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Easy Keys
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  1. About Transposing Instruments
  2. One Easy Key for each Instruments
  3. C- Instruments
  4. Bb- Instruments
  5. Eb- Instruments
  6. Flutes
  7. Clarinets

    Library


Song | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | ?? |


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EK.1 - About Transposing Instruments

Selecting a suitable key for each song in a Course like the Jam Factory is a juggling act between three considerations.

  1. The melody of the song should be in a good sounding pitch range.

  2. The melody should be in a comfortable playing range for all instruments.

  3. The song should be written in a not too difficult key for all instruments.

The third consideration is always the most tricky one to deal with. It involves catering for all transposing instruments.

Transposing Instruments
The C on an alto saxophone sounds like an Eb on a piano.
Likewise the D on an alto saxophone sounds like an F on a piano, etc.
In order to play the same pitches of a melody in the key of C on the piano, the alto sax must play in its instrument key of A. The saxophone is therefore a transposing instrument.

C- instruments (as I call them in this Course) are non transposing instruments.
They include all keyboards, guitar, bass, violin, flute, harp, trombone, voice, piano accordion, mouth organ, etc. They represent so-called Concert pitch.

Bb- instruments are trumpet, clarinet, tenor sax and soprano sax.
When Bb instruments play in their key of C (no flat or sharp), Concert pitch instruments play in the key of Bb (2 flats).
When Concert key instruments play in the key of C (no flat or sharp), Bb instruments play in their key of D (2 sharps).

Eb- instruments are alto sax and baritone sax.
When Eb instruments play in their key of C (no flat or sharp), Concert pitch instruments play in the key of Eb (3 flats).
When Concert key instruments play in the key of C (no flat or sharp), Eb instruments play in their key of A (3 sharps).

The Key signatures of Eb instruments and C instruments are always three flats or three sharps apart. The Bb instruments key lies in between this range.




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EK.2 - One Easy Key for each Instruments

Al least one group of instruments (C instr., Bb instr. or Eb instr.) play in an easy key for each song in the Jam Factory.
The Bb instruments have mostly the easiest parts as their key is always between the two other groups. Some songs the C instruments have more flats in their key signature and the Eb instruments have it easy.
In other songs the Eb instruments have four sharps and the pianists are all smiling (playing in their key of G).

jf001.gif It is of course a challenge to play in the more demanding keys and I encourage you to do so. But it is also useful to have an easy key to play in which allows you to focus more freely on your phrasing skills.

For certain songs I therefore combine an easy score with an additional Play-a-Long Midi file in the pitch for a disadvantaged instrument group.
For the first song Kia Lora for example, the alto sax has to play in the key of A (3 sharps).
To make playing for that instrument easier I have included a midi file that matches the alto when the alto sax plays the C instrument score (which is in the easy key of C major with no flats and sharps).

Below links to the Easy Key combinations (score plus corresponding midi file) for songs for each of the three instrument groups.

  1. Go to the instrument group below (C , Bb or Eb) that includes your instrument.

  2. Select the score for the song you wish to play

  3. The Play-a-Long track next to it will match your playing.



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EK.3 - C Instruments

For all keyboards, guitar, bass, banjo, violin, flute, harp, trombone, voice, and mouth organ.

Song TitleUse music scoreKeyMatching Midi file
The PendulumBb instr. scoreDmEasy Key P-a-L
Cruisin'Bb instr. score EmEasy Key P-a-L
All BossaBb instr. scoreCEasy Key P-a-L
Y2K BluesExtra scoreCEasy Key P-a-L
Blues for DreamersBb instr. scoreCEasy Key P-a-L
Sweet TalkBb instr. scoreAmEasy Key P-a-L
Coming HomeBb instr. scoreDmEasy Key P-a-L



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EK.4 - Bb Instruments

For trumpet, clarinet, tenor sax and soprano sax.

Song TitleUse music scoreKeyMatching Midi file
PenthologyC instr. score GEasy Key P-a-L
Gunfight BluesC instr. score DEasy Key P-a-L
Improvisation 2C instr. score CEasy Key P-a-L
Feeling GoodC instr. score CEasy Key P-a-L
HopeC instr. score CEasy Key P-a-L
Gentle Breeze ...C instr. score AmEasy Key P-a-L
The White KnightC instr. score AmEasy Key P-a-L

(For some songs you may prefer to play the melody one octave higher or lower as written.)




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EK.5 - Eb Instruments

For alto saxophone and baritone saxophone.

Song TitleUse music scoreKeyMatching Midi file
Kia LoraC instr. score CEasy Key P-a-L
Bab's JamBb instr. score DEasy Key P-a-L
PenthologyC instr. score GEasy Key P-a-L
Gunfight BluesC instr. score DEasy Key P-a-L
Cruisin'Bb instr. score EmEasy Key P-a-L
All BossaBb instr. score CEasy Key P-a-L
Y2K BluesBb instr. score CEasy Key P-a-L
Improvisation 2C instr. score CEasy Key P-a-L
Feeling GoodC instr. score CEasy Key P-a-L
HopeC instr. score CEasy Key P-a-L
Gentle Breeze ...C instr. score AmEasy Key P-a-L
The White KnightC instr. score AmEasy Key P-a-L
Blues for the EmpressC instr. score CEasy Key P-a-L

(For some songs you may prefer to play the melody one octave higher or lower as written.)




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EK.6 - Flutes

Flutes are most comfortable in the middle to high register.
You can play the C instrument notation or any Easy Key score one octave higher as written where you find that easier to play.




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EK.7 - Clarinets

Beginners on clarinet are most comfortable in the lower register.
You can play the Bb instrument notation or any Easy Key score one octave lower as written where you find that easier to play.
(You can do this on all scores where the lowest note is not lower than the bottom line E on the Treble clef staff.)

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© 2003 Michael Furstner (Jazclass)