How do you play guitar solos in keys?

Question

I play in a band and all my solos are improvised but I can hardly solo in key. I have had a hard time understanding the "key" concept. Can anyone explain how to solo in key(s)?

Answer 1

In order to play a solo with a song in the same key, first you'll need to know what key the song is being played in. Then you just play in a scale of the same key.

To be able to do this, you will need to:

1. Know the notes of the strings for each fret (mainly the 6th and 5th strings [the two thickest strings]).

2. Know at least one scale pattern (try the minor pentatonic)

3. Be able to play that same scale at any position on the guitar neck.

So for example, if the band you are in is playing a song in the key of G, all you have to do is find the G note on the 6th string (which is the 3rd fret), and use this (or any other G in that scale) as the starting point in your solo and only play the notes in the scale which you choose to play.

To go a bit further, I would recommend practicing the minor pentatonic scale (which is a minor scale consisting of only 5 notes) and all of its 5 positions on the neck. Practice this at the 6th string and then at the 5th string starting positions. When you have this down, start playing the same scale at different frets (or keys) of the neck.

Answer 2

If you lack the basic knowledge of music theory to understand "keys" then all I can suggest is, you spend a little time learning the theory you should have learned when you first started playing.  If you can't play arpeggios, then all your solos will sound the same and you can't play arpeggios unless and until you can understand the theory behind keys.

Answer 3

I have found that the easiest way is to forget about the notes.

Just play all the frets and find each one that goes in the key of the song, then just remember which frets sound good and kind of improvise.

At least that's what I do.