| Visit Our Catalog at SteelGuitarShopper.com |

Post new topic To Find Key Song is in
Reply to topic
Author Topic:  To Find Key Song is in
Alden Speirs


From:
Hanoverton,Ohio, USA
Post  Posted 20 Apr 2009 7:50 pm    
Reply with quote

Which grip do I use to find key song is being played in on pedal steel?
_________________
Sierra Crown U-12 8+5, Hilton Pedal, Nashville 112 Amp.,Peavey Sessions 400 amp., Walker Seat, Samick Greg Bennett Royale RL4 Electric, Gretsch "Chet Atkins Country Gentlemen" G6122II, Peavey Power Slide,Yamaha D'Effect Processors Models EMP100 and FX500, Yamaha PSR-6700 Keyboard, Mackie 16 channel mixer, Hammond Organ Concorde 2307
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Matthew Prouty


From:
Warsaw, Poland
Post  Posted 20 Apr 2009 8:07 pm    
Reply with quote

From Jeff Newman via Tony Prior.

Very quietly (if you are on the bandstand) slide up on string 8 until you match the key of the song, i.e. if string 8 at the 8th fret sounds good, there is a really good chance the song is in C.

I have used this extensively since I first learned it. It works like a charm. From there have at it.

Avoid harmonized notes when trying to figure out the song key and pay attention to the bass as it should be very close to the tonal center of the song.

m.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Randy Gilliam

 

From:
San Antonio, Texas, USA
Post  Posted 20 Apr 2009 8:46 pm     I Call It Fishing!
Reply with quote

I tell Before They start a Song You Better Tell Me the Key Or I Will Go Fishing With The Pedal To The Metal, After A Couple Catches,I Dont Have To Ask anymore, Randy Gilliam. Laughing
View user's profile Send private message
Ray Montee


From:
Portland, Oregon (deceased)
Post  Posted 23 Apr 2009 6:05 pm     Finding the KEY in which others are playing the song in.....
Reply with quote

In the days of olde, with nothing more to listen to than your olde records on the phono-graph.....

it was always necessary to identify the TUNING in which the song of your choice was being played.

Since I most always played in C6th, I used the 2nd string, OR "C" string. Picking it OPEN, one could readily tell if you had to move your bar DOWN the neck; OR, UP the neck in order to MATCH the PITCH of the record. BY moving YOUR BAR until the pitch matched the dominant chord in the song, you could easily transpose that note to the chord and thereafter the KEY was easily dtermined.

EAR TRAINING was essential before the miracle of electronic tuners and TAB.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website
Ulric Utsi-Åhlin

 

From:
Sweden
Post  Posted 24 Apr 2009 12:08 am    
Reply with quote

This differs greatly from individual to individual,
many will hear the tonic in no time,and if they
have perfect pitch they will know the key without
reference to a musical instrument,otherwise it´s a
matter of finding the note on Your guitar or what-
ever ; some people just don´t hear the root,or can´t
tell a major triad from a minor,a situation which calls for planning,but don´t be afraid to ask for
the key signature etc,and any time You listen to a
song,get into the habit of humming,subvocally,the
root once You´ve found it...McUtsi
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Mark van Allen


From:
Watkinsville, Ga. USA
Post  Posted 24 Apr 2009 8:23 am    
Reply with quote

The "8th string on E9" trick is a good one, although you may get thrown off by finding a note that fits or sounds right with other chords than the root of the key... for example, the 5 or G note will sound good against the root in C. You also may be looking for notes against a chord that's not the root note or key chord in the progression. It takes practice, work on it at home with various CDs or songs on the TV. Ear training involves a whole set of hearing and awareness issues that you will build up over time, with patience and concentration. Happy hunting!
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website
Roger Rettig


From:
Naples, FL
Post  Posted 24 Apr 2009 10:10 am    
Reply with quote

I can usually make a close guess but, to be sure, I'll hit either open 4th or 5th string - quietly, of course; then I can hear what note of the scale I've hit relative to the key in which the song is being played. Even a dissonant note (b2, b5, etc) gives you the info and, if you're lucky, you may even hit the tonic!

The more you've trained your ear, the easier this becomes.
_________________
Roger Rettig: Emmons D10, B-bender Teles, Martins, and a Gibson Super 400!
----------------------------------
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website
Connie Mack


From:
phoenicia, new york
Post  Posted 24 Apr 2009 10:49 am    
Reply with quote

post the name of the song on the forum and then ask for the tab....works everytime.
_________________
82'sho-bud u-12, frankendekely u-12, bride of frankendekley u-12, a whole mess of other instruments...finger still messed up but getting better...
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Darvin Willhoite


From:
Roxton, Tx. USA
Post  Posted 24 Apr 2009 2:52 pm    
Reply with quote

I use the fourth string and can find the key pretty quickly. I guess this comes from years of playing in small churches where I never knew what key the song was in, or even what the song was until they started singing.

Sure is different with the Praise band I play with now. We know the songs several days ahead of time, and rehearse every Thursday night for the next Sunday.
_________________
Darvin Willhoite
MSA Millennium, Legend, and Studio Pro, Reese's restored Universal Direction guitar, a restored MSA Classic SS, several amps, new and old, and a Kemper Powerhead that I am really liking. Also a Zum D10, a Mullen RP, and a restored Rose S10, named the "Blue Bird". Also, I have acquired and restored the plexiglass D10 MSA Classic that was built as a demo in the early '70s. I also have a '74 lacquer P/P, with wood necks, and a showroom condition Sho-Bud Super Pro.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Bryan Daste


From:
Portland, Oregon, USA
Post  Posted 24 Apr 2009 3:08 pm    
Reply with quote

Find what you think is the root note on the 8th string, then play a major (or minor) scale with that root note. You'll hear right away if anything clashes.
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website
Steve Norman


From:
Seattle Washington, USA
Post  Posted 24 Apr 2009 4:07 pm    
Reply with quote

Bryan Daste wrote:
Find what you think is the root note on the 8th string, then play a major (or minor) scale with that root note. You'll hear right away if anything clashes.


thats it right there....I do that seeing what the next chord to the right is, a/f one fret over or ab down 2 frets up.


BTW Brian I will be playing the Deer lodge tonight at 10 with Chuckanut drive.
_________________
GFI D10, Fender Steel King, Hilton Vpedal,BoBro, National D dobro, Marrs RGS
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website
Brandon Ordoyne


From:
Needville,Texas USA
Post  Posted 24 Apr 2009 5:32 pm    
Reply with quote

I use the same method as Matthew...I start out on the 8th string open and move my way up...Smile

Brandon
_________________
'74 Emmons D10 P/P 8x5,'15 Rittenberry D10 8x5, Peavey Nashville 112, 400 & 1000, Fender Twin Reverb Tone Master, Hilton, Goodrich L120, Boss DD-3 and RV-3
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Skeeter Stultz

 

From:
LOMITA, California, USA
Post  Posted 24 Apr 2009 7:43 pm    
Reply with quote

I used my ear.
_________________
GFI ULTRA D-10, EVANS, FENDER 2000 (WORN OUT) TWIN REVERB W/JBL'S, OLD 4-10 BASSMAN
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Bryan Daste


From:
Portland, Oregon, USA
Post  Posted 25 Apr 2009 6:08 am    
Reply with quote

Hey Steve,
Missed your post until this morning. How was the show?
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website
Alan Brookes


From:
Brummy living in Southern California
Post  Posted 25 Apr 2009 10:09 am    
Reply with quote

Whichever method you use, try and figure out the key before the song ends, or you'll be into the next one and never catch up.... Very Happy Winking
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail
Steve Norman


From:
Seattle Washington, USA
Post  Posted 26 Apr 2009 5:35 pm    
Reply with quote

Bryan Daste wrote:
Hey Steve,
Missed your post until this morning. How was the show?
It was a lot of fun, very cool little spot he has, then did eugene sat night w Star Anna. the whole weekend was a little fuzzy to be honest...I hurt.


Another key finder I use is watching for my singer's capo positions on her guitar. open is usually g or c, 2nd fret is usually A or D etc.
_________________
GFI D10, Fender Steel King, Hilton Vpedal,BoBro, National D dobro, Marrs RGS
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website

All times are GMT - 8 Hours
Jump to:  
Please review our Forum Rules and Policies
Our Online Catalog
Strings, CDs, instruction, and steel guitar accessories
www.SteelGuitarShopper.com

The Steel Guitar Forum
148 S. Cloverdale Blvd.
Cloverdale, CA 95425 USA

Click Here to Send a Donation

Email SteelGuitarForum@gmail.com for technical support.


BIAB Styles
Ray Price Shuffles for Band-in-a-Box
by Jim Baron