Help identifying a key signature

[NinjaPred]

Sooo I'm trying to learn this song by ear, but I'm getting a little confused identifying some of the notes.

The B-52's - Summer of Love (original unreleased mix)


I think the key is Ab major or maybe it's E major? Anyone able to ID it by any chance?


Also are the keys Ab major and E major the same, but one is written with flats and one with sharps? Or are they different?

Sorry about all the questions I'm just really confused hehe.

 

[FretlessMainly]

I'm hearing the following for the verse tuned to concert pitch:

Ebmin7 Bbmin7 Abmin7 GbMaj. You could make that case this this is either in GbMajor or it's relative minor, Ebminor.

As for Ab Maj and E Maj, let's compare the scales:

Ab Major: Ab Bb C Db Eb F G
E Major: E F#, G#, A, B, C#, D#

The only pitches that are common to both (Including enharmonic equivalents, such as G# and Ab) are:

G#/Ab, C#/Db, and D#/Eb.

Cb Major and B Major are the same as one another; one with flats and the other with Sharps. You should see this because Cb and B are enharmonic equivalents of one another. Technically, they are not the same pitch, but on a fretted instrument, they are as a matter of necessity.

 

[JimmyM]

It's F#.

 

[FretlessMainly]

or Gb. Given the choice between Ebmin7 Bbmin7 Abmin7 GbMaj and D#min7 A#min7 G#min7 F#Maj, I would choose the flat key. Then again, much of my experience has been in jazz.

 

[NinjaPred]

Wow, thank you SO much for the informative replies. That definitely helps a lot.

Cheers