toddc
7 September 2010
Today I was trying to commit Girl from Ipanema to memory and realized that, for vibes, the key of Bb is much better than the key of F.
Playing it in Bb opens up the range of the instrument to more voicings. This basically because the melody starts on the 9th(2nd degree) and works its way down. Also playing the melody starting on the 3rd G (in key of f)is just too thin, small and already what I consider the upper register of the instrument. Playing starting on the second g sounds nice but it cramps the real estate. In Bb you start on middle C which sounds great and gives more voicing options.
Any thoughts or comments?
Comments
another option
John Keene Tue, 09/07/2010 - 21:27
A lot of singers do Ipanema in Bb so it's a good key to have at your fingertips. Another option is to keep it in F but play the melody in octaves instead of single notes, and use more arpeggiated chords to flesh out the harmony.
but the original is
tonymiceli Wed, 09/08/2010 - 00:51
In reply to another option by John Keene
the original is in Db, so if you are playing with any real brazilians, know it in that key!!
so many of the bossa's had there keys moved by jazz musicians, and/or the story i heard was, that tunes were always put in easy keys when the sheet music was made.
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Tony Miceli
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No kidding!
John Keene Wed, 09/08/2010 - 07:06
In reply to but the original is by tonymiceli
No kidding - I never knew that. Now I wonder how many bossa tunes that we just take for granted had their original keys altered.
Standard keys
tpvibes Wed, 09/08/2010 - 09:42
In reply to No kidding! by John Keene
It seems to me that many times "standard" keys have more to do with the convenience of the person making the lead sheet than anything else -- a key that doesn't require many ledger lines. Like the standard key for "Slow Boat to China" is Bb, but (instrumental) recordings I have of it are in F. Also, "Samba de Orpheu", standard key is C but I have instrumental recordings in F.
Tom P.
Check out the originals
tonymiceli Wed, 09/08/2010 - 09:48
In reply to No kidding! by John Keene
Just get those classic recordings and check outnthe keys. It's amazing. I think triste was in G.
Also good guitar keys are much different from good horn keys.
Good guitar keys: A E D G
Goodnhorn keys: F Bb Eb
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Tony Miceli
www.tonymiceli.com (new)
s k y p e: tjazzvibe
tony@tonymiceli.com
www.facebook.com/people/Tony-Miceli/604414578
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Bossa-nova's keys
Babu Tue, 09/30/2014 - 05:42
In reply to but the original is by tonymiceli
I'm discovering this post. When I was living in Brasil, I played The girl of Ipanema mainly in C or F.
But in fact there's no "official" key, since there's always a singer, and the brazilian guitarists are very flexive - and they are very often the singer.
Another thing to know about how the music is taught in Brasil : the beginners methods books for guitar make students learn tunes changes at least in 2 keys ! In order to be able to accompany 2 kinds of voices (soprano/baryton,...), and this since the first lesson. That's why they develop such a great feel for harmony. They all are able to comp for any kind of singer.
When you sit in a (big) bar (often open sky), there's generally 3,4 or more tables with a little combo playing just for pleasure and you can hear the songs of the day played during the evening in various keys...
sidenote...be prepared
tjaco Thu, 09/09/2010 - 20:20
On the other hand, you should be able to figure out ways a tune could be played in any key. You never know in what situation you'll end up with.
Ofcourse there are comfortable keys. But you should try to figure out what you could do in a less comfortable key, right?
TJ
The "right" key
Michael DuBick Tue, 09/30/2014 - 11:48
A few years ago one of my students asked why some songs were in Bb, others in F or G or whatever. This led to a long discussion about key signatures in general. It's worth noting a few things. First, the published key often depends on the circumstances underlying the composition. If there was a vocalist in mind, then that singer's range has a large influence. The instrumental mix of the orchestration also affects the choice of keys. As Tony noted, horns often work best in Bb, Eb or F, while strings are more likely to gravitate toward A, E, D. Then there is always the subjective choice on the part of the composer.
Thelonious Monk first wrote 'Round Midnight, with a different title, in C minor but later changed it the Eb minor, perhaps because the latter key provided a more interesting harmonic structure. Who knows? As female vocalists tried to sing it, many opted for A minor, again largely because Eb minor wasn't a comfortable key for them. As far as what is the "right" key, the answer is, I believe, what best fits the situation at hand.
I recall that Chick Corea once had a session with Lionel Hampton where Hampton put the sheet music for some standards on the piano and had Chick play each song in every key. The conclusion of that exercise was an understanding that some songs sound better in one key or another. Good luck!