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Useful transpose function

Postby danrv » 14 Jul 2017, 11:53

I found the on/off transpose function particularly useful recently when playing a 2 bar keyboard break in a song in a non original key ('Stay With Me' by the Faces).
We play this in E (original A) and the keys break in the intro is a bit of a pig but otherwise it's straight forward chords.
So I saved my regular EP patch with a +4 transpose setting enabling me to play the break in C by turning on the transpose function with one button press.
There are other ways around this like setting up a seperate zone or patch but was just impressed how easy this was on my Stage 2.
Last edited by danrv on 15 Jul 2017, 19:40, edited 3 times in total.
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Useful transpose function


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Re: Useful transpose function

Postby Gospelkeys » 17 Jul 2017, 15:25

The transpose function is convenient but the enemy of musicianship.
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Re: Useful transpose function

Postby analogika » 17 Jul 2017, 16:59

Gospelkeys wrote:The transpose function is convenient but the enemy of musicianship.


True EXCEPT when playing Superstition in a different key for the vocalist. Playing that s*** in anything but Eb minor knocks the groove clean out of it.
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Re: Useful transpose function

Postby Gospelkeys » 17 Jul 2017, 22:04

analogika wrote:
Gospelkeys wrote:The transpose function is convenient but the enemy of musicianship.


True EXCEPT when playing Superstition in a different key for the vocalist. Playing that s*** in anything but Eb minor knocks the groove clean out of it.


Agreed - Stevie W did a number of songs in Eb minor / Gb - it is a very rich sounding key.
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Re: Useful transpose function

Postby etNord » 18 Jul 2017, 15:16

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Re: Useful transpose function

Postby kbrkr » 18 Jul 2017, 18:16

Sorry to sound like a pompous ass, but I never cheat with the transpose button. Even though I play with many different vocalists, I have learned how to transpose on the fly. I never trust the transpose button (my brain remembering), as it has a habit of staying transpose mode on the next song and wreaking all kinds of chaos on stage. Look up "Nashville Charts" if you want to learn how to get good at transposing.
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Re: Useful transpose function

Postby Gospelkeys » 18 Jul 2017, 18:59

kbrkr wrote:Sorry to sound like a pompous ass, but I never cheat with the transpose button. Even though I play with many different vocalists, I have learned how to transpose on the fly. I never trust the transpose button (my brain remembering), as it has a habit of staying transpose mode on the next song and wreaking all kinds of chaos on stage. Look up "Nashville Charts" if you want to learn how to get good at transposing.


+1

The transpose button is a dangerous thing on several levels, it is easy to get dependent on it.

I often find myself in situations where I have to use backlined or house instruments. Best to be overjoyed, not dismayed, when you see the backlined B3 clone you requested is a real B3 or the piano is a nice acoustic baby grand. You won't find a transpose button on those ;-)
Last edited by Gospelkeys on 18 Jul 2017, 20:54, edited 1 time in total.

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Re: Useful transpose function

Postby Al_DeKlein » 18 Jul 2017, 22:29

The only time I use the transpose function is when the band is tuned down a half-step to accommodate the singer that can't hit the notes in the actual key. Then I'm playing in the normal key and can cheat off bass/guitar when I'm winging it ;-)
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Re: Useful transpose function

Postby analogika » 18 Jul 2017, 23:13

I concur that the transpose function is of the devil, BUT: as I said, there are certain songs that absolutely depend upon the voicings being black keys.

"Supersttiton" and Stevie's other songs in Gb/Ebm aren't due to the "rich sound" - that's bollocks.

They're simply due to the pentatonic being all the black keys, which is a) pretty useful when you're blind and b) pretty indispensable for quite a bit of the Clavinet hacking style you need for his stuff.
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