The Steel Guitar Forum

There was a post on here a few months back where it was explained how the key of a song was given in a band by using fingers pointing up or down. What was the subject so I can do a search. Any one remember? Jim Miller I'D RATHER BE STEELIN'

Jimmy, I didn't see that post, but the way I've seen it done is by indicating the number of sharps (fingers up) or flats (fingers down). Two fingers up would be the key of D (two sharps).

You have to be careful which finger you use for G.

What's C?

The guys in my part of the country just yell 1 up ,2 up,3 up, 4 up...and...1 down, 2 down etc...and yes , it can be done with fingers.

<SMALL>What's C?</SMALL>

Over here it's the letter "O" formed by touching the tips of the thumb and forefinger together.

( O for "Open" as in open key, no flats or sharps )
Baz
www.waikiki-islanders.com

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<SMALL>Steel players do it without fretting</SMALL>

http://www.waikiki-islanders.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk

<FONT SIZE=1 COLOR="#8e236b"><p align=CENTER>[This message was edited by basilh on 06 February 2003 at 03:05 AM.]</p></FONT>

In Nashville we just say the name of the key(C,D,E, etc.)

Jim Snider gives phonic assists such as:

"E as in enema" and "C like sausage."

Steve

The 'hand signal' method is ideal in a 'live' situation - if the band-leader (or whoever) needs to call a new key while the band's playing, simply mouthing 'C','D' or 'E' would be incomprehensible (try it and see).

I guess he could shout it aloud , but even that could be misheard - 'hand signals' are economical, and can't be misconstrued (even in Nashville!)

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Roger Rettig

Hand signals are great for live bandstand work as they involve the sharps & flats of the particular chord. Here's some examples:

1 finger up...Key of G (one sharp)
2 fingers up..Key of D (2 sharps)
3 fingers up..Key of A (3 sharps)
4 fingers up..Key of E (4 sharps)
5 fingers up..Key of B (5 sharps)
6 fingers up..Key of F# (6 sharps)both hands

1 finger down..Key of F (1 flat)
2 fingers down..Key of Bb (2 flats)
3 fingers down..Key of Eb (3 flats)
4 fingers down..Key of Ab (4 flats)
5 fingers down..Key of Db (5 flats)

Sometimes hand signals are used to show a change to the "4" or "5" chord, etc. of a song you're playing. Hand signals are a great tool and every musician should learn them as well as the number system, sometimes called the "Nashville" number system. It's been a great help for me over the years. I was shocked when I moved to Virginia in the 80's after working in L.A. for so many years where everyone knew this stuff, even the one night a week moose lodge pickers (of which I am one now). In Virginia they call 1=A, 2=B, 3=C etc. By the way, someone mentioned the signal for the key of C. You just turn your hand sideways and make a C, what else could you do, there's no sharps or flats........JH

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Livin' in the Past and the Future with a 12 string Mooney Universal tuning.

Oddly enough, in NY flats are fingers up and sharps are fingers down, C indicated by forming the letter C with your hand. To return to the top of a song, you tap your head; to go to the bridge, you point to the bridge of your nose. To take a song out raise your fist in the air.

In my school days, I played a little piano and then trombone for 11 years. Then played some six string guitar and finally steel. I've still never learned the cycle of 4th's and 5th's enough to correlate the number of flats and sharps to the key signature quick enough for bandstand use. Most of the guys I play with don't know them either.

I make the letter of the key with my hands, like an upside down V with one hand with one finger of the other hand going through it for A, three fingers sideways for E, etc. Luckily we don't play many songs in Eb or C#. Anyone else do this?

I don't use the fingers up/down method these days but I admit that I'd have to ponder a bit, too, for some of the keys with lots of sharps or flats.

These days I can usually tell what key a song will be in by the pre-song twiddling done by the other musicians as the song is being introduced. This wouldn't work in a slick quickly-paced show but it's often sufficient for the gigs I do lately.

Saw the great Joe Wright at the British Steel Festival last summer, sitting at the steel singing and giving the CHORDS with hand sigals to the band playing behind him - 1, 4, 5, 2 etc...
Luckily, it was a fairly simply country song - not a jazz number like "All The Chords There Are"!

Good Heavens,I think there's enough fodder here for Newman to produce another video!

Thanks Jerry Hayes. It was your post that I remember seeing, I'm pretty sure. Thanks for coming back again with it. Tony, I use the Number system myself when I do a song the band isn't familiar with, but Jerry's is the explanation I needed. Thanks everyone. Jim Miller I'D RATHER BE STEELIN'

Bruce, I can see where holding up the wrong finger for G could pose a problem. Might not be able to wear my nose home from the gig. Huh ? Jim I'D RATHER BE STEELIN'

Hey folks. How are us blind guys s'posed to play with you when we can't SEE hand signals? Be nice to us this week, it's WHITE CANE WEEK!!!!

Geo

I did a post on this a few months ago titled "Give 'Em The Finger(s)", its in the archive.