Musicians that can play in every key sound off......

[Jordan Rivers]

Are you sure you want me to sound off?
Well I am a guitarist, chording and scales, chord voicings,lead guitar, classical, jazz theory , blues, rock.........it's part of our lives. To be a great guitarist you have to play in every key, and you have to be creative and inventive to stay on top.....Guitarist know how to improvise in Jazz at the drop of a hat , and we also bend notes into perfection, with a perfect touch and pull off many different techinques, we also have near 2 times as many notes as a Keyboard ......so understanding music comes easy to me........I also studied in college and had one of the top teachers in the country years ago.
                      C ya
                           GW Williams
http://jordanriversguitarforum.blogspot.com/

[berbie]

I have trouble using the transpose button because the notes don't sound right.  I tend to start playing chords and notes according to how they really should sound rather than playing patterns. Then I get really lost right in the middle of a song because I don't know how the notes/chords are going to sound.  I can use the transpose button while reading music, but I don't read fast enough to play in church while reading. Maybe with practice I could do better.  The best way to use the transpose button in my opinion is to learn everything in the key of "c" and always transpose(if necessary).  Every lick, run, fill, everything.  One could learn them so well.  And so quick.  Or maybe the best way to use the transpose button is not to use it at all.

berbie

[under13]

I have trouble using the transpose button because the notes don't sound right.  I tend to start playing chords and notes according to how they really should sound rather than playing patterns. Then I get really lost right in the middle of a song because I don't know how the notes/chords are going to sound. 

Thats me exactly. I'm used to certain notes being in certain places, if you change that, I'm gonna be messed up. It makes you have to think too hard.

[jamal2k02]

Those keys are only hard because we dont practice in them. For most gospel musicians, those keys are the white ones. We dont practice them because most gospel songs arent written in them.When you get into CCM music I think most of the songs are in the white keys. (correct me if I'm wrong)

True... playing a variety of styles (even just to practice) can help boost confidence in unfamiliar keys

[Spiritfingaz]

I play in all keys, but I was classically trained, so I had no choice but to be flexible. I think playing in all keys is a matter of intelligent practice, not just random practice. The idea is that you want your fingers to be comfortable with the positioning that comes with every key because you're dealing with a difference in the distance between the notes and your fingers, which creates the chords for each key. If your hands aren't familiar/comfortable with moving around on the keyboard, then it seems really difficult to play in every key. When I started out playing for church, I would specifically do songs a half step lower or higher than the recording or force myself to do key-changes if the song allowed and the voices could handle it, just to challenge myself......just my thoughts.

[Tiptip357]

I play in all keys, but I was classically trained, so I had no choice but to be flexible. I think playing in all keys is a matter of intelligent practice, not just random practice. The idea is that you want your fingers to be comfortable with the positioning that comes with every key because you're dealing with a difference in the distance between the notes and your fingers, which creates the chords for each key. If your hands aren't familiar/comfortable with moving around on the keyboard, then it seems really difficult to play in every key. When I started out playing for church, I would specifically do songs a half step lower or higher than the recording or force myself to do key-changes if the song allowed and the voices could handle it, just to challenge myself......just my thoughts.

Same here...I started at 7yrs old and from then until about 5yrs ago I have been classically trained. So as far as reading music and playing in every key....no prob....however COMMA I wouldn't tell anyone about how easy or hard it is because I think it could discourage some if they don't reach that level the same time I did. You have to start from the basics and it takes time and patience to get to a level where you are "comfortable" to play in every key and to even develop your own style. Up until about 5yrs ago, I didn't really know my style because I was so used to playing in the style that was written (otherwise I would get a low rating) and once I moved to Seattle, I took jazz and sometimes my teacher would give me a CD and say, "I want you to play that solo the first time and improv the next" I totally agree with yall that you should challenge yourself by playing along a song on the radio or cd, but, even in taking sight-singing and ear training at the university, we needed to know the basics (theory) to understand and hear the differences in pitch and chords and intervals. I'm not saying that people can't pick the notes out without theory but it made it much easier "for me" to play by ear because I had theory as my foundation. but that's just imo...

[musallio]

I've been playing in every key for 14 years, I'm 22 now. Playing in every key is a must. Yes I do know my theory and I read music. I don't know all of my theory, but like other musicians I'm learning everyday. Playing in every key just takes practice, memorization of chord patterns/scales and a willingness to wanna take your playing to another level. I pretty much taught myself theory and starting taking jazz piano lessons when I got to college. You just have to have that drive in you to want to become better.

co-sign!!
& U'r very good man..

I just have the drive..

I've only been playing a year & 1/2 & this month A is my fav key

[MemphisKeys]

I can play  out of every key.... It takes a while for you 2 learn how too...but in the end it will b worth...it all