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Topic: What is Your Worst Key to Play In? |
Alan Brookes
From:
Brummy living in Southern California
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Posted 14 Aug 2014 10:09 am |
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Personally, I play very few open strings, so the worst key to play C6 in is C, and the worst to play E9 in is E. For the runs I use I find D# or E the best keys for C6 and G the best key for E9.
At the other end, playing in B on C6 or D# on E9 means a lot of playing high up on the fingerboard.
Last edited by Alan Brookes on 15 Aug 2014 9:43 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Erv Niehaus
From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
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Posted 14 Aug 2014 10:48 am
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If you don't play a lot of open strings, there shouldn't be a problem in any key.
As far as playing in the key of E in the E9th tuning,
you have an E chord on the third fret with the A & F combination, you have an E chord on the seventh fret with the A & B combination and you have the E chord on the 12th fret open.
What more do you want?  |
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John Billings
From:
Ohio, USA
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Posted 14 Aug 2014 5:15 pm
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| I'm not particularly fond of F#. But not really a big deal. |
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Richard Sinkler
From:
aka: Rusty Strings -- Missoula, Montana
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Posted 14 Aug 2014 5:52 pm
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They are all good for me. Actually, I can't play in any of them. 
_________________
Carter D10 8p/8k, Dekley S10 3p/4k C6 setup,Regal RD40 Dobro, Recording King Professional Dobro, NV400, NV112,Ibanez Gio guitar, Epiphone SG Special (open D slide guitar) . Playing for 55 years and still counting. |
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Wally Moyers
From:
Lubbock, Texas
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Posted 14 Aug 2014 7:21 pm
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| Not fond of E on the E9th… Lots of overtones reduced sustain.. I spent 10 years playing with an artist that did 80% of his material in E so got to where it wasn't too bad… C is my favorite over all… I like C, G and A the best on C6th… Eb is good too.. |
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Jack Stoner
From:
Kansas City, MO
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Posted 15 Aug 2014 2:24 am
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| I don't have a problem with any key. However some songs play or lay better in certain keys. |
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Lane Gray
From:
Topeka, KS
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Posted 15 Aug 2014 2:38 am
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I agree with Jack.
However, if some songs are almost exclusively dome in one key, it hurts the brain to move it.
One of my 2nd cousins married a Frenchman guitar picker steeped in the gypsy jazz tradition. At our family reunion, he played Sweet Georgia Brown. In G. I'd NEVER seen anybody do it anywhere but F. Ouch.
_________________
2 pedal steels, a lapStrat, and an 8-string Dobro (and 3 ukes)
More amps than guitars, and not many effects |
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Wesley Medlen
From:
LaCygne,Ks
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Posted 15 Aug 2014 2:43 am
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Like Jack said
_________________
Justice S10 Jr, Gibson Electra 6string, Boss Katana 100, Steelers Choice ,Gretsch 6 string lap, Hilton VP |
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Pete Burak
From:
Portland, OR USA
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Posted 15 Aug 2014 6:02 am
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One way to get around the Key-of-E issues mentioned (hate playing open notes, hate playing on the harmonic nodes), is to tune your E9th, to Eb9th.
This allows you to play all those previously open notes in E/A/etc... with the bar, at Fret-1.
This eliminates Open notes from those keys, and also eliminates the harmonic nodes at the 12th fret, because you now play those chords at Fret 13.
I wish I had tuned to Eb9 from first the day I started playing Steel.
I love sliding to/from E/A/C#m/etc... at Fret-1.
The Bb6-Uni guys have been doing this for years. |
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Erv Niehaus
From:
Litchfield, MN, USA
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Posted 15 Aug 2014 7:46 am
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John,
I've actually tabbed out some songs in F#, or I should say Gb. It seems like hymns are usually written in flats and that include 6 flats or Gb. |
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Michael Maddex
From:
Northern New Mexico, USA
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Posted 15 Aug 2014 7:55 am What is Your Worst Key to Plan In?
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Are we talking 'plan' or 'play'? In any event, Mr Stoner nailed it.
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"For every expert, there is an equal and opposite expert." -- Arthur C. Clarke |
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Alan Brookes
From:
Brummy living in Southern California
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Posted 15 Aug 2014 9:27 am
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| Erv Niehaus wrote: |
If you don't play a lot of open strings, there shouldn't be a problem in any key.
... |
I can play in any key if I have to. I was just expressing my 'drathers. |
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Jason Putnam
From:
Tennessee, USA
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Posted 15 Aug 2014 9:37 am
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Whatever key the song is in!! I don't have trouble with any of the rest of them! 
_________________
1967 Emmons Bolt On, 1995 Mullen PRP 3x5,Nashville 112, JOYO Digital Delay, Goodrich Volume Pedal, Livesteel Strings |
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Storm Rosson
From:
Silver City, NM. USA
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Posted 15 Aug 2014 11:51 am
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Take yer pick, I suck in any key  |
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james sluder
From:
Tennessee, USA
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Posted 15 Aug 2014 12:04 pm Worst key to play in.
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| I think Pete has it right . Tune to Eb9. So easy on the 3>> 11 gauge string. If im not mistaken Buck owen's band >.The Buckroos did this .Tom Brumley was having string breakage..I notice most of his song's are Flat's. |
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Henry Matthews
From:
Texarkana, Ark USA
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Posted 15 Aug 2014 9:25 pm
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Only key that bothers me at times is E. I don't like what happens when playing 12th fret. Seems like you lose a little tone and sustain at times.
_________________
Henry Matthews
D-10 Magnum, 8 &5, dark rose color
D-10 1974 Emmons cut tail, fat back,rosewood, 8&5
Nashville 112 amp, Fishman Loudbox Performer amp, Hilton pedal, Goodrich pedal,BJS bar, Kyser picks, Live steel Strings. No effects, doodads or stomp boxes. |
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Don Drummer
From:
West Virginia, USA
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Posted 15 Aug 2014 10:30 pm The worst key...
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| ...is the one I hardly ever play. F# and Db come to mind. |
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Floyd Lowery
From:
Deland, Florida, USA
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Posted 16 Aug 2014 4:57 am
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I don't have a problem playing in any key. I have had some musicians complain when they asked me what key I play "Misty" in. I tell them Eb.
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Carter 12 string 4petals 5knees, Mullen G2 3 petals 4 knees
Alesis QuadraVerb, Goodrich Match-Bro II
Peavy Nashville 400 & Session 500 |
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Bob Simons
From:
Kansas City, Mo, USA
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Posted 16 Aug 2014 7:29 am
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I never played very well in Key West.
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Zumsteel U12 8-5, MSA M3 U12 9-7, MSA SS 10-string, 1930 National Resonophonic, Telonics Combo, Webb 614e, Fender Steel King, Mesa Boogie T-Verb. |
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Larry Baker
From:
Columbia, Mo. U.S.A.
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Posted 16 Aug 2014 10:33 am
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Only ones I have trouble with are A thru G
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Mullen G2 SD10 3 & 5 The Eagle
NV112 amp===Earnie Ball V.P. |
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Alan Brookes
From:
Brummy living in Southern California
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Posted 16 Aug 2014 10:52 am
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| Larry Baker wrote: |
| Only ones I have trouble with are A thru G |
You'd better tell the band to keep playing in G# then. |
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Bent Romnes
From:
London,Ontario, Canada
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Posted 16 Aug 2014 1:40 pm
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I like the key of C. That way I have about the same amount of frets above and below the 8th fret
Oops..I guess the OP asked for the worst key. F#, Bb aren't favourites
_________________
BenRom Pedal Steel Guitars
https://www.facebook.com/groups/212050572323614/ |
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Edward Rhea
From:
Medford Oklahoma, USA
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Posted 16 Aug 2014 10:01 pm
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WHIS"KEY" & TE"KEY"LA
makes my bar hand sound "slury" 
_________________
“TONESNOB” |
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David Rupert
From:
Mesa, Arizona (Hometown: Mahopac, NY & Pennsylvania).
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Posted 17 Aug 2014 4:09 am
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The 12th fret, can be a problem tone wise. Sustain is not as good their either.
So E / A, are my least favorite keys.
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David "DJ" Rupert
"Music. Without it, life itself...would be impossible."
https://www.reverbnation.com/daviddjrupert/ |
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David Stilley
From:
Santa Cruz, California, USA
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Posted 20 Aug 2014 5:18 pm Where the %$#&@ are my keys?
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Yea, I lost the keys to my steel a couple of days ago and I can't seem to start the thing and play on pitch now! I think I need a tune up too.
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GFI Ultra U-12 7+5 E9/B6, Roland Cube 80XL, Telonics FP-100 Volume pedal with TMRS remote sensor (courtesy of Dave Beaty and Telonics) |
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