How to Find Out What Key You're In

[@mikhaildsouza5635]

I spends so much time and money to learn music and learnt absolutely nothing and you just give it for free. You are awesome man.

[@warnercheng5564]

same thought

[@warnercheng5564]

i really hope i can get rid of stuck in music theories 😩 my maths sucks

[@seandaniel23]

Thanks so much! Always happy to help and let me know if you have any questions!

[@seandaniel23]

You'll get it!

[@DSpeir-pi6tm]

Yes, he is an awesome man ! I've been playing guitar and key boards for years by ear, with practically no knowledge of music theory what so ever . I stumble upon Sean's videos recently and have been studying them with some intensity . They are really helping me to understand music a lot better, these are awesome lessons . I hope he doesn't mind the silly comment I leave in the threads sometimes . I really enjoy his videos, they're great ! ;)

[@charlesincheck]

Finally someone who just gets to the point and speaks like a regular guy. Subscribed.

[@seandaniel23]

Welcome to the party!

[@Scamp2x]

Right everybody is trying be a celebrity

[@bred-et4pb]

Imagine speaking like a regular guy

[@chadwickmcfaggins9734]

@@bred-et4pb yeah

[@XJacksonvilleX]

@@bred-et4pb nice name tho...💀

[@scottr6752]

This series is exactly what I needed. I had no idea what I was doing with writing songs/ improv and this series has opened the doors for me. My playing ability has always been so much more advanced than my theory and you have helped so much. Thank you for this!

[@seandaniel23]

I'm glad I could help!

[@gamedemon24]

Putting that little chart there broke me through on a concept I’ve been struggling with for years. THANK YOU SEAN.

[@wehoffmanjr]

Honestly my favorite teacher going. For all the reasons that actually make you a better player. Doesn't promise "you won't have to learn theory and you'll be amazing" or " learn this one trick and you'll shred the whole neck" and so that's respect points right there. Got a sense of humor and some wit on him too. Muchos gracias mi amigo , keep it coming

[@kylewilson6470]

I've been playing guitar for 8 years now, but teaching myself, I never learned theory. After a few years of just picking around and learning different songs, I did not know where to go to progress, so I sat the guitar down. About a month or so ago I started wondering "why are chords structured the way that they are" and "how do guitarists know how to play together and harmonize?" It led me to theory, understanding why music is played the way that it is, and it revitalized that spark that I lost years ago. Your videos have been incredibly helpful in my learning, and I can honestly say I have learned more in the past month than I did for years just memorizing notes that other musicians have created. Just wanted to say thank you. I found your videos while browsing the r/guitar subreddit and it was one of the best pieces of content that I have found. Don't stop doing your thing, you're teaching has left an impact on me and I guarantee on others. Also, Ian rocks my socks.

[@seandaniel23]

Man thanks so much for reaching out Kyle! So great to hear! I'll keep em coming and let me know if you have questions along the way!

[@NolanDerosia]

Before watching the video I thought he was going to tell me what key I personally am in right now.

[@seandaniel23]

B flat!

[@laraharb7613]

Sean Daniel LOL

[@keifmalone4149]

Thank you for the chuckle on a Monday evening.

[@Aa-wv4gh]

Right now I'm so confused, I think I'm in a mon key.

[@Gtkid1245]

Clickbait dude 😀

[@gbg3663]

Haven't even started the video and already liked the video because of its name. This is pure gold content, spread through pure genius, generous teaching. You are greatness

[@seandaniel23]

Thanks so much for watching! I'll keep em coming!

[@bean80085]

best guitar channel ever

[@seandaniel23]

Thanks so much!

[@sirswagger21]

people with perfect pitch: *laugh nervously*

[@anilarora5633]

Nah!

[@syra1541]

*jealousy*

[@Mosaic_Mirror]

☹️☹️☹️🤣

[@peterhall728]

My go-to man for guitar. Informative, simply explained and interesting. Recommended him to everyone I talk to about learning guitar.

[@seandaniel23]

Thanks for spreading the word Peter!

[@stationBob]

I've searched and searched for a straightforward and universal answer to this, and YOU are the only person who has actually made an accurate and helpful answer. THANK YOU! 😊

[@timothyjrosser1]

I have wanted a vid on this for ever! The clue of the two major chords is just such a great tip its just shocking I never noticed - cant wait for the next one where you talk about what to do when dont know the chords! Thanks so much!

[@seandaniel23]

No problem, I'll try and get on the other vids soon.

[@thetypetwolife3602]

You are an awesome teacher. I've been playing for a long time but never learned actual music theory or even about good tone. Well a month ago I bought my first MiM Strat and I passionately Love it! well I've watched probably 100 hours of lessons here on FB and you are one of the very best! Keep up the humor and the same chill but clear teaching!

[@seandaniel23]

So cool! Congrats on the Strat!!!

[@ButterFly-cw7sj]

Eureka!!! Your lesson is one of the most useful I've ever had in guitar lessons!! Thank you!!!!!

[@seandaniel23]

So glad to hear it!

[@yoonjeongsoo9378]

I fucking swear if your music theory videos aren't made mandatory viewing by any and every student of music..... I guess I'll be one of the lucky few who know what a great teacher you are. THANK YOU

[@seandaniel23]

Thanks so much for the kind words! I'm happy to help!

[@philjames1019]

Been away on holiday for two weeks, just watched this when I got home. Another fantastic video my friend ... keep em coming!! Continued good health to you and yours!!

[@seandaniel23]

Thanks Phil, hope you had a great holiday!

[@VideoNozoki]

The animation on the video really helped a LOT. Without the lower third of animation, I don't think I could have followed this explanation at all. Instead, it was very clear. Thank you.

[@seandaniel23]

Happy to help :) Thanks for watching!

[@kevingadd1744]

I’ve taken two Coursera courses on learning guitar from Berklee professors and never learned this simple but important info. And I have been asking myself this question a lot...how do I know what playing in a certain key means? You explained it perfectly in this short video! Much appreciated and now subscribed.

[@barbmelle3136]

From Leo: good teaching , 1, 4, 5, are pretty easy to figure out. 2, 5, 1 and 6, 2, 5, 1 patterns really jazz me up.

[@tmac8892]

Watched half video: ready to teach Mozart.

[@seandaniel23]

It worked!

[@kayyb]

😂😂😂

[@bonniemechefske3838]

OMG this was SO helpful. I'm learning Time after time by Cindy Lauper and I know that it was originally in the key of C but all of the Tab says it's in F! But using your theory, I can see that even though it starts on F it is actually in C! Victorious! I finally understand!!

[@ding210]

Thanks for another great lesson. The theory part of learning to play is, to me, more difficult than the left hand/right hand work. I appreciate the diagrams at the bottom of the vid, it helps a lot to visualize it.

[@seandaniel23]

So good to hear! Thanks for watching!

[@mylo9753]

that third question is very relatable

[@maximashin8526]

I'm so happy there are people like you in KZbin! Thanks for the great content and the various subjects that you cover on your channel, appreciate it :)

[@seandaniel23]

Always happy to help!

[@nancymooremusic]

Playing and writing by ear worked fine before I started playing with other people who know a lot more. Your explanation really improved my understanding. Taking triads next. Thanks so much:)

[@Sonserf369]

You are my hero. Been looking for something like this for years. Great video, thanks!

[@seandaniel23]

Hero status accepted!!!

[@stefano.b65stef77]

you're one of a kind because you reply to the people who write to you, not everyone does. keep up the good work

[@seandaniel23]

I try me best! Thanks for watching!

[@linflora]

don’t understand fully yet cuz of language barrier, but will try to repeat to understand this. Thanks, man!

[@DJAPE-vq5jw]

same :(

[@syra1541]

your English is really good

[@linflora]

@@syra1541 Thank you so much for saying so!! I've been improving!!!🤗

[@linflora]

@@syra1541 Thanks to your comment, I could have a chance to watch this again and now I understand him!!!! Thanks for commenting!!!!!!!

[@Manlygenius101]

How's your understanding of this coming? I'm lost 😂

[@trevorbennett3353]

Some people spend months in college learning this stuff. You're awesome, man.

[@autocrow]

So, I AM doing it right. YAY!! I just used this method (right before watching this) to figure out a song. The song starts on a C minor (no C minor in any of the keys I have written down), but, the song moves up a half step mid way and that makes it a C# minor. Along with the C# minor, It has an A major and B major, F# minor, G# minor, so I figured out it starts in the key of Eb major then to the key of E major. It's so important to find the key because I can't always recognize which chords are major or minor ones. Find the key and you will know for sure. Ironically, no E major chord in the song at all. lol. Thanks Sean. : )

[@seandaniel23]

Happy to help!

[@n3wtoncr0sby72]

Finally found the key that clearly explains the concept of Keys. Excellent video man!

[@MarkJohnson-ew7qt]

Sean, you are the man! You are a great guitar teacher!

[@seandaniel23]

Thanks so much for saying so Mark!

[@EffortlessEthan]

I wish I could see your hands on the neck of the guitar while watching this, it would definitely help me pick this up quicker and have a deeper understanding of chords I don't fully have my head wrapped around.

[@ThisSide]

first video of you're channel. I know that its old but its so good; I had looked over it many times in one sitting

[@seandaniel23]

Glad you found it helpful!

[@Cole.Elders]

I’m 15 and a great musician, I know all of this on my Band instrument but the past 2 years I have not been able to do this on the guitar. Thank you so much

[@melt5334]

This is the best explanation I’ve ever heard for this. Eureka! I finally understand. Your videos are awesome, Sean-thanks for what you do!

[@AbsurdistAsian]

Had to watch twice because I'm dense but halfway through the first watch, it finally clicked for me! So many teachers confused me. But this is a great lesson because you can simplify something that is actually rather complicated!

[@ParadymShiftVegan]

Awesome video! This was so much more clear and high calibre than a lot of other guitar videos you'll see here. You definitely earned a sub! 🙏😁

[@seandaniel23]

Welcome to the party!

[@ParadymShiftVegan]

@@seandaniel23 Ayy, stoked to be here mate 💯👊😎🔥

[@simontemplar3359]

Thank you so much for this. I think this was the one that finally broke through my thick skull and made it all make a ton more sense. I think you legit unlocked music for me. Chord transitions, no problem, how to turn a ho hum chord into a 7 chord, etc, moveable shapes, all good, but that was like having someone hand you a fish. This was like teaching someone how to fish. The analogy is probably terrible, but thank you for unlocking it all for me!

[@benstern310]

When I'm jamming on my own, I tend not to think of what key I'm, I just play what I think sounds good. Would I unintentionally end up in a certain key?

[@seandaniel23]

Yeah that's just as good a way to do it as long as you think it sounds good. But you're definitely in a key either way. I played that way for a long time and in my own experience it helped me get a lot better to wrap my head around some of the theory, not necessary though man so keep doing your thing!

[@benstern310]

Sean Daniel Hi, thanks for the reply. Yeah, my theory is pretty poor considering I've been playing for a long time now. I find you're video short and sweet but very informative. When jamming on my own I always hold back thinking I can't play it like this because its doesn't match the theory but I then think as long it sound good then that should be all that matters.

[@MrThobias711]

this guy is great. he uses simple methods and doesnt over explain.

[@SimenNeverdal]

Wish i had all this knowledge, a lot to learn every time you upload! :))

[@seandaniel23]

Thanks for watching! I'll keep em coming.

[@bak2bassix]

Thanks for this very clear explanation, re plugging the gaps to reverse engineer the missing chords. I think something just clicked for me, finally!

[@GARYMANDIEVAN]

Great tips really helped a lot, Thanks

[@seandaniel23]

+GARYSGUNS Happy to help!

[@yolandaduncanart]

HI Sean, enjoying your tutorials on a sunny day in New Zealand. Clear and simple explanations. Thanks so much.

[@seandaniel23]

Always happy to help!

[@guillotine21]

dude I found this extremely helpful thank you!

[@seandaniel23]

No problem! Thanks for watching!

[@isaacdyck9430]

Bro you answered a question I’ve been asking so many people in the first 20 seconds of your video. Your amazing

[@jaakkot9661]

Ur a great teacher, thanks for these videos! :)

[@seandaniel23]

Thanks so much for reaching out John!

[@Cghost1031]

Thanks for taking the time out to help people learn music and guitar. Very Helpful!

[@seandaniel23]

Happy to help!

[@yatskie1632]

thank you for this information! Godbless you

[@seandaniel23]

Thanks so much for watching!

[@AliIShaki]

I just started playing guitar and your channel is gold. Thanks

[@Vesadera]

Meanwhile, I'm too distracted by how he adds extra sounds to works. "Chordddzz"

[@seandaniel23]

+ManiacVesaderac It's a test ;)

[@Vesadera]

Sean Daniel Haha, The way you add sounds left me distracted. I was too busy thinking about that rather than the playing/information haha

[@Vesadera]

Sean Daniel I only came here to help me try and figure the chords to a song I've been trying to figure out for ages so I can play it on the guitar and uke haha

[@sonja_rademacher]

I like that. It is simpatico!

[@chasbodaniels1744]

@Cache You should get out more and interact with other human beings. You might smarten up.

[@terraformingthesubconsciou7131]

Really great tips observing the 4th & 5th major chords always next to each other to quickly find the key

[@seandaniel23]

+youngjnick Yeah that's helped me out some much!

[@needsmoreboosters4264]

This is awesome. Just enough theory so that it's super useful but still understandable to near beginners.

[@seandaniel23]

Thanks so much!

[@mikel917]

Thanks! It also helps to learn how to build chords of the scale, by stacking 3rds. It's really sad that so many 'teachers' will take your money just to teach how to play by ear. I guess because they don't know anything about theory.

[@andrewptob]

...and the light goes off as to why they call it a I, IV, V blues progression...

[@seandaniel23]

I remember that moment well!

[@andrewptob]

By the way, I've been watching a lot of your lessons (and bombarding you with comments). It's refreshing to find a good, practical teacher. Thanks for all the good info! You are doing a great service to many middling guitar players such as myself. ;^)

[@bonhamhouse1169]

Why does the light go off?

[@andrewptob]

Ah, I suppose, the light would go on, right? Now, I'm doubting my cliches...

[@atthecabin4995]

This experience can be likened to an adolescent reaching puberty.

[@Billy-ho5ms]

Why do you make this so easy to understand?? Great teaching ...many thanks!!

[@leemsky]

1:29 - 1:33 all become major chordze xD btw nice video.. it helped me alot! :D

[@seandaniel23]

Thanks for watching!

[@iamwatari4088]

Thank you so much, this is the information I've been looking for sooooo long. And you explain it very well!

[@seandaniel23]

happy to help!

[@womanzuzu9688]

dude whathe heck !? thank you so much you are a bro! what has been a mystery is now in a text i may be able to read.

[@seandaniel23]

Happy to help my guy!

[@Nicoww2dyy]

What a life saver! I made a chord progression and I didn't even know what key was it, it was in a key of D

[@pearpushlambda2605]

what if you are in a minor key? Say Gminor. Would your chord progression be composed of chords having root notes corresponding to one of the notes of the Gminor scale? If so, what mode (harmonic, melodic, or other) ?

[@michaelpluto2288]

One way I play the key of G Minor is play Something like Gm, Eb, Bb, and F

[@FinaleCadence]

IVE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS FOR YEARS THANK YOU SO MUCH!

[@seandaniel23]

Awesome, thanks for watching!

[@FinaleCadence]

Sean Daniel Thank you man! Keep up the great videos!

[@brandon_945]

This takes me back to learning math in school... I get the formula but WHY? why does it work this way?

[@Vulturelover2013]

Saaaaame

[@ensignofindustry1033]

The ‘why’ is answerable but not by me😅. I will say the deeper you dive into music theory, the more you see the connections.

[@Blakepurcell14]

You've made my bass playing better by teaching progressions and keys. You have me giging a few nights a week

[@seandaniel23]

+Blake Purcell So awesome to hear Blake! Keep it up!

[@con4244]

I am so confused I don’t understand any of this where do I start I have no idea about keys

[@seandaniel23]

Maybe start by watching this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/lZC5pZ-uhr-bjtU&t=

[@throughthestorm3852]

Thanks Sean, you are an awesome teacher

[@seandaniel23]

Happy to help out!

[@SlowedReverbMafia]

hey man you're a really good teacher and I have been able to learn so much from you. Any way I could donate to you?

[@seandaniel23]

Man thank you so much Miguel! I know you can always click the 'support' button on the channel homepage. And I've got an album coming out soon too! But really I just appreciate you watching and commenting man! Happy Holidays my man!

[@arlenenichol4740]

why not u poor

[@tomfalco8153]

This was the most helpful theory video I've seen. Great job! Thanks!

[@seandaniel23]

Happy to help!

[@gauravpoudel7288]

keep more videos coming. You're great!

[@seandaniel23]

+Gaurav poudel Thanks so much! Will do!

[@BlakeHunter44]

This is the first video that has actually helped me understand this concept. Thank you so much!

[@seandaniel23]

Happy to help!

[@richardvaughan9994]

Do you have any videos I can watch that would help me understand all this stuff you’re taking about

[@seandaniel23]

I just try and talk a little about the theory in all the vids.

[@arlenenichol4740]

true dude

[@gariG2]

Hallelujah! Thank you. Straight to the point and great explanation of a very important topic that is usually explained twice as complicated and twice as long. 👍🤓

[@jeppep95]

What does power chrods count as? major or minor?

[@noahmartin9089]

neither, they are just the root note and a 5th. hence why all power chords are named the root note followed by a 5.

[@jeppep95]

Noah Martin can you use them as both a major and a minor in the nashville system?

[@NoOne-ye5jf]

Yeah you could, they don't really count as major or minor, they're just a perfect 5th interval without the 3rd, and without that major or minor 3rd you won't get that major o minor sound.

[@TomGoldsmithguitar]

On there own they are neither because u are just playing a root note and a fifth degree which are components of most major and minor scales. Good question though man! kzbin.info/door/RZH49vC4J_sJbKwf77xhUA

[@jeremoimoke2040]

Wow!! That was the best ever explanation I've head so far, kudos🎉

[@rossocorsa6577]

Almost every pop song ,the first chord is the key

[@seandaniel23]

That works a lot of the time yeah.

[@probono9341]

The best explanation of this topic on KZbin.

[@seandaniel23]

Thanks Bill!

[@kyles310]

Great channel. I'm confused by something though. You said that the diminished will always be the vii, but wouldn't it be the II in a minor key? What am I missing?

[@seandaniel23]

Yup. So rather than thinking of a minor key having its own numbers, I like to relate everything to the major key (where the minor key would exist on the 6th note). So if you restarted the numbers and turned minor from 6 into 1, the second note (which is the 7th in major) is that diminished chord. Just two ways of looking at the same thing, neither is really more 'right' than the other in my opinion. Hope that made sense!

[@kyles310]

That makes sense. When you play with other musicians though, and somebody calls out a chord progression, doesn't that create confusion though? Thanks for the reply!

[@lawrencemichaelis5908]

Kyle Scott you should rearrange the numbers when switching to minor to avoid confusion. So the 6 chord is now the root or 1 chord in a minor key.

[@arlenenichol4740]

i didn't get anything he said

[@avi4580]

@@seandaniel23 So if most of the times song ends in the key , in case of a minor scale ,does it more common the song ends in the key of the minor scale , or in the the parallel Major scale,or both of them?

[@johnhendricks1998]

Great lesson I would have to practice hearing it and applying it.

[@seandaniel23]

Thanks for watching!

[@FireClocks]

What if the music doesn't necessarily use chords? like fingerstyle for example. Would it be like the note that is most used throw out the music? Nice Video Anyways!

[@seandaniel23]

Thanks so much! Even in fingerstyle stuff, there are always chords behind the music, even if they aren't played as chords. A great indicator of what chord might be present is the note most frequently used, so that could be a really good way to determine the key :) Thanks for watching!

[@KillertoneLabs]

J Guy Good point! That's what I end up doing and it usually works well. This method also shows you when there is a key change... Since it suddenly sounds wrong/bad at that point.

[@timotheemuzaliwa]

FireClocks To my knowledge fingerstyle originally use chords. I'm ready to be corrected

[@jonnyru1177]

Fingerstyle songs use arpeggios, yes? 'Arpeggio' means "broken notes of a chord"

[@DanneoYT]

Timothée Mulosanibwa Fingerstyle is based off root note which is pretty much the chord

[@18stags]

Thanks for these tips Sean, I've had a few "Ahaa" moments while watching your videos. The fog starts to disappear from before my eyes the more I watch them.

[@johndaily543]

Couldn't you just look at the key signature? Just kidding. Great video, and it's very informative. You had a new subscriber at "How did you get into my house and why are you wearing my pants?" :)

[@seandaniel23]

Haha, and there's that. Thanks for watching!

[@MaxwellMhaka]

What an awesome teacher you are!

[@user-cx1cc7so3m]

I just wanna know where to put my capo 😭

[@seandaniel23]

Haha, or that.

[@rosten.dsouza]

@@seandaniel23 Video needed for that😝

[@s.vidhyardhsingh3881]

It’s very useful. Those who are watching can make use of this. I am happy that I learnt the same by myself but I didn’t make a video to help others so....... good work brother 😊

[@seandaniel23]

Happy to help!

[@s.vidhyardhsingh3881]

Sean Daniel thanks again ☺️

[@lebronjahval23]

chord progression is in key of G but he start in D. 5-4-1 PROGRESSION SWEET CHILD OF MINE

[@seandaniel23]

Thanks for watching!

[@lebronjahval23]

d c g

[@Hey_you_guys]

Sweet Child isn't in the key of G major. It's in D mixolydian for the verse. And then I think it changes key to a minor key for the solos. The idea of different modes like mixolydian and minor and major adds a whole dimension on top of what this videos explaining.

[@IxiaRayne]

Huh. Thank you! That helped a great deal. Even though I‘m still a crappy beginner, I actually feel like I got that. I‘m gonna browse through your other vids as well. PS: Nicely edited video, man. The way you visualised the whole thing was great! 👌🏻

[@kylaligayo2366]

" ohh.. So I have to know what chords there are and recognize them by ear and then figure out the key " :,

[@seandaniel23]

easy :)

[@josephpaz2520]

This VIDEO Best EXPLAINS, thus far, the BASIC UNDERSTANDING of the THEORY of 'KEY's'!, GREAT JOB, Sean! Maybe you should present other Important VIDEOS, GRAPHICALLY displaying the CHORD STRUCTURES(including the MAJOR, MINORs and DIMINISHED chords) of EACH 'KEY'? ... Just saying Once again GREAT JOB!

[@ooiTzAmii]

Thanks for teaching me guitar pewdipie

[@seandaniel23]

I get that a lot.

[@brunakelling]

Hey, i'm brazilian and just found out your channel. Congratulations and thanks for sharing your knowledge!!! There's a lot of useful information, and it's so hard to find someone explaining like this, especially in music. Keep it going, man!

[@seandaniel23]

Thanks! Glad you found this useful.

[@roshaanhyder484]

What if you're in a minor key?

[@seandaniel23]

So let's say you're in the Key of A minor, all the means is all these numbers and stuff work the exact same way, but the minor key ALWAYS occurs on the 6th note of the major key. So the key of A minor is all the same notes as the key of C major. Practically, there won't be a difference, so if you're in a minor key, plug that note into spot #6 and populate the rest of the chords.

[@roshaanhyder484]

Sean Daniel Thanks!

[@arlenenichol4740]

you stupid he did tell us in the video dahh

[@Prwlerx]

After searching through the desert of the internet, I've found a pool of fresh water. Thank you, Sean. You've made my journey easier.

[@jasonhugo9724]

Welcome to the jungle - Guns N' Roses There is “A,E,C,C#m, D, E7/9” So, what is the basic tone?

[@seandaniel23]

A. Pretty much whenever you see a dominant 7 chord, it's a great hint that you're 'resolving' to the tonal center, in this case it leads to A.

[@tarikaiesec]

great and practical explanation, I get it finally! you make guitar theory look easy, thank you very much Sean!!

[@seandaniel23]

So happy to help!

[@QuibusLicet]

I think you meant to write: "How to Find Out-ah What Key You're In-ah"

[@Awkwkwks]

Thank ou very much for this video... I played guitar for a year now but my knowledge on this is little since i only do "play by the ear" so its kinda like guessing which chords are "good to the ears" but i got to this level of playing because of listening to alot of songs and interpret them myself. And it seems good because by the time i learned the chord progression, i can basically do pentatonix.

[@seandaniel23]

So happy it was helpful!

[@daughteroftheking01]

WOW. simple. straight to the point. no antics. new subbie ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[@darteest]

That was the best explanation of how to find the correct key that I’ve seen or heard. Thanks so much!

[@seandaniel23]

Thank you Tara!