I at one time confess to having "favorite" keys, often based on how well I knew a certain key's mechanical issues such as fingerings on the keyboards, chord shapes and use of open strangs on the guitars, range on the trumpets.

But then I got embarassed by good musicians about that, and started the regiment of PRACTICING ALL SONGS IN ALL KEYS.

That took time.

I found that it was best to do by going around the circle of fifths, usually I would backcycle, which is going counterclockwise, such that the key would change in 4ths, but it really wouldn't matter which direction.

AND ONCE THAT KEY WAS PICKED, THAT BECAME THE PRACTICE KEY OF THE DAY.

No matter the song, try to play it by ear in the key of the day as well as in the key written or known.

Rinse.

Repeat.

Inside of much less than a year, you've got it.

And then you discover something that is much greater than the sum of the parts, you discover that certain key signatures also have something of their own to say that can either build the song emotion higher, or pull it askew, depending.

"How do you get to Carnegie Hall from here?"

"Man, you gotta PRACTICE"

Have Fun,


--Mac

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