Hey & welcome to GT! What is your current skill level? Are you working through the Fundamentals courses?[br]

Originally Posted by: satriowahyupratomo[br]Hi, first I want to ask about how to find the key of a song by listening, is it always the first chord in the beginning of a song?[/quote][br]Sometimes, but not always. It's usually best to listen to the whole song to get an idea of the overall structure. Most songs use some predictable pattern or stereotypical chord progression. But the only way to know for sure is to listen to the whole thing![br]

Originally Posted by: satriowahyupratomoIf not, then how to determine the key of a song that begin with the chord other than the key of the song?[/quote][br]1. Listening to all the chords & the melody.

2. Write down all the notes in all the chords.

3. Figure out what scale all (or most) of the notes belong to.

That's the key signature.

You can figure out the melody by singing along with the vocal part or the guitar riffs or lines. Then find those notes on the guitar. This is called pitch matching. You match the notes you hear in the song to the ones you find on the guitar. Obviously, you will have to know your fretboard in order to name those notes! And you will have to know your basic major & minor scales to know which patterns the notes form to know what scale you are using.

The notes of a melody or riff will be all or mostly contained in one particular scale (major or minor). That's what key the song is in!

Another approach is to listen to the bass motion. This can be the bass line, or the lowest note in the chord as the chords change. Often as beginner guitarists we can figure out key signature by listening to the song one chord at a time & trying to play a low bass string note to find which one matches with the low chord note we hear.

This is also called pitch matching & it takes a lot or a little practice depending upon your skill level. People have different amounts of ability or musical backgrounds so this skill is easier for some & harder for others.

I explain this in depth in several different tutorials. First look at this series explaining how scales & chords are related.

http://www.guitartricks.com/tutorial.php?input=426.

http://www.guitartricks.com/tutorial.php?input=427

http://www.guitartricks.com/tutorial.php?input=428

Next have a look at these tutorials on improvisation. They explain how to figure out the the key of a song, then play a melody or solo with it that fits the key signature & chord changes.

http://www.guitartricks.com/tutorial.php?input=876

http://www.guitartricks.com/tutorial.php?input=483

http://www.guitartricks.com/tutorial.php?input=491

[quote=satriowahyupratomo][br]Second, after I find the key of the song, how to predict the next chord or the progression up until reff section which is usually have another set of chords.

[br]By being familiar with a large number of stereotypical chord progressions. And you do that by practicing the guitar & figuring out a lot of songs. If you haven't already then I encourage you to start working through the Guitar Fundamentals Courses.

https://www.guitartricks.com/beginner.php

[quote=satriowahyupratomo][br]My goals is to be able to find the chord instantly whenever I have a song in my mind

[br]You have to develop your aural skills. You do that through ear training. Ear training is systematically understanding the sounds that happen in music. Again, you will develop those by practicing the guitar & figuring out a lot of songs.

Hope this helps. Ask more if necessary! Have fun. :)