(Edit: This is another case of me forming the query and title poorly. I didn't know what I was looking for and now I do: using alternate fingerings of the same repeated for effect. Still, I'm intersted in yoiur reflections of keys and have asked about it before.)
From time to time, we talk about changing keys of a song, often to suit the range of the instrument. I'm curious about your most interesting keys and why. Pleazse put aside the idea that you should be comfortable in all keys. As a string player, open strings make a huge difference in how you play, accompany, improvise. There is an equivalent to open strings and jumps on the saxophone, one that a great player called "it just lays right" on the instrument. As an example, Equinox (C#m blues) or Cousin Mary (Ab blues), both are written in unusual keys. I assume Coltrane heard something, maybe while practicing, and the composition resulted from that.
What I'd like to hear from you, as a beginning player, is if you have unusual keys you play in and what scales or patters or melodies "lay right'", work with your inner voice, or just inspire you. I can tell you that I have a tune in C#m on the guitar, with a secondary tonal playing the dominant role on D major 9. The tonic uses open E and B strings to effect, the D includes these as the 6th and 9th, the lydian mode in the D also aids the melodic flow. The melody depends heavily on these features. Anyway, hopefully you get the picture. Here's a live version where everything that is not bass or drums is played on the Roland GR-1 guitar synthesizer, which allows you to play and hold chords while playing the melody above them.
On the sax, it's easier to play in Cm, but I find it interesting to play it in the original C#m as well, it's a little harder to finger. Specifically, there's the F# key trill in the scale used, for example, that is ungainly for a novice player like me.
Anyway, all this background isn't necessary to think about if you come up with some ideas of why you like certain keys. It was clear to me the first day I played an upright bass why F is such a great key for blues. You all know that it's also great on the saxophone family. The sharp keys are more of a challenge, I still can't play a smooth F# major (A major) scale on the alto. Yes, I keep practicing.
What are your favorite keys (please name which saxophone), sharp or less obvious flat keys or even no sharps or flats, C? I'd especially like to know why you like them?
Alternatively, what are the keys you find the most difficult to play on most effectively?
From time to time, we talk about changing keys of a song, often to suit the range of the instrument. I'm curious about your most interesting keys and why. Pleazse put aside the idea that you should be comfortable in all keys. As a string player, open strings make a huge difference in how you play, accompany, improvise. There is an equivalent to open strings and jumps on the saxophone, one that a great player called "it just lays right" on the instrument. As an example, Equinox (C#m blues) or Cousin Mary (Ab blues), both are written in unusual keys. I assume Coltrane heard something, maybe while practicing, and the composition resulted from that.
What I'd like to hear from you, as a beginning player, is if you have unusual keys you play in and what scales or patters or melodies "lay right'", work with your inner voice, or just inspire you. I can tell you that I have a tune in C#m on the guitar, with a secondary tonal playing the dominant role on D major 9. The tonic uses open E and B strings to effect, the D includes these as the 6th and 9th, the lydian mode in the D also aids the melodic flow. The melody depends heavily on these features. Anyway, hopefully you get the picture. Here's a live version where everything that is not bass or drums is played on the Roland GR-1 guitar synthesizer, which allows you to play and hold chords while playing the melody above them.
On the sax, it's easier to play in Cm, but I find it interesting to play it in the original C#m as well, it's a little harder to finger. Specifically, there's the F# key trill in the scale used, for example, that is ungainly for a novice player like me.
Anyway, all this background isn't necessary to think about if you come up with some ideas of why you like certain keys. It was clear to me the first day I played an upright bass why F is such a great key for blues. You all know that it's also great on the saxophone family. The sharp keys are more of a challenge, I still can't play a smooth F# major (A major) scale on the alto. Yes, I keep practicing.
What are your favorite keys (please name which saxophone), sharp or less obvious flat keys or even no sharps or flats, C? I'd especially like to know why you like them?
Alternatively, what are the keys you find the most difficult to play on most effectively?
Last edited by a moderator: