this clever tip i came across is mainly for the benefit of keyboard newbies,when you start to learn the keyboard there is a LOT TO LEARN ,scales in different keys ,inversions,and primary chords,here is the tip ,if you learn all the inverions and primary chords in the key of C ONLY, whenever you get any music to play,MANUALLY transpose the music into the key of C then when you are playing just press the transpose button to raise or lower the key,i would appreciate any feedback from you all,also is there a pc. program that can transpose music rather than do it manually,cheers mike

Damn someones let my secret out of the bag!
:-)

This is most probably what many of us do, though its not easy sometimes to work out all the other chord inversions in realtime unless you practice them, and practice and practice! Certainly learning to add 7th's, 5th's and 9th's can add much professionalism to your music!

Simon

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This is very bad advice. What'll you do when you have to play a keyboard that DOESN'T have a transpose feature? Using some shortcut to avoid learning how to play in different keys only robs you of the opportunity to advance more quickly with your keyboard skills. You want newbie advice? I would learn ONE song in EVERY key rather than learn EVERY song in ONE key.

Simon hit the nail right on the head. Learn lots of songs in the key of C, then you can easily expand your knowledge base to include other, more complex chords. It may take a bit longer to learn the chords, but you'll have lots more fun doing it.

Cheers,

Gary

Interesting, all this stuff.

As a self-taught player (I did try formal lessons for a while, but my ears ran away with my eyes, I never had the patience to learn to read). I have no problem playing in the keys of C, D, E, F, G, and A, and I can play all the inversions, augs, dims, flattened 5ths, 9ths, etc. in those keys, and I don't shy away from the old standards where there are plenty of altered, rootless and slash chords.

So why is it I get hung up if I try to play songs in the # or b keys, or even the key of B? I mean, some of the above keys involve enough sharps and flats, especially through the changes. It must be psychological or something. A self-taught friend of mine is the exact opposite, he has no problem with the # and b keys.

I just guess everyone has their favourite keys in which to play.

Big Red....Bottom line

does it sound good? thats the Ticket!!

I guess I must be doing something right . . . still going strong after gigging since 1960.

I have been playing in front of a lot of people for many years (contemporary worship-rock, ballad, all kinds of styles). Guess what ? I played them all in the key of C - ALL of them and use the transpose functions for every song. It works great ! Use the technology.

I am able to concentrate my efforts to learning the chops, styles, chords, etc. A lot more fun and enjoyable rather than going thru the drudgery and often fingering mistakes playing in different keys. I can even change keys smoothly albeit using fast fingers to do that.

Though I'll agree that this is a convenient stop gap solution, remember that when you simply hit the transpose button & play everything in C, you can't always acheive the same sound as actually playing (physically) in another key. Why? Because the physical layout of the raised black & white keys limit your chord voicing choices available in one key, but not in another.

In addition, certain songs & styles (ei: the blues) are more effectively played (on the keyboard) in specific keys which allow your finger to more easily 'slide' off the black (blue notes: b9, b3, b5, #5, b7) to the neighboring white key. Try playing a blues riff in 'F', and then 'E' and you'll quickly feel & hear the difference.

The bottom line: Though it's convenient to transpose to C, just don't let it become an 'end all' crutch. Learn to develop proficiecy playing in all 12 keys (or at least the other more commonly played ones: G - C - F - Bb - Eb - Ab). Both your musicianship & artistry will benefit as a result.

Note: Surprising as it may seem, playing in the key of C# or F# (from an ergonomic hand position standpoint) is actually a lot easier than C, as the position of the raised black keys better matches the contour (shape) of your hand.

Scott

Scott is right. I tend to play in Ab, Db and Gb and transpose on sight into these keys simply because it's easier to find the notes, especially as I have large hands. I can play elevenths comfortably and octaves without the thumb. Even played the Grieg concerto in Bb minor as it sounds and feels better.

Bryan

hi guys, thanks for your input,i think i missed the point,what i was saying was that there are thousands of people out there who as hobbiests who only play for pleasure ,who would love to play lots of songs at home without having to learn everything,i,m learning the keys ,this tip was given to me by an old gent ,and so i thought i would pass it on ,i still think it,s a great tip,mike

Mike,

The old guy was right. If it ain't fun--don't do it. That applies not only to music, but everything you do in life. I've been very fortunate to live as long as I have, and I hope to live a lot longer, but after coming real close to loosing my life many years ago, I quickly discovered that life is pretty darned short. Live life to the fullest, enjoy every minute and every aspect, and with luck, you'll make it fun for a lot of other people. If you can make a lot of people get off their butts and dance the night away while playing in the chord of "C", transposed or not, then you're having fun and so are they--that's what it's all about.

Cheers,

Gary

nardoni2002 "mike", I see you got that computer glitch straightened out since you're able to post to the thread (if you can post, you can "read" the other posts). What was the problem? Sometimes just a simple reboot will clear up many oddities. Glad to see you got it fixed okay.

Best regards,
Mike

Since I started learning on an organ, I was taught specific inversions (not all inversions), that were easily reached with little hand movement. Nowadays, they called them "Pad" sounds. So:
Gmaj wud b played in root postion.
Cmaj wud b played in 2nd inversion.
Amin wud b played in root postion.
Fmaj wud b played in 1st inversion. etc.
This method accommadates playing on an arranger very well (multi mode). I can play most chords without looking at my left hand.
Star

Strange old thing, keys. Personally I have no problem playing any tune I know in any key whatsoever, so long as I start at the beginning.

Also I used to work with a singer/guitarist who is a pretty good singer and an OK guitarist (don't ask about both at the same time) but you could bet that if he didnt know a song you'd end up playing it in B, C# or F#!!!

And of course to return the the original topic, having met so many "nearly" keyboard players who couldn't cope with different keys and thus gave up; I dont see why you shouldn't use transpose to get you up and running.

Once you are confident in the "simpler" keys (I never thought about it before but Scottyee's right about C# being a nice shape for the hands) then you may get brave and try more complex stuff. Let us not forget that if you are playing a tune such as (say) "I Cant Smile Without You" then the key changes within the song are going to carry you away from C no matter what you do with the transpose settings to start off with!