TRANSPOSE

[anointedkeys]

THIS IS TO EVERYONE AND ANYONE ESPECIALLY MY BROTHER T-BLOCK.OK I USE THE TRANSPOSE BUTTON ALOT I KNOW MY KEY SIGNATURES PRETTY GOOD AND MY SCALES, SO HOW CAN I LEARN TO PLAY IN ANY KEY. I KNOW THERE IS A LOT OF THEORY BEHIND IT, ESPECIALLY USING TRITONES.WHAT WOULD BE MY FIRST STEP IN LEARNING THIS. I WOULD LIKE TO BE COMPLETE MUSICIAN. CAN YOU HELP A BROTHER OUT?

[Gospel Genius]

1. pray
2. concentrate on a key a day.
3. learn everything about that key.
  a. scale
  b. triads based on scale.
  c. seventh chords based on that key.
4. practice moving chords from one key to that key.

[anointedkeys]

OK THANKS GOSPEL GENIUS! I WILL DO MY BEST!

[BELLMS540]

I would say from this point on everything you learn in on key, learn it in all. It's difficult at first but as time pass your find it rather easy! Also take song you already know and apply them to all keys. One thing I recently started is taking a song start at C modulating to the next key(using the 5/4 T-block posted) until I reach B. This really helps.

 Most people don't want to take the time to take out some pen and paper and transpose. It's very easy. You take everything you did in C and write it down, then when your ready for Db move everything up an half-step . 

 I know musicians who have been trying to learn to transpose for years. They're still looking for a shortcut and using the transpose button today. Because they don't want to do what it takes. You should put a device on your keyboard that electrocutes you every time you touch the transpose button!  


 God Bless you Bro. And the transpose button is still the devil.
 

[anointedkeys]

THAT WAS FUNNY. WHO WAS MAMA WAS IT THE DEVIL!!!!! " WATERBOY" OK I WILL TRY THAT SINCE Db  OR C# IS SIMILIAR TO C. THAT ONE WOULD BE EASY.

[ddwilkins]

this is going to sound easier than it is to do, but don't use the transpose button.  Its easier said than done.  One thing that helps is playing on a real piano or playing on the organ.  If you have access to either just sit down and play.  I personally wish that Roland, Yamaha, etc. didn't put the transpose buttons on keyboards.  I hate it because I felt crippled everytime I used it you'll get embarrassed if you ever have to play at the spare of the moment and all that is there is a piano.  but pray and practice and you'll get it.

[T-Block]

THIS IS TO EVERYONE AND ANYONE ESPECIALLY MY BROTHER T-BLOCK.OK I USE THE TRANSPOSE BUTTON ALOT I KNOW MY KEY SIGNATURES PRETTY GOOD AND MY SCALES, SO HOW CAN I LEARN TO PLAY IN ANY KEY. I KNOW THERE IS A LOT OF THEORY BEHIND IT, ESPECIALLY USING TRITONES.WHAT WOULD BE MY FIRST STEP IN LEARNING THIS. I WOULD LIKE TO BE COMPLETE MUSICIAN. CAN YOU HELP A BROTHER OUT?

Well, what I suggest first is to learn your progressions in every key.  Stuff like 2-5-1, 7-3-6. etc. these progressions are the building blocks of all music, and especially gospel music.  Once you get the basics of progressions down in all the keys, take one key that you are comfortable with, then experiment using techniques found on this board, or what u hear in gospel CDs.  As you learn new techniques in that key, transpose it to the other keys.  That's basically how I am learning to play in every key, especially for them fast praise type songs.  I used to use transpose button a lot too, but now I am getting down to business learning these keys.

[anointedkeys]

THANKS DD AND T-BLOCK. I KNOW ITS GOING TO BE A STRUGGLE BUT IM DETERMINED TO LEARN TO PLAY IN ALL KEYS.PRAY FOR THE BRO!!!

[bishopcole]

Practice, practice, and then more practice!!! It is good to start with the song that you play the best and then play it in every key. Now it will sound bad at first, but you will become comfortable with the different chords and most of all, fingering, that is the basic stumbling block for most musicians in this field, because you are so use to TRANSPOSING. I will be praying for your music breakthrough!!!  Bishop Cole

[Naz-Jaz]

Just to dovetail what everyone has been saying, smash the transpose button! It will allow you to make it through a service, performance, practice, etc., but it definitely will cripple you in the long run.  I also agree with T-Block; learn PROGRESSIONS in every key.  You have to force yourself to do this because it takes you out of your comfort zone.  Learningl to transpose songs is a good starting point, but by learning progressions you are learning principles that you can apply to ANY song!

[melodic]

I am in agreement with everyone.  However, practice is for your own time.  DO NOT mess up a service just because everyone is telling you not to transpose.  Now I am a DELIVERED transposer and I know for fact that until you LEARN to play in a key, you won't be able to play in that key properly during service.  As you grow, the button will loose it's use.  Eventually, you won't need it anymore.  Just remember not to use the button as an excuse to stop learning other keys.

[BroAllan]

Greetings to all!  Concerning "transposing", one thing that you must always remember is that, when you're changing to a new song that you'll be playing without tranposing, make sure you reset the transpose button ... Otherwise you'll be playing in a whole different key while everyone is looking at you funny! (speaking from my own personal experience)... God bless you... BroAllan
(P.S.  That was back when I only knew how to play in a couple of keys ... )

[T-Block]

Greetings to all!  Concerning "transposing", one thing that you must always remember is that, when you're changing to a new song that you'll be playing without tranposing, make sure you reset the transpose button ... Otherwise you'll be playing in a whole different key while everyone is looking at you funny!

AMEN to that!!!

[pentecost_piano123]

well when switching from one key to another use the  fith 13 chord  from a key that you are swithing to in between switching from one key to an other and know what scale degree each chord is in and go from there.

For example:
     (Old key)                         (Switching movement a half step up)    (The new key a half step up)
     C G F G F C   C G F G F C  -- Ab11 OR 13th                                  -- C# Ab F# Ab F# C#

this is basic and the esiest.

I hope I explained it well.  I am not a good teacher.
 

[Cherri]

Greetings to all!  Concerning "transposing", one thing that you must always remember is that, when you're changing to a new song that you'll be playing without tranposing, make sure you reset the transpose button ... Otherwise you'll be playing in a whole different key while everyone is looking at you funny! (speaking from my own personal experience)... God bless you... BroAllan
(P.S.  That was back when I only knew how to play in a couple of keys ... )

I have heard this happen before. It's not a pretty site/listen...

[4hisglory]

Well, what I suggest first is to learn your progressions in every key.  Stuff like 2-5-1, 7-3-6. etc. these progressions are the building blocks of all music, and especially gospel music.  Once you get the basics of progressions down in all the keys, take one key that you are comfortable with, then experiment using techniques found on this board, or what u hear in gospel CDs.  As you learn new techniques in that key, transpose it to the other keys.  That's basically how I am learning to play in every key, especially for them fast praise type songs.  I used to use transpose button a lot too, but now I am getting down to business learning these keys.

Nice sugguestion

[flatpikkr]

THIS IS TO EVERYONE AND ANYONE ESPECIALLY MY BROTHER T-BLOCK.OK I USE THE TRANSPOSE BUTTON ALOT I KNOW MY KEY SIGNATURES PRETTY GOOD AND MY SCALES, SO HOW CAN I LEARN TO PLAY IN ANY KEY. I KNOW THERE IS A LOT OF THEORY BEHIND IT, ESPECIALLY USING TRITONES.WHAT WOULD BE MY FIRST STEP IN LEARNING THIS. I WOULD LIKE TO BE COMPLETE MUSICIAN. CAN YOU HELP A BROTHER OUT?

There has been a lot of good sounding advice already offered.  A neat little exercise for ear-training is one I've gleaned from a flat-pick guitar list called, strangely enough, flatpick-L.  It's called the 'Happy Birthday' exercise and is, on the surface, quite simple. I'm including a quote here from the flatpick-L archives:

"Just play it. No kidding, just sit down and try to play "Happy Birthday"
note for note in a key of your choice, say C.  You may be surprised how
difficult it is the first time.  Then try to play it in D and G and A. Play
it with open strings included and play it with no open strings, everything
fretted.
When you have mastered 'Happy Birthday" pick another tune you know well and
repeat the same exercise. The idea is to learn the fingerboard and train
your ear."
This is aimed at guitarists but I believe that the idea can be transferred to other instruments.
Blessings,
Flatpikkr   

[THE WOLFMAN]

 


"the transpose buton isthe Devil"


HILARIOUS

(tru tho...)

[lighthouselady]

I grew up singing/playing the piano.  I was taught to read music as well as develop my ear.  I can take music written in any key and then play it in a different one.  The easiest is going up or down a half step, but going up or down one third is fairly easy as well.  ex:  C to Eflat.  This really helps at church where you get a keyboardist who can only play in flats.  At one time the organ player could only play in the key of F.  So to be able to transpose like this, I consider a blessing.

[HustleMan]

Practice, practice, and then more practice!!! It is good to start with the song that you play the best and then play it in every key. Now it will sound bad at first, but you will become comfortable with the different chords and most of all, fingering, that is the basic stumbling block for most musicians in this field, because you are so use to TRANSPOSING. I will be praying for your music breakthrough!!!  Bishop Cole

That's my suggestion.  Take a song and learn it in every key, then take another song and learn it in every key, then another, then another.  It doesn't have to be "Total Praise" either.  Take a hymn, like "Great is thy Faithfullness" (the song I used when learning how to play in different keys), or a song like "There is none like You" (which uses a 1-3-6-2-5-1.  Very helpful.).  You'll be a wiz in NO TIME!