How to Play ANY Song in ANY Key

Peter Martin demonstrates how to play Stella by Starlight (or any tune) in ANY key - without transposing. Welcome to the Key of Music! 🎶
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00:00 Intro
1:07 The how?
1:27 Know thy melody & root movement
4:05 Root starting point
5:15 Learn the 2-5's
7:08 Move to a new key
8:57 Break it down by segments
9:42 Add the shells
10:48 Strange high singing
11:54 Key of B

[@shakesrear7850]

Somebody please thank this guy in person. He did a good thing.

[@GastonSimonMusic]

This video is exactly why this is the best jazz education channel on youtube hands down

[@pickinstone]

That's some excellent ear training and tune learning advice. I picked that up from two teachers in the past as well, but they expanded upon the concept a little. Sing the bass, play the melody. Sing the melody, play the bass. Sing the 3rds of the harmony, play the melody. Sing the melody, play the 3rds. Then you play the chords and sing the extensions. Singers have A LOT to share with instrumentalists. If you can hear it, you can own it. If you can sing it, you can song it. Still want to hear how Dianne Reeves approaches all of this as a master musician. And ya gotta get Alexa Tarantino on permanent staff! She talks about this type of stuff all the time on her KZbins :)

[@BodilessVoice]

Best comment here!

[@pickinstone]

@@BodilessVoice Not my idea, really is a concept that my teachers took from Ray Brown. I'm also really into the Contextual Ear Training concept that Charlie Banacos pioneered--I learned it from Bruce Arnold. Bottom line is that ear training shouldn't be some interval labeling parlor trick--ear training should be integrated into everything you practice on and away from your instrument.

[@EthanBrownkeys]

You are spot on, pickinstone. I've always been mainly an ear player, and people will often comment in amazement "How do you just sit down and play a song without music?" And I tell them that it's just like humming a tune--everyone can do that!--except I'm just humming it on the keyboard with my fingers. I recently came across Peter Martin and his videos. What an amazing teacher! I want to improve my jazz playing and his videos are marvelous. His teaching talents are as great as his musical ones.

[@pickinstone]

@@EthanBrownkeys I mean, you can use sheet music and theory--but you funnel all that info through the conduit of ya ears. Studying tritones--sing the bass movement and the 3rds and 7ths as you study them. Studying a new tune, sing the melody while playing the bass movement. Use it all if you can. My argument is that music is NOT a mind game. Music is sound--so you have to approach it all through that sense as well.

[@adrianbrome6652]

Interesting Ear Training concept. Sounds practical & comprehensive. Makes sense re: Ear Training. Thank you for sharing, Pickinstone.

[@emilerose1424]

Thank you for crediting bassist Ray Brown in this lesson. Most people never acknowledge the forerunners for their ideas.

[@guscox9651]

i have NEVER in my entire, long, far far too-long time on youtube seen a video that is so EXACTLY spot on. i have taken the orange pill ladies and gentleman. i am orange pilled. there is no going back. THE KEY OF MUSIC BABY!!! YEAH!

[@SimpsonSound]

This method most definitely works & should be a permanent part of learning & practicing tunes. If you don’t know the melody, you can’t play the song. You’ll only be “doodlin’” around. To add to this, you must know your major & minor scales like the back of your hand. If you don’t, you’d better get on it. Also, really know the numbers (ii-v-i-iii-vi-ii-v-etc…). When you know the numbers, scale degree’s, you won’t think about any key. This will turn the “scale practice” into technique practice so your fingers won’t feel foreign to the “key” that you’re playing in. Great lesson, Peter.👊🏾👊🏾

[@thomascordery7951]

I totally agree with "if you don't know the melody ..." After all that IS the song. As a bass player, one very practical reason to know the melody is to avoid those notes, because a melody is weakened on any note that the bass player doubles. Not that the bass can never touch the melody, but certainly any tune-defining note ought to be left to others. I've tried to follow that advice ever since I was taught it and have always found it holds up.

[@shahankevin]

I’ve read so many of these comments and all I’m learning is that I have sooooooo much to learn. Because I don’t understand a single word 😅 but it’s so goddamn fascinating. Do you have any recommendations on how someone might go about learning in 2022? Probably online/free. If you’ve got any advice, I’m so eager to learn 😭

[@louiscombe359]

Know your major scales really well ( i highly recommend the Adam Maness video "the major scale in 8 ways" for this), and then everything will look easier in the future

[@justin.johnson]

​@@shahankevinthere is a lot to learn and it's a gift from God because you'll never run out of things to learn.

[@TheSteelDialga]

​@@shahankevin don't rush the process, but always challenge yourself!! There's plenty to learn and you (and a teacher) are the only ones who can tell you what to practice. Maybe you need to work on your scales or maybe you need to work on your ear or maybe some specific technique or bad habit you need to address on your instrument. Learn a lot from books and guides online, but always be sure to apply it or that knowledge will be gone!

[@DrSid42]

I just can't. It's like one of the best music video of all time. And this channel has hundreds of them.

[@terrytippie6101]

This corresponds to how I learned to play "in the keys", with one exception: You gotta Sing the bass line. To summarize my piano teacher. Learn to relate to the TWO fundamental melodies of a tune as melodies. Harmonic analysis is fine and you need to be able to do it, but avoid the pitfall of over-computation because it leads to consciously directed, unemotional playing. Also, couple of minor bits a bit on practice method: 1) Don't walk into the gym the first day and struggle with 400 lbs on the bench: Start with nursery rhymes and Christmas tunes. 2) If you play a tune in all 12-keys, you'll see the tune; If you play 30 tunes in one key, you'll see the key. Do some of both.

[@peterharrison5833]

Good advice.

[@adrianbrome6652]

Good point. I don't ever wish to become emotionally-disconnected when playing ANY instrument.

[@peterharrison5833]

Peter, thanks for posting this. Your voicings are beautiful. Years ago, I read a quote that said, "I learned the blues, I Got Rhythm, and Cherokee in all 12 keys and I knew I was ready." The author? Charlie Parker.

[@ChuloDavidcito]

This is gold. I can transpose, but I never thought of just doing just the bass and melody first, getting the basic architecture.

[@davidrosen9711]

As a subscriber and student of open studio this lesson you have outlined here is just fantastic- thank you Peter and Adam, Chris

[@QuinnTaran]

What a fantastic jazz educator--really just blown away.

[@paolofuriomarasso4226]

One of most important lesson for those who want to become a working bass player! Thank you Peter (and Ray!)

[@bluch251]

Absolute genius Peter, I Thank You once again for these great gems we sometimes fail to think about.

[@anthonywritesfantasy]

Man I love hearing you play. Such a good tone, so expressive.

[@kbstabs5982]

That was great, Peter. Where were you when I really needed you? Oh yes, not born yet when I had already been playing keys (first classical and then rock and blues) in decent bands for some 7 years. Now in later life, still playing but almost always transposing as required either by re-writing my charts or using that magic transpose switch on electronic keyboards., especially when it comes to the jazz standards. I have often resolved to learn songs in any key but this video has now finally arrived. Never too late in life to try new things.

[@tzahim441]

Man!! Good stuff!! The actual hearing of the bass movement with the melody in other keys really makes the difference! Thank you!

[@Adeno]

This is awesome! This is how I've always done it as a kid growing up in a place where I didn't have access to sheet music. I just kept listening to songs and tried to figure them on my own until somehow it got easier and easier! It's always fun even if I don't always get them right. I haven't played the piano in a year, but you inspired me to clean up my place, remove the boxes on top of my piano, and play again. I'll do it later haha!😃

[@blakeangelos]

This is a GREAT video. Such a simple and direct way to show this with melody leading the way. 👏🏻

[@CWBella]

OMG, what a fabulous lesson, Peter! Really clear, valuable suggestions on how to approach playing songs in different keys, and I especially appreciate you referencing Ellis Marsalis. The way the notation was presented was also very helpful, along with showing the notes on the graphic keyboard as you were playing. Your enthusiasm is contagious!

[@jazznutz]

These guys at Open Studio are very high level! Great lesson

[@blueginger3654]

So sooo good! Training the ear through Hearing the keys creates connectivity and depth to stay harmonically in touch in the Key of Music. Thank you!!!

[@stacey_1111rh]

I discovered this through the guitar years ago but have never had anyone break it down in such a good way like this before. Excellent video. Subed. Best wishes!

[@olekiilerich4191]

Thank you for a very clear explanation of this concept. I immidiately tried it out with just the melody and it worked surprisingly well.

[@alexkerby1227]

Yeah, thinking of scale degrees instead of notes is a game changer. That really helped me when I started learning harmonica, the Richter one. A guitar and piano player myself, remembering notes on harp seemed impossible. Just think about any key harp as C harp and any melody in terms of scale degrees(or you can call the degrees as you'd call them in the key of C) and you get rid of a great deal of calculation. Just keep this tricks to yourself when playing with the band:)

[@calebbean1384]

Playing guitar makes you think in terms of numbers and is much more conveniently chromatic than piano , a bit of advantage there

[@adrianbrome6652]

Peter, I ❤❤❤the Energy & EXCITEment you EXUDE when you talk Music. It's CONTAGIOUS.😊

[@JoshWalshMusic]

Man, your new studio looks so good! Congrats guys.

[@johnclaytonjr]

Love this, Brother Peter! You just reiterated exactly what I share with my students. I'll be passing this on to them. Oh--and Ray Brown taught me what he gave you when I was 16 years old. Anyway, awesome video. and very helpful! Keep swinging!!!!

[@fsffs2413]

The key of music! Now, Sir, you're the first person to explain what I've always been doing unconsciously when accompanying. Less colorful though, especially in not so common keys but still made it work. Your hints made me discover weak points on which I'm going to concentrate. Many thanks

[@fernandoreina6201]

Maestro ,gracias , este tutorial me abrió los ojos y el entendimiento, comprendí muchas cosas que siempre había querido aprender. Fabuloso . Nunca olvidare este momento de luz.

[@Muzikman127]

Man the teachers on this channel really love this stuff, it's great

[@tedpowers2045]

I am a saxophone, harmonica player. I took guitar lessons from a master for like three years. Can play rudimentary piano. I love your channel. The theory applies to all instruments (duh) and I am seriously considering working on the keys again. Thanks for the info and inspiration

[@timbruer7318]

Very good stuff Peter, thank you.

[@richardkollmar903]

A priceless gift. Thank you!

[@dani7000]

Awesome playing, great teaching. Sound easy but that takes a lot of ear work. I'll do it! 👍

[@richard135b7]

Awesome content. The best approach to ear training I have found. Thank you!

[@ARG7822]

Peter’s chords are 🔥

[@elliottek5049]

Thanks. You got me motivated (and smiling).

[@damasovergara7198]

Beautiful Peter!! Thanks a lot!

[@4gcole]

Love it Peter!

[@smoses2997]

A brilliant teacher.

[@christiandalin7260]

I absolutely love your channel!

[@rumpelRAINS]

Great video Peter!

[@orion98mc92]

I am a guitarist, but, I must say ... what a slap on my face ... thanks indeed! I'll try this on my guitar as well!

[@scottjoyce100]

Great lesson. Thank you!

[@jonathanpelosie813]

This is about to change my life ! Thank you for sharing !

[@kenzeller6518]

A more organic approach to playing in keys - for those who desire freedom from thought before sound, THIS is The Way. Thank you, Peter and Open Studio for all this great help!

[@Bashanvibe]

This makes so much sense!!! I usually use Al to help me learn records in a weird keys from the original key!!!

[@TommyCosterMusic]

Such a valuable concept that is exactly how to approach fluidity in all keys. Ty sir…🔥🔥🔥

[@BennettYancey]

Very good stuff! I play for a church in which there’s always a great chance that the choir will sing a song that’s in a key different from the original. I’m firmly against transposing, so knowing how to play in every key is so essential for me.

[@jayumble8390]

This is incredible, thank you!!

[@raybrown6992]

A brilliant exercise to widen one’s horizon 👍🏽

[@barryo5158]

Excellent! Thank you.

[@keysoftreehousekot1905]

This was amazing!!! Thanks

[@jansenrsouza]

An amazing ear training. I have to do this more and more!

[@greendeane1]

You mentioned working with vocalists who might sing in a totally different key than a composition usually is in. I was a military musician. One time we had to play the Star Bangle Banner for an event. Some Navy lieutenant was going to sing it. The banner, a rather familiar piece if you're in the military, is commonly played in one of three different keys, Bb (the official military version, Ab, the Sousa version and G the orchestral version. The schedule called for a spot light on the singer and the hall dark, so the director was conducting with cigarette, so we could see it no lights on stands. We played the last four bars in Ab for an intro, and the lieutenant came in in some ungawdly key around E. We squeaked and squawked for a couple of measures and coalesced in F, dragging the poor singer with us.. Not surprisingly years later the conductor was about to drop the baton on the banner in Bb when the singer turned around as said he sang it in F, which we all then played by ear as there was no music.

[@DanielBarberMusic]

Home of the brave!! 😂

[@thomascordery7951]

Well, let me just say, thank you once again for your service, greendeane!!

[@BobMazzo]

We just had the President's Own perform here in North Jersey. I respect you guys and gals.

[@stephanieinnocentia1739]

Had i been there I would've helped!

[@truthseeker502]

Brilliant dude

[@drakestube]

You guys are the best.

[@MrLwa]

Great stuff . Thank you !!!

[@Riedel777]

Great method! For me, playing Bachs 15 Inventionen in all keys made my musical hearing and understanding of intervalls etc. much better and clearer to play standards in all keys.

[@brendaboykin3281]

Thank you, Maestro 🌹🌹🌹🌹

[@johnnyidris3596]

Beautiful, thank you

[@michaelfoxbrass]

Theory and ear training MUST be learned concurrently - in order for each to become automatically memorable / accessible. The sensation felt when we perfectly nail a sung or played interval reinforces our understanding of harmony, and vice versa.

[@FelixDegenaar]

VERY helpful!

[@strandedcandid]

Excellent video! And I've started using solfege for the melody. The solfege syllables are the same no matter what key you are in. And, you're hearing the melody in relationship to Do, or the tonic of the key Center. Using the Roman numerals for the baseline works pretty good so that you can think of the chord structure. Thank you very much for posting!

[@francisj.opolko3728]

Thanks Peter!

[@Rhekon]

Been doing this with Stella, Autumn Leaves, Blue Bossa and a few other standards just as a fun thing to do. Those are pretty easy for me cuz I've been doing it for a long time. But it's also easy to forget Stella's melody starts on the tonic, and the first chord is a tritone away 😅. It's pretty challenging to do this for me for Someday My Prince Will Come in a key like B Major [cuz I rarely play in that key.]

[@jeffreydelisle7337]

Lol, I chose someday my prince for my first song to learn this method as I had already memorized it in B flat. I think I understand Pater but by gosh I am light years away fro sounding like him. Good luck to us both.

[@carlosaugustodossantos9682]

Transposition is good always!!!

[@deprospero]

Thank you Peter Martin

[@jaijeffcom]

Is this the best lesson I've seen on learning a tune? Like ever? Man. It doesn't hurt that "Stella" is my favorite tune there is. I just played the opening phrase in 12 keys without even breaking a sweat. Brilliant. I expect it to get harder tomorrow when I work on more of it, but that is enough instant gratification to prove Peter's point for me. Yay.

[@jaijeffcom]

Got through the whole tune. Playing it in every key. Only 700 tunes to go! (Or anyway, a dozen with the most common changes, for starters. Repeat forever, or until my last breath, whichever comes first.)

[@bertramblik8826]

A seemingly really unique and reasonable approach for becoming good in a smart and efficient way.

[@jazzlife1]

Great tutorial Ellis Marsalis was a great pianist thanks for sharing

[@fg87fgd]

Great lesson. BTW: If you would like to get a helping hand from iReal B, click on "font" and then on "number notation".

[@borriskarlov8140]

Good one Peter!

[@PhilippMoehrke]

Great Lesson. Thanxxx

[@MrArtist1971]

Thank you! Awesome.

[@VikasDeo]

Thank you for this!! :)

[@jegoy68]

Thank you for this tip Mr. Martin!! I’ll give it a go…might take me forever but what the hey 🙂

[@thomascordery7951]

"In the key of music", I love this concept. I'll say it's easier on a fretboard / fingerboard instrument like bass, guitar, violin etc., because then much of it is just moving shapes. But I'm just beginning to pick up piano and this is inspiring me to really learn my keyboard scales so I can still think in scale degrees. I think on the keyboard the challenge is similar to that on a wind instrument, perhaps especially a woodwind. Whatever shortcuts we take because they're easier come back to bite us sometimes. Nothing beats putting in the work.

[@MichaelGawesebmainone]

I’m not professional but I decided to learn my scales. I also realized that knowing your arpeggios is key for ear player it’s easier if you know all of them for each key. I think those are the natural notes where you will be playing for at least 70% of time, unless the composer moves in and out. Even when you are taken to unusual notes or accidentals it’s close to that key in the circle of fifths. For example if you are in a key of C you could get an F# or the other way around Bb. This is especially true for alto (trumpet).

[@wills3212]

fantastic!!

[@EvanTateMusic]

Great video! 😎👍🏾

[@sergioventurini]

Nice to watch a video that teaches criteria, how to think, and not just «data»

[@JohnCoughlan_JAC]

Brilliant! Great advice and proof that I don’t know any standards as well as I should.

[@zackmackmusic6655]

So beautiful Peter. U remind me of the great Tony Germaine from my Berklee days. Man the way you guys comp reharmonies is so very out and pretty!

[@jackdolphy8965]

Keys to the kingdom! Thank you :)

[@oldunclemick]

Excellent video 👍.

[@DestinyHarp]

Thanks!

[@davidpatrick1813]

I play guitar some and this principle is going to help much… tnx

[@Deluca-Piano]

I want more videos on this. This concept seems to be where everyone struggles. I almost want more explanation though. I've spent the last decade being told to transpose faster by so many people and not being able to do it fast enough to make my teachers happy.

[@raphaelhudson]

Dude! Thanks so much. This was amazingly helpful. Now just have to be disciplined enough to think notes in scale degrees.

[@PeteMartinMandolin]

Exellent!!!❤

[@Handle2point0]

Thank you, sir.

[@raphiw2659]

Gamechanging video💪🏽

[@stefanfischer4643]

You are a good Pianist! You are right! To Play Any Tune in any Key! That's It! Liebe Grüße Stefan 🌞

[@DexterPiano]

Thank you !!

[@BobMazzo]

Still struggling with this after many years of playing, but I'm getting it. And now I'm teaching my 13 yr old to think this way. Thanks for this lesson.

[@DJazium]

Fantastic

[@leonalexandre1451]

Amazing

[@SiggeSvahn]

I just go here to enjoy the wonderful chops of this guy.