Stay by Rihanna is in the key of C Major, with a tempo of 112 BPM and a Camelot code of 8B. Below are the full scale notes, the diatonic chords you can play over it, the Indian classical raga that maps to this key, and other songs in the same key for harmonic mixing or practice.
Scale & Notes of C Major
The C Major scale is built from these seven notes:
CDEFGAB
Its relative key is A Minor (same notes), and its parallel key is C Minor. If you're transposing or looking for a vocal-comfortable key, those are the natural neighbours.
Chords in C Major
The seven diatonic triads in this key — the chord palette most of the song will draw from:
| Degree | Chord | Quality |
|---|
| I | C | Major |
| ii | Dm | Minor |
| iii | Em | Minor |
| IV | F | Major |
| V | G | Major |
| vi | Am | Minor |
| vii° | Bdim | Diminished |
Indian Classical: the Bilawal thaat
In Hindustani classical terms, C Major maps to the Bilawal thaat (Western mode: Ionian (Major)). Equivalent to the Western major scale. Bright, resolute, joyful character. Traditional listening time: Morning to Afternoon.
If you want to sing or practise in this key, set your tonic (Sa) to C. Ragas built on this thaat:
- Alhaiya Bilawal — Major scale with an occasional ♭7 passing note. Serene, devotional (Morning).
- Shankara — Pentatonic major (omits 4th & 7th). Heroic, powerful (Night).
- Bihag — Major scale with both ♮4 and ♯4 (Lydian touch). Romantic, intimate (Late Night).
- Durga — Major pentatonic (Sa Re Ga Pa Dha). Uplifting, celebratory (Evening).
- Vrindavani Sarang — Major with omitted 3rd — skeletal, pentatonic feel. Longing, pastoral (Afternoon).
Set Tanpura to C →Practise in this key →Find another song's key →
Harmonic mixing (for DJs)
Stay sits at Camelot 8B. For a smooth harmonic transition, mix it with tracks in 7B, 8A, 9B — adjacent keys on the Camelot wheel that share most of their notes.