Energy and Key

Terms you should know

• Key
  • The main group of pitches, or notes, that form the harmonic foundation of a piece of music.

The plots below show the energy level by key. Most of Taylor Swift’s songs are above 0.50, and most of Bach’s are below. The most common keys for Bach are G major, E major, B minor, and D major, while the most common keys for Taylor Swift are C major, D major, G major, and F major. The most energetic albums for Taylor Swift are 1989, Speak Now, and Fearless. The least energetic albums are folklore and evermore. For Bach, the most energetic albums are Innovations: Bach, and J. S. Bach: Cantatas. The least energetic album is Bach on Porthan Organ.