Changing Key...

[k5koy]

Ok, heres a dopey question...
Lets say Im playing a song typically done in the key of E. Lets say the singer cant get that high, and prefers a key of D.
I only know the song in E, so how do I change it to D without having to relearn the shapes?



Koy Carson
West Texas

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The "PickPocket" The ORIGINAL Guitar Accessory

[oldguy]

Move it down the neck two frets lower (or up the neck ten).

[Ro3b]

There are a few mental practices that I've found helpful with this.

When I'm playing rhythm, I'm not thinking "G, Em, Am, D;" I'm thinking "I, vi, ii, V." If you concentrate on knowing the function of the chords you're playing in whatever key you're in, it will be easier to transpose. For example, if you know that G#m is the iii in the key of E, and that F#m is the iii of the key of D, then when the music calls for a iii chord, you'll know exactly what to play.

The same thing goes for scales: know what the function of each note is.

Get to where you can work across the odd interval between the second and third strings. There's a great book by John Finn called Advanced Modern Rock Guitar Improvisation, wherein he talks about visualizing the fretboard not like this:

 _ _ _ _ _
|_|_|_|_|_|
|_|_|_|_|_|
|_|_|_|_|_|
|_|_|_|_|_|

But like this:

         _
 _ _ _ _|_|
|_|_|_|_|_|
|_|_|_|_|_|
|_|_|_|_|_|
|_|_|_|

It's a clever little mind game, but really useful. I've posted about it before, um, (quick visit to the search function) here, so I won't repeat myself. The upshot is that there are many fewer scale patterns and chord shapes to learn than you think: learning five ways to do one thing is far easier than learning five things. And being able to take that one pattern and play it anywhere you like, in whatever key you like, just blows the mystery of the guitar wide open.

[aeolian]

When I'm playing rhythm, I'm not thinking "G, Em, Am, D;" I'm thinking "I, vi, ii, V." If you concentrate on knowing the function of the chords you're playing in whatever key you're in, it will be easier to transpose. For example, if you know that G#m is the iii in the key of Em, and that F#m is the iii of the key of D, then when the music calls for a iii chord, you'll know exactly what to play.

That is definitely an excellent way to do it, I do the same. In order to use this method you have to have basic music theory in order to know how keys transpose. I touched on this in another thread about composing here on the forum.

In order to transpose from E to D every chord has to be transposed one whole tone down, so an A becomes a G, a C becomes a Bb, etc. If you are playing open string chords, there is really no way to keep your previous chord shapes. If you are playing barre chords then it is just a matter of moving the barre down 2 frets (one whole tone).

[sunvalleylaw]

My instructor is teaching and encouraging me to begin thinking in terms such as you guys are suggesting, and move beyond thinking about the note or chord names. I had a great lesson on Thursday on it, and have not had chance to get back to it due to being out of town. Ro3b, thanks for the thoughts on it. I will use your chart in learning this skill.