Music Key

Instruments in Sky play music in different music keys, so that all player music blends well with other music in the environment. These key changes happen automatically so that most players do not have to worry about it. However, experienced musicians may want to understand or control their instrument's key.

If you have selected a Music Sheet (or if someone nearby has selected one), your instrument's key will always be determined by the music sheet; see Music Sheets for all their keys. Otherwise, your instrument's key matches the background music, based on your current location, as detailed in Finding Keys

You can pause your key at any time by completely lowering the volume of the background music in the Audio Settings in-game.

Audio Settings

Finding Keys

Currently, you can only get specific keys by going to certain areas that have the right notes in their background music. Often, you'll have to wait a while for the music to quiet down before starting your practice/performance session. Below, you'll find suggested locations for specific keys. However, these are not the only places that support a specific key of your choice, though notably the most convenient.

Here is an infographic summarising this section, made by Clement#8978 on Discord.

Infographic by Clement#8978 on Discord (posted with permission)

If you prefer a video, here's a guide to help:

Where to find all 12 major scales - Sky- Children of the Light

The Original Sound Track (OST) page does include the in-game keys for some tracks. If you are familiar with the game locations of the tracks and have access to the OST, that page may also be helpful.

C major

The majority of music sheets are in C major. These include Music Sheets 1, 2, 3, HH3, HH4, HH5, and others. Some places that give you the C major key include:

• Homespace
• The Temple in Hidden Forest. Mute the background music.
• The Upper or Lower (the Graveyard) Swamps in Golden Wasteland.

C Major
C	D	E	F	G
A	B	C	D	E
F	G	A	B	C

C Major (Handpan)
D	A	C	D
F	G	A	C

C Major (Bell)
C	D	G	A
C	D	G	A

C♯/D♭ major

C sharp/D flat major is the key used when playing Music Sheet 34.

Two spots that give the C♯/D♭ major key:

• The starting point for the 8-player puzzle in Daylight Prairie
• The Boneyard in Hidden Forest

C♯/D♭ Major
D♭	E♭	F	G♭	A♭
B♭	C	D♭	E♭	F
G♭	A♭	B♭	C	D♭

C♯/D♭ Major (Handpan)
E♭	B♭	D♭	E♭
G♭	A♭	B♭	D♭

C♯/D♭ Major (Bell)
D♭	E♭	A♭	B♭
D♭	E♭	A♭	B♭

D major

D major is the key used when playing Music Sheets 28, 37, E1, and HH1.

Here are four areas which will set your key to D major:

• Go through the portal to Daylight Prairie from Home
• The Temple in Valley of Triumph
• The Battlefield in Golden Wasteland

D Major
D	E	F♯	G	A
B	C♯	D	E	F♯
G	A	B	C♯	D

D Major (Handpan)
E	B	D	E
G	A	B	D

D Major (Bell)
D	E	A	B
D	E	A	B

D♯/E♭ major

D sharp/E flat major is the key used when playing Music Sheets 8, 12, 13, and 33.

Here are three spots for playing with the key E♭ major:

• The Forest's Brook in Hidden Forest.
• The Broken Temple in Golden Wasteland.
• The Shard Memories from Season of Shattering Quests.

D♯/E♭ Major
E♭	F	G	A♭	B♭
C	D	E♭	F	G
A♭	B♭	C	D	E♭

D♯/E♭ Major (Handpan)
F	C	E♭	F
A♭	B♭	C	E♭

D♯/E♭ Major (Bell)
E♭	F	B♭	C
E♭	F	B♭	C

E major

If you have Music Sheet 16, this is the most convenient way to get the E major key.

If you have finished all seasonal quests in the Season of Assembly area, you can also just go to that area.

Otherwise, you can go to the end of Orbit, in the place where you exchange your stars for candles. (Don't walk too far into the level as the music will change.)

Though, by using a technique (pausing your key) demonstrated in the video linked above, you can also play with E major in Eden. However, this requires being able to tell notes by ear. When the desired key is achieved (tested by playing an instrument), pause the in-game music by simply going to the Audio Settings and turning off the music.

The Treehouse in Hidden Forest, added in the Season of Assembly, also plays E major after the music finishes.

E Major
E	F♯	G♯	A	B
C♯	D♯	E	F♯	G♯
A	B	C♯	D♯	E

E Major (Handpan)
F♯	C♯	E	F♯
A	B	C♯	E

E Major (Bell)
E	F♯	B	C♯
E	F♯	B	C♯

F major

F major is the key used when playing Music Sheets 22, 25, 27, and 29.

Three places that support F major include:

• The elevated clearing in Hidden Forest
• The Citadel in Valley of Triumph
• The first Floor in Vault of Knowledge

F Major
F	G	A	B♭	C
D	E	F	G	A
B♭	C	D	E	F

F Major (Handpan)
G	D	F	G
B♭	C	D	F

F Major (Bell)
F	G	C	D
F	G	C	D

F♯/G♭ major

The most convenient quiet place with F sharp/G flat major is the Boneyard in Hidden Forest, after the Jellyfish have been released and the background music has finished. Though, there is also a section of the background music in the 8-player elevator where the key for the instruments is G♭ major.

F♯/G♭ Major
G♭	A♭	B♭	C♭	D♭
E♭	F	G♭	A♭	B♭
C♭	D♭	E♭	F	G♭

F♯/G♭ Major (Handpan)
A♭	E♭	G♭	A♭
C♭	D♭	E♭	G♭

F♯/G♭ Major (Bell)
G♭	A♭	D♭	E♭
G♭	A♭	D♭	E♭

G major

G major is the key used when playing Music Sheets 35, E2, and HH2.

A place with G major is the clearing/Social Area in Hidden Forest after the background music has finished.
You can also go to the start of Isle of Dawn.

G Major
G	A	B	C	D
E	F♯	G	A	B
C	D	E	F♯	G

G Major (Handpan)
A	E	G	A
C	D	E	G

G Major (Bell)
G	A	D	E
G	A	D	E

G♯/A♭ major

You can get the G sharp/A flat major key in the Coliseum in Valley of Triumph after completing either race, and waiting for the background music to finish.

G♯/A♭ Major
A♭	B♭	C	D♭	E♭
F	G♭	A♭	B♭	C
D♭	E♭	F	G♭	A♭

G♯/A♭ Major (Handpan)
B♭	F	A♭	B♭
D♭	E♭	F	A♭

G♯/A♭ Major (Bell)
A♭	B♭	E♭	F
A♭	B♭	E♭	F

A major

A major is the key used when playing Music Sheet 30.

An area with the key A major is the fourth Floor in Vault of Knowledge.

A Major
A	B	C♯	D	E
F♯	G♯	A	B	C♯
D	E	F♯	G♯	A

A Major (Handpan)
B	F♯	A	B
D	E	F♯	A

A Major (Bell)
A	B	E	F♯
A	B	E	F♯

A♯/B♭ major

A sharp/B flat major is the key used when playing Music Sheet 11.

A place with A sharp/B flat major is the after-Temple area in Hidden Forest, after the background music has finished.

A♯/B♭ Major
B♭	C	D	E♭	F
G	A	B♭	C	D
E♭	F	G	A	B♭

A♯/B♭ Major (Handpan)
C	G	B♭	C
E♭	F	G	B♭

A♯/B♭ Major (Bell)
B♭	C	F	G
B♭	C	F	G

B major

If you have Music Sheet 20 or 36, this is the most convenient way to get the B major key.

Otherwise, you'll need to use a technique called "pausing your key" to play an instrument with this key. To do this, you'll need to be able to tell notes by ear. When the desired key is achieved (tested by playing an instrument), you can turn off the background music in Audio settings, at the right moment, to pause your key.

B major is part of the background music in:

• The Boneyard in Hidden Forest. Activate the Jellyfish - the beginning of the music will be in B major.
• Towards the end of a race in Valley of Triumph. A section towards the end of the music is in B major.
• The second Floor of Vault of Knowledge. A section of the music will be in B major

B Major
B	C♯	D♯	E	F♯
G♯	A♯	B	C♯	D♯
E	F♯	G♯	A♯	B

B Major (Handpan)
C♯	G♯	B	C♯
E	F♯	G♯	B

B Major (Bell)
B	C♯	F♯	G♯
B	C♯	F♯	G♯

Sound Effects

A lot of sounds are in tune with your key, including the call of your voice, the sound of forging candles, and some Expressions:

In an interview with FMOD, the Sky sound designer mentioned this technical detail.

Which technical detail are you most proud of?
Ritsu: The tone of many sound effects are pitch shifted in real-time according to the music key. This avoided subconscious player discomfort caused by discord between music and sound effect.

Key by Location

Note that an area which has no background music will not set your key to a new one.

Area	Key(s)	Notes
Home	-	Will use the key from where you last were. If you've just opened Sky, it will use the key from the loading screens, i.e. C.
Isle of Dawn
Sand Dunes	G
Isle Temple	D♭
Butterfly Cave
Cave of Prophecies	-
Daylight Prairie
Butterfly Fields	D
Villages	C
Eight Player Puzzle	D♭, G♭	Will finish on D♭ after background music is finished.
Prairie Temple	F, C
Caves	-	Will use your key from where you last were. If you've traveled from Prairie Social Space & Butterfly Fields, the background music will still play.
Bird Nest	-	Will use your key from where you last were. If you've traveled from Prairie Social Space & Butterfly Fields, the background music will still play.
Sanctuary Islands	C
Hidden Forest
Forest Clearing	D, C, B♭, G	Will finish on G once the background music has finished.
Forest Brook	E♭, C	Loops but is E♭ for most of the song.
Tree Tunnels	D♭
Boneyard	D♭, F, B	Will finish on D♭ in the music when you hit the cutscene before the first manta trapped in darkness. When you light the jellyfish path, it will trigger a soundtrack mostly in B.
Elevated Clearing	F, C	Will finish on F
Underground Cavern	C
Forest Temple	C, F	Will finish on C
Forest End	G, C, B♭	Will finish on B♭
The Treehouse	E
The Wind Paths	F, B♭, D, C, E♭, G♭	Starts on F, B♭, then loops through D, C, F, E♭ and G♭.
Valley of Triumph
Ice Rink	A, D♭ , C, F, B♭	In the sliding part at the start, the song loops until you enter the tunnel. Then it will use your key from that moment.
Sliding Race	E♭, … B	Same as Flying Race
Citadel	F
Flying Race		Same as Sliding Race
Coliseum	A♭	After the background music finishes, it is A♭.
Valley Temple	D
Valley Temple Maze		Same as Valley Temple
Village of Dreams	D♭ , F	Same as Citadel song after intro
Hermit Valley		Same as Flying Race and Sliding Race
Village Theater	-
Harmony Hall	-	No background music
Golden Wasteland
Broken Temple	E♭, D♭	Finishes on E♭
First Krill Area	C
Graveyard	C
Battlefield	D
Crab Fields	C
Wasteland Temple	B♭
Nintendo Switch Area
Forgotten Ark		Depends on which quests you have finished.
Treasure Reef	C
Vault of Knowledge
First Floor	F
Second Floor	D, F, B	Loops, outside the 4 player door. Inside the 4 player door, it temporarily goes to F.
Third Floor	D♭
Fourth Floor	A
Fifth Floor	A
The Summit	A, C	Finishes on A
Archives	C
Starlight Desert	-
Dreams of A Little Friend
Repository of Refuge	F
Other
Secret Area		No key unless it's Space Day.
Eye of Eden	A, E♭, C, F, A♭, D♭, E	Finishes on A♭ by the time you reach the tunnel at the top before the point of no return
Orbit	E, C, G	Starts in E after the credits song stops and you've moved forward a little. When you move forward further to the pathway with Spirits, it goes to C. It eventually goes to G once you near the portal.
Shard Memories	E♭

Sharps and Flats

You may find these tables useful when choosing a key to transcribe other songs into Sky.

Sharps

Number	Key	Sharps
0	C Major	-
1	G Major	F♯
2	D Major	F♯, C♯
3	A Major	C♯, F♯, G♯
4	E Major	F♯, G♯, C♯, D♯
5	B major	C♯, D♯, F♯, G♯, A♯

Flats

Number	Key	Flats
1	F Major	B♭
2	B♭ Major	B♭, E♭
3	E♭ Major	E♭, A♭, B♭
4	A♭ Major	A♭, B♭, D♭, E♭
5	D♭ Major	D♭, E♭, G♭, A♭, B♭
6	G♭ Major	G♭, A♭, B♭, C♭, D♭, E♭

Gallery

C Major in Home

C Major in the Forest Temple

D♭ Major in 8-player elevator in Prairie

D♭ Major in Boneyard in Forest

D Major in Butterfly Fields in Prairie

D Major in Valley Temple

D Major in Battlefield in Wasteland

E♭ Major in courtyard past Forest's clearing

E♭ Major in Broken Temple in Wasteland

E Major in Orbit

Pausing your key in Eye of Eden, click for Video Guide

F Major in Forest's elevated clearing

F Major in the Citadel in Valley

F Major in the first Floor of Vault

G♭ Major in the Boneyard in Forest (after jellyfish)

G Major in Forest's clearing

A♭ Major in the Coliseum in Valley

A Major in the fourth Floor of Vault

B♭ Major in Forest End

B Major in the Boneyard in Forest

B Major in any race in Valley

B Major in the second Floor of Vault, click for video