Changing keys in a cover band and remembering songs

[Tad Strange]

Hi, I just joined this cover band and I found some problems:
I practice a song in a key and familiarize myself with it. However, when other singers needed to change the key, I got confused.
I understand the music theory that for example, a song's chord progression in a Key of C in a song is: C G Am F -> 1 5 6 4. A song with only 4, or 5 chords like that is okay to change (actually it's still a little hard but I can manage to do it)

But when it comes to much more complex songs that have different progression in different parts of the songs, it's a whole different story.

So my question is do I need to learn by heart every chord in a key like:
in a key of C: IV will be F, and vi will be Am. (and repeat to all other keys in both major and minor keys).

I understand I will need a lot of practice but I need your precious tips to improvise in the meantime.

 

[silky smoove]

I find memorization of every chord in every key to be fine, but misses the larger point. My preference is to learn why a chord is what it is. Research the intervals of the major scale and its associated modes. Understand tertiary chord structure, and with those two pieces of information you’ll be able to quickly figure out most any transposition with ease. I do this constantly. It’s a lot to learn, but well worth it.

 

[RattleSnack]

I would advise to learn and recognise chord progression, like II-V-I or I-VI-IV-V. They are most often typical for a musical genre.
Once you start to think that way, it is easier to "move" up and down the fretboard.
It doesn't change if song consists of one repetetive or five different progressions. Remember them and just move to a different tonality.
If this happens A LOT, you might find easier to play 5 string bass guitar. Changing key from E to D can be more managable.

 

[kevindahl]

Yes.
Once you start with the first few keys then you will start to see patterns on the fingerboard making it much easier to memorize

 

[chris_b]

Chord progressions form patterns.

Know your patterns and it all becomes much easier.

 

[Nebadon2000]

There must be an App for that

 

[CallMeAl]

Sounds like you’re on the right track. It’s about the numbers, just like in your example. There’s no trick to it, it just takes time.

If you find yourself struggling, you may want to get a tablet. Most of the setlist apps have instant transpose features. I use mine for rehearsals, until I get things memorized. I know lots of players that use them- I think your band would rather see you use a helper and nail the part, versus see you fumble for notes.

 

[mike buzzetti]

Ok so if its 1 full step UP move 2 frets UP etc. the pattern normally does not change ( at times it will if close to the nut say E to Eb. then you need to learn that new pattern )

 

[Dominic D]

I do a ton of fill-in work so I rely heavily on the Nashville number system. It’s rare that I’m given keys with song lists so it’s just easier to use numbers.

 

[Ric5]

There must be an App for that

Instant chords for any song - Chordify

this site has a transpose feature

 

[bigdaddybass12]

The guy I play for is a capo freak. Learn to play by patterns. 1,4,5,6,2 etc. so when they decide to change the key, you just ‘move the pattern’ up or down. No memorization of notes

 

[mambo4]

So my question is do I need to learn by heart every chord in a key like:
in a key of C: IV will be F, and vi will be Am. (and repeat to all other keys in both major and minor keys).

Maybe not memorize but learn to deduce the chords for any key
I ii iii IV V7 vi vii(dim) is not difficult to remember
Combined with key signatures , deducing the 7 chords for a key is pretty fast

 

[Wasnex]

There are different way to approach this. Something like Nashville numbers would be ideal...but it's not something I have ever done, and I am not sure if I ever could. I do admire those who use this sort of system.

The process I use is to have a good ear and be comfortable in different keys. I pretty much play by anticipating the sound of the chords as the come. So if I have a song well memorized in one key, I can often fake it in other keys. If I regularly play in two different keys, then I simply practice in whatever keys are required.

I am usually okay with pop songs, as they typically have a fairly simple harmonic structure. I often had about 6-hrs of pop music memorized. Of course, some pop songs are harder than others.

I never developed to the point where I could use the approach with more complicated jazz standards. I have trouble memorizing jazz standards in even one key. I don't have to look at the music continuously, but I do tend to get lost at certain places in the arrangement if the music is not in front of me.

 

[BAG]

I do a ton of fill-in work so I rely heavily on the Nashville number system. It’s rare that I’m given keys with song lists so it’s just easier to use numbers.

I chart songs in a more basic version of scale degrees similar in concept to the Nashville Number system.

For a song with C, Am, F, G it will simply look like
1 6m 4 5

For songs with a lot of changes, particularly if they use chords outside of the normal key, I can still get myself confused at times, but this works for me most of the time.

 

[Chrisk-K]

Just practice Sergio Mendes’s “Never Gonna Let You Go” in all 12 different keys, and you will be able to handle any key changes.

 

[micguy]

I do church gigs - pretty much every week, beside learning (and completely memorizing) new songs, I'm very often playing songs I already know, but in new keys. Transposing is a muscle - yes, you can spend a lot of time with theory, figuring things out, but nothing really replaces doing it - repeatedly playing stuff in different keys is absolutely what builds that muscle. I used to play in cover bands and original bands - in both of those, you locked in a tune in one key, in one arrangement. As it turns out, that's relatively easy to do.

Changing things all the times keeps you on your toes and builds a capability that is VERY useful, but there really are no shortcuts - repetition until the notes start to "fall under your fingers" (playing by ear until you hear where you're going and your fingers "know" where to go) is what it takes to be able to play stuff in different keys and do it seamlessly.

 

[FullumMusic]

I played with a singer for a while and she transposed every cover song we played by moving a capo up and down her guitar’s neck. Having a 6 string (or a 5 string to some extent) helped a lot because I could just move the patterns or shape of the song to another position and not run out of room and have to rethink fingerings. You definitely don’t need to run out and buy a 5 or 6 string if you don’t have one. Practice playing songs you know with different fingerings in different positions. And the more you get used to transposing on the fly the easier it will become. It does take time and practice to get used to doing in your head on the spot.

Also, I find it helps to think of the interval, not the note name. Playing the minor third is the same regardless of what note you’re playing. If you’re playing over the IV chord, you know it has a major 3rd and a perfect 5. It doesn’t matter what the root note is. The major 3 and 5 are always in the same spots relative to the chord’s root. Just move the chords and intervals up and down the neck based on the transposition. The note names are almost irrelevant if you know the chords and intervals.

 

[Ostie]

All of the above. And use the circle of fifths.

 

[KJMO]

I learn songs in patterns and try to avoid open notes when I learn the song so it's easier to move the patterns around. 5-string is huge!

 

[Topkat13]

Give it some thought and practice.