RGS Live #18 | How to Find the “Key”

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Welcome to the second installation of Real Guitar Live of 2019! This month we’re tackling a topic music students frequently ask about. Tomas and Aimee lead us through a few ways to find the key of a song. Whether you’re using music theory or playing by ear, there’s a way to figure a song’s key so that you can play along, improvise or jam with other musicians. Happy playing!

Questions Asked During the Session:

[15:27] How do you determine what key you are in? Does the capo have anything to do with the key of a song?


[16:53] How do I find chords to a song or harmonize a melody


[18:07] What's the difference between major chords and minor chords, is there a formula for major, minor and dominant?


[23:25] I'm learning the C major scale and wonder what are the benefits of learning scales?


[25:02] The awful B Bar Chord. Any tips on how to get my ring finger to flatten out and not mute the E string. I know I can use substitute B chords but I really would like to master the B Bar.


[30:05] I often find myself having trouble playing tabs to fit the rhythm. When I practice a song, for instance, I play the tabs without the rhythm, later I will struggle with the rhythm is this the correct way?


[34:43] What book do you advise me to look for guitar theory and guitar music?    


[38:34] What should you suggest for perfect upstrokes in strumming--that's a very annoying issue like we have to change chords beat by beat but still there’s the upstroke issue ... please help.


[43:40] Hello! Glad I could make the class. What key are most blues song written? In what key are most pop songs written?


[47:07] I practice a song in a certain key. The guys I practice with play in a different key. How do I transpose the chord progression from one key to another?


[51:20] Why aren't there keys for all notes in the chromatic scale?

About the author 

Tomas Michaud

Playing guitar and creating music is a dream come true for me. I know it can be for you too. You wouldn't be given the desire to play music if you didn't have the capacity to achieve it. I help people every day all over the world to achieve their dream using step-by-step systems that I've been refining for over 40 years. I'd like to help you.

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  1. A key of a song! – what progression would go with that key? How many keys would there be and what would the progressions be?

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