The 'usual key'

[Bobby G]

What is the 'usual' key for a tune? At jazz sessions, I often hear a short discussion about what tune is going to be played, and it is often decided to play it in the 'usual' key - self-explanatory, I suppose. However, if I want to add to my small repertoire of tunes, would I be best to learn them in the 'usual' key?

I know it is said that you should practise things in all keys, but there are some tunes for which two or three keys are far more comfortable than the others; also, any pianist in the house trio worth his salt is going to be able to transpose from his/her 'usual' key into whatever key the soloist decides to take the tune.

So, I'd guess the 'usual' key would be one that everyone would feel comfortable in, the key to which they've become accustomed to playing in on any given tune.

For example, when I'm playing on my own, I play 'Summertime' in G minor on alto (Bb minor concert), although I can play it in A minor and D minor just as well, although to me D minor doesn't sound as good as you need to play a lot in the upper register in order to get the lowest A in the melody. What would be the 'usual' key for this tune?

Likewise, I play 'Autumn Leaves' in E minor on alto, which is a nice key to blow in, and conveniently enough is the same key as Cannonball's version on the 'Something Else' album. is this the 'usual' key for this tune?

Any other recommendations for tunes of a similar style and level, with their 'usual' keys gratefully received.

Cheers, Bob

p.s. I do a pretty mean 'Beginning To See The Light', too! In Bb (G on the alto)

 

[sharon]

Hi Bob, This is a bit of a poser for me too. Although unlike you, I can't tell what key a song is in by ear. I've started learning a bit of music theory and am just getting to grips with the key signature of songs.

I also find that sometimes I might play a song and it is not comfortable to play eg. very high. Sometimes if I play the same song from a different book it is more comfortable.

Now, I know this is because of the key that it is in, but don't have enough knowledge to enable me to change the key.

Sharon

 

[Pete Thomas]

The usual key is mostly the key that the tune was published in, ie the sheet music. I have some buskers books and a big book called "The Greatest Legal Fake Book of all Time", which I often use for reference.

Exceptions happen when a song was published in one key, then was recorded in a different key (usually to suit a certain singer's range). I can't think of any at the moment though.

I was never able to play every song in every key, you need very special aural abilities or too much time to do that, but some fairly simple tunes, e.g. Summertime, Amazing Grace, happy birthday etc you should be able to play in every key, whether it's by ear or learning them.

There are certain jazz tunes I've known to be in more than one common key e.g. Satin Doll (Bb and C). I seem to remeber Girl From Ipanema in Ab as well as F, but I can't certainly get round it in Ab without a bit of revision on the bridge first.

I think Gm concert is usual for Atumn Leaves, but there are other normal keys (Am? can't remember at the moment). That's a tricky one because many people refer to the opening chord as the key, so even though it's in Gm (the last chord), some people will say C minor.

 

[Bobby G]

Thanks for that Pete, I was thinking about doing 'Autumn Leaves' tonight, so I should perhaps state that it starts on G minor even though it's technically in C, right? Last time I heard it being played, it was in Bb minor (or Eb), but that's guitar players for you....

Girl From Ipanema is one I see played commonly in F, but it's not a tune I'm particularly in love with, so I haven't learned it yet.

Cheers, Bob

 

[Pete Thomas]

Bobby G wrote:
Thanks for that Pete, I was thinking about doing 'Autumn Leaves' tonight, so I should perhaps state that it starts on G minor even

Other way round I think

Cm7 - F-7 - Bb Am7 -D7 -Gm

 

[Bobby G]

'appen you're right there thinking about it - how you've written it there is how we played it tonight.... it's the key I'm used to, anyway, even if it's not the usual key.

Cheers, Bob

 

[mfox]

bob taking the last chord of a song is a more accurate way of deciding key than the first chord..
when you strip away all the padding a waft from a tune you come down to 2 basic chord type.. question and answer chords.
question chords are chords that dont resolve and hint that there is more to come. usually see these in first time repete bars..
answer chord are chord that can resolve these usually come on second time bars and most importantly at the end of a tune..

usual key is published key..
if you learn tune 5th above and 5th below you will almost allways find a singer can sing in one of the 3 keys..(just a tip)

 

[Bobby G]

Yeah, I can see that last chord thing, as that will be the chord the tune tends to resolve to - the question and answer analogy is a good one.

And I can certainly see the sense in learning tunes in 3 keys a fifth apart, regardless of whether a singer is involved or not; each of those keys, while still following the same chord patterns e.g. II-V-I etc, will have a different flavour.

Cheers, Bob

 

[philthd]

keys sound so different

my band are depsperate to make me move a tune i wrote in concert Db to concert D but i think it sjust sounds horrible in D


and or course you can modulate a 5th just by playing the same changes on a different horn

 

[stan_s_fan]

Bob,
I have a Jamey Aebersold book "How to Learn Tunes" Vol.76 which has a comprehensive list of the keys of all the songs in Volumes 1 to 95. The list may well be free to download on the Aebersold website. They call it RAPID REFERENCE.

 

[mfox]

Phill i agree some tune only sound good in 1 key..i don't know why this is..
if you wrote the tune, then don't change it..the band probably want to change because they feel its an easy er key..tell them key is irrelevant and practice is the only way..

tune i feel only sound good in set key..concert keys
worksong Fm
senor blues Ebm
midnight hour E
round midnight..cant remember the key

tune that sound good in any key
summertime
all of me
sweet georgia brown
fly me to the moon

 

[Bobby G]

Agreed, some tunes sound at their best in certain keys, even Summertime - on alto it sounds too high in D minor, but a lot better in Am or Gm, but maybe a bit low in Em, but playable as you say in any key. Last Wednesday the band pitched it to the singer and it turned out to be in F#m, a key I am used to, fortunately, having played with guitarists who like to play in A.

Stan's Fan, I shall try and check out that Aebersold book, thanks for the tip.

Cheers, Bob