Why were some of my songs a different key/mode than i intended

[BertKoor]

Give him a fish, and he has a meal for a day.

Let him fish himself, and there's always food on the table

[jancivil]

Ok I think I've got it: The song doesn't have a B in it and F is the predominant note (tonic is that correct?)

Thanks anyway. Am I right?

It has B, F is not ‘the predominant note’, and the thing is A natural minor or Aeolian. Feel free to call it the mode name, there is no particular harmonic function.

Another pitfall to reliance on other than self. Who do you trust? You’re getting more than one result. Actually your own initial assumption was right.

[Spring Goose]

Thanks for the explanation, and the advice.

[jancivil]

no problem