band , it ’ s super important to know which key you ’ re all in .
Here are some helpful tips so you can be sure of what ’ s going on .
MEMORIZE MARKER POINTS
First , memorize the bottom 3 strings , strings 6 , 5 and 4 .
I walk you through these markers in the video , but you ’ re welcome to reference the diagram I ’ m including with this article .
There ’ s more , but this can give us plenty to work with here .
WHICH KEY ARE WE IN ?
Our first approach is to place the capo and discover which keys we end up playing in when we play shapes .
Let ’ s say I place the capo on the 3 rd fret . If I strum shapes around the tonal center of E , with the open 6 th string for the low root , which key am I in ? G .
If I strum A shapes , which key am I in ? C .
If I strum D shapes , which key am I in ? F .
Why ? Because the “ open ” notes at our new “ nut ” with the capo are G , C , and F . Right ? Did you know all of those ? This works best with your guitar and capo in hand .
WHICH KEY DO WE WANT TO PLAY IN ?
Let ’ s try the opposite approach with placing the capo for keys we want to play in .
Now , let ’ s say I want to play in Eb Major with a piano player , by leveraging the capo . For a moment , let ’ s temporarily call that the key of D #. It ’ s a theoretical key , I know , but go with me .
If I place the capo on fret 1 and play a D shape , it sounds a D #, better known as Eb . That open 4 th string is our low root on Eb .
If you want to think in the key of D , this can work for you , but remember , you ’ re accountable for actually playing chords in the keys the capo has given you access to .
So if the capo is on fret 1 , and we play D , G and A shapes , we ’ ve actually achieved Eb , Ab and Bb chords . Right ?
Starting with chords that have open roots like E , A , and D can be pretty attainable , because the capo at the new “ nut ” easily tells us what those notes are , without fretting above it .
But what about chords like G and C that do have a fretted root ? Don ’ t worry , I got you .
Play an open G chord for a moment . That root on the 3 rd fret is a minor 3 rd above the nut .
Let ’ s just make a new “ nut ” with the capo ! Let ’ s say we want to play in the key of B . Well , a moment ago , we said that B on the 6 th string is on fret 7 . So , let ’ s fret the G shape that ’ s got that 7 th fret B as the root , and place our capo down a minor 3 rd – a distance of 3 frets , on the 4 th fret .
With the capo on the 4 th fret , using G shapes , we ’ ve accessed the key of B .
One more . Play an open C chord , the root for which is on the 3 rd fret of the 5 th string . It ’ s a minor 3rd above the open A note at the nut .
Let ’ s make a new “ nut ” with our capo for the key of F . Where is F on the 5 th string ? It ’ s all the way up at fret 8 , just above the 7 th fret E we talked about a moment ago .
So , we can start with a C shape with our root on the 8 th fret for F , and go down 3 frets to the 5 th fret and place the capo there .
We can now play C shapes , with capo 5 , in the key of F .
This process works for any Major key , minor key , or even modes , but we have to know the real key we ’ re in , and at least some of the chords the capo is helping us play .
Our charts , especially the ones we print up for the band , have to reflect this reality .
Otherwise , we ’ ll have an alternate reality that leads to confusion , or at the very least , a comedy of errors .
I hope this was helpful , and I look forward to next time !
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David Harsh David is a nationally touring worship leader , songwriter and performing artist . He is passionate about equipping guitarists to discover their potential . Learn more and join now at www . GuitarSuccess4U . com .
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