JPF Home Page Forums General Messages Songwriter Message Forum What keys do you prefer to write in?

I'd say 70+% of what I write is in A and D, some in E,a few in C.

Since I sometimes write in the car I'll switch between the Corolla key and the Pontiac Van key.

It's an interesting question, Everett. For me, the answer isn't so simple.

A lot of stuff, I compose in C - because I can hear in my head what the chord changes sound like: C to G, C to D, C to E, C to F, C to Am, C to Em and so on. So if I know I want a melody to go in a particular direction, that's they key I use.

I realize that a real musician could use a number system and do this in any key - but I'm not a real musician.

That approach is useful if I hear the melody in my head and just want to find a chord progression that will fit it. Sometimes though, I don't have a melody up front but, instead, develop it from playing semi-random chord progressions. In this case, it's often better for me to use a different key, precisely because I can't anticipate what a chord change will sound like. In fact, sometimes I won't even know what chord I'm playing until I figure it out after the fact. For instance, my dobro is in open D but I'll experiment with different fingerings on it without knowing what the chords are.

So, like most things, it depends....

Scott

Actually it depends on what key seems to fit at the time I am trying to work out a song. I actually don't write with an instrument. After I have finished the lyrics, mostly, I pick up the guitar aand pretend to be a musician and record the song!

Mostly C is a bit too low for me so I go to D. So mostly it is C or D but sometimes I will use E.

Maybe because so much of my music-in-my-head took place working under many florescent lights (which I found out a lot later) hum a B flat. I always think of the melody in any related key but C seems very difficult. My voice wants to be in F. I've found it very difficult to work with a guitarest; Players who liked my songs, and had time,( 5 or 6) often didn't have the familiarity with my keys, and I didn't have the skills to transpose, remember the parts of the song, keep time and communicate without changing my melody to fit what they tried playing. Hoping things will get easier with my own keyboard/computer set-up. Coming soon!

Pam

There is something about G minor/B flat Major that I love. I don't know what it is. Some people will tell you that it doesn't matter which key you compose in because they can be transcribed/modulated to other keys to fit the vocalist's range. As a composer, however, I have to disagree. Each key has its own mood. D Major has a happier sound than other major keys; G minor is more pensive than other minor keys. I don't know how to explain it otherwise, but when I sit down to compose, I pick the key that best fits the feeling I want to communicate.

Of course, when I finished writing, I often transpose the music up or down to make it easier to read. I try not to have more then two ledger lines between the staffs. Any more than that and a pianist spends more time counting half steps than playing them.

I use Finale Printmusic 2006 for all of my composing and there are some keys I would love to try, but the software won't support (G Sharp Major and F flat Major/minor, for example). Then again, keys like F Flat, C Flat, E Sharp and B Sharp really don't make a lot of sense to me anyway. I understand them from a theoretical standpoint, but from a technique standpoint, they are totally superfluous.

I feel the same way about double sharps and double flats, but that's probably outside the scope of this thread.

Am I curious, however, whether any of you have composed in other modes besides Ionian (major keys) and Aeolian (relative minor keys). The Dorian mode is used often in Celtic/Irish music and there have been a few examples here. I dunno... Are any of you interested in theory enough to care about stuff like that?

Seems like I tend to write a lot in D. Although when I write an instrumental, it's nearly always been in Dmin.; the saddest of all keys.
Maybe you heard one... "Lick My Love Pump"? Kinda a Mach thing?

But yeah, a lot of D and a lot of G. Trying to branch out a bit, hence I've been using a capo a lot more.

The universe "vibrates" at Bb (or close enough): http://techiescientists.blogspot.com/2007/04/b-flats-in-universe.html or http://www.nasa.gov/centers/goddard/universe/black_hole_sound.html .

I write mostly in the keys of C, D and G with a few A and E songs thrown in.

I write in the key of E# or G#


Okay, 'nuff with the wisecracks

I write in many different keys, not favoring one particular key over the other, it just depends where the melody falls on the staff. My highest comfortable note is E4 (piano), and that's falsetto for me, so whatever key puts me where I'm not higher than that in the melody, is the key I write it in. Guitar pickers like keys with sharps in them ( or none ) because it's easier on guitar ( without a capo ), but, I often compose using the piano, so it don't matter as much. But, I just go where my voice goes. And transpose it for whoever is going to wind up performing it.

P

Hey Everett...

As a piano guy I tend to focus only on the black and white keys....but that's just me.
I like the fact I have 88 choices.

Seriously though the primary focus is the range of the tune.
Range and key don't necessarily have a lot to do with each other.
If it is fairly narrow almost any key can generally work.

It really depends on the vocal range of my singer.
Since I am usually working with one vox I have some flexibility as I'm dealing with a single vocalist.

I tend to sing a little flat in E, G and A, so I like to write in Eb, F and Ab. Most of the times I have forgotten that, and recorded in the straight keys, ending up regretting it.

It's actually one of those areas I should give more thought. I have no idea what my own tonal range is.

I have literally no clue what key I write songs in. I just. Tend to write and ramble and add music and have a song and it sounds pretty okay.

Scott hit on something about the number system (Thanks Mike Dunbar).
http://www.jpfolks.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/ubb/showflat/Number/900087/page/1#Post900087

You can use any key that you feel comfortable with and it can always be transcribed to another's liking, hence the number system.

When I record for myself or record a demo, I feel most comfortable with key's A, C, D, E, but mostly B. I know that B is a pain to most, but I Capo the 4th fret on guitar and play G position. My vocal range is just right there.

Sorry that the URL above widened the thread, but I think that it's essential.

I write a lot of songs in C. It's easy. Next is probably G. One key that I write some in that I think is interesting is E flat. I also write in F and D, but generally avoid keys that have lots of flats or sharps.

Hey Mags...

I hope that was sarcasm...:).

On piano or keyboards it all depends on the feel of the song. Power songs I usually use G,A,C,F or E. Mood stuff I like B,E,F-sharp,F. In-between feel D,B-flat,A-flat,C-sharp.

I also think, for keyboardist, you should never use the transpose button. Learing to play in every key opens up a whole new world of feel and chords!

What Keys, Everett? My Piano Ones! LOL For guitar, can also be any, for I like bar chords as well as the open ones.

When first starting to get a musical idea for a new song, it will be from playing certain chords or a riff, just going by tone color, not any key. Or, if I am starting to get a song come to me vocally, I will find the key I am singing or humming it in, and that's the key, unless I have to change the key later, if the high notes are out of my vocal range.

I have songs in most keys, though the song, (musically and/or vocally) dictating them.

My favorite key to play blues type songs though is C. Just because that;s the key I first started to play blues/jazz in at 12. So, I don't have to think about position or anything skill wise while playing that style.

Keys, as has been pointed out, set the mood.

I know I'm being blunt here, but...

transposition helps the vocalist, but if it messes up the song, forget the vocalist...get a new one

...if you are the vocalist, get a new song

Thanks all. I use to write in C but I found it hard on my wrist, I can't use bar chords at all. I play a twelve string, so I don't use a capo much, too many muted strings. I don't use a pick either,finger nails only, hard on the nails though,I could never hold a pick right, either too loose or to firm. I find using fingers only give me more freedom and I can use most of my fingers to pick individual notes. I'm not a great guitar player, I know about 20 chords on the first three frets, that's it.

Whichever ones I can sing in, which changes with the range of the song and the harmonies required, since I'm usually harmonizing with myself on my recordings.

I've written in most of the major and minor keys. My favorite key is probably C.

Nobody mentioned here one important thing about keys, that advisers
recommend to do: try unusual keys to avoid cliches in your songs, for example this progression: C,G,Am,F
transposed half step down
will be this: B,F#,G#m,E
and if you play guitar then tablature
will be definitely different, you even will can't play what you
play in C key, so, your song will be another( maybe, closer to the next big hit)

The Florida Keys

The key finds me.

For any song you play, if you change keys, it will FEEL different--sure, the pitch changes, obviously...but it also has a whole different feeling...something intangible to explain, but I respond to that intangible feeling more than anything else.

You can make a song more comfortable to sing by changing keys, but it might also kill that "feel".

I can't really explain or describe that "feeling"...but it is what dictates the key for me, not comfort or ease of playing.

EVERETTE--

AS THE YEARS PROGRESS, MY RANGE HAS NARROWED--I HAVE WRITTEN IN MANY KEYS--I FAVOR THE MINOR KEYS, SINCE MOST MOST OF MY SONGS HAVE AN ELEMENT OF CONFLICT OR SADNESS--HAPPY ONES ARE IN C, G, A OR D--

NOW IF I CAN'T HIT A HIGH NOTE, I JUST NARROW THE RANGE OF THE SONG!

Mackie