The Songwriter Forum - songwriting reviews, tips and chat
Songwriter Forum => The Bar => Topic started by: rightly on June 10, 2019, 08:30:28 PM
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Is there a way to do a key change in the song n then bring it back to the original key at the end? If so then how?
I've a slow song which presently seems to have a verse to many. Rather than cut this verse I'd rather keep it, almost as it is. Maybe something similar in a different key.
The chord progression is something like
A d f#m c#m e a
I've never tried this before. If I succeed, something might stick n I'll feel mightily accomplished.
Can anyone help?
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I've seen that some artists/bands do this in the last chorus for example. Where they raise the key one octave or just half an octave. My Heart Will Go On (Celine Dion) and Night Changes (One Direction) are the two I can think of right now :) Hope that helps a little on your way
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There are several ways to change key in a song. You could go from the E to Am rather than A. There are then three keys you could use, C, G or F. To get back to the original key of A just play an E or E7. Listen to the chord progression to make sure it sounds good to your ear.
Alternatively you could follow the circle of fifths. From E you go to C, then G, then D then back to A.
It gets to be a bit like maths and can become really complicated.
Finally you could just pick a key and move straight there, when you've finished in that key just jump back. It can sound weird but if the lyrics are weird they could both work together.
Just experiment and see what sounds good and what doesn't.
Hope this helps. If you have any questions on what I've written, just ask.
Keith
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@Rightly (http://www.songwriterforum.co.uk/index.php?action=profile;u=20219) - I ain't clever nor a theorist, and I don't have an Axe with me right now,but there might be something in the following...
Following on from @diademgrove (http://www.songwriterforum.co.uk/index.php?action=profile;u=19135) - You could go E , A, then Am to take it to where your ears think is right, sod the Theory, you'll be guided, sure 'nuff. There will probably be a G or an D with an F# bass in there somewhere too...
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Thanks guys.
I'll give it a try
I'll try to follow my ear n just plunge in.
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Hi, you can do it with yer actual chords of course but you can also do it on the project page of cubase...just add a transpose track, then you can move the song to which ever key you want...can't say I've ever heard a song that goes up a key then comes back down though..it usually stays up dunnit?
pm me if you have any probs with it.. :)
@Rightly (http://www.songwriterforum.co.uk/index.php?action=profile;u=20219)
best, Kevin
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Hi @Rightly (http://www.songwriterforum.co.uk/index.php?action=profile;u=20219)
Check this out
It starts off in Am, changes to Cm for the solo, then back to Am for the ending, you could try finding out your original key and change up to the third then back, it worked for us and ZZ Top!
Cheers, Mikey