Klarinet Archive - Posting 000687.txt from 1996/12

From: Gary Bisaga <gbisaga@-----.ORG>
Subj: Re: why Bb
Date: Tue, 31 Dec 1996 14:39:07 -0500

Jayne,

If you are going to play with guitar players much, I'd advise getting very
good at the "sharp" keys. (Especially if you are planning on improvising
with them, which is alot of fun. I play improv with a guitarist all the
time and it's very enjoyable -- the two instruments sound great together
too.) Specifically, get real comfortable playing in E, B, and F#. Much of
the music that is intended to be played on guitar gets written down in G,
D, A, or E since those keys are easier to play on the guitar and many hack
guitarists are, well, let's say they're of questionable skill. It can be
done -- I'm to the point where I'm almost as comfortable playing in F# or
C# as A. And I'd rather spend time working in some of these distant keys
than to have to tell them "sorry, I can't play in that key."

If you are going to be playing blues with them (my friends and I are wont
to break into the blues at any time) get *very* used to playing in F#
major/minor since many guitarists want to play blues in E.

<>< gary

------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gary Bisaga Lead Software Architect, Integration/Interaction Laboratory
Mitre/Advanced Aviation System Development Psalm 51:10, John 3:16-21
gbisaga@-----.com/~gbisaga