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How To Find The Key A Song Is In – EP160

Description

Have you ever walked into a jam session and had no idea what key everyone was playing in? Or have you ever wanted to improvise along with one of your albums but had no idea where to even begin? In this week’s guitar lesson I’ll show you the method I use to find the key a song is in. I’ll give you a blues solo with just 6 notes and I’ll also provide you with 12 jam tracks (in different keys) so you can start practicing in different keys.

Part 1 - Free Guitar Lesson

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Slow Walk-Through

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Comments

  1. Strykerward says

    July 8, 2016 at 6:51 pm

    Thanks Brian,
    This is perfect for finding the key songs are in. 12 jam tracks, thats amazing including a quiz!

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  2. San Luis Rey says

    July 8, 2016 at 7:05 pm

    Thank you Brian! You put a lot of work into this lesson and I know it will pay off in our playing.
    Mike

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  3. Bill W2 says

    July 8, 2016 at 7:53 pm

    Great way to give us the tools we need each week Brian!! Thank you

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  4. ranja says

    July 8, 2016 at 8:46 pm

    Another great one Brian,
    Thanks.
    Ron

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  5. CliffordLance says

    July 8, 2016 at 8:46 pm

    It’s hard to believe how much content Brian offers for a measly $1.75 a week! The monthly premium membership is about the cost of a single drink from Starbucks. Just think about it! I don’t always love every lesson, because I’m not into finger picking. But I know a lot of members are and Brian is being fair in how he crafts his lessons. Even if every lesson isn’t exactly my cup of tea, nearly all are. My point being, there’s not a better deal out there in online lessons. If you were having one-on-ones win a teacher, you’d probably be paying $30 for a half hour lesson, and you’d have none of the other content Active Melody offers. Do your self a favor and try the premium membership for a couple of months. I don’t think you will regret it.

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    • Rev Bob says

      August 4, 2017 at 8:10 am

      Exactly.

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  6. Maradonagol says

    July 8, 2016 at 10:53 pm

    Outstanding !!

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  7. Jeem says

    July 8, 2016 at 11:24 pm

    I think I’m going to find this tremendously useful and informative.
    Nice way to innovate! Thanks Brian!

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  8. Rock Star Daddy says

    July 8, 2016 at 11:30 pm

    Thanks Brian

    Finding the key has been a issue for me. But this lesson really helped me out.
    finding the key wasn’t to hard when I blocked out everything and zoned in on the one cord.
    I really got into the lead better than usual after finding the key on my own.

    Thanks again! Jim

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  9. Debra says

    July 8, 2016 at 11:41 pm

    This is genius, Brian!!!!
    Thank you.
    Debra

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  10. Pwilsonscott says

    July 9, 2016 at 2:09 am

    Hi Brian. This is wonderful, playing along with a backing track is so much fun, makes you feel part of a band. Would it be possible to add a single backing track for a minor blues, say the B minor as the 4 chord, the F Sharp minor as the one chord and the C Sharp 7 as the turnaround chord. You play this as an example but I don’t think its one of the downloadable ones. The 2 additional minor notes really do pull the electronic lead into a new direction. So cool. Many thanks.

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  11. Badger (4FingerPhil) says

    July 9, 2016 at 5:22 am

    Fantastic Brian, yet again, another really helpful lesson, you explain everything so well. If only I had more time!!! Running my own business is seriously interfering with my learning progress. So jealous of the retired members! Ha, cheers Phil

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  12. JohnStrat says

    July 9, 2016 at 5:55 am

    Brian

    A great idea for a lesson. I am certain it will help me up a notch with my playing as it will for many others. So thanks for the effort you put into this, and all the lessons that you so evidently make, to help and teach us.

    John Strat

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  13. Tremelow says

    July 9, 2016 at 7:40 am

    Masterpiece, Brian! I was surprised at first, because there is already a short (very useful) lesson on finding the key within the Blues Lead Guitar Chord. This one, however, is so much more. Thanks !

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  14. conekeeper says

    July 9, 2016 at 10:12 am

    sweet

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  15. strattastic says

    July 9, 2016 at 10:17 am

    TER. IF. IC
    Another must learn for any one interested in laying guitar .

    Thanks Brian

    George

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    • teeMan says

      July 13, 2016 at 8:00 pm

      Brian as usual a thorough well prepared lesson with a nice melody.

      However the licks are quite advanced, and I spend more time trying to do them than focusing on the music theory.
      It will take me a few weeks to get the bends and other fretboard moves really going when I think your intent is to have us think about what’s going on musically now.

      Have been a member for several years and use your site all the time….and it has improved my playing a lot.

      Thanks,

      teeMan

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  16. Duffy P says

    July 9, 2016 at 10:57 am

    Great lesson. Very clear approach. I learned to do this by listening to the bass line. This approach strikes me as being better as a starting point.

    I have a quibble, however. You have labeled the jam tracks with sharp keys. Typically, the only sharp key is F#. The others are Bb, Eb, Ab and Db, not A#, D#, G#, and C#. It would make a difference if someone goes to p,at with horn players.

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  17. Forbes says

    July 9, 2016 at 1:06 pm

    I really appreciate the effort and creativity you bring each week Brian. Thanks!!!!
    -T-

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  18. Gene Jones says

    July 9, 2016 at 6:55 pm

    Brian, Great lesson as usual! One of these days it will click as you say and I’ll start to sound like Clapton or Brian! thanks1

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  19. jimjimr says

    July 9, 2016 at 7:29 pm

    Thank you, Brian. You’ve outdone yourself. This is so useful!

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  20. Brian says

    July 9, 2016 at 9:31 pm

    I added a link to the answers, just below the embedded “Find The Key” MP3 files.

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  21. Bluesplayer24 says

    July 10, 2016 at 4:04 am

    Brian,
    You just continue to amaze ……This is excellent material to learn what I believe to be a very important skill. You’ve done such a marvelous job teaching this and explaining the ins and outs of this subject . We, your students will benefit for years to come. You are one heck of a master communicator and teacher. I have actually come to the place in my playing where I can hardly wait for the next lesson !!! I’m at a loss to describe the significant advantage I’ve had since joining Active Melody. Truly ,Thank you very much.

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    • rob540 says

      July 11, 2016 at 4:43 am

      Absolutely! Beautifully expressed.

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  22. WBlues says

    July 10, 2016 at 6:39 am

    Brian, this is a very helpful Lesson!! Exactly with this topic, I torture myself for some time. I think this is Material for several weeks of work. You can now drive in holiday. LOL
    Thanks for that.

    Wilfried

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  23. tommc says

    July 10, 2016 at 5:11 pm

    Thanks for posting this helpful lesson. The quiz is quite useful. I got 6 right first time through quickly. Interestingly (to me), in every case where I was wrong, I was off by a 5th. Have to work on that. At least I had a chord in the key…..

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  24. wee says

    July 10, 2016 at 6:24 pm

    Thanks Brian great lesson. I always learn new things each week……

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  25. Don D. says

    July 10, 2016 at 7:54 pm

    Thanks, Brian, as always, great lesson, having all these backing tracks is nice!

    You mentioned a lesson on vibrato, that would be useful.

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  26. kenford says

    July 10, 2016 at 9:06 pm

    Hey Brian, this is a terrific lesson! What you said, ‘Sometimes less is more’, really hit home. It’s forcing me (as you said it would) to communicate with less. Sticking with 5 or 6 notes from the pentatonic scale is really challenging and a good basis to expand from. Many thanks!

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  27. Michael J says

    July 10, 2016 at 11:56 pm

    G/day Brian,
    I very much appreciate the work you,ve put into this one. Congratulations on a great presentation. By the way, no probs with the quiz. Thanks again from the land Downunder.
    Michael J.

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  28. rob540 says

    July 11, 2016 at 4:40 am

    If there was one album that caused me to look beyond rock and into blues in the 1960’s it was ‘Supersession’ by Mike Bloomfield, Steve Stills and Al Cooper (I think)…this solo has everything that I loved in one track called ‘Albert’s Shuffle’ -without taking the melody, just the ‘feel’…and then you have the different key techniques thing here. Brian – a huge thank you!
    Rob

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  29. Frederico says

    July 11, 2016 at 5:37 am

    Great! Amazing lesson! Thanks a bunch!

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  30. John Plaetner says

    July 11, 2016 at 7:26 am

    Hey Brian.
    Very good lesson. Is it possibly to se the correct answers for the quiz somewhere. Just to see if I got it right.
    Thank you for spending so much time teaching us to play.
    John Plaetner.

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    • Brian says

      July 11, 2016 at 9:47 am

      John, I posted the answers – there’s a link in the lessons (just below the embedded “quiz”)

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      • John Plaetner says

        July 11, 2016 at 2:23 pm

        Thank you for a quick answer.
        Only got 7 right out of 12.
        All the major keys .
        Difficult to hear the minor.

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  31. Mikael J says

    July 11, 2016 at 8:18 am

    Hey Brian, great lesson!
    With the risk of being Captain Obvious, I thought I could make this into a good excercise for my stubborn ears.
    I put the 12 tracks into a playlist and in my media player I play them randomly and try to figure out the key. When I think I got it I peek at the screen.
    If I get it wrong I try to figure out why I got it wrong. Not just playing the next track right away.

    Micke

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  32. gdw501 says

    July 12, 2016 at 10:46 am

    OUTSTANDING!!! Thank you.

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  33. orient2k says

    July 12, 2016 at 12:44 pm

    Brian
    I had different online guitar lessons over a period of time. I can honestly say YOU are the best tutor ever. Anyone looking to learn guitar should try it. You will not regret it,I promise.
    Thanks for another amazing lesson!!!!!
    Best wishes

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  34. DENNARD C says

    July 12, 2016 at 1:02 pm

    THE ABILITY TO HAVE THIS IN ONE PLACE IS AWESOME. GREAT TOOL

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  35. Vic Roberts says

    July 12, 2016 at 4:46 pm

    Great lesson as usual Brian. A slow jam track, similar to The Thrill is Gone, would be nice with the extra chord. Key of Cm: Cm Dm Ab & E7. Key of Ab, down 3 frets, would also be appreciated.
    Do you also play all of the instruments & record the jam tracks yourself ??

    Vic

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    • Brian says

      July 12, 2016 at 4:52 pm

      Hey Vic, I play everything myself

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  36. Vic Roberts says

    July 12, 2016 at 4:47 pm

    I meant key of Am in the last post….

    Vic

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  37. Vic Roberts says

    July 12, 2016 at 6:45 pm

    I thought you did. More of your talent now exposed…..

    Vic

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  38. Art M says

    July 12, 2016 at 7:38 pm

    Having poured over EP130, learning the Major/Minor mix, I found this lesson so much easier to deal with. I was all ready to go and enjoy the sound bites and quickly found the key. Having learned how to hear the Major tone vs the minor tone and then knowing that you can only use the major with the major key also was invaluable. I am having such a blast Brian learning from you each week. Best investment I did joining the Premium Membership plan and have been encouraging friends to do the same. YOU ARE DA MAN!!!

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  39. Stobes says

    July 13, 2016 at 2:21 pm

    Hi Brian,
    I printed the score and tried to write all the names of the notes over it. The reason being to try and work out how to think about what to play as the chords change. I.E when going to the A, would you think hammer on from a G to the A note? Or slide/bend? IF you could do a lesson on this it would be fantastic for thinking about improving improvising!

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  40. Tom H says

    July 13, 2016 at 3:40 pm

    Great lesson!!! Next you should do this type of lesson or an abbreviated one where you use the major or minor pentatonic scales to find the key. For me, once I
    learned the five scale patterns, knowing they are completely moveable up and down the fret board, I use these to find what key the song is in. Thanks for the many jam tracks as these are always a bonus to improving my skills and guitar knowledge.

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    • Tom H says

      July 13, 2016 at 4:51 pm

      Going through the jam track quiz I found a fault with my method as opposed to using Brian’s.
      The relative minor pentatonic scale also fits the ear quite well but that is NOT the key being
      played, although this works for a lead also, it has a happier major rather than minor tone.
      Needless to say, I only got 9 out of 12 correct with my method, and some were confusing
      for me to figure out. I even used both methods, which cleared up a couple keys.

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  41. rjl says

    July 13, 2016 at 9:55 pm

    This turned out to be unexpectedly useful for me. It was the solo section that resonated. Using five/six notes for this amazing solo struck home. Thank you so much Brian for explaining what you are doing. You are a great teacher!!

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  42. Jimmy James says

    July 14, 2016 at 8:15 am

    Great lesson Brian!! I am really putting your lessons and licks to the best use for practicing lead and rhythm with your jam tracks!!! Just fantastic?

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  43. wired4u says

    July 15, 2016 at 4:34 pm

    That was fun finding the key in each track.
    I really got a lot out of staying with the 6 notes as I usually go from pattern one to two as a habit.
    Thanks for all you do!

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  44. guitarmanny says

    July 16, 2016 at 12:25 pm

    Hi Brian, But first my Log in is not guitarchamp, so that said, please let me know how to change it. Anyway this lesson #160 this is what I’m talking about great step by step I’ve always wanted to know this lick and now I have, Keep making video’s like this in the near future and thank’s alot. And one last thing I also like lesson #130 great job great lesson thank’s again.

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  45. William S says

    July 17, 2016 at 11:14 am

    GREAT lesson Brian. This will keep me busy for a while. Thanks man!

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  46. Sal says

    July 24, 2016 at 8:07 am

    Brian,I get confused when you say A major is the key you are playing in,then say pattern one is the starting point,then show Am as pattern one,What am I missing here…….Sal

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  47. jazzenstock says

    July 25, 2016 at 12:19 pm

    Hi Brian,

    This lesson should be watched (and learned) by a lot of music teacher….It’s an another way to teach and learn guitar. Great !
    It’s a basic idea : Ask the students to open their ears ! Finally it’s the best and it’s works !
    Many thanks Brian and keep going in that way
    All the best
    Michel

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  48. Peter P says

    July 29, 2016 at 5:48 am

    Great lesson Brian. Thanks for the techniques that will guide my practice. As always you connect the dots…

    Peter

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  49. Jim H says

    February 11, 2017 at 3:42 pm

    I am finding all the lessons to be helpful although most are above my current ability. In several of the lessons you make reference to the five basic scale positions which are demonstrated in your blues lead course. I am unable to find that section. Please provide the lesson number(s) wherein these basic positions are to be found.
    Thanks for your help.
    Jim

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    • Brian says

      February 11, 2017 at 4:47 pm

      Jim, it’s under My Account > My Courses

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  50. kenny d says

    July 25, 2017 at 5:33 pm

    great job thank you so very much.

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  51. kamel b says

    October 11, 2017 at 12:22 pm

    Excellent course thanks a lot

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  52. Randy H says

    September 3, 2020 at 3:31 pm

    Brian:
    Sometimes it’s nice to go back and take a second look. The six (6) note method caught my eye and you explained it so well a MAJOR light bulb came on. Also the section for finding a key was extremely good with the QUIZ that really made it a good exercise for my ears. I only missed 3, but have to go back and try it again. Great Idea.
    Thanks for the great lessons and practical approach at the theory stuff. Would like to hear more on the Universal Audio OX Box.
    Thanks,
    Randy

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  53. David Walker says

    October 22, 2020 at 12:49 pm

    Brian I just stumbled on this lesson. Fabulous, love it, it has helped me so much!

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  54. David K says

    January 4, 2021 at 8:41 pm

    Hi Brian,

    In EP 160 lesson, you play in A Major key. I can see you playing the 6 notes in A Minor pentatonic and it sounds good. Please confirm that we can use Major and Minor pentatonic interchangeably.

    Thanks,
    David

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  55. JH says

    August 27, 2021 at 8:08 am

    Great, a hugely improved “ear”. 10 out of 12. Thanks

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  56. terry b says

    March 17, 2022 at 3:00 pm

    This lesson really helped me. I did the test and got 10 out of 12. I was happy with that. Now I learned how to play the lead. Now Im working out the chords for all the keys. Its all new to me. and playing the lead in all other keys. A great lesson. I will be staying on this for a bit. Thank you Brian

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  57. Simon brewer says

    May 12, 2022 at 6:11 am

    Having just signed up am straight into Brian’s theory course and love the way he has created links to other lessons like this one to cement the theory into practice. As an older guy, who’s only recently returned to the guitar (being a long time drummer) I have found in less than 24hrs that am astonished at how much I’ve learnt..already.

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