How Many Musical Keys are There in Western Pop Music?

Western pop music has standardized around the major and minor scales, which gives us a total of 12 different keys to work with.

The Major Scale

In Western music, there are a total of twelve notes within an octave, which are represented by the seven letters A, B, C, D, E, F, and G. Each note can be sharpened or flattened, giving us a total of twelve notes. Each of these notes corresponds to a key on a piano.

The Major Scale Formula

The major scale is a musical scale with seven notes, each separated by a whole step. The first and last notes in the scale are separated by a semitone (or half step). The major scale is the most important of all the scales in Western music, and it forms the basis for many other scales and modes.

There are twelve major keys in Western music, each with its own distinctive sound. The major keys are: C, G, D, A, E, B, F#/Gb, Db, Ab, Eb, Bb, and F. The key of C is the most important of all the major keys, because it is the starting point for many other scales and modes.

The major scale formula is: whole step – whole step – half step – whole step – whole step – whole step – half step. This formula can be applied to any starting note to create a major scale in that key. For example, if we start on the note A, we would use this formula to create an A major scale: A-B-C#-D-E-F#-G#-A.

The Major Scale Intervals

The major scale is the most important scale in Western music. It is used in nearly every genre of music, from pop to classical. The major scale has seven notes, which are separated by intervals. The major scale intervals are as follows:

Root: The root is the note that the major scale is named after. For example, if the major scale is C major, then the root note is C.

Second: The second note of the major scale is a whole step (two semitones) above the root. In C major, this would be D.

Third: The third note of the major scale is a whole step (two semitones) above the second. In C major, this would be E.

Fourth: The fourth note of the major scale is a half step (one semitone) above the third. In C major, this would be F.

Fifth: The fifth note of the major scale is a whole step (two semitones) above the fourth. In C major, this would be G.

Sixth: The sixth note of the major scale is a whole step (two semitones) above the fifth. In C major, this would be A.

Seventh: The seventh note of the major scale is a half step (one semitone) above the sixth. In Cmajor, this would be B.

The Minor Scale

There are twelve notes in the western chromatic scale. This scale is used in most types of popular music. Each key on a piano has a different note, which corresponds to a different note in the chromatic scale. The minor scale is a subset of the chromatic scale, and it consists of seven notes.

The Minor Scale Formula

There are three types of minor scales in Western music: natural, harmonic, and melodic. The natural minor scale is the one most often used in pop and rock music. To form a natural minor scale, start with the major scale of the same name and lower the third, sixth, and seventh notes by one half step each. For example, the A natural minor scale would be A-B-C-D-E-F-G.

The harmonic minor scale is similar to the natural minor scale, but with a raised seventh note. This results in a more dissonant sound, which is why it’s not used as often in pop music. However, it’s still used occasionally, particularly in classical and jazz music. To form a harmonic minor scale, start with the major scale of the same name and lower the third, sixth, and seventh notes by one half step each. Then raise the seventh note by one half step. For example, the A harmonic minor scale would be A-B-C-D-E-F-G#.

The melodic minor scale is used more often in jazz than in any other genre. To form a melodic minor scale, start with the major scale of the same name and lower the third note by one half step. When ascending (moving up) the scale, leave this note lowered; when descending (moving down) the scale, raise it back to its original pitch. For example, an ascending A melodic minor scale would be A-B-C#-D-E-F#-G#; a descending A melodic minor scale would be A-Bb-C#-Dd=Eb=F=Gb=G#=A.

The Minor Scale Intervals

The minor scale is a musical scale that is built off of the first, third, and fifth notes of the major scale. It gives the music a sadder or more serious sound. The natural minor scale has no sharps or flats. The Harmonic minor scale has a flattened seventh note, and the Melodic minor scale has flattened sixth and seventh notes when going up the scale, but returns to the natural minor when going back down.

Other Scales

The Chromatic Scale

The chromatic scale is a series of 12 tones that are each a half step apart. These tones can be represented by the notes C, C#/Db, D, D#/Eb, E, F, F#/Gb, G, G#/Ab, A, A#/Bb, and B. These notes can also be referred to as natural, sharp, flat, or double sharp/double flat. The chromatic scale is the most basic scale in western music and is the foundation for all other scales.

The Pentatonic Scale

There are only five notes in a pentatonic scale as opposed to the seven notes in a major or minor scale. This means that the pentatonic scale can be played over any chord progression since it will never clash with the chords. It also means that there are only five possible shapes that you need to learn for the Pentatonic scale on guitar. This makes it ideal for beginners who are trying to solo over chords. The most famous pentatonic scale is probably the one used in “My Bonnie Lies Over The Ocean” which is why it’s sometimes called the “ Scottishscale.”

The Blues Scale

The blues scale is a minor pentatonic scale with an added flat 5th, or blues note. This extra note gives the scale a bluesy sound and makes it versatile for soloing over minor chord progressions. The notes of the blues scale are: root, flat 3rd, 4th, flat 5th, 5th, and flat 7th.

Conclusion

In conclusion, it is difficult to say definitively how many musical keys are used in Western pop music. However, it is safe to say that the vast majority of songs are written in major or minor keys, with a smaller number of songs written in other keys such as modal, blues, or pentatonic. While there is no single answer to this question, it is clear that the use of different keys helps to create a diverse range of sounds and emotions in pop music.