G     A A    G    
Chords:       Cm       Gm      F7     Bbmaj6

Melody notes: C       C      G      G       A      A     G    
Chords:       Dbmaj7  Bbm9   Edim   Am7     Fmaj9  D7    G6/9

Play these and hear how they change the character of the melody.

All of my examples are based entirely on chord tones: The melody note occurs within the chord. It's a fool proof way of finding chords that fit your melody. It is (or rather can be) also a road to very boring songs as non chord tones are required for tension & drama.

As you've written your own melodies you probably have some preconceived idea (possibly subconscious) as to how it should be hamonized. Try:

• Learn the melody on your instrument.
• Identify the key note (the note that 'feels like home' and gives total resolution). The note that gives a sense of ending like a full stop does for a sentence. ending on any other notes sound like an unfini

Experiment with chords from the key you have identified. The I IV and V chords can harmonize any diatonic melody so start with them. Work at it until you find the chord progression that you think suits.

And most importantly LEARN SONGS! How can you expect to write great songs if you can't identify what a great song does?! Learn and analyse songs you like to see how the melody and harmony fit together and what it is that makes you like the song.