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Author Topic: STOP OPENING UP IN Ab and C#  (Read 5452 times)

Offline cakinbro

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STOP OPENING UP IN Ab and C#
« on: November 19, 2007, 10:07:58 AM »
Hey fellow organists. Is it just me, or when you go to most churches or when you start a service on organ, most organists typically start playing/warming up in Ab or C#??? I'm guilty myself sometimes  :), I like to start in C#, but then the praise and worship leader will tune up and start somewhere in the F# or G range. I have a few questions though, what's so great about Ab and C#? They are relatively kinda like playing in the same key, same chords/scales and all..... One of my close organ friends says he does it for pedal convenience....Just wanted to throw that question out there...What's so great about Ab and C#???? 
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Offline h313w

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Re: STOP OPENING UP IN Ab and C#
« Reply #1 on: November 19, 2007, 11:13:39 AM »
the whole music world has done it. black keys for black people... joking with you. you're saying, try E, B or A perhaps ? Eb maybe ? some folks just know Ab, Db, Bb. Never know. I got tapes of Thomas Whitfield LIVE  warming up in mostly d minor, c, C#, F#, G.
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Offline jdightman

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Re: STOP OPENING UP IN Ab and C#
« Reply #2 on: November 19, 2007, 11:30:44 AM »
I'm guilty!!! I do it because it's comfortable. i don't mind the other keys but those two are just comfortable.
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Rjthakid

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Re: STOP OPENING UP IN Ab and C#
« Reply #3 on: November 19, 2007, 12:40:32 PM »
Guilty.

For me it's mainly Ab.  As soon as I realize it I pick another key (D, E, A), but I STILL don't play in B as much as I should.

What I need to concentrate on: Minor keys.
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Offline ddw4e

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Re: STOP OPENING UP IN Ab and C#
« Reply #4 on: November 19, 2007, 01:34:34 PM »
I start mostly in G and B and go from there.
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Offline rpking

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Re: STOP OPENING UP IN Ab and C#
« Reply #5 on: November 19, 2007, 01:51:05 PM »
I'm not guilty of that, but it is so natural for Bb minor to be the first chord I play.  I have make a conscious effort to play another 1st chord.
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Offline keb1209

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Re: STOP OPENING UP IN Ab and C#
« Reply #6 on: November 19, 2007, 03:17:59 PM »
I'm guilty of it too.... not necessarily with Ab or C#, but with Eb and Bb.  I would like to  start out in the keys less familiar to me like B or E, but not until I get enough practice to where I know I can flow in them.  I would hate to warm up in B only to have someone open their mouth and start a song in B that I know I can't play to....LOL
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Offline docjohn

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Re: STOP OPENING UP IN Ab and C#
« Reply #7 on: November 19, 2007, 04:10:09 PM »
thank GOD your not in guitar bands!  last 6-7 years it seemed i ONLY played in E,G,B!!! these cats were too lazy to learn all keys and could only play with a capo.Praise LORD for allowing other keys,F,Bb,Ab,Eb    also,some songs SOUND better in certain keys and the changes just fall so sweetly into place.Amen?????
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Offline organplaya04

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Re: STOP OPENING UP IN Ab and C#
« Reply #8 on: November 19, 2007, 04:11:14 PM »
Quote from: keb1209 on November 19, 2007, 03:17:59 PM
I'm guilty of it too.... not necessarily with Ab or C#, but with Eb and Bb.  I would like to  start out in the keys less familiar to me like B or E, but not until I get enough practice to where I know I can flow in them.  I would hate to warm up in B only to have someone open their mouth and start a song in B that I know I can't play to....LOL
Same with me...I'm guilty of that as well. I mostly always start in C# to warm up...but yea like keb1209 I would hate to start playing in a key that I'm not fluent in and then they start singing and I can't flow with them...and I've been in this kind of situation before...Lord knows I hate that!
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Offline henrythrower

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Re: STOP OPENING UP IN Ab and C#
« Reply #9 on: November 19, 2007, 04:15:47 PM »
Guilty.  I actually just switched churches.  Traditionally I am a keyboard player, but the new church only has an organ.  On keyboard, I could flow well in about 8 keys, but on organ, since I am actually trying to play it like an organ, I can only really flow in Ab and C#, but I am being forced to work on it.  The Praise leader doesn't have an ear for the key that I am playing in, so Ab frequently becomes Eb, F or C and so on and so on.
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Offline T-Block

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Re: STOP OPENING UP IN Ab and C#
« Reply #10 on: November 20, 2007, 07:01:02 AM »
I open up in D#.  ;D
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Offline waydrummer

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Re: STOP OPENING UP IN Ab and C#
« Reply #11 on: November 20, 2007, 04:49:27 PM »
Quote from: cakinbro on November 19, 2007, 10:07:58 AM
Hey fellow organists. Is it just me, or when you go to most churches or when you start a service on organ, most organists typically start playing/warming up in Ab or C#??? I'm guilty myself sometimes  :), I like to start in C#, but then the praise and worship leader will tune up and start somewhere in the F# or G range. I have a few questions though, what's so great about Ab and C#? They are relatively kinda like playing in the same key, same chords/scales and all..... One of my close organ friends says he does it for pedal convenience....Just wanted to throw that question out there...What's so great about Ab and C#???? 

I don't get what ur trying to say.  Maybe I'm wrong (correct me if I am), but it sounds like to me as if u are downing playing in Db or Ab.  I usually open up with these two keys because 1) I've only been playing for about 4 years and those are the most fluent keys I can play in and 2) I like the way those keys sound because it gives you that "churchy traditional feel.
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Offline cakinbro

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Re: STOP OPENING UP IN Ab and C#
« Reply #12 on: November 20, 2007, 04:58:07 PM »
O no...I'm not down playing C# or Ab...Because earlier I said that I usually open up in C#.....and adding to what you're saying, Ab and C# are two common church keys. When I started out playing I could only play in Ab....but after years and countless hours of practicing, I was able to grab a hold to lots of chords and scales and make my own sound...

But I'm not downing those two keys because they are two of my favorite keys.... :) ;)
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Offline waydrummer

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Re: STOP OPENING UP IN Ab and C#
« Reply #13 on: November 20, 2007, 05:50:53 PM »
Quote from: cakinbro on November 20, 2007, 04:58:07 PM
O no...I'm not down playing C# or Ab...Because earlier I said that I usually open up in C#.....and adding to what you're saying, Ab and C# are two common church keys. When I started out playing I could only play in Ab....but after years and countless hours of practicing, I was able to grab a hold to lots of chords and scales and make my own sound...

But I'm not downing those two keys because they are two of my favorite keys.... :) ;)

LOL so that's all I have to do get good and create my own style?  Sounds easier than it actually is.  Im stuck I try to practice in different keys but I just can't retain the new stuff I learn like I oul for C# and Ab
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Offline Mysteryman

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Re: STOP OPENING UP IN Ab and C#
« Reply #14 on: November 21, 2007, 02:24:41 PM »
I open in the key the person is talking in. :)
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changedman

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Re: STOP OPENING UP IN Ab and C#
« Reply #15 on: November 22, 2007, 04:34:56 PM »
Quote from: cakinbro on November 19, 2007, 10:07:58 AM
Hey fellow organists. Is it just me, or when you go to most churches or when you start a service on organ, most organists typically start playing/warming up in Ab or C#??? I'm guilty myself sometimes  :), I like to start in C#, but then the praise and worship leader will tune up and start somewhere in the F# or G range. I have a few questions though, what's so great about Ab and C#? They are relatively kinda like playing in the same key, same chords/scales and all..... One of my close organ friends says he does it for pedal convenience....Just wanted to throw that question out there...What's so great about Ab and C#???? 


SEE...THIS IS A PRIME EXAMPLE OF WHY I SHOULD NOT (OF ALL PEOPLE) BE IN THIS ROOM!  LOL!  BECAUSE IT PROVOKES ME TO START ASKING QUESTIONS...


1) What is the "purpose" of warm-up chords.  If you can play then you can play, right?  I'm an amateur organist who really wants to know because I am sure I'm missing out on a lot so please HELP!!

2) I am the first one to admit that when a song is in a key other than Ab, Bb, or C# I RUN WITH BOTH FEET FROM THE ORGAN!!  I start getting the shakes and all.  But that is because I'm a choir director who plays a little, not a musician who directs.

I'd be interested in knowing what some of you did to "build" your confidence. 
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Offline cakinbro

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Re: STOP OPENING UP IN Ab and C#
« Reply #16 on: November 23, 2007, 10:35:49 AM »
I do that most of the time....Open up in the key they are talking in...then in open cases, I just play a hymn or something soft and mellow

Warm up chords are basically chords that are played through various progressions that you play...for example 1-4-5's, 7-3-6-2-5-1's....just a matter of what you're feeling at that moment

As far as building up your confidence...Most importantly, practice, practice and practice more!!! I come from a music background to where I got hazed for hours and hours until I got what was showed to me  :). But you have to practice...in your practice time that gives you the opportunity to break and show things down at a pace to where you can get it. Also don't be afraid to hit a wrong note. Many of times I've hit lots of wrong notes or got stuck within a musical phrase, watch a few of my clips  ;). But its key to learn from them. And hang around musicians that are just as good or better than you. Every now and then you can learn and chord/run from them.  Hope this helps!!  :) ;)
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Offline bishop424

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Re: STOP OPENING UP IN Ab and C#
« Reply #17 on: February 06, 2008, 05:01:22 PM »




I used to opened up like but I like D and E natural because I can get a more feel on organ by using different chords.
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Offline key-wiz

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Re: STOP OPENING UP IN Ab and C#
« Reply #18 on: February 09, 2008, 10:15:12 PM »
Well I'm Guilty Too But I've Been Instructed To Start Every Service In C#! Plus That Is The Key That Pastor Winans Sings In Most Of The Time! LOL! ;)
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Offline brodonny

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Re: STOP OPENING UP IN Ab and C#
« Reply #19 on: February 11, 2008, 04:34:54 AM »
::) i'm guilty too.i don't know what it is maybe because a lot of songs are in those keys but there is no excuse.lol
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