What would you do?

[dhagler]

You have rehearsed a song in a certain key. You've played that song the two previous Sundays in the key you rehearsed.  But today your keyboardist strikes out in a different key.  Do you:

a.  Pick up the new key and play along, saying nothing.
b.  Pick up the new key and play along, telling her after service.
c.  Tell her during the song if possible.

[under13]

depends. If its a good key for me, then I'd probaly say nothing. If its a hymn or other popular song, then I'd say nothing.

But if its a very complicated choir song, then I would expect that it be done the way we practiced it, and I'd let him/her know that I dont appreciate that.

Some songs I can do in every key without much practice, but If I memorize a song, then I'm gonna struggle playing it in another key without warning, or it will be watered down.


Was your keyboard player using transpose? maybe he didnt know he was doing it in the wrong key.

[bassthumpa]

Personally I'd say nothing.  For me, playing in different keys on the bass is no big deal at all, especially if you're familiar with the actual finger pattern of changes and licks.

[trymone]

 i've done all of them at different times. for the most part when they play it in a different key, the muscle mememory with your hands are playing the same pattern just in a different place (in most cases). i try to take it as a learning experience adjusting to a new situation.

[mjl422]

I would probably mention that he/she played it in a different key and ask if I should learn it in that key (or any other keys)for the future.  I had a MOM who used to play songs in two different keys just in case some of the choir members had colds and couldn't reach some of the higher notes.

[floaded27]

a good key? i thought the bass was the easiest instrument to change keys on. especially if you learn by way of pattern and progression, instead of specific notes. (maybe you should give that approach a try)

i pick up the new key and play along, but i definitely say something. because its annoying when im ready to play and im soundin off and i gotta pick up the key and if its a song with a lot of movement it takes a while. The thing is that if you gonna change the key (and thats even if you have the authority to do so) you need to inform the rest of the people you are working with, thats only fair and being a team player and working as a unit. I think they do that because whatever happens its always gonna be "the choir was off" or "the other musicians were off". Its NEVER "the organist was playing the wrong thing." And when ur never the blame, more than likely you're gonna keep doing whatever you wanna do.

[browntree]

Ok given we are talking about Sunday mornings, I usually know the pianists I'm playing with well enough to know if they really meant to change the key by a half step or so.  I usually yell out "check your transpose..." and they usually respond "thanks...and laugh". 

So my answer is C. Final answer...

Browntree

And David spake to the chief of the Levites to appoint their brethren to be the singers with instruments of music, psalteries and harps and cymbals, sounding, by lifting up the voice with joy. I Chronicles 15:16

[browntree]

Did I mention I'm going to start a campaign to pour crazy glue in the transpose buttons of every piano/keyboard on Earth! It makes for such bad habits...

Crazy Glue the Transpose...YES WE CAN!!!


Browntree

And David spake to the chief of the Levites to appoint their brethren to be the singers with instruments of music, psalteries and harps and cymbals, sounding, by lifting up the voice with joy. I Chronicles 15:16

[splitleft]

Like some of the guys mention. The pattern and progresson dosen't change. jut the key. If you have the pattern and fingering in place It shouldn't matter.

Sometimes Check MOST of the time we as Bass Player have to be more Flexable then others. I look at it as God testing my faith.

[ddwilkins]

Say "NOTHING." You're on bass. its easier than any of the other instruments to play progressions on the bass. I'm the main keyboard player for my church, and we have different praise and worship leaders who lead services. Well, they all don't sing every song in the same key as the original. Its human nature, everyone's vocal range isn't the same. So, this will only make you better, as I can tell a difference in my playing since I've been with this new ministry. I've played in all keys since being there. My previous church was a max of 3 keys. I was hindered.

[under13]

a good key? i thought the bass was the easiest instrument to change keys on. especially if you learn by way of pattern and progression, instead of specific notes. (maybe you should give that approach a try)

Sorry, I play organ. ( i have a bass, but I havent learned yet.)

Did I mention I'm going to start a campaign to pour crazy glue in the transpose buttons of every piano/keyboard on Earth! It makes for such bad habits...

Crazy Glue the Transpose...YES WE CAN!!!


Browntree

And David spake to the chief of the Levites to appoint their brethren to be the singers with instruments of music, psalteries and harps and cymbals, sounding, by lifting up the voice with joy. I Chronicles 15:16

I agree. we once went to a guest church, and the guy before us used transpose, and it messed up our whole performance. I'm glad I've never gotten into that habit

[dhagler]

I'm gonna struggle playing it in another key without warning, or it will be watered down.


Was your keyboard player using transpose? maybe he didnt know he was doing it in the wrong key.

No, she wasn't using the transpose key (although that has happened too). She just forgot what key we do the song in (she does this frequently, I'm afraid).

Thanks, everyone, for your responses.  I feel like I owe her an apology because I should have just played it in other key if possible--which I can do most of the time--then mentioned it afterwards.

[Quebass86]

All have made valid points either way. That does happen on ocassion. Actually last week it happend but that was because the lead singer was not comfortable singing that high and we had to drop it down. Also if there is a song with modulation we have sometimes backed it down to give room to move so by the 3rd or 4th modulation the choir isn't standing on their tippy toes...

[floaded27]

Did I mention I'm going to start a campaign to pour crazy glue in the transpose buttons of every piano/keyboard on Earth! It makes for such bad habits...

actually, i saw a youtube video where the guy showed an excellent way of using transpose to help you become a better player. say if a song is in Eb you can use transpose to play the song in a different key that you have trouble with, say E. So you can play along with the song (instrumental or whatever) because the keyboard is playing in Eb, but since the fingering is as if you're playing in E you get used to playing in E (which is a difficult key for you because otherwise you wouldnt go to that key). im sure u get what im saying.

No, she wasn't using the transpose key (although that has happened too). She just forgot what key we do the song in (she does this frequently, I'm afraid).

Thanks, everyone, for your responses.  I feel like I owe her an apology because I should have just played it in other key if possible--which I can do most of the time--then mentioned it afterwards.

i think you're response should depend on WHY the key is being changed. If she forgets the key then maybe you guys should write the key down you do a song in, because as someone mentioned you have to be in a key thats comfortable for the singers, and that may not necessarily be the same key as the recording. other reasons such as modulation restraints and ranges shouldve been worked out in rehearsal and the moment of isnt the best time to decide that unless there are really pressing circumstances, but even then it should be communicated if possible.

if the key changes because the person on keys just "feels like playing in Eb today" then they need to be called on that. i had to call the organist out on that in a recent rehearsal. you cant just modulate when you feel like it and then when ur supposed to dont because u dont feel like it. thats someone operating out of self, and theres no unity.

[Basspicker26]

I'm letting it be known as soon as we start the song that we're in the wrong key.  I have no problem stopping where we're at and starting over in the right key...lol

[MikeGee]

lol I go through this a lot. kinda. The church I play for only has a 3 piece. Me on bass a good friend of mine on guitar and a drummers. often the guitar player will mistakenly leave his capo or place the capo in the wrong spot. now i have  to find the key he is mistakenly playing in and transpose the song in my head.

This is what I do.... call it a challenge then joke  about it when it's all over.

[dhagler]

i think you're response should depend on WHY the key is being changed. If she forgets the key then maybe you guys should write the key down you do a song in

That's just it, floaded. We DO write the keys down! She just has "senior" moments, more frequently than I would like but I love her anyway.

[under13]

actually, i saw a youtube video where the guy showed an excellent way of using transpose to help you become a better player. say if a song is in Eb you can use transpose to play the song in a different key that you have trouble with, say E. So you can play along with the song (instrumental or whatever) because the keyboard is playing in Eb, but since the fingering is as if you're playing in E you get used to playing in E (which is a difficult key for you because otherwise you wouldnt go to that key). im sure u get what im saying.

To me thats just retarded, for lack of a better term. I know who you are talking about, and I even support him by buying his products, but that makes absolutely no sense. Someone above mentioned muscle memory. But on a keyboard its different. if one uses that method, they will not develop relative pitch on the keyboard, because the notes will be in different places at different times. I dont know how anybody with a good ear can play like that.

[Godsbassman62]

I disabled the transpose circuit without anyone knowing Si se puede! Yes we can!

Did I mention I'm going to start a campaign to pour crazy glue in the transpose buttons of every piano/keyboard on Earth! It makes for such bad habits...

Crazy Glue the Transpose...YES WE CAN!!!


Browntree

And David spake to the chief of the Levites to appoint their brethren to be the singers with instruments of music, psalteries and harps and cymbals, sounding, by lifting up the voice with joy. I Chronicles 15:16

[browntree]

I disabled the transpose circuit without anyone knowing Si se puede! Yes we can!

Hilarious!!!  I bet folk be banging the heck out that button like "what???"

Browntree

And David spake to the chief of the Levites to appoint their brethren to be the singers with instruments of music, psalteries and harps and cymbals, sounding, by lifting up the voice with joy. I Chronicles 15:16