Alton Ellis's Black Man's World - aka "Black Man, White Man" is in the key of G Major, moving at 109 BPM. The Camelot code 9B tells you which neighbouring keys will sound smooth alongside it. Here's everything you need: scale, chords, raga, and related songs.
Scale & Notes of G Major
The G Major scale is built from these seven notes:
GABCDEF#
Its relative key is E Minor (same notes), and its parallel key is G Minor. If you're transposing or looking for a vocal-comfortable key, those are the natural neighbours.
Chords in G Major
The seven diatonic triads in this key — the chord palette most of the song will draw from:
| Degree | Chord | Quality |
|---|
| I | G | Major |
| ii | Am | Minor |
| iii | Bm | Minor |
| IV | C | Major |
| V | D | Major |
| vi | Em | Minor |
| vii° | F#dim | Diminished |
Indian Classical: the Kalyan thaat
In Hindustani classical terms, G Major maps to the Kalyan thaat (Western mode: Lydian). The Lydian mode — raised 4th gives a floating, transcendent quality. Western equivalent: F Lydian starting on F. Traditional listening time: Evening (sunset onward).
If you want to sing or practise in this key, set your tonic (Sa) to G. Ragas built on this thaat:
- Yaman — Pure Lydian — all 7 notes, ♯4 throughout. Romantic, serene, spiritual (Early evening).
- Yaman Kalyan — Lydian with occasional ♮4 passing note. Expansive, meditative.
- Kedar — Lydian with both ♮4 and ♯4 (ambiguous 4th). Devotional, tender (Night).
- Hameer — Lydian ♭7 (Lydian Dominant / Overtone scale). Bold, assertive (Late night).
- Kamod — Lydian with omitted 2nd — open, spacious. Playful, joyful (Night).
Set Tanpura to G →Practise in this key →Find another song's key →
Harmonic mixing (for DJs)
Black Man's World - aka "Black Man, White Man" sits at Camelot 9B. For a smooth harmonic transition, mix it with tracks in 8B, 9A, 10B — adjacent keys on the Camelot wheel that share most of their notes.