Here's a dumb question, but I want to know so here it goes..

[T-Block]

Just remember it this way. If you can only play in Eb and the person is playing in F then remember this...If you transpose in the + then you move the key F back how ever many spaces u want. If you transpose in the - then you're transposing the key F up.

Transposing + equals moving F back to the E key
Transposing - equals moving F up to the F# key

Mr. Keyz AKA REV

Maybe it's just me, but the way u got this worded is a little confusing.  I had to re-read it a few times before I understood it.

[KevinP]

Man I bring up capos everytime this issue is brought up and no one ever paid attention to me. >:(What is the "it" in this sentence? A capo or transpose button.

Capo.

I agree you can note-for-note transpose on a guitar by tuning and/or using a capo, especially when you're only going up or down a few steps, but not necessarily when you're dealing with large transpositions like up a fourth or fifth. At that point, using the capo gives quite a different sound because you're playing in a different register. Take your basic D major chord in which you play the high E string open and then hammer-on the F#. If you want to do that in A, you have to capo at the seventh fret because, without one, you can't finger the root on the fourth string (which would be open in D) and play the first string open and then hammer-on. I agree you could do this an octave lower, using the open A chord, but the effect would be different. If you're just strumming it's probably okay, but if you're finger-picking with a melody on top, the capo allows things you can't normally play.

[Shadow_]

Just stay away from that button on my 88 keys in the church i dont even know how to find the transpose mode.

Same here bruh!...But a word to every one whose learning to play in all keys...it'll come. Just keep at it...and even when you learn them all...you'll realise there still more...and when you get THERE you realise (yet again) theres more to learn...etc.

[T-Block]

Same here bruh!...But a word to every one whose learning to play in all keys...it'll come. Just keep at it...and even when you learn them all...you'll realise there still more...and when you get THERE you realise (yet again) theres more to learn...etc.

So true, you never really stop learning.

[Rjthakid]

I play Organ.  I CAN'T transpose.

So if somebody starts to sing in Bminor  or E, I have no choice but to play.

If there's one thing I don't like it's EXCUSES.

EXCUSES will cause you to live below your potential for the balance of your life.

EXCUSES will make you look back and say "I COULD'VE been great...."

EXCUSES will make you a second-rate musician.

I'm not a GREAT musician just yet, but I can play in every key.  I can't rip it up with crazy changes and runs, but I CAN PLAY IN EVERY KEY.

I've been playing for about a year.

If you've been playing for 3 years and can only play in 5 keys.....
.....and 1-4-5 in every other key.......

......You need to prioritize better.

By prioritize I mean:

STOP working on that crazy progression you're learning in your favorite key.

STOP working on that crazy run you're learning in your favorite key.

STOP working on that solo you're learning in your favorite key.

STOP working on that shout you're learning in your favorite key......


....and START working on your 7-3-6-2-5-1-4 progressions in EVERY key.

For me the song was "There is none like you".

I played it in every key till I was comfortable in every key.

Then as I learned a new progression, I would play it in every key.

It's really a matter of practice.  Once you understand certain concepts of music, you have to practice to get your muscle memory up to speed with your music knowledge. 

I've said all this to say: "Don't transpose"

    

[ddw4e]

I play Organ.  I CAN'T transpose.

So if somebody starts to sing in Bminor  or E, I have no choice but to play.

If there's one thing I don't like it's EXCUSES.

EXCUSES will cause you to live below your potential for the balance of your life.

EXCUSES will make you look back and say "I COULD'VE been great...."

EXCUSES will make you a second-rate musician.

I'm not a GREAT musician just yet, but I can play in every key.  I can't rip it up with crazy changes and runs, but I CAN PLAY IN EVERY KEY.

I've been playing for about a year.

If you've been playing for 3 years and can only play in 5 keys.....
.....and 1-4-5 in every other key.......

......You need to prioritize better.

By prioritize I mean:

STOP working on that crazy progression you're learning in your favorite key.

STOP working on that crazy run you're learning in your favorite key.

STOP working on that solo you're learning in your favorite key.

STOP working on that shout you're learning in your favorite key......


....and START working on your 7-3-6-2-5-1-4 progressions in EVERY key.

For me the song was "There is none like you".

I played it in every key till I was comfortable in every key.

Then as I learned a new progression, I would play it in every key.

It's really a matter of practice.  Once you understand certain concepts of music, you have to practice to get your muscle memory up to speed with your music knowledge. 

I've said all this to say: "Don't transpose"

    

LOL! great points. I did the same thing...I picked a song and play them in every key but I picked a slow, medium and fast song and did them in every key..You can actually play slow songs easily (if you actually tried) in every key cause you have time to think where to go in the song...medium and fast songs you don't have that kind of time and that's where your basslines and progressions is of the essence to you.

[T-Block]

I play Organ.  I CAN'T transpose.

So if somebody starts to sing in Bminor  or E, I have no choice but to play.

If there's one thing I don't like it's EXCUSES.

EXCUSES will cause you to live below your potential for the balance of your life.

EXCUSES will make you look back and say "I COULD'VE been great...."

EXCUSES will make you a second-rate musician.

I'm not a GREAT musician just yet, but I can play in every key.  I can't rip it up with crazy changes and runs, but I CAN PLAY IN EVERY KEY.

I've been playing for about a year.

If you've been playing for 3 years and can only play in 5 keys.....
.....and 1-4-5 in every other key.......

......You need to prioritize better.

By prioritize I mean:

STOP working on that crazy progression you're learning in your favorite key.

STOP working on that crazy run you're learning in your favorite key.

STOP working on that solo you're learning in your favorite key.

STOP working on that shout you're learning in your favorite key......


....and START working on your 7-3-6-2-5-1-4 progressions in EVERY key.

For me the song was "There is none like you".

I played it in every key till I was comfortable in every key.

Then as I learned a new progression, I would play it in every key.

It's really a matter of practice.  Once you understand certain concepts of music, you have to practice to get your muscle memory up to speed with your music knowledge. 

I've said all this to say: "Don't transpose"

    

AMEN  AMEN  AMEN  AMEN  AMEN

[BroAllan]

I play Organ.  I CAN'T transpose.

So if somebody starts to sing in Bminor  or E, I have no choice but to play.

I'm not a GREAT musician just yet, but I can play in every key.  I can't rip it up with crazy changes and runs, but I CAN PLAY IN EVERY KEY.

I've been playing for about a year.

If you've been playing for 3 years and can only play in 5 keys.....
.....and 1-4-5 in every other key.......

......You need to prioritize better.

WOW!  You've only been playing for a year, and can play in all keys?!  I think that's amazing!  You might be one of those who are blessed and pick up super fast.   

[Rjthakid]

WOW!  You've only been playing for a year, and can play in all keys?!  I think that's amazing!  You might be one of those who are blessed and pick up super fast.   

I practice alot.  I'm not super gifted but I practice alot.

I'll take one chord and just play it through the circle of 4ths repeatedly

The chord I'm doing now:

C/F-G-Bb/D-Eb-Bb Cm11
 

We have a 3 bedroom apt.  One for my wife and I, one for my daughter, and one has my hammond and keyboard.   

[Ladyn]

WOW!  You've only been playing for a year, and can play in all keys?!  I think that's amazing!  You might be one of those who are blessed and pick up super fast.   Smiley

I practice alot.  I'm not super gifted but I practice alot.

I'll take one chord and just play it through the circle of 4ths repeatedly

The chord I'm doing now:

C/F-G-Bb/D-Eb-Bb Cm11
 

I am right there with you Rjthakid. I have only been playing for a year and I can play in all 12 keys too. I practice a lot as well and study anything I can get my hands on.  I am not able to do everything in all 12 keys, but I can do 7 3 6 2 5 1 in all 12.  I play better in some keys than others RIGHT NOW.  I also play around the circle of 4ths.  I even take one song like Amazing grace and play it using the same fills etc in all 12 keys.  I think that is vital to learning how to play well in all keys.  I don't want to be the one scooted off of the keyboard because I can't play a simple hymn!!!!! 

The other key is to know your SCALES!!!!! I know many muscians who want to play all of the latest music, but they don't want to learn scales?????? From scales you get chords, with chords you form progressions, progressions make songs. 

JMHO

Nichole
 

[chevonee]

Man oh man...did I open up a HUGE can of worms...I want to thank you guys for all of your encouragement....I'm not going to make any more excuses because I know that just like someone said...It's going to come....the bottom line is that I am learning how to read music and play in every key...I am in in the first grade as far as my music reading is concerned  And I know how to play in the keys of C, Db, Eb, Ab ...Bb is so-so...but hey I am taking the steps to get better and better.......I pray and then I practice and I am more than confident that thru Christ...I WILL MAKE IT...and T-block...all of yall...I'm going to make ya proud   If you are just learning and starting out...listen to these guys, they just want to make you better not bitter....so just keep ya head up<-----a little Tupak...LOL

[Salvador]

but not necessarily when you're dealing with large transpositions like up a fourth or fifth. At that point, using the capo

I was mainly talking about alternate tunings. Capos are very limited. As are tunings but not as limited.

There's one very distinct difference though with guitar vs. keyboard transposing, from a moral standpoint at least. Guitar players who use use capos or alternate tunings usually they've pretty much mastered the guitar in standard tuning. It's not a crutch but a mechanism that takes the song where it couldn't go otherwise.

[momuzik]

I can kinda understand why some people transpose. If someone breaks out in a song in a key you don't know, it makes sense to transpose for that moment than to just sit there or mess up the song.
We all know that you don't learn all keys in an instant, it takes time; some longer than others. So in the meantime while you're in the process of learning all keys, what do you do?
So a beginner who transposes, I can understand; but if someone is claiming to be advanced or professional and transposes - ???

[T-Block]

it makes sense to transpose for that moment than to just sit there or mess up the song.

No, it doesn't make any sense at all to transpose.  If you have to just sit there and play nothing, that is way better than hitting transpose and "frontin".  If you can't do it, then don't feel bad.  Just realize that you need to practice harder and next time it comes around, you can jump right in cuz of your practice.

[ddw4e]

That what the "T" in T-Block for?
"Transpose-Block"

[T-Block]

That what the "T" in T-Block for?
"Transpose-Block"

HAHAHAAHHA, very funny D.

[Shadow_]

No, it doesn't make any sense at all to transpose.If you have to just sit there and play nothing, that is way better than hitting transpose and "frontin".If you can't do it, then don't feel bad.  Just realize that you need to practice harder and next time it comes around, you can jump right in cuz of your practice.

I agree with that. Thats what pushed me. well...pushING...cause theres still a lot of things i'm yet to get better at.

[BroAllan]

I can kinda understand why some people transpose. If someone breaks out in a song in a key you don't know, it makes sense to transpose for that moment than to just sit there or mess up the song.
We all know that you don't learn all keys in an instant, it takes time; some longer than others. So in the meantime while you're in the process of learning all keys, what do you do?
So a beginner who transposes, I can understand; but if someone is claiming to be advanced or professional and transposes - ???

I agree!   I've been in situations where I knew the song but wasn't familiar with the key it was in, and in some instances I didn't play    and in other cases I hit the "TRANSPOSE BUTTON"  and played along with the rest of the team, and believe me, "it felt good to jump in and play along with everyone!!!"

     After that, I'd work on playing that song in different new keys, and build up my skills and abilities as a keyboardist and musician ...

     I don't use the transpose button anymore when playing, but through hard work and practice am able to "take the keys which once were my weaknesses and turned them into strengths..."        God bless,   BroAllan

[T-Block]

and in other cases I hit the "TRANSPOSE BUTTON"  and played along with the rest of the team, and believe me, "it felt good to jump in and play along with everyone!!!"

Well, I actually felt bad doing it cuz I knew better.  Weird huh?

[Salvador]

First off, I'm not trying to attack anyone here...but this is something that always bugs me when this issue is brought up.
Maybe I’m the only one but it feels like in this issue the actual ministry aspect is trumped by the musical aspect.
I know as well as anyone here the need and the fruit of practicing and being fluent in all keys. Believe me.

But.
You’d seriously fumble around the keyboard or just drop out completely?
Some of you guys would really hinder the praise/worship because you don’t want to “front?”
And font to who? Other musicians? I mean whose approval are we really playing for now?