Mucis Keys...Vocalist Pick.. Questions

[Already In Use]

I am wondering about the parameters for song keys absed on what key the vocalist wants to sing in. This is new ground for me so please go easy on me if I am asking simple or stupid stuff.

Many songs sound really good in their original keys especially songs with nice, killer bass lines that go low...say from a C to an F then G etc on a 4 string bass. Our vocalist like to play in keys different than the originals which really jack up the sound IMO when it relates to the bass. Playing a similar pattern in th key of A sounds bad..not the same feel.

Are there any rules, guidlines, etc as to how many keys a song can jump and still accomodate the vocalists wishes while retaining the integrity of the original song?


For example if a song is in the key of C and the vocalist wants to play it in A can it still be done in C and sound good with him singing as its in the key of A? Thanks a bunch.

[bassman4d521]

I'd say none - to me each key has a specific sound to it. Now whether or not it sounds good in the new key is a matter of personal preference.

[M0ses]

Ummmmm you have to be playing in the same key as the vocalist is singing, pal. Well, there are some tricks you could pull when it comes to that, but you'd have to know a LOT of theory to get it to work by anything other than accident.

[JTE]

The vocalist has to be able to sing it. Changing keys is a part of playing real music with real people. Deal with it. I've been gigging since '76 and have seldom had to avoid stuff because of keys. Yeah, playing "Day Tripper" in G would be weird, so there are some choices you have to make on occasion. But don't get too hung up on it. We used to do a lot of Aretha Franklin songs, but moved them a step or a half-step for the singer. That made "Chain Of Fools" and "Rock Steady" a bit weird, but it just means you have to adapt. The hardest was moving The Jackson Five's "I Want You Back" from Ab to F.

Now to the "If a song is in the key of C and the vocalist wants to play it in A can it still be done in C and sound good with him singing as its in the key of A?" question. No way. If the singer is in A and the band is in C, then there's going to be horrible clashes! Being in the key means the notes are related to each other. In this example, when the singer's singing a C# (the third of A) over what should be an A chord, the band will be playing a C chord. That C# against the C is going to grate. It's just plain wrong.

Singers don't have capos nor the ability to tune down. The sweet spot of their voice is relatively fixed over a certain range. The songs have to fit into that range. If the song just plain doesn't work on the singers key, you don't do the song. But don't be afraid to try things in different keys and make them work. The bass line is to support the song, not BE the song.

John

[elgecko]

Originally Posted by Already In Use

For example if a song is in the key of C and the vocalist wants to play it in A can it still be done in C and sound good with him singing as its in the key of A? Thanks a bunch.

Yes, but it will sound very bad. Alternatively, if you play it in a key the singer can't really sing in, it will also sound band. You have to pick the manner in which you sound bad or find another singer.

[Already In Use]

Wow! Thanks for the quick replies. I can adjust...but like its been said I must get over the fact that perhaps it doesnt sound good to me..Got to get off the me thing I guess. You've helped me make progress. Thanks so far!

[tZer]

No rules - other than obvious ones dictated by each song.

Changing the key of a song (usually to suit a vocalist) is definitely a common thing and in my experience, you don't end up moving the key much but you frequently go from an open key to a shard/flat key and that can have other implications.

For me, the most significant aspect of a key change isn't about the notes but the open strings. Some bass parts leverage open strings as a significant stylistic component - like droning an open 'D' while melodically riffing on the G string. Change that song to Eb and suddenly (unless you re-tune) you lose the ability to do that and that can significantly alter the flavor of the overall song.

Likewise, a significant change - like from A to Eb or from G# to Db. Suddenly some songs will sound like it's on helium or moving in slow motion due to the drastic key change sounding obviously higher or lower. Often times it's just a matter of getting used to it sounding so different to bring it back into shape - but yes, key changes can and do impact the overall feel and flavor of songs - sometimes.

[Munjibunga]

It's spelled "mucus."

[Already In Use]

Originally Posted by Munjibunga

It's spelled "mucus."

Ha! I can spell..really I can. Facing down the keyboard challenge. Too many fingers.