List of GD song Keys & Scales

[mikeohiostate]

Well, I think it's about time somebody broke this new think tank in.

I think it would be VERY helpful for those begginer/intermediates among us if we compiled a list of keys and scales used for GD songs.

For an example:
SONG NAME:
KEY OF:
RECOMENDED SCALES:

I will keep editting this post to update new entries that you all add. Thanks to everyone who has contributed to this list.


AS OF 2/21/06

Code: Select all

SONG NAME: Althea
KEY OF: E
RECOMENDED SCALE: Blues pent/Minor

SONG NAME Ain't Superstitious:
KEY OF: G
RECOMENDED SCALES:Blues/Pent

SONG NAME: Black Peter
Key: A
Scale: A mixolydian

SONG NAME: Bird Song
KEY OF: E
RECOMENDED SCALES:Mixolydian

SONG NAME: Big Boss Man
KEY OF: E
RECOMENDED SCALES:Pent Major

KEY OF: A
RECOMENDED SCALES: Pent Major

SONG NAME: Brown Eyed Women
KEY OF: E
RECOMENDED SCALES:Pent Major

SONG NAME: Bertha
KEY OF: G + C
RECOMENDED SCALES:Pent Major

SONG NAME: China Cat Sunflower
KEY OF: G - Jam at end is in D
RECOMENDED SCALES: Mixolydian Scale

SONG NAME: Cassidy
KEY OF: E
RECOMENDED SCALES: Lydian

SONG NAME: Comes A Time
KEY OF: F#m
RECOMENDED SCALES: Phrygian

SONG NAME: CC Rider
KEY OF: A
RECOMENDED SCALES:Blues Pent/Minor

SONG NAME: Cumberland Blues
KEY OF: G
RECOMENDED SCALES: Blues Pent/Minor

SONG NAME: Cold Rain & Snow
Key: E
Scale: E mixolydian

SONG NAME: Dark Star
KEY OF: A
RECOMENDED SCALES: Mixolydian

SONG NAME: Dancin in the Streets
KEY OF: A
RECOMENDED SCALES: Mixolydian

SONG NAME: Deep Elem Blues
Key: E
Scale: Sorta E major. Kenny had posted a great thread about this one

SONG NAME: Eyes Of the World
KEY OF: E
RECOMENDED SCALES: Major

SONG NAME: Estimated Prophet
KEY OF: F#m
RECOMENDED SCALES: Dorian

SONG NAME: Friend Of the Devil
KEY OF: G
RECOMENDED SCALES: Major Scale

SONG NAME: Fire On the Mountain
KEY OF: E
RECOMENDED SCALES: B Mixolydian

SONG NAME: Franklyn's tower
KEY OF: D
RECOMENDED SCALES: A mixolydian

SONG NAME: Heaven Help The Fool
KEY OF: A
RECOMENDED SCALES: Lydian

SONG NAME: I need A Miracle
KEY OF: E/ Key change to G
RECOMENDED SCALES: Blues pent/minor

SONG NAME: Lady With A Fan
KEY OF: F
RECOMENDED SCALES: Lydian

SONG NAME: Little Red Rooster
KEY OF: A
RECOMENDED SCALES: Blues pent/Minor

SONG NAME: Lovelight
KEY OF: E
RECOMENDED SCALES: Pent Major

SONG NAME: Minglewood Blues
KEY OF: E
RECOMENDED SCALES: Blues/Pent Minor

SONG NAME: Me and My Uncle
KEY OF: G
RECOMENDED SCALES: Pent Major

SONG NAME: Mama Tried
KEY OF: D
RECOMENDED SCALES: Pent Major

SONG NAME: Music Never Stopped
KEY OF: E
RECOMENDED SCALES: Blues Pent/Minor

SONG NAME: One More Saturday Night
Key: C (modulate up, I think)
Scale: C blues/pent minor

SONG NAME: Playin In The Band
KEY OF: D(old Skool)
RECOMENDED SCALES: Dorian

SONG NAME: Scarlet Begonias
KEY OF: B
RECOMENDED SCALES: Mixolydian

SONG NAME: Sugaree
KEY OF: E
RECOMENDED SCALES: B Mixolydian - E Major

SONG NAME: Stagger Lee
KEY OF: G
RECOMENDED SCALES: Pent Major

SONG NAME: ShakeDown Street
KEY OF: C
RECOMENDED SCALES: Mixolydian

SONG NAME: The Wheel
KEY OF: C
RECOMENDED SCALES: Ionian Scale

SONG NAME: The Other One
KEY OF: E
RECOMENDED SCALES: Dorian

SONG NAME: Truckin'
Key: E
Scale: E pent minor, E mixo at end jam

SONG NAME: Uncle John's Band
KEY OF: G
RECOMENDED SCALES: Ionian Scale

SONG NAME: Valerie
Key: E
Scale: Blues & mixolydian over A & E; B blues over Bm. Lean on blue note in A (C) and E (G).

SONG NAME: Wharf Rat
KEY OF: A
RECOMENDED SCALES: Mixolydian

MORE STUFF:

Code: Select all

Alligator:
# Key: C/Am, then E
# Time signature: 4/4
# Chords used: C, F, Am, A, Dm, C7, G7, E, Em


Believe It or Not:
#  Key: C
# Time signature: 3/4 (Directions: "In one")
# Chords used: G, E-flat, B-flat, F, D7, G6,    Fmaj7,Am, Em, B,

Em7, A7, B7


Black Muddy River:
# Key: A
# Time signature: Cut time ("Moderately slow, in 2")
# Chords used: A, E, Bm, D, Bm7, F#m


Black Peter:
# Key: D (Bridge in C or Am--ambiguous)
# Time signature: 4/4
# Chords used: A7, G#7, E7, D7, C#7/D, D7sus, Em, Bm, A, G, F#m,

C,D, Fmaj7, F, D5


Blues for Allah:
# Key: None (implied F)
# Time signature: Varies
# Chords used: None (implied f7, G#dim4, F, Gdim4, etc.)


Box of Rain:
# Key: G
# Time signature: 4/4 (with an occasional 2/4 measure)
# Chords used: A, Bm7/A, Asus4, D, Am, Em, C, G, Bm


Broke-Down Palace:
# Key: F
# Time signature: Cut time
# Chords used: G, Am, B-flat, F, Dm, A


Brown-Eyed Women:
# Key: F/Dm
# Time signature: 4/4 (with an occasional 2/4 measure)
# Chords used: Dm, F, B-flat, C, Gm, Cm, Am


Candyman:
# Key: C
# Time signature: 4/4 (12/8 feeling)
# Chords used: B-flat, F, C, G, Gm, Dm, Am7


Casey Jones:
# Key: C (seems appropriate...)
# Time signature: 4/4
# Chords used: C, F, Fsus4, D, G, E7, Am, G7, A+, B-flat, A7, D7


China Cat Sunflower:
# Key: G
# Time signature: 4/4
# Chords used: G, F, D, E, B, A


Cumberland Blues:
# Key: G
# Time signature: Cut time
# Chords used: G, G7, F#, B-flat, B, A, A-flat, D, C, F, Am7, C7,

Em


Deal:
# Key: A
# Time signature: 4/4 ("Moderately bright, with a 12/8 feeling")
# Chords used: A, C#7, F#m, D7, F#, B, Adim, G


Far From Me:
# Key: D
# Time signature: 4/4
# Chords used: D7, G, D, A, Dmaj7, Gmaj7, F#sus, F#, Bm, Em, G6


France:
# Key: G
# Time signature: 4/4 (with an occasional 3/4 to keep us on our

toes...)
# Chords used: G, D7, Em, C#m7-5, F#7sus4, F#7, Bm, Em7, Em6, D,

A, C, Dmaj13


Golden Road (to Unlimited Devotion):
# Key: D
# Time signature: 4/4
# Chords used: D, C6, G, F, C, F7-9/B-flat


He's Gone:
# Key: F
# Time signature: 4/4
# Chords used: F, Fsus4/sus2, F7, B-flat, C,E-flat, A-flat, E-

flatm


If I Had the World To Give:
# Key: C (i.e. no sharps or flats...)
# Time signature: 4/4
# Chords used: A-flat maj7, C, G7, F, Dm, E, Am, G, C7, F maj7,

B-flat maj9, F sus4, B-flat7, Fm9


Jack Straw:
# Key: E
# Time signature: Cut time
# Chords used: E, Esus4, F#m, C#m, A, Bm, D, G#m, B, E7, F#7sus4,

F#7


Loser:
# Key: Am
# Time signature: 4/4 (12/8 feeling)
# Chords used: Am, G, C, D, Em, Am7, A, Am6


Mr. Charlie:
# Key: A
# Time signature: 4/4
# Chords used: A7, D, A, E, C, C#, D#


New Potato Caboose:
# Key: Two sharps in the key signature; not really in D, though.
# Time signature: 4/4 with one 2/4 measure.
# Chords used: D7, F, G, C, C#m, A, B-flat, GmE7, D7sus4.


The Other One:
# Key: First part: Three sharps (quasi-A); Second part: E
# Time signature: First part: 4/4; Second part: 12/8
# Chords used: First part: E, A(no 3rd), A, G, Em, D, C(no 3rd),

B(no 3rd), Am, G#, F#7, B7; Second part: E, D, C, A, G, B


Ripple:
# Key: G
# Time signature: 4/4
# Chords used: G, D, C, A, F#, G7, Am


Saint of Circumstance:
# Key: A
# Time signature:4/4
# Chords used: C/B-flat, A, G, D, A7, C, Bm, B-flat, E, F#m, B7,

F#m7


Scarlet Begonias:
# Key: E
# Time signature: 4/4
# Chords used: E, B, A, F#


Stagger Lee:
# Key: F (Bridge in G)
# Time signature: Cut time
# Chords used: F, C, B-flat, A A-flat, G7, A7, Em, D, G,


Sunrise:
# Key: Am modulating to D
# Time signature: 4/4
# Chords used: Am, D, F, G, E, E7Esus4, Dsus4, Em, B-flat, B-

flat7sus4, G7, G7+9, Fmaj7, D7, A(no 3rd)


Terrapin Station:
# Key:

    * Lady with a Fan: C modulating to
    * Terrapin Station: E
    * At a Siding: Two flats, no "key" per se, modulates back to

D in anticipation of the Terrapin reprise.
# Time signature:

    * Lady: 4/4, then 6/8, then 3/8, then 2/4, then 4/4
    * Terrapin: 4/4, then 2/4, then 4/4, then 3/4, then 4/4, then

2/4, then 4/4, then 3/4
    * Siding: 4/4
# Chords used:

    * Lady: F, G, Dm, C, Am9, Dm9, B, Em, C7, Fmaj7, C9, E
    * Terrapin Station: E, A, A7, D, C#m, Gmaj7, D, Dmaj7, D#m7-

5, Bm;
    * Siding: no chord, then E-flat, D.


To Lay Me Down:
# Key: G
# Time signature: 3/4 ("Moderately slow Gospel: 9/8 feeling")
# Chords used: D, C, G, Am, Em, Bm Bm7, A, D7. E, Gsus4, Dsus


Truckin':
# Key: E
# Time signature: 12/8
# Chords used: E, A, B, Bsus4, G, D, F#, Amaj7


U.S. Blues:
# Key: A
# Time signature: 4/4
# Chords used: A, D, E, B, E7


Victim of the Crime:
    * Key: Four sharps; ambiguous key (B/C#m)
    * Time signature: 4/4
    * Chords used: B5, Bsus2, Bm, G/B, E7/B, Esus4, E+5, E5, E6,

C, A9, A/G#, A, B/A, Asus2, Am, F/A, D, Csus2, C#m, F#m.


West L.A. Fadeaway:
# Key: Am
# Time signature: 4/4
# Chords used: Am, B7, E7(#9), D, C6, F9, G5, A5


The Wheel:
# Key: C (with dominant sevenths prominent)
# Time signature: 4/4
# Chords used: C, G, F, B-flat













[strumminsix]

Love the idea, and it's been done.

Someone, somewhere and I've seen it!

But I can't remember where?

Something I've been working on is an excel that has the following columns:
song - vers - chorus - bridge - intro/outro

It needs some work and formatting but it's coming along great!

[ebick]

It is a great idea, and it has been brought up, but definately not done.....at least not as formally as proposed here.

At one point, I had discussed with Kenny the idea of adding such information to the tab itself.

As you are I'm sure aware, I've generally avoided tabbing out specific solos, but would be real open to putting a section called "Reccommended Scale(s) For Solos" on them.

[mikeohiostate]

strumminsix, is there any way you could post the excel to this thread? that would be so helpful!

lets start this list.

ebrick, adding the key and scales to the actuall tab would be a great idea

[strumminsix]

I've got to find it. But when I do, I will share.

[otherones90210]

SONG NAME: Althea
KEY OF: E
RECOMENDED SCALE: Blues pent/Minor

SONG NAME Ain't Superstitious:
KEY OF: G
RECOMENDED SCALES:Blues/Pent

SONG NAME: Bird Song
KEY OF: E
RECOMENDED SCALES:Mixolydian

SONG NAME: Big Boss Man
KEY OF: E
RECOMENDED SCALES:Pent Major

SONG NAME: Big Railroad Blues


KEY OF: A
RECOMENDED SCALES: Pent Major

SONG NAME: Brown Eyed Women
KEY OF: E
RECOMENDED SCALES:Pent Major

SONG NAME: Bertha
KEY OF: G + C
RECOMENDED SCALES:Pent Major

SONG NAME: China Cat Sunflower
KEY OF: G - Jam at end is in D
RECOMENDED SCALES: Mixolydian Scale

SONG NAME: Cassidy
KEY OF: E
RECOMENDED SCALES: Lydian

SONG NAME: Comes A Time
KEY OF: F#m
RECOMENDED SCALES: Phrygian

SONG NAME: CC Rider
KEY OF: A
RECOMENDED SCALES:Blues Pent/Minor

SONG NAME: Cumberland Blues
KEY OF: G
RECOMENDED SCALES: Blues Pent/Minor

SONG NAME: Dark Star
KEY OF: A
RECOMENDED SCALES: Mixolydian

SONG NAME: Dancin in the Streets
KEY OF: A
RECOMENDED SCALES: Mixolydian

SONG NAME: Eyes Of the World
KEY OF: E
RECOMENDED SCALES: Major

SONG NAME: Estimated Prophet
KEY OF: F#m
RECOMENDED SCALES: Dorian

SONG NAME: Friend Of the Devil
KEY OF: G
RECOMENDED SCALES: Major Scale

SONG NAME: Fire On the Mountain
KEY OF: B
RECOMENDED SCALES: Mixolydian

SONG NAME: Franklyn's tower
KEY OF: A
RECOMENDED SCALES: Pent Major/Mixolydian

SONG NAME: Heaven Help The Fool
KEY OF: A
RECOMENDED SCALES: Lydian

SONG NAME: I need A Miracle
KEY OF: E/ Key change to G
RECOMENDED SCALES: Blues pent/minor

SONG NAME: Lady With A Fan
KEY OF: F
RECOMENDED SCALES: Lydian

SONG NAME: Little Red Rooster
KEY OF: A
RECOMENDED SCALES: Blues pent/Minor

SONG NAME: Lovelight
KEY OF: E
RECOMENDED SCALES: Pent Major

SONG NAME: Minglewood Blues
KEY OF: E
RECOMENDED SCALES: Blues/Pent Minor

SONG NAME: Me and My Uncle
KEY OF: G
RECOMENDED SCALES: Pent Major

SONG NAME: Mama Tried
KEY OF: D
RECOMENDED SCALES: Pent Major

SONG NAME: Music Never Stopped
KEY OF: E
RECOMENDED SCALES: Blues Pent/Minor

SONG NAME: Playin In The Band
KEY OF: D(old Skool)
RECOMENDED SCALES: Dorian

SONG NAME: Scarlet Begonias
KEY OF: B
RECOMENDED SCALES: Mixolydian

SONG NAME: Sugaree
KEY OF: B
RECOMENDED SCALES: Pent Major

SONG NAME: Stagger Lee
KEY OF: G
RECOMENDED SCALES: Pent Major

SONG NAME: ShakeDown Street
KEY OF: C
RECOMENDED SCALES: Mixolydian

SONG NAME: The Wheel
KEY OF: C
RECOMENDED SCALES: Ionian Scale

SONG NAME: The Other One
KEY OF: E
RECOMENDED SCALES: Dorian

SONG NAME: Uncle John's Band
KEY OF: G
RECOMENDED SCALES: Ionian Scale

SONG NAME: Wharf Rat
KEY OF: A
RECOMENDED SCALES: Mixolydian

[mikeohiostate]

god bless you!

[waldo041]

let me jut say that this will eventually be the most read thread here. kudos! i just have some clearing up in my head to do for myself and maybe others.

SONG NAME: The Other One
KEY OF: Em
RECOMENDED SCALES: Dorian

this one i believe should be in the key of E the dorian scale invokes the minor tonality, but is this E dorian or the 2nd of E - F# dorian

SONG NAME: Wharf Rat
KEY OF: A
RECOMENDED SCALES: Mixolydian

this one i believe is in A but again is it A mixolydian or the 5th of A - E mixolydian

SONG NAME: Eyes Of the World
KEY OF: E
RECOMENDED SCALES: Major

i edited this post because after reading it again i thought of another scenario.
ok, eyes is in the key of E and the recommended scale is major, but does major mean major mode's(ionian,lydian, mixolydian)?
i have also heard that the recommended scale was mixolydian so this is why i am being thrown off. i am sure you can manipulate either to work but which one is it?

SONG NAME: The Wheel
KEY OF: C
RECOMENDED SCALES: Major Scale

this one clearly lets's me know it is a C ionian(I-Major) scale, no question here.

thanks for clearing these ?'s up for me. i believe that this is the hiccup i run into in trying to learn how to use the modes. any help is greatly appreciated.

peace,
waldo

[otherones90210]

Well, like the title of the post suggests these are some "good suggestions" as to where to start in playing these songs. With "the other one" yes it is in "D Dorian" that was a typo and I fixed it.

Wharf Rat I've always played in A mixolydian though I believe when I deciphered it I was listening to a ratdog recording so it may not be the case with Grateful dead versions.

It should be kept in mind that some GD songs would change keys and modes as they evolved. For instance Bird song changed from E to d and these days Phil Lesh plays Scarlet Begonias a FUll 2 and half steps down so that he can sing it.

The ones that I have listed here are great starting points for playing these songs, if not the exact keys and modes for playing them.

I thought what Mikeohiostate had suggested was a great idea and wanted to get the ball rolling on this so I took the time to get these out there.

In reading mike's post again I realize now that he had wanted me to pm them to him so he can edit his post and keep adding them. Sorry about that it. While I in no way mean to steal your thunder Mike if it's all the same to you I could just continue to add others that are sent me as I intend on adding more regularily on my own as well.

Now that I got this started let's Keep em Coming I would like to have has many in my post as there are songs on the main page.

If you got one or think a correction needs to be made on one of the songs listed here PM it to me or if you like you can send it at otherones90210@hotmail.com.

[Robey]

I'm not sure these are are correct, but at least it might fill in a few more tunes. The below aren't necessarily my work, but usually something I scribbled down if I saw it somewhere....Maybe somebody can correct me if they are wrong. This is an awesome thread. Thanks, guys!

Black Peter
Key: A
Scale: A mixolydian

Cold Rain & Snow
Key: E
Scale: E mixolydian

Deep Elem Blues
Key: E
Scale: Sorta E major. Kenny had posted a great thread about this one

Fire On The Mountain
Key: B
Scale: B mixolydian

One More Saturday Night
Key: C (modulate up, I think)
Scale: C blues/pent minor

Truckin'
Key: E
Scale: E pent minor, E mixo at end jam

Valerie
Key: E
Scale: Blues & mixolydian over A & E; B blues over Bm. Lean on blue note in A (C) and E (G).

[waldo041]

With "the other one" yes it is in "D Dorian" that was a typo and I fixed it.

now i am really confused, if it is in D dorian then that suggest to me that it is in the key of C where d dorian resides.??? can someone clue me in?

SONG NAME: The Other One
KEY OF: Em
RECOMENDED SCALES: Dorian

the second of the key of E is F#, so why not an F# dorian scale here? i can understand using an E dorian and maybe a E phrygian. now i believe i am answering my own questions.

maybe putting the actual mode or scale will help, like

RECOMMENDED SCALES: E Dorian ,

or;

RECOMMENDED SCALES: E Aeolian, E minor Pent

explaining it like this would help dumbass's like myself better understand without overanalyzing. just a suggestion.

It should be kept in mind that some GD songs would change keys and modes as they evolved. For instance Bird song changed from E to d and these days Phil Lesh plays Scarlet Begonias a FUll 2 and half steps down so that he can sing it.

this is well understood, and used throughout music.

thanks for the work you guys have submitted.

peace,
waldo

[mikeohiostate]

theotherones--

its alll good man, i was thinking we could compile them in one huge list after the thread grew large enough, im just glad to see this being taken on with such dedication!


thanks to all those who are helping make this list.

-mike

[sarraqum]

How about Mississippi Half-Step?

I tried playing it in C mixolydian but it sounds dead wrong...

[shakedown_04092]

not that I need to say that this is a great idea, but it is.

Waldo - I agree with you. It would be easier if it was written as:

Key of: A
Recommended scale: A mixolydian, A Ionian


That would certainly make more sense to dumbass's like myself as well. I am currently taking lessons from a very good lead guitar player here in Portland, ME, but it is slow coming. I get frustrated because I don't think I'm learning as quick as I should or could. Sometimes the stuff just doesn't make sense. The keys of/scales to use confuse me. Anyways, like someone else said, I think too that in time, this will be the most read post on the forum.

Thanks again for getting it started. Truly a great help.

[shakedown_04092]

let me jut say that this will eventually be the most read thread here. kudos! i just have some clearing up in my head to do for myself and maybe others.

SONG NAME: The Other One
KEY OF: Em
RECOMENDED SCALES: Dorian

this one i believe should be in the key of E the dorian scale invokes the minor tonality, but is this E dorian or the 2nd of E - F# dorian

SONG NAME: Wharf Rat
KEY OF: A
RECOMENDED SCALES: Mixolydian

this one i believe is in A but again is it A mixolydian or the 5th of A - E mixolydian

SONG NAME: Eyes Of the World
KEY OF: E
RECOMENDED SCALES: Major

i edited this post because after reading it again i thought of another scenario.
ok, eyes is in the key of E and the recommended scale is major, but does major mean major mode's(ionian,lydian, mixolydian)?
i have also heard that the recommended scale was mixolydian so this is why i am being thrown off. i am sure you can manipulate either to work but which one is it?

SONG NAME: The Wheel
KEY OF: C
RECOMENDED SCALES: Major Scale

this one clearly lets's me know it is a C ionian(I-Major) scale, no question here.

thanks for clearing these ?'s up for me. i believe that this is the hiccup i run into in trying to learn how to use the modes. any help is greatly appreciated.

peace,
waldo

Was wondering if someone could clear this up for me and maybe a few others. I ahve some of the same questions as Waldo does, and if someone could clarify these, it would be a great help into learning the key/modes to use in songs.


PS -

To Ed, or whom it may concern,

Is there anyway we can devote a page (maybe in the left-hand margin, in red?) specifically to this idea/topic of listing all the GD songs, the Key they are in, and the recommended scal/mode(s) to use? It would be a huge help to a lot of beginners out there looking to delve into the solos. Thanks in advance for any help.

Thanks,

Ben