The Professional Guitar Masterclass

Lesson 1.8 - Music Theory 102 - Playing In Key

I'm sure you have heard people say things like, "that's in the key of C major." What does that
mean?

The easiest and best way to explain what that means is to think of your key as "home."

If you are in the key of C major, then the C major chord is home base. It is the complete
resolution of all musical tension. The flavor or feeling of a song is created by the function of
its chords, and all of the chords function in relation to "home."

Some chords go away from home. Some chords go towards home. Some moves are close
and some moves are far.

All chords serve to create or resolve musical tension, which is ultimately resolved by the
arrival at our root, or "home."

In musical terms, the key (or key center) is called the root or the one (I) chord. Therefore, in
the key of C major, the note C is the root and the C major chord is the one (I) chord.

Look at the chart supplied below. I have listed the two most common keys in popular music.

Remember the key center is called the one chord. Therefore, the keys listed below are the
keys of C major and G major, respectively. You will notice that there are seven chords in any
key, which are notated by roman numerals.

Notice that the one, four, and five chords are always major.

The two, three, and six chords are always minor.

The seventh chord is diminished. Don't worry about diminished just yet. We will get there in
a bit.

Take a look at the key of C major. If C major is the one chord, then what is the six chord? If
you answered A minor you get it. What is the two chord in the key of G major? That's right!
A minor.

Copyright 2013 - Michael D. Palmisano

 The Professional Guitar Masterclass

I major II minor III minor IV major V major VI minor VII dim

C D E F G A B

G A B C D E F#

At the bottom of this lesson you will see a few progressions. A progression tells you what
chords are in a song - but not the key. You need to start viewing chords as performing
functions relative to the key center, root, or one chord. With this knowledge you understand
how any song can be played in any key. Chords exist in a context, not alone. It is the chord
function that is important.

I have listed the most common progressions in popular music. You will recognize them. I
want you to try them with the different strumming patterns we have already explored, and I
want you to try them in both the key of C and G.

For example, play a I IV V in the key of C major.

The chords are C major, F major, and G major respectively.

The C major chord functions as "home." The F major chord will function as going "away."
And the G major chord will function as if it wants to "go towards home."

Now try the same I IV V progression in the key of G major. The chords will now be G major, C
major, and D major, respectively. Now the G major chord will function as "home." The C
major chord will function as going "away." And the D major chord will function as if it wants
to "go towards home."

You will find that the functions of the chords are the same for each key, but the overall flavor
or feeling is different. The key is different, but the progression is the same.

Lastly, I want you to experiment with using different rhythms and progressions you make up
yourself. Have fun. See what sounds good and what doesn't. Start developing an "active
ear." Think about the function of the chords you are playing. Don't be passive. Are they
creating or resolving tension? Are they going towards or away from home? Everything
serves a purpose!

Progressions To Try

I IV V I VImi IImi V IImi V I

Copyright 2013 - Michael D. Palmisano