Song Key Finder
Enter the chords from any song and instantly find the key — with a confidence score for each candidate.
Separate chords with spaces, commas, or new lines. Include both major (G, C) and minor (Em, Am) chords for best accuracy.
Enter your chords above to find the key.
What key is this song in?
Enter all the chords from the song — the tool scores each of the 12 major keys based on how many of your chords are diatonic (naturally belonging) to that key. The key with the highest match percentage is most likely. For ambiguous songs, check the second and third candidates — some songs borrow chords from relative keys or use modal mixture.
How to Find the Key of a Song
The quickest way to find a song's key is to look at its chords. Every major key has seven diatonic chords that naturally belong to it, and most songs use only those chords. Enter the chords from your song above and the tool scores each of the 12 major keys based on how many of your chords fit. The key with the highest score is almost always correct for songs with simple, diatonic harmony. For songs that borrow chords or use modal mixture, multiple candidates will show close scores, so use your ear to confirm.
What Key Is This Song In?
Most pop and rock songs are written in a single major or minor key. The key determines which chords and notes sound "at home" in the song. If a song uses the chords G, D, Em, and C, those four chords are all diatonic to G major, so the song is almost certainly in G major (or its relative minor, E minor). Knowing the key helps you transpose the song, add improvised solos, harmonize vocal lines, and understand the song's emotional character.
Finding the Key of a Song by Ear
If you don't have the chord chart, you can find the key by ear using a few methods. The "do re mi" method: hum along to the song and find the note that feels like "home" or "rest". That note is typically the tonic of the key. The chord method: the first and last chord of a song is usually the tonic chord (I chord), so try playing major and minor versions and see which sounds resolved. You can also use our pitch detector to identify the notes you're humming and cross-reference with the circle of fifths.
Know the key. Now write the song — drag chords onto your lyrics in Chordly's editor.
Drag and drop chords directly onto your lyrics, build guitar tabs, and practice hands-free with autoscroll Play Mode. All in your browser — no download needed.
