Guessing the Key of the Song or Music
Dear All,
I play in a small group where we have 4 people who sing vocalas, a pianist (primary instrument) and myself on harmonica (secondary). When we have to perform, I walk up to the pianist and ask for the key of the song each time. I have been looking for ways to avoid asking the key of the song. Can anyone advise me how you all go about identifying the key of the song in a band or a set.
Unless you're working from a written or memorized set list, and never change the key once you've put a tune on that list, it's not only polite, but also a really good idea, for whoever the bandleader is (in your case sundsouza, your pianist?) to nod in the direction of each musician and verify. E.g., "Bb, right?" Whether blues, jazz, or any other genre that has it's own chordal traditions, when players start out a tune in differing keys the result can range from "interesting" to "train wreck."
If you don't play piano yourself, it can be tough to figure out the key by watching where the pianists fingers go. Watching the guitarist is usually easier, but again, only if you understand chords on a guitar fretboard.
David has lessons here on figuring out song key, but in a performance situation, trying to figure out the key by trying different notes on your harmonica not only looks a little weird, but also delays your coming in on the song. And if you're expected to be comping behind the piano on an instrumental introduction for the vocalist, you're going to be coming in late.
That said, there are people out there with perfect pitch. E.g., people who can while blindfolded hear one note from a piano and correctly say, "That's Ab above middle C." But those people are very rare, and some who actually have that ability think of it more as a curse than a blessing.
Anyway, check out David's lessons re figuring out keys, and know that my own burial instructions request that the epitaph on my headstone read, "Hey! What key are we in, again?"
Its a Church Choir group and the Key of the Song keeps changing as per the group singers or Solo singers comfortablity. So I walk upto the pianist right before he starts playing and check the Key of the Song :)
On the keyboard display I notice a box which reads CHORDS. This displays the chords in real-time the pianist is playing. Is there a way I can use it to understand the Key of the Song?
Thought we migh have a easier way or an app which could determine what the pianist is playing.
I have already started with Davids Ear Training Lessons.
If your bandleader isn't giving out the key, groove, and tempo before he starts a song he isn't much of a bandleader. I would politely request that he does so before each tune.
If you can see what chords he is playing. Typically songs start out on the I chord of that key. Meaning if the bandleader is playing an A maj chord right out of the gate then more than likely the tune is in A maj. This is not always the case because as you probably already know blues music is played using Dominant 7th chords which can make things more difficult to determine key. Sometimes blues tunes will start on the V7 chord of the key or even the IV7. Having some music theory knowledge will help you understand what i am talking about. David does a great job in the levels of achievement explaining how this works and how it applys to blues harmonica.
Long story short, your bandleader needs to establish the key of the song before he starts. Not everyone studied music theory in college and even less have perfect pitch.
Hope this helps!
PAJ
I have only some limited experience playing in a band. Our set/song list included keys. Otherwise the leader, typically the person on the vocals, would name the song and key. In jams I attended, the person leading the song always called out the key. I would ask or confirm anytime I wasn't sure. Seems like a set list with keys would be the easiest way to deal with it. Next, the leader calls out the key. Otherwise, no shame in asking.