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Topic: using hand signals to designate key of songs |
Jack Musgrave
From:
Springfield, Missouri, USA
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Posted 27 Jun 2005 1:42 am |
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| Most bands I have played with just shout out the keys like C-charlie, D-dog, E-echo, or something like that. Recently played with a group that mostly used hand signals to designate the chords. I really liked that, except I want to make sure that I am reading them properly. I know that 2 fingers up would be D and four up would be E, so I am asuming that C would be the starting point from which these are based. If that is the case, would 2 fingers down be B flat and three down A ? five down G and five up F ? [This message was edited by Jack Musgrave on 27 June 2005 at 02:48 AM.] |
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Jon Light
From:
Saugerties, NY
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Posted 27 Jun 2005 2:03 am
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I've never worked with bands that used signals but my understanding is----
1 finger up == 1 sharp: G
2 fingers up == 2 sharps: D
3 fingers up == 3 sharps: A
4 fingers up == 4 sharps: E
5 fingers up == 5 sharps: B
1 finger down == 1 flat: F
2 fingers down == 2 flats: Bb
3 fingers down == 3 flats: Eb
4 fingers down == 4 flats: Ab
5 fingers down == 5 flats: Db
Not sure about C---closed fist? |
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Larry King
From:
Watts, Oklahoma, USA
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Posted 27 Jun 2005 4:48 am
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Jack.....Jon's right, according to the fella who taught it to me who happens to be your friend John Terry...my son in law. |
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Gary Shepherd
From:
Fox, Oklahoma, USA
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Posted 27 Jun 2005 5:38 am
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Clever. I've never thought of this. Although, I usually know what key we're playing in.
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Gary Shepherd
Carter D-10
www.16tracks.com
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David Doggett
From:
Bawl'mer, MD (formerly of MS, Nawluns, Gnashville, Knocksville, Lost Angeles, Bahsten. and Philly)
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Posted 27 Jun 2005 5:44 am
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| Um...what about the keys of F# and C#? Don't they both have 5 sharps? |
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Jim Cohen
From:
Philadelphia, PA
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Posted 27 Jun 2005 5:51 am
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| Well, yes, David, they do both have 5 sharps, but F# also has a 6th sharp, and C# also has a 6th and a 7th... Are you having a senior moment my friend (or am I)?? |
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Roger Rettig
From:
Naples, FL
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Posted 27 Jun 2005 6:02 am
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For the key of 'C', just make a 'C' shape with your thumb and forefinger.
I much prefer hand signals to the 'E for echo' system - 'two up', or 'three down' can't be misconstrued, and there's not so much shouting across the bandstand.... 
RR |
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Robbie Daniels
From:
Casper, Wyoming, USA
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Posted 27 Jun 2005 6:37 am
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When I was doing road work that is the only way we did it, if we did not know the key beforehand. The number system is based on scales and # being up and b being down, nothing is C. With no indication we just knew it was C. Acutally it is a simple method and quite effective.
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MSA D12, MSA S12, 1956 Rickenbacker D8, Evans FET 500LV, Evans SE200, Peavey Transfex Pro |
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Theresa Galbraith
From:
Goodlettsville,Tn. USA
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Posted 27 Jun 2005 6:52 am
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| I think Jean Shepard does it! |
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David Doggett
From:
Bawl'mer, MD (formerly of MS, Nawluns, Gnashville, Knocksville, Lost Angeles, Bahsten. and Philly)
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Posted 27 Jun 2005 7:57 am
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Well, this is what has me confused, Jim. There are only 5 black notes in any octave. Now for the five sharp keys listed above, each sharp is an additional black note you have to use. But after 5, there are no further black notes. Okay, C# is the same thing as Db, so you can call the 5 sharps 5 flats instead. But that still leaves F# or Gb, call it either one, there are 5 of them, just as in C# and Db. These are not very common keys, but I guarantee, some singer will swear they can only sing some song in that key. Am I missing something, or what?
But the main problem with signing the number of sharps or flats, is that, while many horn players and keyboardists know the key signatures, very few guitarists do - in fact I would venture to say none I have ever played with. In fact, I have discovered that many guitarists don't even know what key a song is in, even though they may know all the chords. I have had singers and guitarists tell me the wrong key many times. Sure, what they told me was one of the chords in the song, but it was not the key. Stranger than friction. [This message was edited by David Doggett on 27 June 2005 at 08:57 AM.] |
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Al Marcus
From:
Cedar Springs,MI USA (deceased)
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Posted 27 Jun 2005 8:08 am
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A good post-Jon's post is the way we always did it in a lot of bands. As most songs were in just a few keys, it was easy enough to use in a loud club. One finger up, G , three fingers up A , etc..one finger down F, two fingers down Bb, etc....al
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My Website..... www.cmedic.net/~almarcus/
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John Daugherty
From:
Rolla, Missouri, USA
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Posted 27 Jun 2005 8:33 am
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Yep, been there, done that. We used a clinched fist for "C"(no fingers).
About that D# stuff..... Anyone who wants you to do their song in D# deserves to have to walk around and tell everyone the key !!!
Bob Wills once said "A singer who can't move a song 1/2 step up or down for the benefit of the band, is not a singer". |
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Todd Pertll
From:
Chicago, Illinois, USA
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Posted 27 Jun 2005 8:53 am
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David,
There is also E# and B#. In the key of F# the seventh tone is E#. Although E# really is an F, you would notate it as an E# which would be easier to read on the staff. You can not have 2 notes is a scale with the same letter demonination.
Todd |
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b0b
From:
Cloverdale, CA, USA
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Posted 27 Jun 2005 9:29 am
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I've been in bands that announced the key to the audience, just in case someone wanted to sing along!
Moved to 'Music' section, as this is not a pedal steel-specific topic.
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 Bobby Lee
-b0b- quasar@b0b.com
System Administrator
My Blog |
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