What is a key?

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You can think of a key as the setting for a song. At the basic level, it determines the chords that can used in a song, as well as what notes can be used to create melodies. [An example would be the key of C major, where the chords that can be used are C major, F major, G major, D minor, E minor, A minor. The notes that can be used for melodies are C, D, E, F, G, A, B]  

 

As a beginner guitarist, knowing the key of a song will help you anticipate what chords would be present in a song. This is possible because most popular songs use similar chords. 

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Usually, guitarists will find themselves playing in the key of G major and C major very often. Sometimes, the key of D and E. These keys are usually chosen as the chords found within each key tend to be easier to play and understand. G major is the most common and easiest to play of the 4 keys I have mentioned. 

 

You can refer to the chart below, to see what chords are usually found in the respective keys. If you are wondering what the roman numerals are, click here to see my explanation in another tip.