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Post by Die Bullen on Dec 31, 2020 17:07:11 GMT
What are your favourite keys?
What keys really trip you up?
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Post by Bill h on Dec 31, 2020 18:46:54 GMT
Sad to say but I don’t know enough about what I’m doing to even have a favorite key. I’m a big SRV fan and I really like all the open E stuff he does so I like trying to get better at doing that.
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Post by infant on Dec 31, 2020 19:01:37 GMT
My favourite key is one that isn’t too high or too low for my voice. I seem to have lost a little range over the last 10 years. I used to be able to hit the A note (1st string, 5th fret) but now I strain just hitting the G. So I’ve lost a whole tone if not a bit more.
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Post by Die Bullen on Dec 31, 2020 19:19:24 GMT
My favourite key is one that isn’t too high or too low for my voice. I seem to have lost a little range over the last 10 years. I used to be able to hit the A note (1st string, 5th fret) but now I strain just hitting the G. So I’ve lost a whole tone if not a bit more. Well I can't really sing at all so you've got me beat
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Post by zontar on Dec 31, 2020 19:25:46 GMT
I like most keys, if there isn’t a flat in the name (or it isn’t a relative minor of one of those keys)
A lot of what I play is in A, E, or Am
But I really like D & G
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Post by Die Bullen on Dec 31, 2020 23:32:36 GMT
I'm extremely comfortable in almost all flat keys. Once you get to 5 or more sharps in the key signature, I really have to be on point or I will make bad mistakes. Certain chords I am just not used to seeing.
So basically B, F# C# are my worst keys. Db, Gb and Cb are generally okay for me, but very rare that I need to play in them
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Post by zontar on Dec 31, 2020 23:50:43 GMT
Bb and Eb are the most common flat keys I come across Even more than F Not a fan of playing in them on guitar, especially 12 string The voicing I like don’t always work well
On bass it’s better but some riffs in those keys are odd to play And I like to use open strings on bass for octaves & unisons That doesn’t work well in any flat key other than F
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Post by Die Bullen on Jan 1, 2021 1:06:59 GMT
Bb and Eb are the most common flat keys I come across Even more than F Not a fan of playing in them on guitar, especially 12 string The voicing I like don’t always work well On bass it’s better but some riffs in those keys are odd to play And I like to use open strings on bass for octaves & unisons That doesn’t work well in any flat key other than F Yeah all what one is used to. F is a really common key for me because it is G for trumpet
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Post by zontar on Jan 1, 2021 2:08:33 GMT
I’m used to Eb & Bb from playing with keyboard players who love those keys & singers who do as well I still don’t like them
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Post by Die Bullen on Jan 1, 2021 2:11:36 GMT
I’m used to Eb & Bb from playing with keyboard players who love those keys & singers who do as well I still don’t like them I don't have much but to like Bb and Eb. I play in Bb and Gm so often that if I pick up a guitar to strum it, it will probably be a Bb major or maj7
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Post by johnreardon on Jan 1, 2021 10:22:10 GMT
I like playing solos in Am as the neck is ideal to get melodic stuff in 2-3 positions.
Most of the stuff I write involves a mix of Am, G, A, C, Em, and D. I have written one song in the sad key of Dm
I mentioned elsewhere about being related to a man who was transported. I wanted to have a sad emotional feel. This is a rough demo of what I wrote. One of our drummers is singing
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Post by zontar on Jan 3, 2021 6:54:02 GMT
If I’m writing a song or coming up with riffs, I don’t really pay attention to the key at that point After I have something of a start I might look at what key it is in and will try it in other keys to see if another one sounds better
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Post by johnreardon on Jan 3, 2021 10:53:39 GMT
If I’m writing a song or coming up with riffs, I don’t really pay attention to the key at that point After I have something of a start I might look at what key it is in and will try it in other keys to see if another one sounds better I think most people approach things differently i.e. do chords or lyrics come first and so on.
I usually come up with a riff or chords that sound 'nice' to me and then think of what I'm going to try and write about. Think I have 3 songs currently work in progress. One, I just liked these chords as an intro.
Asus4, G6no3, G6/B (repeat) Am G, D (repeat
I had recently seen the Stones trip to Cuba, so thought I would write about Fidel Castro so started reading about his upbringing
I do try and do stuff that fit our singers vocal range, so most will be around A, Am, G, but it does make a difference to the feel of music. I really like Dm and luckily our drummer, who also sings, can sing stuff in it.
Listen to the beginning of this video by someone. Sounds both beautiful and sad to me.
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Post by Sgt Rock on Jan 3, 2021 18:01:57 GMT
that does sound nice, John. the old Blues man Skip James played in open D minor. the tuning "fits" his voice better,
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Post by zontar on Jan 3, 2021 19:52:13 GMT
If I’m writing a song or coming up with riffs, I don’t really pay attention to the key at that point After I have something of a start I might look at what key it is in and will try it in other keys to see if another one sounds better I think most people approach things differently i.e. do chords or lyrics come first and so on.
I usually come up with a riff or chords that sound 'nice' to me and then think of what I'm going to try and write about. Think I have 3 songs currently work in progress. One, I just liked these chords as an intro.
Asus4, G6no3, G6/B (repeat) Am G, D (repeat
I had recently seen the Stones trip to Cuba, so thought I would write about Fidel Castro so started reading about his upbringing
I do try and do stuff that fit our singers vocal range, so most will be around A, Am, G, but it does make a difference to the feel of music. I really like Dm and luckily our drummer, who also sings, can sing stuff in it.
Listen to the beginning of this video by someone. Sounds both beautiful and sad to me.
I’ve done it in different orders sometimes I get a lyric idea first, sometimes the music Although most of my song ideas have been “retired”
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Post by zontar on Jan 3, 2021 19:54:36 GMT
that does sound nice, John. the old Blues man Skip James played in open D minor. the tuning "fits" his voice better, Related to the song, but not to keys I once was involved in a vehicle accident while listening to that song But I wasn’t so glad (Although I was okay)
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Post by johnreardon on Jan 3, 2021 19:57:03 GMT
that does sound nice, John. the old Blues man Skip James played in open D minor. the tuning "fits" his voice better, Related to the song, but not to keys I once was involved in a vehicle accident while listening to that song But I wasn’t so glad (Although I was okay) Hope it wasn't too bad. I don't like listening to music when driving as it distracts me a bit
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Post by zontar on Jan 3, 2021 20:03:35 GMT
Related to the song, but not to keys I once was involved in a vehicle accident while listening to that song But I wasn’t so glad (Although I was okay) Hope it wasn't too bad. I don't like listening to music when driving as it distracts me a bit It wasn’t due to the music At least on my end It was low speed & I was okay, but the car was written off
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Post by Die Bullen on Jan 4, 2021 1:49:34 GMT
I like the key of Ab major quite a bit. Comfortable key with a root on the 4th fret with plenty of room to run up the neck. Doesn't get in the way of the bass too much either
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Post by zontar on Jan 4, 2021 7:42:45 GMT
When I play mandolin I prefer G--it's the one key I can play the primary chords easily--as well as most of the secondary chords.
Maybe that's cheating, but I am trying to learn more chords.
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Post by Die Bullen on Jan 4, 2021 13:53:19 GMT
I doubt anyone thinks that is cheating. People gravitate to certain keys on guitar for the same reason
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