[Dixielandjazz] FW: Keys?

[Gluetje1 at aol.com]

In addition to Jim's comments below I felt Dan's with the Winkipedia  
reference can help us grasp that All is not to All what it seems to  One.  We each 
perceive differently.  And yes, if you are blowing into  the instrument, you 
hear your tone differently than the individual not blowing  the note even if that 
individual is sitting right where the tone is being  produced.  Some teachers 
have wind students do some playing with ear plugs  inserted, not to not hear 
themselves, but to hear themselves differently via  bone conduction, etc.  
Then there is the overtone series to consider with  different instruments.  
Certain notes (pitches) on my bassoon, even within  the normal range, sound "ugly" 
to me.  They are in tune, but I think  it's a matter of my particular 
instrument not resonating to produce  sufficient overtones.  Yep, there are things to 
explore doing with the lip,  the interior of the mouth, the throat, the jaw, 
etc. to try and make that "ugly"  prettier unless one wants ugly--but that 
takes lots of focus just on tone  production never mind everything else the 
musician is trying to achieve.   So if a certain key uses an "ugly" note frequently, 
I am likely going to  prefer a different key.
 
It seems to me that the tone-producer of any instrument (strings,  
percussion, etc.) is hearing the tone differently and definitely feeling the  vibrations 
on their body differently than the listener.  If, as a listener  to live 
music, you have never tried attending to what else besides your ear  drums are 
vibrating, it might be fun for you to pay attention to that some  time.  For 
example, many of us have been hit with the over-amped bass  pushing against our 
chest wall.  Try to get keener about far more subtle  vibrations bouncing 
against you.  It may be a significant element of how  much you are enjoying that 
particular listening experience.
 
The same as when I think the taste of a certain chili is superb, and the  
next person finds it too spicy, perceptions vary.  So if the co-musician  
perceives something preferable about a certain key, what's the skin off my _____  if 
we play it in a different key.  It should at least be a point  of discussion 
and collaboration in terms of who get's their way this  time. (smile)
 
And with fretted instruments, it's not always precisely just a matter  of 
easier-to-play chords.  More related to the tuning of the  instrument--what 
pleasing partial chords for that particular tune-mood are  within the possibilities 
of combination.
Ginny 
 
In a message dated 10/4/2006 3:15:40 A.M. Central Daylight Time,  
jim at kashprod.com writes:

Bill, it  may have to do with the instrument, and maybe you even have to be
"behind"  the instrument (as in, the player) to hear it.  I hear an  actual
difference in timbre between the flat & sharp keys on the  trombone.  There
is a brighter, thinner sound to the sharp keys.   Even C will do it!  I kinda
doubt if you'll get this on the  washboard...sorry.  :>

Major & minor is a completely  different story.  (*)

Jim