Your favourite... musical key.

I had never really thought about this until recently when I learned so much from that Sylvia Woods weekend. I normally would have said that I preferred Cmajor, because that is what my harp is tuned to. The only other key I've ever really known the name of was D major, but that was because of knowing Pachelbel's Canon in D.

I would have said that I prefer any key that didn't have flats. Having a non-pedal harp makes it harder to play something in flats, because I'd have to retune the strings. However, I've since learned that I can play opposite keys without worrying about changing any notes of the song. Say, I have a piece that's written in E flat major. I can just simply sharpen C,D, F, and G, and play in E major and play the notes as written! That's part of what I've been working on the last 2 weeks and why I've been gone so long. I've skipped over songs, because I never wanted to be bothered with flattening my strings; I'd have to naturalize them again for other songs.

Anyhow, I know all that really isn't the point of this thread, but I've only just begun learning the keys so I really couldn't say yet if I have a favorite. I guess, since my goal is to learn The Beatles- Michelle one day, I'll say for now, A major. It has such a neat sound!

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Originally Posted by Shea

I would have said that I prefer any key that didn't have flats. Having a non-pedal harp makes it harder to play something in flats, because I'd have to retune the strings.

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Why don't you install levers? I don't know how many strings you have, but many harp builders do that for a reasonable amount of money. It would enable you to play a lot more pieces with those levers, even pieces that are originally written for pedal harps. ;)

I am one of those tone-deaf people who couldnt tell you the difference between them. So my favourite is either all or none.

I do have levers, but you can only go sharp or only go flat with them before you have to retune the strings. I set my harp to C major, and sharpen as I need to. Before, if I wanted to flatten, I'd have to retune it. Now, I've learned that I can just play in the opposite sharp key. Still makes it hard if there are a lot of key changes within a song.

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Originally Posted by Weisinheimer

I like playing in g minor. I can't tell what key something is in just by hearing it; can people do that?

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Yup. I'm not a great musician but I think I can recognize (in this order) G major, A minor, D minor, C major, F major, possibly B minor, E minor sometimes, I think that's about it.

Okay, now, reconsidering that when I start improvising on my flute, I quite often tend to gravitate towards d dorian minor so I'll put my vote on d dorian if it is necessary.

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Originally Posted by Shea

I do have levers, but you can only go sharp or only go flat with them before you have to retune the strings. I set my harp to C major, and sharpen as I need to. Before, if I wanted to flatten, I'd have to retune it. Now, I've learned that I can just play in the opposite sharp key. Still makes it hard if there are a lot of key changes within a song.

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If you do have levers I would rather tune it to Es-Dur (E flat major). Then you can reach the most common tonalities without having to retune. :)

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Originally Posted by Erichtho

If you do have levers I would rather tune it to Es-Dur (E flat major). Then you can reach the most common tonalities without having to retune. :)

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Yeah, there's a girl who borrows my harp to play at the tea room when I can't make it. She tunes it to E flat major, but I don't play any music yet that calls for that.

How come so many of you are into minor keys? Is this just youthful angst?

C-minor and g-minor, I think.

Absolutely minor, no major. And no, it's not youthful angst, it's the Finnish angst :lol:

Don't know the ABC of musical keys and yesterday I dreamt I was a pianist. Strange, isn't it? But I guess these are dreams for you. Hmmm.

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Originally Posted by Virgil

How come so many of you are into minor keys? Is this just youthful angst?

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Minor keys are interesting and deep. But I like major ones, too. Anything can be done with music. :D

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Originally Posted by Weisinheimer

I like playing in g minor. I can't tell what key something is in just by hearing it; can people do that?

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I've played piano, stringed and wind instruments as a kid, but I prefer to listen. As a listener, my favorite key is F-Major, D-minor. I don't care for B-flat, E-flat- A-flat, E or B.