Every Key

[blazenbarr]

So i'm currently learning every key and just wanna ask a few other people,..How did you all get comfortable and familiar with all keys ??

[T-Block]

Tip #1: Practice, practice, practice in every key you DON'T know.

Tip #2: Once you're in service, DON'T transpose. Play in the key that's going on.

[PianoClubhouse]

As to not overwhelm yourself, you may just work on one specific key a day, or a week, or however long of an increment you choose.

Work on the major scale of that key, and know it forward and backward in both hands. Be able to play the scale 10 times without making a mistake (the hands don't necessarily have to be played together).

Then try to learn some of the basic chords in that key.

Next, pick out songs that are in that specific key to learn, to help reinforce the scales and chords that you've been working on. (If you need a list of songs in a specific key, shoot me a message as to what key you are working on and I can send you a list.)

Thats how I kinda got used to playing in different keys. It may not be the best way (i'm sure others can offer more efficient ways), but thats what got me over the hump.

[SoundofJoy]

For me I practiced familair songs in every key. Here's a youtube example:

Sam's Music Moments 2 " Come on and Praise the Lord with Me"

[elio]

Every time you learn a song, make sure you learn it in all 12 keys.
Don't just learn it in one key and muddle your way through it in the other 11 - do learn it properly in all: all the frills, licks, solos, chords.

[musallio]

Thou shalt take the advice of these people- I took it and I'm the happiest man on my space

Gb major will always have a special place in my heart because I was self taught in it. but these gents made me see how easy it was to play any song in any key.
They've said it all. nothing beats practice! If you cheat, you're only cheating yourself. I remember some time back when I'd be playing in the key of B and I'd find myself in E, throwing the singing off at the youth meetings- but that's a thing of the past
I remember the time I started learning with a few guys- they would master a song in one key ad show off, while I was still trying to master it in all the keys. Now those guys are not able to play in many keys- me, I don't mind any key because all the scales feel familiar to me- thanks to time invested in practice.

Nothing comes automatically- if it means mixing with like-minded people, do that, in a couple of months you'll know how to play most basic songs in all keys.

Nothing is frustrating as modulating a song a whole step instead of a half step just because the person you're playing with can't play in certain keys..

[T-Block]

Nothing is frustrating as modulating a song a whole step instead of a half step just because the person you're playing with can't play in certain keys..

I concur.

[floaded27]

Nothing is frustrating as modulating a song a whole step instead of a half step just because the person you're playing with can't play in certain keys..

Modulating a song any step when playing keys is frustrating for me. It seemingly has nothing to do with not being able to play in a particular key. For example I can play in C# (my strongest key) and I can play in D. So if the song started in C#, no problem. If the song started in D, no problem. But have me in C# and want me to take it up to D, something in my brain comes loose and things feel like a train wreck.

Has anyone seen such a thing? A player that can play in ALL 12 keys but cant modulate? A few more keys and I seem to be on track to becoming that guy.

[T-Block]

Has anyone seen such a thing? A player that can play in ALL 12 keys but cant modulate?

Seen it and been there. In order to pull of good modulations, ur mind has to already be in that next key before going there or it's over. Especially with the way some of these songs modulate, having like 5 or 6 chords to signal the modulation.

[PianoClubhouse]

....the way some of these songs modulate, having like 5 or 6 chords to signal the modulation.

Man, they are getting bad about that these days.........its like writers/producers are in some sort of secret competition to see who can come up with the most original modulations!! Jeepers......just go to the 5 and move up for goodness sakes! lol

[rayjohnson83]

Man, they are getting bad about that these days.........its like writers/producers are in some sort of secret competition to see who can come up with the most original modulations!! Jeepers......just go to the 5 and move up for goodness sakes! lol

LOL!!!!!!!

[T-Block]

Man, they are getting bad about that these days.........its like writers/producers are in some sort of secret competition to see who can come up with the most original modulations!! Jeepers......just go to the 5 and move up for goodness sakes! lol

EXACTLY! When will people learn that less is more? *shrug*

[musallio]

EXACTLY! When will people learn that less is more? *shrug*

Yeah, sometimes I understand why some players shut down when a song modulates- because one moment you're playing in a key, suddenly you're not sure where you're going to land. In the case where it takes forever to modulate, I stop and listen where the modulation lands, then I play the last modulation chord/ notes before landing on the next key.

Then there is another extreme group of players- these players just jump gears without any indication- it's the most embarrassing because it throws off the singing congregation as well [eg. just close a song in Eb and then start from the beginning in F without any "climbing notes/ chord".
I'm still a beginner, so I don't try out 5 chords lest I make a fool of myself.

[jonesl78]

Playing in every key is not as difficult as it may seem. I did a post years ago that showed how various keys shared the same chords. For example, if you are familiar with the chords in the key of "C" (C major, D minor, F major, A minor) then you are more than half way to being familiar with the chords in "F" Major. Once you learn F major, then you only have to learn 3 new chords for the key of Bb. (C minor, Eb major, A diminished). Now in the key of Eb, you only have to learn F minor, Ab major, D diminished. At some point, you will only have to learn 1 new chord , diminished chord, when learning a new key. Of course, all of this is based on using triads only. Nevertheless, all chords are somehow related to triads.

[raegenius]

As to not overwhelm yourself, you may just work on one specific key a day, or a week, or however long of an increment you choose.

Work on the major scale of that key, and know it forward and backward in both hands. Be able to play the scale 10 times without making a mistake (the hands don't necessarily have to be played together).

Then try to learn some of the basic chords in that key.

Next, pick out songs that are in that specific key to learn, to help reinforce the scales and chords that you've been working on. (If you need a list of songs in a specific key, shoot me a message as to what key you are working on and I can send you a list.)

Thats how I kinda got used to playing in different keys. It may not be the best way (i'm sure others can offer more efficient ways), but thats what got me over the hump.

That's mostly what I did, played the major scales everyday before practicing. It also helped that the keyboard I had when learning didn't have transpose. I thought this featureless keyboard was a curse. God knows it was a blessing :-)

[chevonee]

I learned to play in every key by going through through the "No more transpose" course with Jamal Hartwell. It took me a little over 2 years to get it down but it truly made a HUGE difference in my playing.

EXACTLY! When will people learn that less is more? *shrug*

This.

[30jersey478]

I am currently practicing getting comfortable in all 12 too and what I do is practice my scales ( major, minor, and blues), and find music  in whatever key and practice. I also practice different genres of music to broaden my skills also.