Major view
Gb major
Brightness rank 2/7 (bright)
Characteristic notes
- 7 = F (leading tone, pulls home)
- 4 = Cb (the note that leans on the 3rd)
Whitney Houston - How Will I Know - Chord
Key Gb major – Eb minor Chords Gb, Db, Ebm, B, Bbm Easy key G
No ratings yet
or your user informations
Make it yours
Text size
Key: Gb | D#m | Ebm
Capo: 0
Gb Db
There's a boy I know
Gb
He's the one I dream of
Db
Looks into my eyes
Gb
Takes me to the clouds above
Gb Db
Ooh, I lose control
Gb
Can't seem to get enough
Db
When I wake from dreaming
Gb
Tell me is it really love
Bbm
How will I know
B
Db Ebm
How will I know
Bbm
How will I know
B
Ebm Ebm Ebm
How will I know
Gb B Db Ebm
How will I know if he really loves me
Gb B Db Ebm
I say a prayer with every heart beat
Gb B Db Ebm
I fall in love whenever we meet
Gb B Db Ebm
I'm asking you 'cause you know about these things
Gb B Db Ebm
How will I know if he's thinking of me
Gb B Db Ebm
I try to phone but I'm too shy
Gb B Db Ebm
Falling in love is all bitter sweet
Gb B Db Ebm
This love is strong why do I feel weak
End of song Play again?
Whitney Houston - How Will I Know Tabs
NotesX
Harmony analysis
Whitney Houston – How Will I Know: key and chord analysis
The song opens on Gb and ends on Ebm. Its chords belong to both Gb major and Ebm, so every chord below is read both ways.
Minor view
Eb minor
Brightness rank 5/7 (leaning dark)
Characteristic notes
- b6 = Cb (the minor's melancholy)
- b7 = Db (natural-minor colour)
Which side does the ear lean to?
Our reading: we can't honestly pick a side here — the song moves freely between Gb major and Eb minor because it comes to rest on Ebm, it opens on Gb and Gb is heard 14 times against 12 for Ebm. Try reading the chords both ways and see which feels more like home to you.
Chord degrees: major and relative minor
Show the degrees above the chords — relative to Gb or to Ebm; comparing both readings is a practice of its own.
Every chord of the key, listed 1 to 7 separately for each key. Chords played in the song show how often they appear; chords from outside the scale sit next to their own degree.
| Degree | Chord | Role | Notes | In song |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| I | Gb | Tonic — home | Gb · Bb · Db | 14× |
| ii | Abm | Supertonic — prepares the dominant | Ab · Cb · Eb | — |
| iii | Bbm | Mediant — a tonic-family shade | Bb · Db · F | 2× |
| V/vi | Bb | Secondary dominant V/vi — leads to Ebmsecondary dominant | Bb · D · F | — |
| IV | B | Subdominant — moves away from home | B · D# · F# | 10× |
| V | Db | Dominant — strongest pull home | Db · F · Ab | 13× |
| vi | Ebm | Relative minor — the melancholy side | Eb · Gb · Bb | 12× |
| vii° | Fdim | Leading-tone chord — tension | F · Ab · Cb | — |
| Degree | Chord | Role | Notes | In song |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| i | Ebm | Tonic — home | Eb · Gb · Bb | 12× |
| ii° | Fdim | Supertonic — prepares the dominant | F · Ab · Cb | — |
| III | Gb | Relative major — the bright side | Gb · Bb · Db | 14× |
| iv | Abm | Subdominant — moves away from home | Ab · Cb · Eb | — |
| v | Bbm | Minor dominant — soft pull | Bb · Db · F | 2× |
| V | Bb | Dominant — borrowed from harmonic minor, pulls hard to the tonicharmonic minor | Bb · D · F | — |
| VI | B | Submediant — warm colour | B · D# · F# | 10× |
| VII | Db | Subtonic — steps back to the tonic | Db · F · Ab | 13× |
Analysis
The key pair is Gb major and its relative Eb minor (6 flats). 5 different chords appear 51 times in total; 5 of them sit naturally inside the shared scale. Everything stays inside one scale, which is why the song is easy to follow by ear.
Chord movement
- Db Ebm GbV → videceptive cadence EbmVII → iAeolian arrival ×9
- B Db GbIV → VIV → V EbmVI → VIIVI → VII ×9
- Db Gb GbV → Iauthentic cadence EbmVII → III ×4
- B Ebm GbIV → vi EbmVI → iVI → i ×1
The move to watch is Db → Ebm, heard 9 times. From the Gb side it reads V → vi (deceptive cadence: expected Gb, lands on Ebm); from the Ebm side it is VII → i (Aeolian arrival: rises a whole tone into home). Knowing where these arrivals fall helps you feel the phrasing and anticipate the next chord.
Improvisation tips
- Gb major pentatonic and Eb minor pentatonic are the same five notes (Gb – Ab – Bb – Db – Eb): start from Gb for a brighter phrase, from Eb for a bluesier one.
- Over Gb, land on Gb, Bb, Db — the chord's own tones always sound right on strong beats.
- Over Db, land on Db, F, Ab — the chord's own tones always sound right on strong beats.
- Over Ebm, land on Eb, Gb, Bb — the chord's own tones always sound right on strong beats.
The song on the circle of fifths
- Played in the song — chord of the key
- Played — the minor's harmonic V or a secondary dominant
- Played — borrowed or outside chord
- Home region: IV–I–V and ii–vi–iii
Empty slices are chords the song doesn't use.
Capo and easier keys
With Gb major shapes
- Capo 2 + E shapes
- Capo 4 + D shapes
- Capo 6 + C shapes
With Eb minor shapes
- Capo 1 + Dm shapes
- Capo 6 + Am shapes
Easiest keys on guitar
- 1 semitone up
- 6 semitones up · capo 6 keeps the original pitch
The song's harmonic story
Starting on Gb, the song gives away its key from the very first bar. Gb, Db, Ebm, B carry the song: I–V–vi–IV relative to Gb, III–VII–i–VI relative to Ebm. No chord leaves the shared scale, so a single pentatonic shape works over the whole song. Keep an ear on Db → Ebm (V → vi in Gb, VII → i in Ebm): deceptive cadence — expected Gb, lands on Ebm. It closes on Ebm, letting the Ebm side have the last word.
This analysis is generated from the song's chords by akorculuk's harmony engine using consistent rules. When you change key, the degrees stay the same; only the chord names change.
Whitney Houston - How Will I Know Chords on Guitar, Ukulele and Piano
Hover over or tap a chord in the lyrics for its shapes, its degree in both keys and a listen button. Here you have every chord of the song side by side.
Repertoires with this song
Similar songs, ready to play: pick a list.
Report error for this content report.
All copyrights belong to their respective owners. If you think this content contains copyright infringement, please contact us.