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jhatpro Heavyweight Member
Joined: 17 Mar 2002 Posts: 10204 Location: The Land Beyond O'Hare
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Posted: Wed Jan 15, 2020 5:23 pm Post subject: Trad Jazz Keys |
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Why are so many trad (Dixie) tunes in F? _________________ Jim Hatfield
"The notes are there - find them.” Mingus
2021 Martinus Geelan Custom
2005 Bach 180-72R
1965 Getzen Eterna Severinsen
1946 Conn Victor
1998 Scodwell flugel
1986 Bach 181 cornet
1954 Conn 80A cornet
2002 Getzen bugle |
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kehaulani Heavyweight Member
Joined: 23 Mar 2003 Posts: 9014 Location: Hawai`i - Texas
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Posted: Wed Jan 15, 2020 5:44 pm Post subject: |
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It's a good playing range. _________________ "If you don't live it, it won't come out of your horn." Bird
Yamaha 8310Z Bobby Shew trumpet
Benge 3X Trumpet
Benge 3X Cornet
Adams F-1 Flghn |
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Turkle Heavyweight Member
Joined: 29 Apr 2008 Posts: 2450 Location: New York City
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Posted: Wed Jan 15, 2020 6:34 pm Post subject: |
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Not trying to be snarky, but you are of course free to play tunes in whichever key you like. (Or the singer likes.... yikes.)
When you have horn players on stage, generally speaking tunes get called in horn-friendly keys like F, Bb, Eb, etc. If someone calls Cherokee in E, they're usually trying to prove a point, like "get the amateurs off the bandstand, it's time for the adults to get to work."
Kind of funny that when you listen to jazz albums without horns, tunes get called in all kinds of insane keys that lay really well on the keys or guitar. Good Lord, my band plays Chick Corea's "Spain" which is written in the super-helpful key of concert D! Thanks, Mr. Corea. Really helping me out here.
Since I'm playing a gig with a singer tomorrow, I'm actually busy shedding a whole bunch of tunes in unfamiliar keys. She sings Stella in F! That will be fun. _________________ Yamaha 8310Z trumpet
Yamaha 8310Z flugel
Curry 3. |
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jhatpro Heavyweight Member
Joined: 17 Mar 2002 Posts: 10204 Location: The Land Beyond O'Hare
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Posted: Wed Jan 15, 2020 6:57 pm Post subject: |
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Tunes played in other than the original key never sound quite right to me.
As for singers calling the key, I can put up with it - if they can sing but, more often than not in my experience, they can’t. _________________ Jim Hatfield
"The notes are there - find them.” Mingus
2021 Martinus Geelan Custom
2005 Bach 180-72R
1965 Getzen Eterna Severinsen
1946 Conn Victor
1998 Scodwell flugel
1986 Bach 181 cornet
1954 Conn 80A cornet
2002 Getzen bugle |
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Turkle Heavyweight Member
Joined: 29 Apr 2008 Posts: 2450 Location: New York City
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Posted: Wed Jan 15, 2020 8:01 pm Post subject: |
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jhatpro wrote: | Tunes played in other than the original key never sound quite right to me.
As for singers calling the key, I can put up with it - if they can sing but, more often than not in my experience, they can’t. |
Ha! Lucky me, I work with some amazingly talented singers!
One of the ways I practice is by rolling a "D&D" style 12-sided die to determine a random key to play a tune in. Super great way to shed your favorite tunes in unfamiliar keys! _________________ Yamaha 8310Z trumpet
Yamaha 8310Z flugel
Curry 3. |
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Richard III Heavyweight Member
Joined: 22 May 2007 Posts: 2655 Location: Anacortes, WA
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Posted: Thu Jan 16, 2020 4:38 pm Post subject: Re: Trad Jazz Keys |
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jhatpro wrote: | Why are so many trad (Dixie) tunes in F? |
Because the horns sound better in flat keys. _________________ Richard
King 1130 Flugabone
King 12C mouthpiece |
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TrumpetMD Heavyweight Member
Joined: 22 Oct 2008 Posts: 2412 Location: Maryland
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Posted: Thu Jan 16, 2020 6:14 pm Post subject: |
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Richard III wrote: | jhatpro wrote: | Why are so many trad (Dixie) tunes in F? |
Because the horns sound better in flat keys. |
Absolutely. Look at the Real Book. The most common keys are concert Bb, C, Eb, F, and G.
Turkle wrote: | Since I'm playing a gig with a singer tomorrow, I'm actually busy shedding a whole bunch of tunes in unfamiliar keys. She sings Stella in F! That will be fun. |
There are 2 female vocalists who sit in with my jazz trio. And they each have different keys they like to sing in.
Mike _________________ Bach Stradivarius 43* Trumpet (1974), Bach 6C Mouthpiece.
Bach Stradivarius 184 Cornet (1988), Yamaha 13E4 Mouthpiece
Olds L-12 Flugelhorn (1969), Yamaha 13F4 Mouthpiece.
Plus a few other Bach, Getzen, Olds, Carol, HN White, and Besson horns. |
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Oncewasaplayer Heavyweight Member
Joined: 24 Sep 2007 Posts: 974
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Posted: Fri Jan 17, 2020 10:39 am Post subject: |
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It's true that most Classic Jazz tunes generally are played in a limited amount of keys (F, Bb, C, etc). This makes it easy on the band (and for subs) but when you're organizing a set list, you need to consider the keys. (Don't organize 10 tunes in F for a set.)
One way to challenge band members is to add modulations to the tunes on the out choruses to get that harmonic boost. Move the tune up a whole step and it suddenly sounds fresh.
When we play Saints, after four or five choruses of singing and playing, I'll move it up a whole step. (Most players can make this change by ear.) We've even soloed on Saints moving it up half steps for each player but that can be chaotic. After playing Take Me Out to the Ball Game in Bb for a while, we moved the tune to F. Bourbon St Parade in Ab? Move it to F and combine it with Bill Bailey.
in my own practicing, I'm trying to play tunes I know in new keys. I started with very simple tunes: Twinkle Little Star or London Bridges. It gets easier if you try it. I'm still figuring this all out. _________________ Getzen 800DLX cornet
Selmer Sigma trumpet |
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kehaulani Heavyweight Member
Joined: 23 Mar 2003 Posts: 9014 Location: Hawai`i - Texas
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Posted: Fri Jan 17, 2020 10:47 am Post subject: Re: Trad Jazz Keys |
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Richard III wrote: | jhatpro wrote: | Why are so many trad (Dixie) tunes in F? | Because the horns sound better in flat keys. |
So, if you are playing in Db, does it sound better than in C#? _________________ "If you don't live it, it won't come out of your horn." Bird
Yamaha 8310Z Bobby Shew trumpet
Benge 3X Trumpet
Benge 3X Cornet
Adams F-1 Flghn |
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Richard III Heavyweight Member
Joined: 22 May 2007 Posts: 2655 Location: Anacortes, WA
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Posted: Fri Jan 17, 2020 11:39 am Post subject: Re: Trad Jazz Keys |
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kehaulani wrote: | Richard III wrote: | jhatpro wrote: | Why are so many trad (Dixie) tunes in F? | Because the horns sound better in flat keys. |
So, if you are playing in Db, does it sound better than in C#? |
Yup. _________________ Richard
King 1130 Flugabone
King 12C mouthpiece |
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