diff --git a/beets/dbcore/db.py b/beets/dbcore/db.py
index 5a5c50057f..c181f7b335 100755
--- a/beets/dbcore/db.py
+++ b/beets/dbcore/db.py
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@
 from beets.util import functemplate
 from beets.util import py3_path
 from beets.dbcore import types
-from .query import MatchQuery, NullSort, TrueQuery
+from .query import MatchQuery, NullSort, TrueQuery, AndQuery
 from collections.abc import Mapping
 
 
@@ -641,14 +641,24 @@ def set_parse(self, key, string):
         """
         self[key] = self._parse(key, string)
 
+    # Convenient queries.
+
+    @classmethod
+    def field_query(cls, field, pattern, query_cls=MatchQuery):
+        """Get a `FieldQuery` for this model."""
+        return query_cls(field, pattern, field in cls._fields)
+
     @classmethod
-    def construct_match_queries(cls, **info):
-        subqueries = []
-        for key, value in info.items():
-            # Use slow queries for flexible attributes.
-            fast = key in cls._fields
-            subqueries.append(MatchQuery(key, value, fast))
-        return subqueries
+    def all_fields_query(cls, pats, query_cls=MatchQuery):
+        """Get a query that matches many fields with different patterns.
+
+        `pats` should be a mapping from field names to patterns. The
+        resulting query is a conjunction ("and") of per-field queries
+        for all of these field/pattern pairs.
+        """
+        subqueries = [cls.field_query(k, v, query_cls)
+                      for k, v in pats.items()]
+        return AndQuery(subqueries)
 
 
 # Database controller and supporting interfaces.
diff --git a/beets/importer.py b/beets/importer.py
index 321ea63004..608cf102b2 100644
--- a/beets/importer.py
+++ b/beets/importer.py
@@ -675,16 +675,20 @@ def find_duplicates(self, lib):
             # As-is import with no artist. Skip check.
             return []
 
-        # Create a temporary Album so computed fields are available for
-        # duplicate detection.
+        # Construct a query to find duplicates with this metadata. We
+        # use a temporary Album object to generate any computed fields.
         tmp_album = library.Album(lib, **info)
+        keys = config['import']['duplicate_keys']['album'].as_str_seq()
+        dup_query = library.Album.all_fields_query({
+            key: tmp_album.get(key)
+            for key in keys
+        })
 
         # Don't count albums with the same files as duplicates.
         task_paths = {i.path for i in self.items if i}
 
         duplicates = []
-        keys = config['import']['duplicate_keys']['album'].as_str_seq()
-        for album in tmp_album.duplicates(*keys):
+        for album in lib.albums(dup_query):
             # Check whether the album paths are all present in the task
             # i.e. album is being completely re-imported by the task,
             # in which case it is not a duplicate (will be replaced).
@@ -930,16 +934,20 @@ def find_duplicates(self, lib):
         """
         info = self.chosen_info()
 
-        # Use a temporary Item to provide computed fields.
+        # Query for existing items using the same metadata. We use a
+        # temporary `Item` object to generate any computed fields.
         tmp_item = library.Item(lib, **info)
+        keys = config['import']['duplicate_keys']['single'].as_str_seq()
+        dup_query = library.Album.all_fields_query({
+            key: tmp_item.get(key)
+            for key in keys
+        })
 
         found_items = []
-        keys = config['import']['duplicate_keys']['single'].as_str_seq()
-        for other_item in tmp_item.duplicates(*keys):
+        for other_item in lib.items(dup_query):
             # Existing items not considered duplicates.
             if other_item.path != self.item.path:
                 found_items.append(other_item)
-
         return found_items
 
     duplicate_items = find_duplicates
diff --git a/beets/library.py b/beets/library.py
index 9442a3647a..69fcd34cfa 100644
--- a/beets/library.py
+++ b/beets/library.py
@@ -607,11 +607,6 @@ def from_path(cls, path):
         i.mtime = i.current_mtime()  # Initial mtime.
         return i
 
-    def duplicates(self, *keys):
-        info = {key: self.get(key) for key in keys}
-        subqueries = self.construct_match_queries(**info)
-        return self._db.items(dbcore.AndQuery(subqueries))
-
     def __setitem__(self, key, value):
         """Set the item's value for a standard field or a flexattr."""
         # Encode unicode paths and read buffers.
@@ -1147,11 +1142,6 @@ def _getters(cls):
         getters['albumtotal'] = Album._albumtotal
         return getters
 
-    def duplicates(self, *keys):
-        info = {key: self.get(key) for key in keys}
-        subqueries = self.construct_match_queries(**info)
-        return self._db.albums(dbcore.AndQuery(subqueries))
-
     def items(self):
         """Return an iterable over the items associated with this
         album.