The Most Important Piece of Music Theory: What Is a Key?

[@curiousguitarist]

Thanks for having me on the channel again Marty! I really appreciate the opportunity to teach here, your channel is great and your community is amazing!

[@sbpsychology1109]

Great, clear teaching - something just clicked for me! Thanks Chris!

[@curiousguitarist]

@@sbpsychology1109 that’s great! Glad to help flip the switch!

[@chrisfegan1282]

Great tutorial and explanation , cheers guys!

[@fawkesandhound]

Chris and Marty, thank you so much for this lesson. I swear I have tried to understand clearly for years and with this, it finally clicked. I’m not kidding I almost shed a tear. Thank you.

[@curiousguitarist]

@@fawkesandhound Man that is the coolest comment ever! So glad this helped!

[@thebrandonblom]

Dude, you are just the coolest, most genuine, kindest person I think I've seen on youtube. Thanks for all the lessons over the years

[@MartyMusic]

I appreciate that!

[@quincyfinnley2653]

You all prolly dont give a shit but does anyone know of a trick to get back into an Instagram account..? I somehow lost the password. I appreciate any assistance you can give me

[@gatlinwesson1756]

@Quincy Finnley instablaster =)

[@quincyfinnley2653]

@Gatlin Wesson thanks so much for your reply. I got to the site through google and Im trying it out now. Takes quite some time so I will reply here later with my results.

[@quincyfinnley2653]

@Gatlin Wesson It did the trick and I now got access to my account again. I'm so happy:D Thank you so much, you saved my ass!

[@orryrobb5160]

I'm trying to learn guitar to pay tribute to my father. He was the greatest guitar player I ever heard. He knew it all. I wish I'd listened when I had the chance. He left me with his guitars and amps and pedals and the works, and it just seems like a crime not to learn - they're worth thousands. I tried to learn from you two years ago, and just learned the santana intros you taught, and then gave up after a few months. I got those back now, and honestly, Chris is a great teacher. Just today from you both I've learned triads and the major scales. Theory's a big scary thing, and I thought it would be boring, but today wasn't like I thought it would be.

[@cavejelly]

Similar story here although we sold most of his gear. Kept a few choice pieces and a new passion for learning and developing.

[@danielthedude]

I'm sure your dad would be happy to know that you're carrying on his legacy. Godspeed in your guitar journey, friend.

[@lukeflor_max4733]

It's not simple for beginners to learn that , but it's important .

[@christopherobrien6570]

Whilst I'm pleased with my progress so far, I don't think I'm ready for this lesson yet🤣😂, but it gives me something to aim at, and more importantly, reminds me that I'll always have more to learn. The delivery is superb, and when I'm was ready to understand it, I know I'll enjoy it.

[@MikefromAlabama]

Anyone getting into intermediate or advanced levels, Chris is a teacher you want to follow. Thanks Marty!

[@curiousguitarist]

Appreciate that Michael!

[@chinmayanaik1380]

I am such a trash that the dustbin is disgusted by me😭

[@BubbaGee56]

Very cool. Now, if he only explained what a key is...

[@stephenmoore3035]

It unlocks the door

[@esanjuan212]

Damn this one was great. I cannot progress as a guitarist without approachable theory like this. Thank you Chris and Marty for this Sunday Gold!

[@curiousguitarist]

You're so welcome Erik! Applying theory takes almost all the barriers away!

[@larrybegnaud7811]

Hats off to Chris and Marty for this great lesson. I’ve never seen guitar theory put so simply. I’ve struggled with theory due to lack of interest and patience in applying the info. This simple starting point enables me to intuitively use chord shapes in the scale to experiment with creating music and learning other people’s music, similar to learning the blues in different keys. Excellent lesson.

[@curiousguitarist]

Thanks Larry! Glad this type of approach works for you!

[@Seekaywastaken]

Gotta go to work, but I'm anxious to practice this when I get home.

[@gohjohan]

And reward yourself with a good guitar end of this year when you mastered this part. That's what I did last year for Christmas when I made progress during the lockdown.

[@harbingerx1412]

After playing guitar off and on for several years (I still consider myself a rookie) I have seen hundreds of guitar videos but this what is finally staring to make things click. After learning this pattern I realized it can be repeated literally anywhere on the neck.

[@scottstevens9323]

Marty, I now understand why you’re such a great teacher! Because you had a great teacher! Chris is all that and more!

[@curiousguitarist]

Thanks Scott!

[@Zain.Basi1]

The intro quality was so good I forgot if I was watching a YT Video or a movie. And that SG is looking 🔥 just perfect.

[@liljessielove]

Once again, thank you, Marty! for doing what you do and for introducing me to Chris! I'm now on Chris's website enjoying his help too, thank you very much, Chris. I'm an older, novice, disabled mentally and physically, couch player...it's been extremely difficult to learn guitar but I'm dedicated and these kinds of lessons are getting me closer to becoming a genuine guitar player. I'm now beginning to understand my fretboard and unlocking its joy. All the best to you both!!!

[@bryansbestwax]

Between your channel and Beato, I learn more in weeks that I did in years 20 years ago. My son has a real edge in getting good over his pops.

[@qjarman7753]

What a fantastic teacher and lovely guy

[@alexhargiss9890]

I’ve been looking for someone to teach it at the pace and in-depth way that you just did! I finally kind of get it! I appreciate you, thanks for taking the time :)

[@curiousguitarist]

You bet Alex!

[@michaelmerrullo2043]

I’ve subscribed to Chris’s channel and really happy to have him in my arsenal of great instructors to inspire and learn from everyday. He has a very special way of breaking things down

[@curiousguitarist]

Thanks for the plug Michael!

[@RC32Smiths01]

Music theory is really a blessing, whether it's learning how to compose music, or just feel a sense of appreciation!

[@curiousguitarist]

I agree, it helps stitch everything together

[@RC32Smiths01]

@@curiousguitarist Indeed!

[@jamesherdfan6863]

Easy to understand.... thanks Marty and Chris!

[@spieseeboi820]

Free music theory lessons are always appreciated

[@thedragonofthewest5789]

Chris Sherland is a great teacher. He explained it super smoothly with the major scale, and I learned it. Thanks, Chris!

[@curiousguitarist]

Of course TDOTW!

[@klew5988]

Thanks Marty and Chris. Keep these lessons coming

[@nathansutherland9085]

Thank you so much! Really helpful for any young musician learning. Back when I was a fresh beginner, I remember to this day how stressed out I was because I didn’t know what a key was! Thanks again Marty!

[@andrewdescant4996]

This has helped me understand so much more. Thanks so much Marty and Chris!

[@virginiamckay2814]

Hey Marty this is Trevor I've been watching your videos for years and I have learned so much you teach music better than anyone I have ever seen on the tube just wanted to say thanks man you do a wonderful job teaching.

[@BrandonCardoso12]

Man this just made all my progressions make so much sense. I always knew what I wanted to play next but never realized why I was going to those chords. Really appreciate this video

[@curiousguitarist]

That’s excellent Brandon!

[@ewljr]

A long time ago I was a big fan of Joe Satriani. He talked about who he dubbed to take over his teaching studio bc he couldn’t teach anymore. They taught diatonic theory and how all the modes and chords fit on each other like a puzzle. How the root note of each mode had a corresponding chord that fit over it. It completely changed the way I look at the fretboard. In all my years I never see anyone teach diatonic theory and I’m not sure why. It makes the whole “theory thing” so much easier to digest. That you for beginning to show people with this lesson Chris.

[@curiousguitarist]

You bet! And I could not agree more!

[@oneeyemonster3262]

Axis pitch will make more sense if learn MORE DIFFERENT scales You'll have to get the 7 basic down pack becuase you're basically going to WARP them via shifting ONE or TWO notes Chords ( arpeggios) will also give you a GUIDE to SEEing the entire fretboard at a glance..The BASIC...ROOT to OCTAVE..playing toward the BRIDGE and towards the NUT....sort of like playing the Open C MAJOR verse C Barr chord....and the BASIC of tuning your guitar...the 4 lower strings are tune to perfect 4th or INVERTED 5th... In a nutshell.....Learn the BASIC of playing the Arpeggios SWEEPING patterns. i know and see the C MAJOR/Amin throughout entire fretboard It just depends how your mind works or what you been expose to in your life. i worked at power plants, electronics or even design video games as a hobby. My brain is used to seeing and processing MULTI LAYERS of blue prints, schematics...ect...ect In 3D gaming design software....Im sued to seeing the models' mesh...flip/rotate forward, backward. upside down and inside out. So...mirror such as IONIAN is PHRYGIAN...Mirror descending make sense to me.... So lessons such as N6 chord...or inserting the Db chord as possible Lyd #6 is easier for me to process.... becuase C Harmonic min b2 is just Phrygian , maj7 = Db lyd #6 I had to apply it everyday...even if I wasnt playing my guitar..In a nutshell My brain will see multiple patterns layered on top of each other....ROOT NOTES are always my first point of REFERENCE anyways.... i use these 3 basic scale as guide...when I wing it. Playing blues or whatever I dont THINK about it..if i do, it'll miss a beat. It still comes back to the basic of what my Father told me from moment I wanted to play lead....target and play around the arpeggios....kid. Becuase I havnt learn different scales nor master fretboard, YET. X= option notes MAJOR pentatonic 1..x...2...x....3............5...x....6...........8 Minor penta 1...........b3..x..4...x...5............b7..x...8 DOMINANT 1...x...2.....x...3............5........b7...x...8 ( not popular...but hey I better than most people) it was a BIETCH to learn at first...becuase I kept missing the maj3 on the B string...But hey The guitar was a Bietch to learn at first... So PRACTICE....PRACTICE...PRACTICE... SLOWLY without wanting to noodle.lol will..... Harmonic min b5 and melodic min b5 = FULL dim ( W/H) dor b2, #4 and Lyd dom b2 = FULL dim ( H/W) The trick is you can also stack MAJOR, min or DOMINANT chords every b3 intervals too.... or like this ( these are just modes from various scales) example...if you ask me to wing it in 1. 4. 5 12 barr blues A7......D7......E7 Im simply going to use the DOMINANT pentatonic as a GUIDE over each TONE center 1,3,b7, #9.....or 1, #2, b7, 10 ( maj3) is EASY for me i also know.....3, 5, b7, b9 = FULL diminished. mix mix #2 mix #4 Mix b2 mix b6 mix b2, b6 mix #2, #4 Mix b2, #4 phry b4 loc b4 aeo b4 dor b4 or they;re just VARITIONS of whatever the hell within the 12 NOTES. like the sat said.....the ROOT note as the AXIS eveything else is OPTIONAL.lol

[@jhite4058]

This is such a good lesson. Holy moly, that tied a lot of things together for me! Thank you!

[@abdalrahmanshananier3515]

Man this video is released just as I’m learning chords within keys, and I gotta say it really ties thing up nicely! Thanks a lot Marty and Chris

[@curiousguitarist]

You bet! Putting it all together early is a huge plus! Glad you enjoyed this one!

[@Talking_Records]

Just started trying to expand my knowledge of guitar besides just songs and this guy has made it incredibly better than I thought it would be

[@MostSimple]

Who needs to know the keys when you can just watch Marty shred

[@scuzzbucket8485]

Awww Chris even has a poster of Marty on his wall!

[@richardrahl7531]

This was perfect, exactly the lesson I needed! It all makes sense now.

[@djekse]

Great lesson Marty, please get Chris to do us an ear training session.

[@curiousguitarist]

Ooh I like that idea!

[@JB-ov2el]

Chris is phenomenal! Love his teaching approach and loved the intro he played, using the chords in the key with some arpeggios! He does a wonderful job explaining all of what he teaches!

[@curiousguitarist]

Thanks JB!

[@keithk3567]

Thanks Marty and Chris. Have a wonderful day!

[@curiousguitarist]

You bet!

[@TheMadra12000]

Thank you Marty you understand the principle of standing on the shoulders of Giants. Chris is also a brilliant teacher. Thank you for this.

[@jameslabs1]

I appreciate the constant review while teaching. Very good lesson. Thank you

[@MartyMusic]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@Brandon22419]

Really, really, helped i was stuck in the a minor blues scale and didnt know where to go

[@gohjohan]

I was going through this with my mentor last Friday over dinner. It's a useful trick for us electric guitarists so that we don't move our hands too far away from the root note.

[@webrambler88]

Music theory is such a mystery to me. It drives me crazy when the teacher says the first chord is always major but the third is always minor... Such statements (without explanation as to WHY!?) make me give up on learning mudic theory!

[@kevmcd72]

Thank you Marty! The light is starting come on; after wandering into the land of intermediate for a while, from learning shapes, to the fret board, the theory side of the course tied it all together. Now if I can train my fingers to match the notes in my head. You explained it best, with a little spice and a topping of cheesy humor. Carry on!

[@AV-cx7ob]

New studio background looks great!

[@TxCwby]

Nice tip, coach! Super helpful, Marty and Chris!

[@curiousguitarist]

You're welcome Dan!

[@Redheadedlady55]

~Marty....( you ) are a wonderful teacher....because being aware of us that try to learn.....we are not there as of yet.....plz continue to show us your way..Marty.

[@giglehart]

Wow this is absolutely what I needed. Now I’m going to memorize my circle of 5ths and put these two together! This pulled so much together. Love you Marty and thanks for sharing your mentor!!!! Peace!

[@EternityRecordsUSA]

Love the Chris videos. Thanks Marty

[@curiousguitarist]

Thanks Charles!

[@EternityRecordsUSA]

@@curiousguitarist No worries mate. Your videos have taught me a lot about music theory. It's something I have always wanted to dive into to help with my soloing. I'm looking forward to more. Thanks again.

[@sstearns2]

Nice explanation... connected some dots for me. Thanks.

[@curiousguitarist]

You're welcome!

[@Ben59910]

For me the most helpful thing right now is the thumbnail that emphatically say's "STOP OVERTHINKING!"

[@gilbertlufc]

Thanks Chris. FINALLY, I get this!

[@joepulltab6355]

Just stumbled upon your channel. Getting serious about learning theory after fumbling around my fretboard off and on since the 90’s. Thank you and I can’t wait to get started!

[@GaleaLee]

After countless of videos explaining what is a key, this was the only one that stuck. Thank you!

[@billplace8463]

Great lesson, Chris , you make me want to learn more.

[@michaelgreen5206]

Two of my favorite guitar mentors here, no doubt about it!!!

[@curiousguitarist]

Honored Michael!

[@michaelgreen5206]

@@curiousguitarist The honor goes to you and Marty, my friends!

[@boadosheavy6137]

Incredible and so useful lesson Mr Kris!! Thanks a lot!! I hope you Marty invite him again soon! That really helped me out!

[@curiousguitarist]

Thanks! So glad to be invited back!

[@boadosheavy6137]

@@curiousguitarist ou yeah!! Me too!

[@rickcheehy8387]

Classy move Marty. Awesome video! I’m gonna go get hip on Chris’s channel. Thanks!

[@curiousguitarist]

Thanks Rick, look forward to seeing you there!

[@alanderson9711]

Best things I learned in the past decades of playing is: Make it your own. Don’t worry about getting the sound right. Get the basics down before learning bad habits. Learn a variety of styles and share. Keep it simple and have fun when you play. Send Marty some $$. Great vid guys, thanks.

[@dannyconnolly2953]

I’m mostly rock but I’m learning “Happy Together” to try just get some practice with new sounds and gotta say things are clicking so much with these theory videos

[@harlow0917]

im a teenager in my school music program and im super intimidated by the other students skills. awesome video super easy to understand thanks so much!

[@millionairesplendor2751]

This video could not have come at a better time. Thank you!

[@curiousguitarist]

You bet MS, glad this was useful!

[@spleefdowny]

Best approach to this I’ve ever seen! Please do the same on minor keys.

[@curiousguitarist]

That’s great to hear, glad this approach works for you! Minor keys next!

[@richardiii76]

Dude, Thank You!

[@berryzbridge3210]

Great lesson!

[@sergionunes5397]

One of the most helpful guitar videos I have ever watched.

[@curiousguitarist]

So glad you liked it Sergio!

[@curiousguitarist]

@Jack Sure you can. Just watch it. Be careful of relying on someone else to tell you fret numbers for everything...leave's you stuck when there's no one around to help you.

[@judih.8754]

Thanks, I've subbed to Marty and Chris!

[@luiscastro9933]

Awesome video. Enjoy learning something new.

[@darthkang_]

Thanks for introducing us to your teacher Marty!

[@PaperDrummer240]

What a great, foundational video. I wish I would have learned this when I first started!

[@riffcodger]

Thanks. Good work.

[@curiousguitarist]

Hey Peter! You’re welcome!

[@GoodfellaSoprano]

Val Surf in the hizzle! That orange Gibson is everything I need in life. My god.

[@curiousguitarist]

Val Surf FTW!! Bought my very first street board there in 1975, the same year I took up guitar :) Didn’t get my first Les Paul until 4 years later, but this one is definitely my last! The color is sweet cherry but since it’s a dye over, not painted, it’s aging into this very beautiful salmon orange. I’m in serious love with this thing

[@GoodfellaSoprano]

@@curiousguitarist that’s so cool! I live around the corner from CSUN on balboa and Nordoff. Thank you so much for teaching Marty. I’ve been a virtual student for 8 years. I teach surf lessons at Malibu surf shack. Take care Jedi master Sherland. Thomas Nash.

[@fallvos]

Marty please do a lesson on jaded by Green Day!!! You the man Marty 💪🏼

[@simpilot001]

Thank gosh Marty made a tutorial for this too

[@arthurvandelay7677]

That's the lesson I've been looking for! I've been playing for a long time, but never really "got" what people who actually know theory were talking about when they said, "One-four-five progression." Yeah, okay, whatever...how does it go? I felt pretty dumb, but I can play OK. I can even read music. I just didn't know much about how to express what I was doing. I believe a person like me can play better and be more flexible with a little actual knowledge of the fretboard. Many thanks to folks like you guys who post these videos!

[@curiousguitarist]

Glad this one was useful Arthur!!

[@jschoma11]

Been following Chris per your recommendation. Hes excellent

[@curiousguitarist]

Thanks Scott, appreciate the support.

[@marksava8617]

huge thanks

[@malakai5328]

Hey Marty, long time fan I've been watching your videos. Infact, you have liked one of my comments in the past. Just wanted to say that without your videos I probably wouldn't know much guitar. Always watching you with different account's. thanks again

[@mnett6610]

I’m a right handed guitarist, my fretting hand is good with all the shapes and chords and is getting up to speed, can you make a technique video about rhythm and how to properly strum

[@troymattingly3071]

Marty, thanks for this excellent intro music. Don't change anything!

[@BorkenGarage]

Sounds like he is playing that song from Something About Mary where the guys keeps popping up singing little songs as a sort of musical narrator.

[@Crushenator500]

8:58-9:04 Idk if they're even the same chords but all I can here is 'Here, There and Everywhere' by the Beatles

[@abban132435]

Well... Just gotta watch this 40 times

[@markquiroz3460]

Thank you Marty Thank you Chris! This really has helped me with understanding and switching between Major and Minor modes as a strumming guitarist! Do you have a video for my Next step is to put that concept into Soloing or adding short guitar riffs while strumming?

[@michaelmyers1270]

Well done! Easy to follow along with that. Nice to see where all those scales come from, or is it vise versa?!

[@BryanGuzman-uo7zx]

yup

[@C00LHAND702]

Considering picking up a guitar for the 1st time at 37 years old, seeing this video explained as "simple" has my head spinning and second guessing this whole idea

[@eastmoo8]

Great lesson. I have a slightly different question about keys. If I hear a track I'd like to jam with, how do I know what key it's in?

[@curiousguitarist]

That can get tricky depending on the chord progression of the tune, but usually you can find the center of the key by trying to find the bass note in the part of the tune that feels like “home”, from there you can start to experiment with chords that are in that key...see what works and what doesn’t. Usually it’s a process of elimination but finding that first home base chord is the first step, hope that helps!

[@eastmoo8]

@@curiousguitarist this seems viable kzbin.info/www/bejne/rnm2lGiXpM6rqpo

[@renoman6340]

Music theory always scared me it always sounds too hard, just want to play. Just want to have fun, pull out my guitar and be the life of the party, despite being handy caped from war injuries. i have limited mobility in my left hand, makes it very difficult to play. BUT i can do the bar and power cords. I have great difficulty with normal cords and doing riffs. I still have fun doing the simple stuff. I'm in therapy to try to get more mobility back, but it's a slow process. I love your videos with simple songs to play, I hope you continue them for people like me that have served their country and have the joy of playing the guitar.

[@jc6721]

Great video! Chris, I wish I had been a better student back when I was taking lessons from you. Now that I much more interested in more than just noodling around this is exactly the type of video I am interested in. This made so much sense, but I never heard this before. Can you suggest a series of videos that take the noodler like myself and teaches them the next steps in music theory? Where should someone like me go from here? Thanks so much!

[@mallemang]

so easy to see all that on a keyboard!! Isn't that a better way to teach that theory?

[@boomerdell]

Always love it when Chris Sherland makes a guest star appearance!

[@curiousguitarist]

Thanks Boomer, great to be back here!

[@boomerdell]

@@curiousguitarist really enjoying what you’ve been recording and sharing on your channel, too. You are a fantastic guitarist and superb teacher. Your natural ability to convey the concepts and techniques in understandable ways really makes your lessons accessible. Thank you! 🙏🏽

[@curiousguitarist]

@@boomerdell wow, thank you for that compliment, and your support. These types of comments fuel my inspiration! I’m filming this AM!

[@boomerdell]

@@curiousguitarist I can tell from watching and listening to you that you are very much following your passion and purpose, and it's genuinely inspiring. I also absolutely understand that we all have moments in which we wonder whether we're on the right path, etc., especially when we're in the midst of the mundane aspects of our work or pursuits. If you ever need someone to remind you that you have a positive impact on others, let me know and I'll tell you (in 100% sincerity and honesty) that you do!

[@curiousguitarist]

@@boomerdell 🙏

[@Marc76tub]

How cool! Very cool teacher!

[@johnmirabile3535]

lovin" that les paul! its like the fender fiesta red! very different! sounds great too! btw always get something from your lessons!

[@pauljenkins7037]

Great video - Chris is good!

[@curiousguitarist]

Thanks Paul!

[@kdavis63]

THis is to totally awesome! Mahalo Marty and Chris!

[@curiousguitarist]

Mahalo Kevin!!!

[@rayrivera1830]

Basically every chord is made up of note 1, 3 and 5 from your starting point in the scale (C-E-G, or D-F-A). It's the interval between the notes (whole step or half step) that makes it into a major or a minor. I guess.

[@JamesDavy2009]

Your statement is indeed accurate-a major chord has a difference of four semitones from the root to the third and three semitones from the third to the fifth. For a minor chord the reverse is true-three semitones from the root to the third and four semitones from the third to the fifth. Mentioned in the video is the diminished chord where the root, third and fifth are each separated by three semitones.

[@Germoney2000]

This is a bit much right now... I got a lot on my plate (music wise)... but I'll get around to it eventually. Thanks for the Tip!

[@happygolukky]

That was fantastic!

[@coleknight5335]

Hey this makes a lot of sense!

[@curiousguitarist]

Sweet!

[@SullenMorbius]

great lesson, thx!

[@virginiamckay2814]

Also I forgot to mention Chris I just subscribed to his channel. I enjoyed what he had to say thanks Trevor here again.

[@curiousguitarist]

Thanks for the plug Trev~

[@virginiamckay2814]

No problem Chris I'm watching one of your videos right now buddy great stuff.

[@curiousguitarist]

@@virginiamckay2814 Thanks a ton!

[@sethjohnson6539]

Hey that was fantastic Marty thanks Marty you rock dude