| How to Determine What Key a Song Is In Posted: 14 Aug 2020 01:00 AM PDT All songs are written in a particular key (or keys) that tell you what notes and chords will be used in the song. Finding what key a song is in makes it easier for you to play on an instrument. You also need to know the key if you want to experiment with transposing, or changing, the song to a different key to make it easier for you to play or sing the song. While a basic understanding of music theory is helpful to quickly find the key of a song, it isn't essential. Even if you lack training in music theory and can't read music, you can still determine what key a song is in. [Edit]Reading the Key Signature - Look for sharp and flat symbols on the top line of the first page of sheet music. If you have the sheet music for the song you want to play, look at the beginning of the top staff lines on the first page.[1] The first thing you'll see is either the treble clef or bass clef symbol. You'll also see 2 numbers, one on top of the other, like a fraction — that's the time signature of the song. Between the clef and the time signature, you'll see a group of sharps or flats that represent the key signature.[2]
- If you see no sharps or flats between the clef and the time signature, the song is in the key of C.
- Count the number of sharps or flats to determine the major key. Key signatures have either all sharps or all flats. You can use the number of sharps or flats in the key signature to determine the major key represented by that key signature.[3]
- 1 sharp: G; 1 flat: F
- 2 sharps: D; 2 flats: B flat
- 3 sharps: A; 3 flats: E flat
- 4 sharps: E; 4 flats: A flat
- 5 sharps: B; 5 flats: D flat
- 6 sharps: F sharp; 6 flats: G flat
- Find the major key by identifying the last sharp or second-to-last flat. If you can't remember the number of sharps or flats that correspond to each major key, you can also look at the sharps or flats in the key signature. For any key signature with flats, the second-to-last flat (reading from left to right) is the major key it represents. If the key signature has sharps, the note a half-step up from the last sharp is the name of the key.[4]
- For example, the key signature for G has 1 sharp — F sharp. One half-step up from F sharp is G.
- With flats, read the flats from left to right and look at the second to last one. For example, the key signature for B flat has 2 flats, so the first flat, B flat, is also the second to last.
- Refer to the circle of fifths to find the relative minor key. Every key signature represents both a major and a minor key (referred to as the "relative" minor). The circle of fifths shows how the 12 tones of the chromatic scale relate to one another. The capital letters on the outside of the circle represent the major keys and the lower case letters on the inside of the circle represent the minor keys. The minor key at the same point on the circle as the major key is the relative minor of that major key.[5]
- For example, suppose you have a key signature with 1 sharp, which you know is G Major. If you look on the circle of fifths, you'll see a lower-case "e" in the same position on the circle as G Major. That tells you that E minor is the relative minor of G Major.
- Each key is one-fifth apart if you go around the circle clockwise, which is why it's called the "circle of fifths." If you go counter-clockwise, the keys are only a fourth apart, so sometimes you'll also hear it referred to as the "circle of fourths," but both of these terms refer to the same thing.
- Use the order of notes in the song to figure out if it's major or minor. You can often determine if a song is in a major or minor key just by listening to it. However, you can also tell simply by looking at the sheet music (provided you know how to read music). Look at the notes used in the song and try to identify the major or minor scale notes.[6]
- The major and minor scales use the same notes, but they start in a different place. If you can see pieces of these scales in the song, you'll be able to identify the scale.
- You can also look at the first and last notes of the song. Typically, one or both of them will be the same note as the name of the key. So, for example, if the song ends on G, you might determine that the song is in G major and not E minor.
[Edit]Analyzing Chord Progressions - Find the first and last chords of the song. Although this isn't always the case, usually the first and last chord of a song will tell you what key the song is in.[7] If you know the first chord of the song, especially if it's one that repeats throughout the song, it's likely also the key the song is in.[8]
- For example, "Fireflies," by Owl City, is in D sharp/E flat Major, but it starts and ends with a G chord. And while originally an electronic song, it's a simple and pretty song to play on guitar.[9]
- If the last chord of the song makes the song feel unsettled, it probably doesn't identify the key the song is in. However, if it brings resolution to the song, the song is probably in that key. For example,
- Identify other chords that are in the same key. There are 7 chords in each key. Songwriters put these chords together in different chord progressions to create a song, but any of the 7 chords in the same key naturally sound good together. Start with the first chord in the song, then look at the next 2 or 3 chords that follow. This can help you confirm the key the song is in.[10]
- For example, the song "Bad Moon Rising," by Creedence Clearwater Revival, has only 3 chords: D, A, and G.[11] The first chord is a D, and the D-A-G pattern continues through the verses, with the choruses switching up to G-D-D-A-G-D. All 3 of these chords are found in the key of D Major, and the song starts with D, so if you guessed the song is in D Major based on that information, you'd be correct.
- Most keys have 1 or 2 chords in common, but never more than 2. If you identify 3 or 4 chords, you can identify the key.
- Look for chords in the same key throughout the song. Use a chord chart to find all 7 chords in the key, then look for those chords in the song. While there may be other chords, particularly if the song has a bridge, you'll likely see the same theme repeating throughout the song.[12]
- If you're using a tab, you might also see Roman numerals at the top of the page that tell you the chord progression. For example, I-IV-V is a common chord progression. If the song was in D Major, the chords used would be D, G, and A — the chords already identified in "Bad Moon Rising."
- Many simple pop and rock songs are 3- or 4-chord songs, which makes it relatively easy to determine what key the song is in if you have a basic understanding of the chords in each key.
[Edit]Finding the Key by Ear - Listen to the song without any distractions. Play a recording of the song in headphones and pay attention to the music. You may have to listen to it a few times before you can really focus on the music, especially if you aren't familiar with the song.[13]
- As you listen, try to pinpoint the note that seems to resolve each musical phrase, the note that feels like home. This will likely be a note the music returns to many times throughout the song. This note is referred to as the "tonic note" or the "tonal center" of the song and tells you what key the song is in.
- Hum the tonic note while listening to the song again. Play the recording of the song one more time, humming the tonic note you found as you listen. If it fits right into the background of the song, that note is the key the song is in.[14]
- If the note doesn't blend in or seems to clash with the song, you might not have chosen the right note. If you don't have perfect pitch, though, it might also be the case that your humming was slightly off-key.
- Many pop and rock songs change key. To identify the main key the song is written in, repeat the music behind verses, as opposed to the music accompanying the bridge or even the chorus.
- Play the tonic note on your instrument to confirm the key. Make sure your instrument is in tune, then find the note you've decided is the tonic note, or the key of the song. Start your recording of the song, then play that note on your own instrument in the background of the song. This can help you confirm (better than humming) that you've correctly identified the key for the song.[15]
- If you don't have perfect pitch, you might have to noodle around a little on your instrument before you find the note that matches the one you identified. You might also have to play the recording again. Just keep at it! This kind of experience helps train your ear so notes will be easier to find by ear in the future.
- If you're playing a guitar, you can play either the chord or the single note. If the chord sounds like it fits along with the song, you've also found the key.
- Use the mood of the music to determine if it's major or minor. If the music is bright and cheery sounding, it's likely in a major key. On the other hand, darker, more ominous-sounding songs are typically written in a minor key. Assuming you've already played the song several times, you probably already have a good idea whether it's in a major or minor key.[16]
- Go back to your tonic note and look at how the other notes or chords in the song relate to that tonic note.
- This applies to the way the music of a song sounds, not the lyrics. Songwriters often juxtapose melancholy or serious lyrics with music in a bright and poppy major key (think "Semi-Charmed Life," by Third Eye Blind, or "Hey Ya!" by Outkast, both in G Major).[17]
- You don't necessarily have to know what key a song is in if you're just going to play it note for note. But if you want to improvise or play in a band with other musicians, identifying the key a song is in is crucial.[18]
- You can also search online for the title of the song and the word "key" to find out what key the song was written in. It's a good idea to check several sites to be sure, especially if multiple artists have done covers of the song (which may be in different keys).
[Edit]Warnings - Contemporary rock and pop songs often change keys (typically singing back and forth between the major key and the relative minor key). Figuring out the main key of the song doesn't guarantee that the whole song is in that key.[19]
[Edit]Related wikiHows [Edit]References [Edit]Quick Summary |
| How to Store Baked Muffins Posted: 13 Aug 2020 05:00 PM PDT Homemade muffins are a delicious treat, and they're perfect anytime, whether you're enjoying them for breakfast, an on-the-go snack, or a late-night indulgence. Even better, they're super easy to make yourself! However, after just a couple of days, moisture will start to evaporate from your muffins, leaving the outside soggy and the inside dry. Luckily, you can help slow that process by properly storing your muffins until you're ready to eat them! Keep your muffins in an airtight container at room temperature if you'll be eating them within 3 or 4 days, or freeze them if you want to keep them fresh for up to 3 months. [Edit]Keeping Muffins at Room Temperature - Cool the muffins on a wire rack if they're still warm. When your muffins come out of the oven, transfer them to a wire rack as soon as they're cool enough to handle. The rack will allow air to flow all the way around the muffins, so they'll cool evenly.[1]
- If you put the muffins into a container while they're still warm, the heat will produce condensation, which will then make the surface of the muffins soggy.
- Cover the wire rack with a towel to keep the muffins overnight. If you're planning to eat the muffins within about 24 hours, you don't have to put them into a container at all. Just cover them with a layer of paper towels or a clean kitchen towel to keep your muffins fresh and moist until you're ready for them.[2]
- If you think it will be longer than 24 hours before you eat the muffins, you can put them into containers as soon as they're cool.
- Place the muffins in a paper towel-lined container for up to 4 days. Line the bottom of an airtight container with a layer of paper towels. Then, place a single layer of muffins into the container, and cover the muffins with a second layer of paper towels. The paper towels will help to absorb any condensation that forms, which will help prevent your muffins from getting soggy.[3]
- For best results, use 2 paper towels stacked together on each layer or fold a larger paper towel in half. If you have very thick paper towels, however, a single layer will be fine.
- Store your muffins in a cool, dry place. Try to avoid keeping your muffins in a warm or humid spot, like near your stovetop if you'll be cooking. If the muffins get warm in their container, it could cause them to get stale faster. However, don't put them in the refrigerator—the moisture in the fridge will change the texture of the muffins, creating a sticky top and a dry center.[4]
- If you'll be keeping your muffins longer than 4 days, transfer them to the freezer.[5]
- Reheat the muffins in a oven if you want them warm. While your muffins will be perfectly delicious at room temperature, if you're craving the comfort of another warm muffin after a couple of days, don't fret! Just wrap your muffins in aluminum foil—or put them on a baking sheet covered with foil—and pop them in a preheated oven for about 15 minutes.[6]
- Smaller muffins (about in diameter) will need 12-15 minutes in the oven, while muffins that are or larger will need about 15-18 minutes.
[Edit]Freezing the Muffins - Place your cooled muffins into a resealable freezer bag. To keep your muffins fresh for longer than a few days, cool them completely, then place them in a plastic freezer bag. Squeeze out as much extra air as you can without squishing the muffins, then seal the bag.[7]
- If you'd prefer, you can wrap the muffins tightly in foil or plastic wrap instead of putting them into a bag.[8]
- You can also use a hard-sided container, but try to pick one that won't leave a lot of extra air around the muffins for the best results.
- Keep the muffins in the freezer for up to 3 months. Your muffins will have the best texture and flavor if you eat them within about 12 weeks after freezing. However, they'll still be safe to eat after that—as long as you keep them at a steady temperature of , you can store frozen muffins indefinitely.[9]
- Store your muffins near the back of your freezer, where the temperature will remain the most constant.
- Thaw the muffins by letting them sit at room temperature for half an hour. There's nothing special you have to do when you want to enjoy a fresh muffin again. Just let them sit on the counter for about 30 minutes to defrost, then either eat them cool or heat them in oven or microwave.[10]
- If you're in a hurry, defrost the muffins by wrapping them in a moist paper towel and microwaving them for 30-60 seconds. After the first 30 seconds, take the muffin out of the microwave and check whether it's heated all the way through.[11]
- Wrap the muffins in foil and heat them at for a warm treat. For the closest thing to fresh-from-the-oven muffins, wrap them in foil and place them in the oven at for about 15 minutes. If you have smaller muffins, they'll need about 12-15 minutes, or around 15-18 minutes for larger muffins.[12]
- For best results, let the muffins defrost completely before you put them in the oven. Otherwise, the center may still be cool when they're finished.
- Try putting a little butter on top of the muffins before you reheat them to help restore some of the moisture that may have been lost during the freezing process.
[Edit]Things You'll Need [Edit]Keeping Muffins at Room Temperature - Plastic container
- Paper towels
- Dish towel (optional)
[Edit]Freezing the Muffins - Plastic freezer bag
- Foil or plastic wrap (optional)
- You can use this approach for storing any type of quick bread, including banana bread, biscuits, cornbread, and scones.[13]
[Edit]References |
| How to Make a Mosquito Net Posted: 13 Aug 2020 09:00 AM PDT A mosquito net refers to a canopy that hangs over your bed to keep mosquitos and other pests from biting you while you sleep. They're particularly helpful if you live in a warmer climate or you enjoy keeping your windows open at night. While mosquito nets are not particularly expensive, you can make your net for less than $20 or so. If you can't hang a net from your ceiling, you can easily build a simple frame for your net with PVC pipes and drape uncut mosquito netting over it. [Edit]Measuring for Netting and Rods - Measure the length and width of your bed. Grab a measuring tape and measure the length and width of your bed and frame. Jot down the length and width. The net you buy must hang at least past the edges of the frame for maximum protection, so add to each measurement to find the size of the netting you need.[1]
- If parts of the net hang directly against the frame, bugs may bite you through the net if you roll against it in your sleep.
- The ring-style canopy nets you may have seen are not as effective as the rectangular nets that cover each side evenly. These ring canopies tend to hang unevenly and are fairly distracting when you're trying to sleep.
- Buy a mosquito netting that extends a little past the sides of your bed. Go online and find a mosquito net that's at least bigger than your bed on each side. Make sure that the mosquito net has sleeves for mounting it on a frame. Most nets have sleeves, but just double-check to make sure you aren't buying uncut fabric.[2]
- The height doesn't matter unless you have a vaulted ceiling or a loft-style home. The netting always comes with plenty of height to work with.
- You cannot effectively sew a mosquito net on your own. The holes need to be incredibly small and the fabric has to be extremely breathable. Plus, premade mosquito netting is relatively inexpensive.
- You can still use uncut fabric by hanging it over the frame you're going to assemble, but you'll need to reposition the fabric by hand whenever it slides to one side or another.
- Mosquito netting is pretty cheap. Expect to spend $5-15 on the netting itself.
- Pick up some thin curtain rods and joints to make the frame. Buy 2 curtain rods that match the lengths of your bed and pick up 2 curtain rods that match the width of your bed. In addition, buy 4 elbow joints that match the width of your curtain rod, preferably from the same company that made your rods, to connect them together.[3]
- The thickness of the rods doesn't matter so long as they fit in the sleeve openings on the net. Generally, rods that are thick are perfect for this. The netting isn't very heavy, so you don't need a ton of support.
- If you can't find curtain rods that match the dimensions you need, buy some longer curtain rods and cut them to size with a handsaw. Measure each length or width you need and mark the cuts off with a permanent marker. Gently cut each junction at the spots you mark.[4]
[Edit]Installing the Hooks - Find 4 studs on the ceiling above the corners of your bed. To find a stud, turn a stud finder on and run it over your ceiling above each corner. When it beeps, mark the spot with a small pencil mark. Alternatively, you can knock on the drywall with your knuckle. Studs will sound firm and hard, while hollow drywall will echo a little bit.[5]
- You do not need to measure the distance between your hooks. You're going to hang the frame from wires or cords and the frame doesn't need to hang directly under the hooks for this to work. So long as they're within of the corner, you'll be fine.
- Drill 4 pilot holes in the studs and twist your screw hooks in. Get 4 screw hooks and grab a pilot drill bit that's slightly thinner than the width of your screw hooks. Insert the pilot drill bit into a drill and bore a hole for each hook in the ceiling, just outside the corners of your bed. Place each hole in a stud to keep the frame from ripping the drywall out. Then, twist the screw hooks into the holes you drilled.[6]
- Hang some fishing line or cord around each hook to hang your frame. You can hang your frame with heavy-duty fishing line, or any type of cord. Cut off a length of fishing line or cord and drape a section over each hook you've drilled into the ceiling.[7]
- The exact length of the cord or line doesn't matter. You're going to cut the excess off later, but the more cord or fishing line you have to work with, the better.
- Tie a loop off at the end of the line or cord and slide the other end through. At one end of each length of line or cord, create a small loop and wrap the end of the working end through it. Tie a tight, large knot at the end you slid through the loop and pull the loop tight. The knot will catch on the opening and leave you with a small loop. Let the fishing line or cords hang from your hooks.[8]
- Just to clarify, you are not placing the loops you just made on the hooks. You just need these hoops to hang your frame and adjust the length before tying it up.
[Edit]Assembling Your Frame - Spread the netting out on the bed to line the corners up with the hooks. Take your mosquito net and spread it out on top of your sheets. Adjust the corners of the top of the net to line up with the corners of your bed frame.[9]
- Slide a long rod through the first sleeve on the side of the net. Grab one of your longer rods and feed it through the sleeve on a long side of the net. Run the rod through all the way until it sticks out a little bit past the end of the net on each side.[10]
- The sleeve for the mosquito net may be sequence of loops and it may be located on the inside or outside of the net.
- If you find it hard to feed the rod through the sleeve, you can crumple the net up as you work the rod through to keep the net from catching on the end.
- Grab a shorter rod and slide it through the sleeve on the shorter side. Grab one of your shorter curtain rods. Run it through the sleeve on the shorter side of the mosquito net. Feed each portion of the rod through the sleeve of the mosquito net until the ends stick out on either side.[11]
- Connect the 2 rods using an elbow joint. Some elbow joints screw into the curtain rod, while others just slide into the hollow opening of the rod. Connect the first elbow joint to the end of the long rod where it meets the shorter rod. Then, connect the other end of the elbow joint to the shorter rod to connect the 2 pieces of the frame together.[12]
- Repeat this process with the 2 remaining rods to finish the frame. Take your second longer curtain rod and feed it through the sleeve on the remaining length and connect the end to the shorter rod with a second elbow joint. Then, feed the last short rod through the remaining side. Use 2 elbow joints to connect the ends to the longer lengths on either side to finish assembling the frame.[13]
[Edit]Hanging the Net - Slide the line or cord around the first joint you're hanging. Lift the first corner of the frame up a little and thread the cord or fishing line around the joint. If the sleeves are on the inside of the netting, there is a small corner where the fabric separates to hang the frame. Run the line or cord around the joint.[14]
- Raise the corner until the base of the net rests gently on the ground. Slide the unknotted end of the fishing line or cord through the loop you made earlier. Then, pull the unknotted end to raise the corner up. Continue raising the frame until the bottom of the mosquito net rests gently against the ground.[15]
- Tie the cord or line around the joint to secure it in place. Once the frame is raised to the height you prefer, wrap the unknotted string around itself and make a large knot at the base where it meets the loop you made. Clip the excess cord or fishing line off to finish hanging the first corner.[16]
- You can also tie the cord or fishing line to the loop you made. It doesn't really matter how you secure the line or cord.
- Repeat this process with the remaining 3 joints to finish your net. Continue wrapping the line or cord around the joints one at a time. Raise each corner up until the corner is on the same level as the previous corner. Tie the fishing line or cord off and cut the excess off. You now have a perfectly secure mosquito net over your bed![17]
- Some mosquito nets have a Velcro strip to let you get inside the net. If your net doesn't, just lift the base up and slide underneath it.
[Edit]Warnings - Mosquito nets are flammable. Do not smoke in bed if you're using a mosquito net and keep candles away from your bed.[18]
- Before you go to bed, push the fabric out away from the bed. If you don't, you may end up rolling against the net where the mosquitos can bite you.[19]
[Edit]Things You'll Need - Drill
- Pilot drill bit
- Screw hooks
- Fishing line or cords
- Curtain rods
- Measuring tape
- Mosquito net
- Scissors or utility knife
- Handsaw (optional)
- Permanent marker (optional)
[Edit]References |
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