Playing the saxophone Cry me a river transposition..

[Dibbs]

How can they? The major song has a major 3rd. If you play a major 3rd in a minor song it will sound very different.

It's 8 bar A section starts in Cm and ends in Eb major. To my mind it's a moot point which key it's in though I do tend to think of it as a minor tune.

 

[mizmar]

For practical purposes; both the karaoke and sheet music sites in the OP are clear and consistent in labeling the key options as Minor. Believe them.

Also the sheet music site presents the sheet music in the selected key - it means you can see if any notes in the melody line - at least on the first page - goes down below B♭ and will be unplayable without faffing.

So, for an easy life:

• Find a key you like to play in and which is playable on the range of the sax (above low A, not too much altissimo (just me?))^¶
• If there's an option of a key of a performance, great otherwise tough.
• Transpose that two semitones for the karaoke^¶.
• Download
• Off ya go.

^¶if you are not sure, ask here before you buy.
Ask specific and actionable questions like "will this be in range" or "is this the right karaoke key for that". Avoid questions like "will this key work with that performances of the moon is in aquarius? "

 

[eb424]

For practical purposes; both the karaoke and sheet music sites in the OP are clear and consistent in labeling the key options as Minor. Believe them.

Also the sheet music site presents the sheet music in the selected key - it means you can see if any notes in the melody line - at least on the first page - goes down below B♭ and will be unplayable without faffing.

So, for an easy life:

• Find a key you like to play in and which is playable on the range of the sax (above low A, not too much altissimo (just me?))^¶
• If there's an option of a key of a performance, great otherwise tough.
• Transpose that two semitones for the karaoke^¶.
• Download
• Off ya go.

^¶if you are not sure, ask here before you buy.
Ask specific and actionable questions like "will this be in range" or "is this the right karaoke key for that". Avoid questions like "will this key work with that performances of the moon is in aquarius? "

I was going to use the same key and take it up an octave as its a woman singing...

 

[mizmar]

---

I was going to use the same key and take it up an octave as its a woman singing...

In which star sign?

Then you just have to pick a key they doesn't go above your comfort zone.

 

[eb424]

I'll just move it up an octave...see how it sounds

 

[MikeMorrell]

Where’s Andre Previn when you need him?

Thoroughly enjoyed this clip (again?)!

 

[jazzdoh]

I just can not understand why you wouldn't play it in the original key.
You have often said you want to play with other musicians or attend workshops so the original would be what is used.
After you have got this under your fingers then maybe move to other keys if you wish.
The band I'm in play this tune in concert Am because it suits the singer, but if done as an instrumental we do it in Cm.
You are just making hard work of it really.

 

[eb424]

I just can not understand why you wouldn't play it in the original key.
You have often said you want to play with other musicians or attend workshops so the original would be what is used.
After you have got this under your fingers then maybe move to other keys if you wish.
The band I'm in play this tune in concert Am because it suits the singer, but if done as an instrumental we do it in Cm.
You are just making hard work of it really.

Erm.. I am playing it original key I think @jazzdoh..Em transposed to F#m...Taken up an octave...thats Diana Krall version though..

 

[jazzdoh]

Erm.. I am playing it original key I think @jazzdoh..Em transposed to F#m...Taken up an octave...thats Diana Krall version though..

No
Original key is in Cm, Diana Krall changed the key to suit her voice, Diana Krall version isn't the original.

 

[eb424]

Ahh..not Billy Holliday Cm would have been an easier blow...

 

[Pete Thomas]

No
Original key is in Cm, Diana Krall changed the key to suit her voice, Diana Krall version isn't the original.

Indeed. The original is Julie London, key C minor. So that is the "standard" key that most musicians will play it in or prefer to play it in unless dictated otherwise by a singer.

Unless there is a good reason, then I'd learn it in C minor. Obviously we should all be able to transpose either at site or by ear but...

 

[turf3]

Wikipedia implies the "original" key is Em, but I have no idea what that's based on. What constitutes "original key", anyway? Again to Wikipedia, so you know it's fully verified and guaranteed accurate, they say it was originally written with Ellafitz in mind but she didn't record it till some years after London did. So is the "original" key the key the songwriter originally set down on staff paper, the key he moved it to for Ella, the key it was moved to for Julie who appears to have made the first recording? Was Ella singing this thing for a year in performances, in a different key from where Julie recorded it? If so, does performance trump recording, or vice versa?

Just play the damn thing in a key where the singer can sing it. If no vocals, play it in any key you want. If most everyone you'd want to play it with knows it in Cm, learn it there. This arguing about what's "original" never gets anyone anywhere. A basic tool of the perfoming musician is the ability to perform songs in different keys to adapt to singers' ranges.

 

[eb424]

Wikipedia implies the "original" key is Em, but I have no idea what that's based on. What constitutes "original key", anyway? Again to Wikipedia, so you know it's fully verified and guaranteed accurate, they say it was originally written with Ellafitz in mind but she didn't record it till some years after London did. So is the "original" key the key the songwriter originally set down on staff paper, the key he moved it to for Ella, the key it was moved to for Julie who appears to have made the first recording? Was Ella singing this thing for a year in performances, in a different key from where Julie recorded it? If so, does performance trump recording, or vice versa?

Just play the damn thing in a key where the singer can sing it. If no vocals, play it in any key you want. If most everyone you'd want to play it with knows it in Cm, learn it there. This arguing about what's "original" never gets anyone anywhere. A basic tool of the perfoming musician is the ability to perform songs in different keys to adapt to singers' ranges.

Cm would be great but I need the vocals for a bit...K.V. sys the originals G...🙂

 

[lydian]

Cm would be great but I need the vocals for a bit...K.V. sys the originals G...🙂

As has already been said, a robot seeing one sharp in the key signature and knowing nothing else about the tune would say G, not Em. But that would be wrong.

I think you enjoy this endless game of who’s on first and couldn’t care less about the correct answer.

 

[eb424]

As has already been said, a robot seeing one sharp in the key signature and knowing nothing else about the tune would say G, not Em. But that would be wrong.

I think you enjoy this endless game of who’s on first and couldn’t care less about the correct answer.

Im not on a windup check julie Londons version in Karaoje version says key of G..ill get a link..sorry can't but please @lydian check out the site and comeback..Not saying its major but G is all I can get there and it doesnt work for me . But if the G is Em for julie Londons version my score in F# m will work. The tunes a nicer tempo..PS I dont do wind ups..just want to get the song sorted..

 

[lydian]

Im not on a windup check julie Londons version in Karaoje version says key of G..ill get a link..sorry can't but please @lydian check out the site and comeback..Not saying its major but G is all I can get there and it doesnt work for me . But if the G is Em for julie Londons version my score in F# m will work. The tunes a nicer tempo..PS I dont do wind ups..just want to get the song sorted..

EDIT: I see what you mean. Julie London version is listed as G major. However, you can play a sample right there on the site before you buy and know for sure whether it will work with your written score. When I play the sample, it's in Em, just like the Diana Krall version you linked earlier. I'm still failing to see where the problem is. Is it just that you don't have internet access in the caravan and can't listen to the sample when you have your horn with you?

Also, I'm not calling you a robot. I'm saying a computer program that runs such a site isn't going to know anything except the key signature, hence miss the difference between major and minor as it did in the two versions we're discussing.

EDIT2: You may ask how do I know what key the recording is in. If I look at any lead sheet for this tune, the first chord matches the key (not true in all cases but true in this one). So I listen to what the bass is playing (E), then listen to the notes in the guitar chord (I hear minor then pick out what other notes I can to confirm an Em chord). To be doubly sure, I hear a ii-V turnaround at the end of the bridge also resolving to the I (one) of the head, again Em.

 

[eb424]

This is what I see when I follow the link in your opening post. You can also play a sample right there on the site before you buy and know for sure whether it will work with your written score. I'm still failing to see where the problem is. Is it just that you don't have internet access in the caravan?

Also, I'm not calling you a robot. I'm saying a computer program that runs such a site isn't going to know anything except the key signature, hence miss the difference between major and minor. But in this case, it gets it

EDIT: I see what you mean. Julie London version is listed as G major. However, you can play a sample right there on the site before you buy and know for sure whether it will work with your written score. When I play the sample, it's in Em, just like the Diana Krall version you linked earlier. I'm still failing to see where the problem is. Is it just that you don't have internet access in the caravan and can't listen to the sample when you have your horn with you?

Also, I'm not calling you a robot. I'm saying a computer program that runs such a site isn't going to know anything except the key signature, hence miss the difference between major and minor as it did in the two versions we're discussing.

EDIT: I see what you mean. Julie London version is listed as G major. However, you can play a sample right there on the site before you buy and know for sure whether it will work with your written score. When I play the sample, it's in Em, just like the Diana Krall version you linked earlier. I'm still failing to see where the problem is. Is it just that you don't have internet access in the caravan and can't listen to the sample when you have your horn with you?

Also, I'm not calling you a robot. I'm saying a computer program that runs such a site isn't going to know anything except the key signature, hence miss the difference between major and minor as it did in the two versions we're discussing.

I would just take it as gospel that it was G..Its also there as Ebm so ive gone and transposed to F#m..lol

 

[turf3]

Software doesn't know from major or minor. It looks at the key signature and if it sees one sharp it decides "G major". In this particular case it's wrong. One sharp in the signature means G major OR E minor. When you look at the actual lead sheet and there's E minor all over the place, it tells you it's not G major.

 

[Pete Thomas]

What constitutes "original key", anyway? Ag

If you want to be pedantic (and why not?) it would be the key it was wrote in by the composer. But back then what often happened is it would be given by publisher or A & R to singer For a session. There’s a very good chance the songwriter or an MD would run through with singer to determine key, because the last thing they want is to rescore the whole thing at the session.

Hence it will end up on the record very likely in a different key and that will be the key musicians would learn it in and that is what would become thought if as the original key.

Ie the key it originally became famous in.

 

[eb424]

If you want to be pedantic (and why not?) it would be the key it was wrote in by the composer. But back then what often happened is it would be given by publisher or A & R to singer For a session. There’s a very good chance the songwriter or an MD would run through with singer to determine key, because the last thing they want is to rescore the whole thing at the session.

Hence it will end up on the record very likely in a different key and that will be the key musicians would learn it in and that is what would become thought if as the original key.

Ie the key it originally became famous in.

Hey for a bit of fun....why dont we all do it in different keys major and minor...