Learning Chord Melodies in many keys

Drumbler · #1 03-02-2010, 04:38 PM

How many learn a chord melody in many keys?

I'm curious.

JohnW400 · #2 03-02-2010, 04:48 PM

I may change the key to make it more guitar friendly or to get it out of Eb.

There are a lot of tunes that I know that happen to be in Eb. (Nightingale Sang in Berlkley Square, Girl Talk, You go to my Head) So I may move one up to E and one down to D (and maybe drop the 6th string tuning to D as well)

mike_k · #3 03-02-2010, 07:09 PM

While I admit that it would probably be a great idea to actually learn a lot of tunes in multiple keys (for numerous reasons), I also admit that I rarely will learn a tune in multiple keys.

However, I am a hobbyist. I primarily create my own arrangements out of a fake book. Hence, I learn it in the key as published in the book. For me, I'd rather build up my list of playable tunes right now. Someday, I would like to go back and learn tunes in other keys because it will probably help with improv and making up medleys on the fly.

bako · #4 03-03-2010, 01:01 AM

I generally don't play tunes in multiple keys except as it comes up on gigs. I do however on occasion work on transposition,playing a tune that I believe myself to know well in all 12 keys in real time. Years ago I studied with a teacher who would have us do this through key cycles . A few times I have found partners for such an activity but mostly I use an accompaniment track that I transpose in Transcribe and play along. Generally 1x-3x through the form in each key.

Something that I've thought about but have yet to implement is to pick a key and play a set of tunes transposing all of them to the chosen key.

derek · #5 03-03-2010, 11:48 AM

I have done tunes like Autumn Leaves and ATTYA in multiple keys as an exercise in transposing, but have never transposed CM before, other than occassionally doing the old worn out cliche of shifting up a step for dramatic effect (see majority of 80's pop music) for a section before heading back to the original key.