Once you’ve mastered playing songs by ear in one key, it’s then a relatively easy task to start transposing what you know to the 11 other keys. Playing songs in one key isn’t the end goal. Objection: “But it’s not much use when you’re called up to the bandstand to play a tune by ear, and all you know is one key” So continue transcribing in your one key – and don’t make any adjustments for your transposing instrument.īy the way – I play trumpet too, and I’ve played as many songs by ear on my trumpet as piano. We’re thinking in one key, so that we learn how music works – the common shapes from one song to another. My Fixed Key method is for your thinking only – and the goal is not to memorize the actual pitches of notes, like D, or Bb, or G, etc.
And it doesn’t matter that when you play, the notes being produced are actually the notes of Bb minor.
You would still play from the notes of C minor on your transposing instrument. No – nothing changes for transposing instruments. If I want to transcribe songs in the key of C minor, does that mean I have to play them in D minor on my instrument? “I play a transposing instrument that’s in Bb (trumpet). I only call it ‘Fixed Key Learning’ because 99% of the music you hear everyday is diatonic (it’s written within one key) – so most of the time we’re transcribing songs within one key – C minor / Eb major. So the Fixed Key Method really means ‘line EVERYTHING up from C – scales, chords, voicings – and learn things from C first’. There’s a lot of overlap between what goes on in C minor scale, and what goes on in C Harmonic minor, C Dorian, C Phrygian, C Mixolydian, and more. – Common chord progressions, Bass line shapes, and more. – The sound of Tonal Colors (will still apply to other scales that share the same scale degrees) – Common melodic shapes (you’ll still encounter many of the same shapes in other scales) Transcribe and compose in new scales lined up from C first.Ī lot of the things you learn in C minor scale will get carried over to the modes, and other types of scale. When it’s time to learn about the modes and other scales – you should line all modes up from C (C Dorian, C Phrygian, C Lydian, etc). The bigger picture to the Fixed Key Method is that we’re lining everything up from C. “What about music that’s written in the modes, or other types of scale?” It’s an additional step, but it’s well worth it for the clarity you’ll get. This often means you’ll have to transpose new concepts into your one key. When you compose, compose in your one key (or at least start in your one key – you can always modulate or venture out of key).Īnd when you learn new music theory (chord progressions, techniques, etc) – learn them in your one key. I want you to listen to all music as though it’s in your one key – so that you end up transcribing songs in that key. My Fixed Key Method is for three main things: ear training, composition and learning theory. No – you can continue playing some music in other keys – with your band, choir, or playing from sheet music in a book. “Do I have to stop playing my repertoire in other keys?” Can’t wait? Click here to watch video 2 now!
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