Some folks say you shouldn’t change the key that a song has been composed in, or alter the song in any way…as if to do so is sacrilege or an insult to the original composer.

This is just PLAIN NONSENSE.

(Once again….) Based on the 1000+ songs I’ve heard over many years, I can state for a fact that any given popular song can be played and interpreted in so many different ways in different keys by different performers… very often yielding a better sounding product than the original version.

A performer often sings or plays in a different key (from the original) because it better suits his/her pitch, or a band is more comfortable playing a particular key. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with that – if the resulting music is great, because a good overall interpretation of a song is what really all that matters – not the key it was originally recorded in.

And I believe that most composers would indeed be proud and flattered that his/her song has been re-created, especially if done in ways that’s appreciated by many…because that’s an extended credit to his having composed it.

Going back to the piano, you simply cannot hope to even mimic an original version of a vocalist accompanied by say, an orchestra, even if you tried to, because the pianois a solo instrument with it own unique sound… not to mention you only have 10 fingers !

And key-wise, I have no qualms about revealing that I’m more comfortable transposing songs to the easier-to-play keys of C, D, F and G.

No big deal about this. I’ve heard so many songs sung or played in these keys, it’s pointless to even argue with anyone who, for instance, might claim that learning and playing in a harder original key somehow proves better musicianship.

Well, of course, if you were a formally–traind pianist in an orchestra or a well-paid accompanist who works a lot with vocalists and have to be versatile in playing any keys in order to suite the singer’s pitch preference, that’s well and fine. But most of us aren’t – we’re modest solo pianists, playing any darn key we like. And that’s just fine!

As I tell some singers that I accompany, if it has to be Db, let’s do C (one semitone down) instead; if Ab, let’s make it G; or, if you sing in Bb, that should be quite ok as Bb is quite easy, otherwise let’s do C (2 semitones away), etc. It always works.

My advice is, don’t play in a key you’re not comfortable with – you’ll likely stuff up in a performance. Just transpose your notes (you should master this by using my easy transposition) Play a few easy keys (C, F G) VERY WELL, then try the harder black keys later.