Help: What Key Do You Like?

Subject: RE: Help: What Key Do You Like?
From: Sorcha
Date: 23 Jul 00 - 12:02 AM

The "in-betwteen" notes, as you called them, McGrath, are called quarter tones, or semi tones. They are usually denoted as double sharps or double flats in Western music, but that is not really correct either. A double sharp in Western music is 2 half tones, or a full step. Eastern music uses totally different scales and modes, and the only way I have ever seen to notate it in Western style is to use funky key signatures such as 2 sharps and 1 flat........still not truly correct, I am sure.

Subject: RE: Help: What Key Do You Like?
From: GUEST,Banjo Johnny
Date: 23 Jul 00 - 12:50 AM

to Gary T - I don't write 'em, I just play 'em. Picture Danny Aiello saying, "Yo pally, I got yer G sharp right here!"

To Jon - Equal temperament means that all the scales are slightly out of (perfect) tune, but each in its own way. "Yo pally, I got yer equal temperament right here!"

== Johnny in OKC

Subject: RE: Help: What Key Do You Like?
From: InOBU
Date: 23 Jul 00 - 08:20 AM

I prefer the key of Gee Wiz.
Larry

Subject: RE: Help: What Key Do You Like?
From: GUEST,Ely
Date: 23 Jul 00 - 10:38 AM

G or C (or anything that can be achieved using their chords and a capo). D and A chords make my hand cramp up.

Subject: RE: Help: What Key Do You Like?
From: Mooh
Date: 23 Jul 00 - 11:03 AM

Any key will do for me, though naturally I prefer the more "guitar-friendly" keys like G C D A E and related minors and modes.

If I may make a point about capos, in addition to the above well-stated arguments, the use of a capo allows the exploition of open strings. This simplifies sustain, drones, widely voiced chords, and so on.

I have been an avid user of capos since I first started playing guitar. Some songs sound better, regardless of key, with open chords, others with closed chords. However, as easy as it is to get closed chords without a capo, it is not possible to get open chords in any key without a capo. Therefor to get the open chord timbre, feel, sustain and ease, a capo is necessary.

An aside here, as alluded to in an above posting, double capoing is possible, and not too hard on intonation if the capo is placed properly (though some tweaking is likely necessary). A partial capo used above a full or partial capo can create open chord sounding tunings while maintaining standard tuning string intervals up the fingerboard. Strumming the open strings create a chord based on the positions of the capos. I have capos which form Em, Amaj(which when inverted sounds like dadgad up a tone), drop E (which can be used anywhere, not just at the second fret), and others which I use with these to get an Am, Emaj, etc. Other capos include those which I use for altering open G tuning. If you're interested in this stuff, I'd be pleased to hear from you. I figure I've got the cost of at least another decent guitar tied up in capos, and I admit I don't use them all the time, but I sure do love tinkering with them.

Peace, Mooh.

Subject: RE: Help: What Key Do You Like?
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 23 Jul 00 - 12:08 PM

To get back to the question of what's a good key:

1. If it's a vocal piece, pay attention to the range, not the key. The highest note should be no higher than the D which is the second line of the staff. The lowest note should probably be no lower than the B below middle C. (for sopranos' sake)

2. I have small hands, and I find C hard to play and F impossible. I much prefer D,G, and A chords and their relatives.

3. I once told a guitar teacher (an expert one) that I had trouble with C, and he said, "You're not supposed to play C on the guitar."

4. Many, many traditional dance tunes are in G and D already, which means that others have memorized them that way. So go with the flow.

Subject: RE: Help: What Key Do You Like?
From: catspaw49
Date: 23 Jul 00 - 12:57 PM

Thanks Bill for posting your infamous "Key of R"....it was the first thing that came to mind when I saw this thread title. Glad you posted it.

And Bert......I'm with you partner. We'd make one helluva duet pairing!!!

ONSTAGE TONIGHT!!!! THE DOUBLE FLATS!!!

Spaw

Subject: RE: Help: What Key Do You Like?
From: Mooh
Date: 23 Jul 00 - 06:03 PM

Dear Leeneia.

Somebody actually told you you're not supposed to play C on guitar? Why, pray tell? There's nothing which shouldn't be played on guitar, in my honest opinion, except that which you don't want to play.

I agree with your first point. If a song is to be sung, it should be sung with the best use of the singer's voice, which means transposing if necessary. So for vocal stuff, the best key is the one which fits the singer and the song.

Peace, Mooh.

Subject: RE: Help: What Key Do You Like?
From: Gary T
Date: 23 Jul 00 - 10:59 PM

"I once told a guitar teacher (an expert one) that I had trouble with C, and he said, 'You're not supposed to play C on the guitar.'"

Wow! If he meant not to play a C chord, that would eliminate various songs in the keys of C, D, E, F, G, A, Bb.......Sure sounds like a screwy thing to say.

Subject: RE: Help: What Key Do You Like?
From: Sorcha
Date: 23 Jul 00 - 11:13 PM

1. I hope all you folks can transpose.
2. Most of what I am doing is not dance tunes, etc. It is Traditional folk/cowboy/hymns like Corinna,Corinna; Lonesome Valley, etc. These are songs I found in the DT that do not have tunes listed. I finally downloaded ABC2Win, and once I really learn to use it, this should be EZ. Still making dumb mistakes, though. Joe is probably tired of cleaning up after me.........
3. I am trying to pay attention to the range, but sometimes it is just an impossible tune to sing, sorry. (See Londonderry Air-----crikey, mikey!)

Thanks for all the input. Dick, Susan, Joe, et. al. may be really sorry I discovered this program.........I found about 30 songs in the DT that have no tune available, which I have tunes for.........Before I found Mudcat, I used to have a life. I am considering just sending the abc to Joe (or somebody?) instead of posting it on the forum. Any ideas on that? I guess if I post it, those who do abc could copy/paste and not have to wait for a MIDI.

MMario says there are only about 3,000 songs that do NOT have tunes..........uh? :>)