popular keys to play

[TheBigO30]

Question  what are the most popular keys to play in, I known all of you can play in every keys. when yall be giving example in progession, scale and chords. I always see that yall be using the key of C, Ab, Bb and a lot of Eb. Are these keys the most popular in gospel music.
 
Please let me knows,
I want to be popular too 

[under13]

For black Gospel music the most popular keys seem to be Db Ab Eb F# Bb, but in CCM and PnW type gospel they seem to really like A C D  and those kinda keys

The only keys I like playing in are Db Eb F# Ab Bb B E A. I can play in the other keys but I just dont like doing it

[musallio]

most classically trained musicians play in "the white keys" (as they call them).
the most popular being C, F, G then Bb, D & A would follow. (4 it's obvious characteristics the Bb features in there.)

Most black church players are as under13 said.
But in my area, few church players play in all the keys
it's either: Ab, F#, Db, or A.
I'm yet to meet some1 who plays in , say D, unless if they play in all the keys.

[under13]

most classically trained musicians play in "the white keys" (as they call them).
the most popular being C, F, G then Bb, D & A would follow. (4 it's obvious characteristics the Bb features in there.)

Most black church players are as under13 said.
But in my area, few church players play in all the keys
it's either: Ab, F#, Db, or A.
I'm yet to meet some1 who plays in , say D, unless if they play in all the keys.

Gospel players HAVE TO be able to hold it down in every key, or else they will be embaresed,
The new church I'm playing for, The pastor is the piano player so he puts almost every song in one of the white keys, and I hate it!!

Yup the classical readers like those keys because thats how 80% of Hymns are in the hymn book. Thats why I never liked reading music

[musallio]

Gospel players HAVE TO be able to hold it down in every key

A HUMUNGOUS CO-SIGN there

, or else they will be embaresed,

Sadly that doesn't seem to be the case in most churches here So long as the player can play what they want well, all's good.
Only a few of us ever worry about certain keys in the board wearing out before most of the other white keys.

The new church I'm playing for, The pastor is the piano player so he puts almost every song in one of the white keys, and I hate it!!

I bet he doesn't put them in E & B though ..maybe E, but B...

Yup the classical readers like those keys because thats how 80% of Hymns are in the hymn book.

I understand the reason is because of the many sharps & flats most of the black keys contain. & that clogs the staff & bass clef

Thats why I never liked reading music

I feel U Brada.. i feel U..

[T-Block]

Question  what are the most popular keys to play in, I known all of you can play in every keys. when yall be giving example in progession, scale and chords. I always see that yall be using the key of C, Ab, Bb and a lot of Eb. Are these keys the most popular in gospel music.
 
Please let me knows,
I want to be popular too 

I can only speak for myself, but when I give examples of progressions, scales, etc.  I do it in the key of C because it's easier to understand in that key.  I don't really like the key of C that much, but as far as theory goes, it's the easiest key to grasp theory.

Now, the most popular keys for gospel music to me seems to be:  Ab, C#/Db, Eb, F#/Gb, and C

The least popular key by far is A.  I barely know of any gospel music songs in the key of A.  A lot of songs modulate to that key, but very few start off in that key.

[musallio]

The least popular key by far is A.  I barely know of any gospel music songs in the key of A.  A lot of songs modulate to that key, but very few start off in that key.

Also speaking 4 myself...I know quite a few songs that start in the key of A here in SA.

But most guys transpose when they're playing them

[guybrush]

For beginners I think white keys are easier to play in. And I'm a beginner so I like white keys better. Whenever I get a new song that I have to play I check the key first, and the less b's or #'s the calmer I get
that doesn't mean I can't play in other keys or don't want to learn it better.

[TheBigO30]

I think as Musicians playing in a key thats is least popular and making sound so hot makes you different for the rest. I like play in key that others don't like to play in. (Let it Rain it the Key Of A)

[musallio]

I am currently writing a song for a national festival.

Most people that play in that festival play rock & metal stuff which would normally be in the key of C, D or G.
So I'm making my song in the key of E, will modulate to A & then will take it to D.
But it doesn't sound that good so far.

(I really want to have the key of D in there bcos it sounds very sweet to me).

So I might start at A& go to B.

What would U guys suggest?

[T-Block]

Also speaking 4 myself...I know quite a few songs that start in the key of A here in SA.

I'm talking about international recording artist songs, LOL.  There are a few, but I can only count on one hand the number of songs that start in A.

I am currently writing a song for a national festival.

Most people that play in that festival play rock & metal stuff which would normally be in the key of C, D or G.
So I'm making my song in the key of E, will modulate to A & then will take it to D.
But it doesn't sound that good so far.

That is totally feasible man, sounds cool.  Since you modulating to 4 of the old key, just turn your major 1 chord into a dominant 7th chord, go to your 4, then establish that as the new key.

[ministerofmusic02]

I LOVE Ab!!!!!!

[MemphisKeys]

I can play out of all of the keys I stil have more to learn....

[musallio]

I

That is totally feasible man, sounds cool.  Since you modulating to 4 of the old key, just turn your major 1 chord into a dominant 7th chord, go to your 4, then establish that as the new key.

Thanx T-Block, i'l try that
(I hadn't even realized that I was moving in 4ths, i was just vying for the "sweet & unpopular keys" randomly.)

For beginners I think white keys are easier to play in.

I beg to differ on that 1. it really depends what U learn first.
I know I started by learning in the key of F#M.
So I find all the BLACK keys easier (except 4 Bb)
B is my 2nd/ 3rd Fav bcos of the many BLACK notes it uses.
(But somehow, C ranks somewhere 6th, but 2nd for "worship music"..i think it's because I forced myself to learn it when i could only play in F#. i needed that contrast between white & black.)

 And I'm a beginner so I like white keys better. Whenever I get a new song that I have to play I check the key first, and the less b's or #'s the calmer I get

I bet U think twice if it's the key of B LOL


that doesn't mean I can't play in other keys or don't want to learn it better.


[/quote]

[T-Block]

For beginners I think white keys are easier to play in.

I beg to differ on that 1. it really depends what U learn first.
I know I started by learning in the key of F#M.
So I find all the BLACK keys easier (except 4 Bb)
B is my 2nd/ 3rd Fav bcos of the many BLACK notes it uses.
(But somehow, C ranks somewhere 6th, but 2nd for "worship music"..i think it's because I forced myself to learn it when i could only play in F#. i needed that contrast between white & black.)

I gotta CO-SIGN this.  I really dislike playing in the white keys, but I gotta do what I gotta do.

[4hisglory]

All keys are equally as easy, it only matters which one you put your practice time in.

[ferrente]

Question  what are the most popular keys to play in, I known all of you can play in every keys. when yall be giving example in progession, scale and chords. I always see that yall be using the key of C, Ab, Bb and a lot of Eb. Are these keys the most popular in gospel music.
 
Please let me knows,
I want to be popular too 

Click Here!

http://www.learngospelmusic.com/forums/index.php/topic,31894.0.html

[ferrente]

Credits go:   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.

   
   
   
   
   

[MemphisKeys]

I Think just knowing how to play in all of the keys is easier....

[musallio]

All keys are equally as easy, it only matters which one you put your practice time in.

True that..I really discovered that when I was playing a few songs in all the keys over & over again.
I know over time they will all seem the same (although they are not).

FERRENTE: That link is Sooooo HOT!!!!

This is really gripping stuff 4 me.

Quote from: skymegatoronto on August 16, 2006, 07:16:12 PM

I'm Surprised that you were able to find any gospel song in the Key of A,B or E


I agree that is surprising.

What still baffles me is how B is treated like all the white keys when it has all the black keys in it

4 me, it comes naturally to just play in that key (i remember once a few months back playing in the key of F# & I only noticed at the end of the song that it had modulated to B!)

Like T-Block & Loopy responded, there are a few songs in these "infamous" keys.

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

When I first touched the keys, i did not choose that I wanted to play in the black keys 1st. I just sang a song & tried to play the melody along..I happened to sing in the key of F# (which is most comfortable for me).
Hence me learning that 1st & the black keys (&B , except for Bb) fitted in naturally.

The story is different for my sister, who was receiving a formal classical training. She was being taught in C. She didn't like fact that the guys at church normally play in the black keys so she asked them to teach her
in Ab.

But as some guys have said, learn in all the keys until they all don't matter.