Newbie stuff....How can I figure out what key and chords I can play over a guitar riff?

[argo30]

Usually, you look at the notes you play and determine in which key you’re in and which scale you are playing. For this you need a basic knowledge about keys and scales and chords.
Say, you play the notes A,C,D,E,G, you should know that these are the notes in the a minor pentatonic scale, which is a subset of the a minor scale (A,B,C,D,E,F,G). Then you can use the chords of the a minor scale (building triads): Amin, Bdim, Cmajor, Dmin, Emin (often replaced by Emajor), FMajor, Gmajor.
This is basic theory you have to learn: scales and chords and how to build chords from scales (or look at your table)
In your case, it is a bit difficult as the notes you play don’t easily fit into a commonly used scale. You could argue for e minor, but the C# doesn’t fit. This would require a bit more experience and experimenting. Hard to say when I don’t know the riff.
Depending on how the riff works I might just drop the idea of adding chords to it and keep the song completely riff-based. Not that uncommon in rock music.

Yeah I know that C# doesn't fit in there. Feels like it pulls it from a minor sound to a major but I've stuck with that note in this riff . I'm pretty sure this is mostly an A minor riff but I have absolutely no understanding of minor keys sadly.

I definitely thought of keeping just the riff as is with no chords or anything behind it. For some reason I picked this little riff to use to try to figure some of this stuff out. Maybe that was a bad idea.

You said "This is basic theory you have to learn: scales and chords and how to build chords from scales (or look at your table)". This is what I want to learn I think. If you can point me in the right direction for any way to accomplish this that would be appreciated. I'm willing to pay for a course or anything. Music theory and songwriting has always been something I've dipped in and out of and eventually get frustrated with and stop and go back to noodling and working on my soloing skills but I really do want to learn it. It's something that I always want to learn it's just hard finding the time a lot and the patience to get to the point where it all clicks.

[fese]

Or use only power chords A, C, D.
I really like the C# in that riff!

To explain how I got there: the base note of the riff is A, so I assumed the a minor scale. I played an a minor chord, but I know that the C# belongs to a major, so I have to be careful on that part and change from minor to major.
The C and D was just a bit of experimenting, as I heard the “bass” note in the riff changing to those notes. This is experience and ear training.

[Forgotten]

Yep, power chords would make it a lot simpler.

[fese]

There are a lot of tutorials for basic music theory on YouTube, I don’t know many of them, but recently I stumbled upon one which explains the basics very well in a short time:

[argo30]

Yep, power chords would make it a lot simpler.

Thanks for the reply. I try to stay away from power chords. Not sure why I just like having things with a more open sound. Thanks!

[argo30]

Or use only power chords A, C, D.
I really like the C# in that riff!

To explain how I got there: the base note of the riff is A, so I assumed the a minor scale. I played an a minor chord, but I know that the C# belongs to a major, so I have to be careful on that part and change from minor to major.
The C and D was just a bit of experimenting, as I heard the “bass” note in the riff changing to those notes. This is experience and ear training.

Yeah that is kind of where I ended up. A C D. Just seems so stock to me . I like things to make sense but edge on not being "correct" sounding. I know that probably doesn't make sense and I have no place saying that because I don't know this stuff well but hopefully you know what I mean. Thanks for your help! Gonna check out that video for sure!

[fese]

Don’t be afraid to use cliches or “stock” chord changes or power chords, when necessary. In this case, you have a riff that has something special and a bit unusual (the C#), further arrangement should not necessarily overshadow that with other weirder stuff. Arranging is also about contrast. If you throw three “weird” things at once to the listener, it is not special anymore. Use one weird thing in a more conventional arrangement and it sticks out and the listener will remember it.

[vurt]

1 chord vamp even.
if the riff can stand alone, but sounds bare without a backing, nothing wrong with going as simple as possible

[Forgotten]

Am-C-Dm is i-III-iv.

You could perform some substitutions here, so you could do something like Am-C-F, or C-Am-Dm.

[excuse me please]

I hear | D/// | E/// | A/// | A/// | for the first four bars. But I can't listen to it now. Seems to be A Major to my ears, though. In three days I have a fast internet cinnection again. Then I could figure it out.

[VariKusBrainZ]

Yep, power chords would make it a lot simpler.

Thanks for the reply. I try to stay away from power chords. Not sure why I just like having things with a more open sound. Thanks!

Power chords only appear closed sounded if you have a basic playing style. It doesnt take much to make a power chord ring. A little vibrato across the chord does wonders and of course make sure none of the strings are muted or slighted dulled by poor left hand technique. The right hand plays a part too, if you use a pick and let the pick fingers touch the strings ala artifical harmonics, which can be totally dynamic

[Forgotten]

Yep, power chords would make it a lot simpler.

Thanks for the reply. I try to stay away from power chords. Not sure why I just like having things with a more open sound. Thanks!

Power chords only appear closed sounded if you have a basic playing style. It doesnt take much to make a power chord ring. A little vibrato across the chord does wonders and of course make sure none of the strings are muted or slighted dulled by poor left hand technique. The right hand plays a part too, if you use a pick and let the pick fingers touch the strings ala artifical harmonics, which can be totally dynamic

They also don't need to be a 3 note chug on the low string. It's possible to play power chords across the top strings if you figure out the voicings (and maybe dampen a string here and there).

[VariKusBrainZ]

Yep, power chords would make it a lot simpler.

Thanks for the reply. I try to stay away from power chords. Not sure why I just like having things with a more open sound. Thanks!

Power chords only appear closed sounded if you have a basic playing style. It doesnt take much to make a power chord ring. A little vibrato across the chord does wonders and of course make sure none of the strings are muted or slighted dulled by poor left hand technique. The right hand plays a part too, if you use a pick and let the pick fingers touch the strings ala artifical harmonics, which can be totally dynamic

They also don't need to be a 3 note chug on the low string. It's possible to play power chords across the top strings if you figure out the voicings (and maybe dampen a string here and there).

I was specifically referring to bar chords, my bad, as in my head I dont view them any different to power chords other than utilising more strings. When playing power chords Ill still finger the whole chord but wont necessarily play all the strings, unless its a fast changing riff.

I was a 20 something in the 90s playing death/thrash/speed metal. I picked up those wierd non standard power chords from Metallica and Obituary.
Im more soulfull now

[vurt]

obituary
tardy was an amazing vocalist

[Forgotten]

I was specifically referring to bar chords, my bad, as in my head I dont view them any different to power chords other than utilising more strings. When playing power chords Ill still finger the whole chord but wont necessarily play all the strings, unless its a fast changing riff.

I was a 20 something in the 90s playing death/thrash/speed metal. I picked up those wierd non standard power chords from Metallica and Obituary.
Im more soulfull now

You can still play power chord in an open position. Assuming the Am-C-Dm approach you could play them dampening the B string on the Am, playing x-3-x-0-1-3 for the C and x-x-0-2-3-5 for the Dm.