Most Popular Keys

[Loopy]

I have 500+ gospel CD's and about 6600 MP3's on my computer, and a few years back I did a survey of hundreds and hundreds of gospel songs to see what key they were in. This is what I found (I thought it was interesting). The keys are list in order from most popular to least popular.

1. Ab
2. C#
3. Eb
4. F#
5. Bb
6. F
7. C
8. G
9. D
10. B
11. E
12. A

Notice that the BLACK keys are the top five, and the keys of D, B, E, and A are the bottom four. Also, F is the most popular WHITE key, and what was interesting to me is the the key of C is not nearly as popular in black gospel recordings as one might think.

[4hisglory]

If you did the same survey on Chrristian music, it would probably be reversed.

[T-Block]

Notice that the BLACK keys are the top five, and the keys of D, B, E, and A are the bottom four. Also, F is the most popular WHITE key, and what was interesting to me is the the key of C is not nearly as popular in black gospel recordings as one might think.

I agree with this right here.  I really don't like playing in C myself.  But, C is the best key to learn music theory in.

[sjonathan02]

If you did the same survey on Chrristian music, it would probably be reversed.

It is reversed, I'm sure. It has to do with instrumentation. Christian music is more guitar driven, as a result the 'better' or 'easier' keys are B, E, A and D.

[Loopy]

If you did the same survey on Chrristian music, it would probably be reversed.

Oh I totally agree, as black gospel music is keyboard based, and CCM is more guitar driven.

[ferrente]

The only one that shocked me is C# before Eb.

[Loopy]

I the only one that shocked me is C# before Eb.

Believe it or not, C# was running neck and neck with Ab!! At one point during my surveying, C# was actually in the LEAD!

[ferrente]

I agree, T-Block made a great point. ( About Music theory) and the Key of C

[berbie]

Hello.

I wonder why the black keys are more popular with gospel music.  Is there a reason in theory?
Are the voice ranges of Black gospel singers more often in those keys?  They are certainly not easier to play. (as opposed to g,f, c, and prehaps d.  I wonder why.

Berbie

[PianoWizard]

I the only one that shocked me is C# before Eb.

If it was up to me C# would be on top.....       

PianoWiz...

[B3Wannabe]

I was talking to my Korean friends on Saturday and they said to them the black keys were the hardest, and they wondered why most Gospel music was in the black keys. It was an interesting discussion. I told them that I think it also has to do with harmony. The black keys form a natural pentatonic major, so it MIGHT be easier for us to learn those keys and transpose what we know across them because of the relating tones. Like 4 stated though, they saw the white keys as the easiest.

[Loopy]

It IS a very interesting discussion. I know to me, when I was learning to play, the black keys just came easier! I had taken lessons before as a child, so of course I started in C, but the very next key I started playin in was F#, the C# then Eb, then Ab. The black keys just came easier for me! MOST black gospel keyboardists that I know favor the black keys!

I'll actually take ANY black key over even the key of C, and that was the first key I learned!! It's weird like that I guess! An even more interesting discussion would be do black gospel musicians favor the black keys for racial reasons. LOL!

[Loopy]

I was talking to my Korean friends on Saturday and they said to them the black keys were the hardest, and they wondered why most Gospel music was in the black keys. It was an interesting discussion. I told them that I think it also has to do with harmony. The black keys form a natural pentatonic major, so it MIGHT be easier for us to learn those keys and transpose what we know across them because of the relating tones. Like 4 stated though, they saw the white keys as the easiest.

Interesting theory, cricket!

[dyronjackson]

Believe it or not, I starting playing in the key of Bb the very first song I learned "Yes God Is Real". I to find the black keys much easier to play. It's a comfort zone for me.

[Loopy]

Another interesting tidbit: When I was conducting this survey, I think I started with Hezekiah Walker CD's, so early on, F# was in the lead!!

[PianoWizard]

I'll actually take ANY black key over even the key of C, and that was the first key I learned!! It's weird like that I guess! An even more interesting discussion would be do black gospel musicians favor the black keys for racial reasons. LOL!

I never thought of that...... ......showing a study on this could be really intresting....       

PianoWiz...

[KurzLand]

If you did the same survey on Chrristian music, it would probably be reversed.

Latin Chrstian or hispanic music is also reversed. More white keys than black keys.

[T-Block]

I really don't like playing in the white keys.  I like the black keys better cuz no matter which black key you in, they all feel pretty much the same as far as fingerings.  Some of them have little differences, but it seems like I caught on to the black keys faster than the white keys.

If it was up to me C# would be on top.....      

PianoWiz...

I put Eb on top of all the keys!!!

[ddw4e]

I definitely agree with the list Loopy did cause I have about that many mp3s and majority of the songs are in Ab. But I say Eb would probably be #2 because a lot of songs that are played in minor keys is played in Ebm.

[gospelkeys85]

Interesting, interesting.  I love the black keys.  I personally think songs sound better in those keys.  But that's probably because, as Loopy's research proves, so many songs are in those keys.  Man, Loopy, you have a lot of time on your hands!