Looking up the key and tempo of Shake It Off? Taylor Swift's track sits in G Major at 160 BPM (Camelot 9B). Whether you're learning it on guitar, setting up a cover in the right key, or mixing it into a DJ set, here are the scale notes, chords, and compatible keys.
Shake It Off by Taylor Swift embodies a carefree and upbeat vibe, perfect for a lively dance party. The fast tempo of 160 BPM creates an energetic and playful rhythm. In the key of G, this song's bright and cheerful quality suits the genre, often associated with pop and dance music. The key of G provides a sense of joy and release, fitting for the song's lighthearted and playful tone.
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)
Shake It Off 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.