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What determines what key to solo in?

Home › Forums › Beginner Guitar Discussions › What determines what key to solo in?

  • This topic has 1 reply, 2 voices, and was last updated 14 years, 6 months ago by Brian.
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    • March 3, 2011 at 6:52 am #3822
      Rickey
      Keymaster

        First of all, I want to say this is an amazing site. Thank you!

        Now to my question. I’ve been watching the solo videos using the pentatonic scales. I see that you have a backing track and you play the solo in the key of E. Why is it in the key of E and not in any other key? What determines which key you should do your solo in?

        It’s been driving me crazy!

        Again, thanks so much for such a wonderful place to share and learn. Keep it up!

        Mato

      • March 3, 2011 at 8:12 am #7445
        Brian
        Participant

          Hey Mato, songs are all in different keys, that song just happened to be in the key of E, so if the song is in the key of E, then the solo you play has to be in the key of E – which means that you’ll need to play the scale in a certain place on the guitar neck. The scale pattern doesn’t change.. but you will have to shift it up or down the neck of the guitar depending on which key you’re in.

          Does that help?

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