Playing in all keys

Bert Ligon ( BLigon@mozart.music.sc.edu )
Thu, 24 Oct 1996 11:05:07 -0400

>Yeah, I got carried away there. I can't play in all 12 keys, either, of
>course. It is interesting to explore through the keys, though. I get
>surprised at what I find, sometimes. The voicings tend to shift to put the
>tune in a playable area, and that provides me with some insight.
>

I believe in learning and practicing in all 12 keys, not just for an
academic exercise, but for practical musical reasons. I found that after
much practice and playing, there weren't any bad keys, only less played
keys. They were as easy to play in when you are familiar with them.

At my gig last night we played these three tunes in a row:

Cherokee
(key of Bb, but you have to know Eb, B, A G, & F to get through the tune)

Body & Soul
(begins in 6 flats, then five, bridge goes to D and C major)

All the Things You Are
(begins in four flats, resloves to C, then three flats resolves to G,
Bridge ends up in E for a moment)

That's all twelve keys well represented in just three very common jazz
tunes. The next tune played was Joy Spring (F, Gb, G and Eb).

I used to play solo piano jobs and work on all keys. I would play each tune
in one key, improvise in another and close it out in a third key. The next
tune I would play in a fourth, fifth and sixth key in the same fashion.
Within four tunes I had played in all twelve keys and was ready to start my
tone row again.

_______________________________________
Bert Ligon
Director of Jazz Studies
_______________________________________
School of Music
University of South Carolina
Columbia, SC 29208
Voice: (803) 777-6565
Fax: (803) 777-6508
bligon@mozart.sc.edu
_______________________________________