tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3204188024832829733.post5811420676176378859..comments2023-04-06T03:44:14.981-04:00Comments on Sans Direction: Chapter 8: Your Friends and NeighborsDave Jacobhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15052163927020492687noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3204188024832829733.post-55240528866364040662008-09-25T22:16:00.000-04:002008-09-25T22:16:00.000-04:00I've heard of a songwriter, a famous one who wrote...I've heard of a songwriter, a famous one who wrote a lot of the standards, could only play on the black keys, and so built a piano with a clutch so he could play any key he wanted with his knowledge. And I saw a video where they showed a gospel musician playing "Amazing Grace", noting that it's all the black keys. So there is something to that.<BR/><BR/>I'm thinking about a keyboard. I want something about like a Squier Affinity Telecaster for keyboards. Not great, without the bells and whistles, but it has some usable tones and it isn't a crappy plastic thing. You can gig on an Affinity Tele if you had to. I've heard good things about the Oxygen 8 keyboard, and the price is about right. Specifically, I do not want onboard speakers, and I'd love it to be able to talk via USB to a computer so I can change settings, upload sounds and sequence things. Any suggestions?Dave Jacobhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15052163927020492687noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3204188024832829733.post-64528338284577901592008-09-25T21:30:00.000-04:002008-09-25T21:30:00.000-04:00I'm a guitar player, but about 2 years ago I bough...I'm a guitar player, but about 2 years ago I bought a keyboard just to mess around on and help with music theory stuff, and it has helped. Keys have their advantage. Once you known what one chord type (eg. 7th sus4) you can easily figure it out anywhere, so in the example of C7sus4, you have the root, then a gap 4 keys between the root and the next key, then a gap of 1 key, then a gap of 2 keys. If you then move the root to F#, and apply the same "maths" you'll have F#7sus4.<BR/><BR/>The same applies for working out scales quickly by eye, just by thinking in terms of Whole and Half steps (eg. WWHWWWH = maj scale.) Simlply start at the root of your choice and count.<BR/><BR/>Your right in terms of remembering scales. On guitar there's 5 scale shapes, and 5 pentatonic shaps, and you can do it all with that. On keys each semitone has it's own scale shapes.<BR/><BR/>So while there's a lot more to try to memorize, it's also much easier to just eyeball the scale on the fly.<BR/><BR/>P.S. On keys, besides C and G, my next most well known scaled is actually F#. I picked specifically because it was mostly black keys... and it has a nice "shape" too :DAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3204188024832829733.post-78331508455101642062008-09-25T20:03:00.000-04:002008-09-25T20:03:00.000-04:00Glad I could help, if only finding the good pic.Glad I could help, if only finding the good pic.Dave Jacobhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15052163927020492687noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3204188024832829733.post-34047801777799650912008-09-25T17:51:00.000-04:002008-09-25T17:51:00.000-04:00And, as it turns out, I'm an idiot. It's linked ba...And, as it turns out, I'm an idiot. It's linked back to good old Wiki, sitting right there the whole time.Sammyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02795425052008414162noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3204188024832829733.post-86486764531028877012008-09-25T17:48:00.000-04:002008-09-25T17:48:00.000-04:00Dude, the diagram you have here for the Circle of ...Dude, the diagram you have here for the Circle of Fifths is the best, most comprehensive I've seen. I've been looking for something like this to no avail. Thank you!!Sammyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02795425052008414162noreply@blogger.com