|
 The Steel Guitar Forum
 Music
 using hand signals to designate key of songs (Page 2)
|
| This topic is 2 pages long: 1 2 |
next newest topic | next oldest topic |
| Author | Topic: using hand signals to designate key of songs |
|
Danny Bates Member From: Fresno,CA. USA |
posted 29 June 2005 02:19 AM
profile
To ask for the key of the song just hold your right hand out like your "turning the key" in a car ignition.  |
|
George Kimery Member From: Limestone, TN, USA |
posted 29 June 2005 04:40 AM
profile
Here is a short cut to memorizing the number of sharps and flats in each key. Just use the first letter of each word for the key and count in order, eg. G=1 sharp, D=2 sharps, A=3 sharps, etc. C is natural, so no sharps or flats. Sharps: Girls Don't Always Eat Butter. This sentence identifys the keys G, D, A, E, and B. Flats: Fat Boys Eat Apple Dumplings Good. F has 1 flat, Bb has 2, Eb has 3, etc. This sentence identifies the keys of F, Bb, Eb, Ab, Db, and Gb. Armed with these two simple sentences, you can now look at sheet music and tell what key a song is written in. You also know how to read hand signals that are based on the number of sharps or flats, instantly. It is easy for me to remember that Girls are sharps (Girls are sharp to look at!) and Boys are flats (Boys are fat, or by process of elimination, if you know "girls are sharp" then you know "fat" has to be flats. Also, fat and flat rhyme. |
|
David Doggett Member From: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA |
posted 29 June 2005 05:33 AM
profile
George's "nemonics" are also the cycle of 5ths for the sharps, and the cycle of fourths for the flats. When you arrange the cycle of 5ths in a circle going clockwise, reading counter-clockwise gives the cycle of 4ths. Of course, each of these cycles always start with C at the top of the circle. So you could say, "See, girls don't always eat butter;" and, "See, fat boys eat apple dumplings good." The only thing missing is that the next key in the cycle of 5ths after B is F#. But as mentinoned above, that is also Gb, and at that point you are counting backwards down the cycle of 4ths. From that point there are fewer flats than sharps, so it is simpler to consider those flat keys. This point occurs exactly at the bottom of the circle. So George's nemonics help you cound clockwise half way around the circle for the 5ths (sharp keys), and half way around the circle counter-clockwise for the 4ths (flat keys), which is all you need. |
|
Jim Cohen Member From: Philadelphia, PA |
posted 29 June 2005 06:45 AM
profile
...well, you also need to remember that there's a silent "m" at the beginning of mnemonics...  |
|
c c johnson Member From: killeen,tx usa |
posted 29 June 2005 07:43 AM
profile
I'm goin back to the wagon. This high tech is killin me. I apoligize to the Duke of Paducah. cc |
|
David Doggett Member From: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA |
posted 29 June 2005 08:16 AM
profile
Doh! I knew something was missing, but refused to look it up. Heck, it started out as "demonics," and maybe I should have left it like that. Shouldn't we both be practicing or working or something, Jimbeaux? |
|
Alan Shank Member From: Woodland, CA, USA |
posted 29 June 2005 12:09 PM
profile
"Here is a short cut to memorizing the number of sharps and flats in each key. Just use the first letter of each word for the key and count in order, eg. G=1 sharp, D=2 sharps, A=3 sharps, etc. C is natural, so no sharps or flats. Sharps: Girls Don't Always Eat Butter. This sentence identifys the keys G, D, A, E, and B." Anybody know what "Oh, be a fine girl, kiss me?" is a mnemonic for? |
|
Garth Highsmith Member From: |
posted 29 June 2005 01:42 PM
profile
. [This message was edited by Garth Highsmith on 09 January 2006 at 08:47 PM.] |
|
CHIP FOSSA Member From: Monson, MA 01057 U.S.A. |
posted 29 June 2005 03:12 PM
profile
Hey, What about smoke signals? Did the Indians use pine [smokier] for charge? And maybe cedar [hotter and brighter] for retreat? |
|
George Redmon Member From: |
posted 08 July 2005 10:26 AM
profile
what was that again? My Gal is Flat..Your Gal is Fat? no...sheesh..i better read it again....but i always use my fingers to talk. Wouldn't it be alot easier to just yell across the stage .."hey bubba..gimme an E"? ------------------ |
This topic is 2 pages long: 1 2 All times are Pacific (US) | next newest topic | next oldest topic |
 |
|
Contact Us | The Pedal Steel Pages
Note: Messages not explicitly copyrighted are in the Public Domain.
Powered by Infopop www.infopop.com © 2000
Ultimate Bulletin Board 5.46