Even experienced musicians can feel out of place sometimes. I love keys, but I still feel more at home on guitar. Last summer proved it.
I got invited to play at a big conference, It was a huge honor. Then the setlist came in.
E♭.
Every song. My toughest key. That doubt hit fast. So I leaned in, did the work, and trusted it would matter in the end.
Was it easy? No.
But, if you’ve ever felt unsure on your instrument, you’re not alone. Watch the video below, I share the full story and what helped me push through.
My father (who always played from sheet music) disliked E & A, not that he couldn’t play in these keys but he always transposed to Eb & Ab. That is until one Sunday morning, probably late 60s, during a youth led service he was asked to play a song called ‘Thank you’. In the key of E. So, as he hadn’t played it before, he naturally changed to Eb. Only to realise that each verse then went up a semitone. Ultimately 5 key changes and 6 keys in total. Transposing ‘on the run’ was a lesson learned for him! And one that I took on board when I picked up playing the piano again in my early twenties. I played that song through and through in order to learn to play in different keys. Now when our worship leader decides that F# or B is a good key (🙄) it doesn’t faze me.
Live the video. Been there often. I love G A C D E. But lately our worship leader has had his voice changing some. H has been slipping in some B and B flat. When it’s a new song, I have been purposely playing it in that key instead of transposing. The more I play those keys the next time they come up, it’s easier. Notes are more natural. Thanks for the encouraging video.
I get how you feel! I dislike playing in B—which guitar players seem to love. Also tough for me is C#/Db. Conversely, I love playing in G—which guitar players seem to dig also—plus it really works well with my vocal range.