How do I learn how to stay within a certain guitar key?

Question

How do I learn to stay in certain key's when soloing? I haven't found any good info online. I know where all the notes are on a guitar freboard, but when someone says, play notes, or chords within the key of [whatever]. Whats the theory behind how to do that? Are there any good links that explain this music theory?

Answer 1

Check out http://musictheory.net/ for a good visual explanation of music theory.  That will help get you a grasp on the concept.  As for applying it to the fretboard, you're going to want to look into  scales for the solo'ing part.  The most common ones that you're going to want to research and learn are the minor pentatonic.