Favorite Key?

[mikespe]

I have noticed that when playing any of the following scales: Pentatonic Major/Minor or the Major Scale, I am always drawn to the key of A. Sometimes I'll play the Pentatonic Minor in E but A seems to sound better to my ear. I don't sing so it's not because of that. Does anyone else always get drawn to a particular key no matter what scale you play?

I was fooling with extended Pentatonic Major scales yesterday and all I could play was the Key of A.

[Jorge]

D# , I am tuned one halfstep down so that gives me that sweet jump on the F# string, the one that Jimi always used!

[tcadam]

I've always enjoyed playing in C especially for Blues.

[Axis29]

I noodle in A on my Tele, Ab on my strat (it's tuned down half step... it's the only way it stays in tune, go figure?), but end up playing in other keys cause everyone in the band needs to sing down as low as we can get. LOL

C is nice. D is fun, G can be nice and soulfull, kinda jazy blues for me. I hit B a lot too. But, A just seems like home. Probably cause I play a lot of Albert King, Clapton and Santana stuff. But who knows, might be 'cause it's the laziness in me. A is just right there in the middle. No big finger stretches and I can go up and down below the main box position on scales.

[Roli]

[photoweborama]

Gee. I don't remember... Oh Yea! G!

[OrovilleTim]

Yep, I get drawn to particular keys, but it's based on the music. For just goofing around...

E for Blues (like Lightnin')
G for Bluegrass
A for Country
D for Rock

EGADs! I just noticed a strange pattern!

The key I like least... Bb!

But, this weekend, I sat down with a song list for an acoustic solo set and started trying various keys of songs to suit my vocal range and came up with some in E, C, A, and D.

[GoldieLocks]

For some reason I've always loved F.

It just sounds so Meaty. Double stops on the 1st frets. We do some Motown songs down there.

[klasaine]

Key Largo and Key Lime pie. Lauren Bacall and nice dessert.

[eddiewagner]

E! cause it fits my voice like a glove.

[dpote]

I've usually been partial to F#. But lately, the band's songs have all been in B.

Dave

[jcayer]

I always go back to A

[Charlie Bernstein]

Better cool it, gang. I don't think we're supposed to admit we have favorite keys. (Mine is A.)

[mikespe]

I think just about every key was mentioned (except KEYstone beer!).

I have a related question for those of you NOT in a band (because if you are in a band usually you have to play/practice all/most keys).

When you practice do you only use one key? Now I don't mean for cover tunes but when you're improvising. I still find I like A. Besides the tone it is an easy key to play and covers the whole fretboard without a lot of jogging around.

I need to add more keys to my repertoire!!

[jazztele]

Eb

the open strings are really cool things like a b9 and a raised fifth and such, several chord voicings all fall into the sweet spots for my hands on the neck (3-9 frets for me) and I can jam with any alto sax player i meet...

[maestrovert]

Key ?! i can't find the bridge

has anybody seen the bridge ?
where's that confounded bridge ?

[Joe-Bob]

My favorite key is the tuning key! I think more people should use 'em.

[jazzguitar14]

I like to play around in the chromatic scale

[Open G Tele]

Although I use open G tuning, I find myself playing a lot in Bb (B-flat).

It just sounds good to my ears.

It must be all those years in Baptist churches.

[blacklinefish]

I tend to like a particular part of the neck, and I don't use too many open string notes. This area is rooted around the sixth fret, so I must admit that my favorite major keys are Bb and Eb.

If I have to sight-read single note stuff, then my favorite is definitely Eb. I know it sounds weird. I always use standard tuning.

--gh

[aznrambo481]

E and G. on my strat you get some screaming pinch harmonics down when you jam in G.

[hayseedtele]

Monkey...

enough with the terrible puns.
The key of E

[SixStringSlinger]

Key West. But really, I tend to gravitate towards G a lot. Mostly when I'm writing though. I'll play just about any key. And according to a good friend of mine, A is the ultimate key. I'm inclined to agree.

[blue metalflake]

Originally Posted by jazztele

Eb

the open strings are really cool things like a b9 and a raised fifth and such, several chord voicings all fall into the sweet spots for my hands on the neck (3-9 frets for me) and I can jam with any alto sax player i meet...

With you on that one - its a case of too long playing in bands with brass in them. Half a lifetime spent in Eb & Bb.

[J-man]

E and D, I have no idea why, they just sound right to me. =P

[NewOldStock]

I'll pick a tuning instead, though it's almost exclusively used in D & Dm keys.

I've always enjoyed songs in drop-D, or dropped-D, tuning.
I like the sound of that bassier low D when plucked.

[Jeff Mason]

D & E also...though D suits my voice better.

[trevarty]

Originally Posted by NewOldStock

I'll pick a tuning instead, though it's almost exclusively used in D & Dm keys.

I've always enjoyed songs in drop-D, or dropped-D, tuning.
I like the sound of that bassier low D when plucked.

Bocephus seems to love that tuning. So do I. It sounds awesome on an acoustic and it makes for some easy barre chords aswell.

[jmclaren]

No particular favorite. whatever key the chart is in works for me. It's good to learn how to play in all keys, especially if you work with keyboard and horn players.

[Mojohand40]

C is my fav. Next is probally A, followed by G and then E.

[imwjl]

In winter my favorite key is the one to our house. In summer it is sometimes the key to the cottage. For guitar it's what ever interests me.

;)

[bendingtens]

D minor. It's the saddest of all keys.