SmoothOperator
Gold Member
A couple threads back while debating whether to consider a drumset a conditionally tuned instrument, the issue was raised about key changes, So What's a drummer to do?
Welp, don't go setting your harmonica player on fire, just yet because, gasp!, most bands don't use every key under the sun.
Now suppose you were in a band that played in couple of keys, IE your singer's voice was best in E, and maybe a couple other keys, or its a brass band and they like F, Bb, Eb or its a keyboard band and they play in C...
You can look at the notes they have in common, usually the key changes are to related keys like I,V,IV, if they go way out there maybe a II or dominant VII.
"Now how does that help?", you ask. Even four keys away there are three notes in common. Validate it for yourself. The keys of Bb and D have The notes D,G and A, or the 2, 5 and 6 of the key of C.
Kind of Cool Eh? You could even stack them in fourths and play a Miles Davis tune.
Welp, don't go setting your harmonica player on fire, just yet because, gasp!, most bands don't use every key under the sun.
Now suppose you were in a band that played in couple of keys, IE your singer's voice was best in E, and maybe a couple other keys, or its a brass band and they like F, Bb, Eb or its a keyboard band and they play in C...
You can look at the notes they have in common, usually the key changes are to related keys like I,V,IV, if they go way out there maybe a II or dominant VII.
"Now how does that help?", you ask. Even four keys away there are three notes in common. Validate it for yourself. The keys of Bb and D have The notes D,G and A, or the 2, 5 and 6 of the key of C.
Kind of Cool Eh? You could even stack them in fourths and play a Miles Davis tune.