Is the guitar a key bound instrument?

A lot of music for classical guitar is written in three main keys: E, A, D and their respective minors. This is probably in part due to the fact that these three keys all have open bass notes on the guitar making it easy to harmonize music in these keys. Indeed, the constant barring of chords throughout an entire piece can be quite taxing even on the most experienced of hands. It is rare then to find complex melodic music in the keys of Ab, Eb, Db etc. The reason for this is that most of these keys have little or no open notes in them making it hard to achieve sustain in the bass and shift position smoothly. Still this does not necessarily mean that we cannot use these keys but we may have to rethink our concept of harmony when writing in more obscure keys. The main problem arises when we try to do what we can do easily in the key of E in the key of Eb for example. We may not be able to write music in a traditionally harmonic sense using these keys so therefore we must harness the guitars unique qualities and allow new sounds to come into our compositions. A good example of this kind of writing is Leo Brouwer. In his Etudes he utilizes the open strings of the guitar against foreign chords allowing the guitar to enter new dimensions and sound worlds. Similarly Heitor Villa-Lobos uses this technique in the B section of his Prelude no.2 where he moves a triad shape up and down the neck of the guitar whilst maintaining the open B and E strings above.


When we embrace these qualities of the guitar we can begin to create a truly original sound world unique to the guitar. Still, it is important to have a thorough understanding of the fret board and practicing in remote keys will not only help you to play better in the easy keys but will also change your perception of the guitar. A good way to practice without having certified studies, written by the great masters is to take a simple tune and play it in all the keys. I personally use the melody line from the Bach Minuet in G as the tune is melodic but also has some large intervals making it a little challenging while easy enough to play by ear (see example 1).

1 J.S Bach Minuet in G, Bars 1 and 2

Other simple tunes will make good practice for playing in remote keys and you won’t be required to go hunting for studies in the key of Ab or Eb etc.

It is also important to play in one key for a long time before moving onto another. If we simply play through all the keys without allowing their positions and sounds to sink into our subconscious then we are only skimming the surface of what these keys really are. In fact, Indian musicians often play in one key for years before trying a new one.

Scale also plays in an important part of how we can utilize more remote keys. If we only allow ourselves to compose in the western major and minor scales then we will come up against difficulties in some keys on the guitar. Not only can we use recognized alternative scales such as modes, pentatonic and Indian scales we can also create our own scales based on what works well around a particular tonal center.

So as a conclusion I would say the guitar is a fixed key instrument if you only approach from a Western harmony perspective but is open to all keys if we allow new sounds to enter our compositions, sounds that are perhaps foreign and uncomfortable at first but later become a unique sound world.