Changes

In traditional Western music, the '''key''' is the tonal center of a composition.  The choice of key determines which of the other notes in the scale will be considered "natural".

In traditional Western music, the '''key''' is the tonal center of a composition.  The choice of key determines which of the other notes in the scale will be considered "natural".

The Western scale divides the octave into twelve notes (plus the [[octave]], at double the [[frequency]] of the lowest note).  Any given key uses eight of these, or seven plus the octave, from which the [[composer]] can construct [[melody|melodies]] and [[harmony|harmonies]].  Since many times the judicious use of the other five notes, also known as chromaticism, will make the music more compelling, we have notation devices to indicate when they are used instead of their natural counterparts. A piece of music will also often change keys at various times, known as [[modulation]].  This is usually done by moving to a closely related key, that is, one whose [[key signature]] only differs by one sharp or flat in either direction.  An easy way to find which keys are related in this way is to follow the circle of fifths.  

The Western scale divides the octave into twelve notes (plus the [[octave]], at double the [[frequency]] of the lowest note).  Any given key uses eight of these, or seven plus the octave, from which the [[composer]] can construct [[melody|melodies]] and [[harmony|harmonies]].  Since many times the judicious use of the other five notes, also known as [[chromaticism]], will make the music more compelling, we have notation devices to indicate when they are used instead of their natural counterparts. A piece of music will also often change keys at various times, known as [[modulation]].  This is usually done by moving to a closely related key, that is, one whose [[key signature]] only differs by one sharp or flat in either direction.  An easy way to find which keys are related in this way is to follow the circle of fifths.  

The notes used in the key of C major (corresponding to the white notes on the piano) are C, D, E, F, G, A, B and C.  When sung or played, these are often referred to by their respective names ''do'', ''re'', ''mi'', ''fa'', ''so'', ''la'' ''ti'', and ''do''.

The notes used in the key of C major (corresponding to the white notes on the piano) are C, D, E, F, G, A, B and C.  When sung or played, these are often referred to by their respective names ''do'', ''re'', ''mi'', ''fa'', ''so'', ''la'' ''ti'', and ''do''.