Detecting sample key?

I've found a clean guitar sample that I've chopped up. How do I detect the samples key or note? I would like to layer a lot of sounds without creating clashes.

Any suggestions?

Know your scales on the keyboard and play them until one matches up.

Use your EARS. They're there to figure out things such as this. It's best that you figure this out rather than some automated program or something.

It's all based on how well you perceive or take in what you're hearing. Some can figure out the craziest of chord progressions or what key a tune sits in, others might have the hardest time trying to even get close.

If you are super lazy and want a QUICK FIX (which I don't recommend). Import it into Melodyne if it just one instrument and it will tell you the notes. Then go look up the key.

LEARN YOUR SCALES.

buy a guitar tuner - works really well

When you say learn the scales do you mean learn every scale as there are major scales, minor scales, and the list is endless ? I have learned a little bit about scales and reading music and i thought it was enough to just learn the basics like major chords and arpeggios and stuff.

It's best that the user figures out the key. The training & the benefits from this will go way beyond just figuring out sample keys and whatnot.

scratch baker wrote:When you say learn the scales do you mean learn every scale as there are major scales, minor scales, and the list is endless ? I have learned a little bit about scales and reading music and i thought it was enough to just learn the basics like major chords and arpeggios and stuff.

Most "pop music" (as in everything besides ethnic, jazz, and classical, etc.) uses mainly major and minor scales. Other types of scales are used sometimes but it just depends, but if you learn major and minor scales that is the best start.

dabmeister wrote:Use your EARS.

Yep. It's a skill that never loses it's worth and far outlives the time it takes to learn it.

i just play my guitar along to the sample and find out the notes, then by that i know what key it is in because i know my scales. all you really need to know is the major scale because the major scale is the minor scale/dorianscale/phrygianscale/lydianscale/mixolydianscale/minorscale/locrian. you just need to know what keys (major scales) have what notes sharped/flattened.