If a person was interested in playing todays more modern country music, which keys should they learn to play in? Please add anything else they would need to know. Minor keys, pentatonic scales ect. Thanks
Like all guitar music, country tends to be played in the "guitar friendly" keys.
They are, roughly in order of friendliness: G, C, D, A, E, F.
G is the most used and guitar friendliest key because all the chords in it are easily played with open (1st position) shapes (G-Am-Bm-C-D-Em) and all the notes of the usual scale, G pentatonic major (E pent minor) are easily accessible from the 1st position as well.
If horns are involved, you may need to play in the flat keys, F, Bb or Eb. For those you must either learn movable chord shapes like barre chords or learn to use a capo to change key.
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Helgi Briem
hbriem AT gmail DOT com
Thanks Helgi, I appreciate it.
