From mskremote@yahoo.com Mon Dec 03 15:50:42 2012
Subject:Re: 30 yr old Korg BX3 question

Changing key will also change the sound of a song. IIRC from my teenage classical music training each key has its own sound. Bach composed for each key in the modern tempered scale to explore the differences in tonal options offered by each key. Again IIRC G major has a very bright sound while F major is the most "sombre" or minor sounding of the major keys.  It comes down to the intervals between the root and 4th and 5th for example being slightly less in the key of F than in the key of G.  Rock guitarists seem to ignore this thinking the difference between frets is the same so whats the issue, just move it one or two frets?.

Hitting the tranpose button (if you have one - or tuning down) retains the relationship of each key and the sound of the song that is inpart due to the unique nature of each key, major or minor. 

Also as Dennis points out some songs are just easier to play in the original key, for example I find Superstition much easier to play in Eb than in E and the slightly more "minor" sound of the Eb intervals sounds just right compared to playing it in the brighter E.   

To hear the difference if you doubt the above try playing Nutbush City Limits in F instead of G.     

>>Richard, this seems to be really bugging you since you asked it twice. Yes in a perfect world every keyboard player should be able to transpose any song into any key.
>>I think the song was in Eb which meant it was now transposed up to E. However, the riff just fell into place on those black keys and was torture to learn with the white ones. It just wouldn't fall right. After trying a few hours I decided to swallow my pride and hit the transpose button.

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