Play Smarter Not Harder: The Transposition Function

[@19keyz]

you just made me feel better I use it all the time thanks Steve

[@VincentDeBellis224]

Ps. Love watching you play. You make it look so effortless. Want to get to half your level at some point. And I've been putting off learning New York state of mind, but I can't wait to watch your video and learn it. Best teacher on the Internet, hands down. Thanks Steve!

[@stephenbrunette2581]

So glad you talked about this subject, I see nothing wrong with transposing . 👍

[@MrJcappiello]

Steve I’ve been watching your videos for a while and you have helped me feel better about my piano playing. I can’t tell you how much this transition video has also helped me. I’m getting older and I can’t hit the notes I use to. My best example is Vienna…I LOVE that song and always loved singing it. Recently I could tell that the “G” has been really hard to hit. Being around better musicians than I am and with their way of thinking I had that feeling of using the transposition key as “Cheating” and I should just re-learn it. Your outlook on it along with sharing things like the fact Billy Joel actually uses it opens so many doors now. It just makes me feel better about using it. I recently found a video of Joel singing Vienna on Conan O’Brian. Clearly it was in a lower key because I could sing along comfortably. But when I got a glimpse of his hands it looked like he was playing in the Original Key. Hmm? “Could he actually be using some sort of transposition key?” I guess he was! Hey, If it’s okay for you (someone I truly respect) and it’s Okay for Billy Joel (A true inspiration) then it’s okay for me…Thanks for helping me have more fun with music.

[@rage.against.the.regime1913]

Hey man, you're a good teacher and player. I agree 100 % about the trans. and bands that were popular 20 years ago have to ajust and improvise/change key all the time. Especially if they've touring. The voice changes from wear and tear. You know exactly what you're talking about.

[@PianoManSteve]

Glad it helped Ian. Remember....the most important thing is to use the voice you actually have to its fullest. If Billy Joel had had a different range at the age he wrote that tune, he'd have recorded it in a lower key. Keep up the great work buddy! Steve

[@dathyr1]

Good tutorial Steve. I do transposing for the same reasons and dont feel ashamed to do it. My range is also a little lower than original artists and just like singing the songs. take care, Dave

[@ThisSentenceIsFalse]

One can tell that this tutorial is valuable advice from a worker.

[@IanOkamoto]

Thanks so much for this Steve! Man, as dumb as it sounds, I didn't even know the transposition function... existed. I never really explored with my keyboard, the only button I was familiar with was the power button. This is so great, now I don't have to crap out on the high notes in New York State of Mind! Thanks a ton!

[@basilyakopo7967]

I've learned heaps in this session, you get right to the heart of it, explaining it so plainly cause you know your stuff i.e you sing and play..you even touched on vocal range..and made the point on key change..that it doesn't really matter as longs as it doesn't change the structure of the song, and as longs as its comfortable to sing. And its fun and easy to play in the transposed position..yea no one really checks if you transposed it on the keyboard and who cares anyway, very good practical common sense points you made...thanks.

[@billybob81845]

Great information...thatnks. I agree whole heartedly with you, if you are playing a three or four gig and doing most of the singing , you sing where it's comfortable for you and not a strain. In the long haul, you'll be able to play years longer. I'm 69 years old and still singing and playing. Thanks for the great video.

[@fendonc]

Thank you for this video Steve. A keyboard player friend sent me a link and I am very glad he did. I am not a professional musician, I work full time and have a wife and kids but I love to play the keyboard whenever I can. I would much rather spend my limited free time with my family and relaxing than learning the same song in 2 or 3 different keys in the same amount of time I could have learned two or three new songs to enjoy. Further, I would rather be brilliant at playing and improvising in one or two keys than average in all of the keys, and with a full time job and a family, those are my options and I am delighted to even have the option and so I use the transpose key with immense gratitude. To the ear and mathematically, the music is exactly the same whether you transpose or play it in the original key, the audience don't care or even notice and why would they? It is sheer snobbery to tell other musicians what they should do and I have no time for it. I am very grateful to the genius who invented the transpose key and as an amateur musician I intend to continue using it with delight, knowing that I can play and enjoy several songs that I probably would not even have attempted if not for the transpose key. Thanks once again for a great video.

[@VincentDeBellis224]

Awesome video man. I originally played piano man in original key, then I went down to B... Now I play it in Bb. 3 harmonicas later, I came to the same conclusion you have. While I'm capable of singing it in C, it's just easier night after night and I believe sounds more powerful and crisp down a step. No one has ever came up to me and said "Hey that's not the original key!" in fact it's near impossible to tell unless you are listening to the original at the time. I love my transpose feature.

[@beansonbass]

Awesome! Thanks for this!

[@michelledaley55]

Nice player. Just wondering if you have any videos on what style and voice to use for songs?

[@gman4674]

Thanks Steve I usually bring keys down 1.5 steps for Billy's songs

[@buminbeer2]

I've been playing 30+ years and I still do that. Not being lazy, but I know about every trick of the book in C, the sus chords are easy and so on. Not that I can't play in other keys, but when I am writing a new song, I start with a simpler key, like G, C, D and then figure it out if I want to in another key or just transpose it. I agree it's not "cheating", but some keys are just a pain to play in :) The only issue is when someone asks you what chord you are playing and I keep a chart for that.

[@gennanewman8526]

What is the make and model of the electric piano in this video?

[@MacedoinaChoirs]

This is a Very Good lesson.I do the same thing when I play with Rock Bands.But so Many So Called musicians that I meet today cannot play at all without the Tranposer Button.Put them on a real piano or organ,If The singer is not in C# ( That where Most of Them Tend To Play),They sit there staring at the Keys all confused.And will get mad at when someone else is asked to play.

[@jordandenton2166]

I know a few musicians that plays in just F# or C# etc and sound just as good as a person that can play in all 12 keys. I dont call them so called musicians,I call them very good working musicians.Some people is not interested in playing a real piano they are happy with taking there keyboard every were they play.

[@KennyAIngram]

Steve, how do you do it - use a 76 key synth action Roland Fantom, for all of your piano playing..?

[@PianoManSteve]

:-) You just get used it I guess. I still like playing 88 key weighted as well, I just don't have one set up in a good place to film on in my home. I'll play on anything! :-) Steve

[@jonathanfaapoi2479]

i didnt even know transpose was a function on my keyboard! mind blown

[@ronanportley4409]

Hi Steve, if you are transposing " UP a half step" from D flat, wouldn't this be key of D and not C??

[@PianoManSteve]

It's been quite a while since I made this video so I'm not 100% sure what you're referencing.....but yes a half step up from Db is D. My guess is that what I was saying (or trying to say...I certainly misspeak sometimes without realizing it in the moment) is that if a song was in the key of Db (which has 5 flats and can be difficult to play in), you could instead play it in C and use the transposition function to raise it a half step, resulting in the sound coming out in Db but with the benefit of actually playing in the much easier key of C. Hope that helps clarify

[@ronanportley4409]

@@PianoManSteve thks for clarifying that Steve!-I enjoy your videos and I am a new fan👍🎹🙂-I don't use the trans. function as I don't sing and entertain in public like you do , so not as important- I tend to change the key myself -I did this with " someone saved my life tonight" and took it down a semitone from A flat ( nasty key) to G and learned it so much quicker- talk to to yous again from Ireland 🇮🇪👍🙂🎹🎶

[@PianoManSteve]

Hi Dave! Good for you....no reason to have any shame whatsoever, regardless of what all the killjoys say! :-)

[@Tunz909]

I'm sure Irving Berlin took a load of crap from his peers who mocked him cause he only composed and played his standards in F#!! He had a piano specially built for him so he played everything in F# but could sound in all the other keys. He was laughing all the way to the bank. Like Billy says, don't take any shit from anybody Steve! Now when will Macca realize he needs to do this!!LOL Bruce

[@PianoManSteve]

Fun piece of trivia! :-)

[@Zekran]

But honestly i still feel uncomfortable of that ..looks cheating to me idk even that playing scale's notes in some keys is really akward ...i want to learn to play naturally in any key it sounds like it might take forever ..

[@PianoManSteve]

Well you should do whatever you want....there are no rights and wrongs in art.....just personal preferences

[@Zekran]

You're right sire ! Thanks so much for this !