what key??

I would like to jam with the radio and cds but not having a great ear I have a problem finding the key that they are playing in. Any tips????

Originally Posted by: terlo1I would like to jam with the radio and cds but not having a great ear I have a problem finding the key that they are playing in. Any tips????

Not sure how long you've been playing but part of the development in playing is you ear being able to 'tune in' to a key. If you've played long enough, you can become pretty close to tuning your guitar by ear in nearly the right key (I always seems to ear tune just a wee flat). Still, the ear comes along with playing so if you are newer to playing, be patient with yourself.

Part of that development is learning (or teaching your ear) by noticing what sound is made when you strike the note in relation to what you are intending to play. You can only get that with time. Honestly, it doesn't fall from the sky as a skill for most folks.

So, how do you do it? A good way to start is by using tablature (tabs). You want to be careful about that on two accounts. The first is that no two 'tabs' are created equal and some are more right than others. So, you want to get the tab from a reliable source.

The second thing is to not rely too heavily on them. Use them as a starting point to connect the riff you want to play to how it is actually play. Use tab to make the connection but make your ear actually hear what you're playing.

I've seen many guitarist who can play songs note perfect but with zero feel because they got the actual notes right but didn't take the time to learn the things, techniques and tricks that make a special guitarist special. It's the difference of being correct versus actually playing it right, if that makes sense.

Also, I like watching live videos of players. It can be inspiring to see your hero play with so much control. You also can see exactly how they played. The down side: they always seem to show the singer or bass player wondering around stage during the solo (why the heck is that, anyway?!?).

Those are my thoughts. Reality for me is I never used tab because I didn't want to get caught with that as a crutch but I think it has value if you use it right.

After a while, if you hear what you're playing, your ear will catch up. Also, being a full access member, as you are...it will bring you along in a big way too.

Originally Posted by: JeffS65N
Also, I like watching live videos of players. It can be inspiring to see your hero play with so much control. You also can see exactly how they played. The down side: they always seem to show the singer or bass player wondering around stage during the solo (why the heck is that, anyway?!?).

Agreed: Why? I just want them to stay focused on the important things. :)

Anyway, if you have vids of song you like it can help you if you can see where they are playing at on the fretboard.

If you have some easier type stuff that you like, like Fleetwood Mac, Marcy Playground, etc, it will make it easier for getting the hang of it. Anybody that doesn't constantly use a bazillion chord changes.

If you can't hear it right away, to find the key, you can usually pick it off the A or E string. Just try fretting the notes until you hit it. Some songs are hard to pick out, but it gets easier over time.

This lesson (and the whole tutorial) might help.

http://www.guitartricks.com/lesson.php?input=10215&s_id=249