Because my ‘ weak keys ’ were being exposed by specific songs , I decided to use those songs as the platform for growth . Most of the time that meant just putting in the work to learn these new keys , song by song , part by part .
Looking back , it was a bit like torturing myself , but the outcome of mastering a given song was very rewarding and over time I built up a good bit of momentum . The muscle memory after learning just a song or two in a more challenging key did drastically reduce the level of intimidation to jump into another new song with similar shapes and parts .
Would I recommend this method to anyone else ?
Honestly , I think it would depend on what motivates you . While it wasn ’ t the most efficient route to take , learning song by song provided helpful goalposts that kept me going . If at the end of my effort I could play the song I had succeeded . If I couldn ’ t , I had more work to do .
PRAGMATIC PRACTICE
If I could do it over again , I think I ’ d layer in song by song learning goals with working on building up the ability to play scales and chord shapes in ‘ problem keys ’ one key at a time , by running short , simple exercises sprinkled throughout my week-to-week Sunday service prep .
This methodical approach might have achieved my desired results faster but would ’ ve taken an intentional pause and regroup for me to have struck this course once upon a time .
If you ’ re reading this article and wanting to build up your own dexterity and key mobility , consider this your ‘ pause ’ if you ’ d like .
From here anytime you see a song on your setlist in a key that stretches you , take a few extra minutes each time you practice to run two simple drills .
First , run up the scale and back down from C1 to C6 or so , with each hand independently . Next , play each chord in the key starting on the one chord and work your way up to the seven , playing each chord in root position , then first inversion , then second .
Running those two drills each time you work on a new setlist should only add five or ten minutes to your at home practice and will eventually reduce the overall time it takes to learn new songs in keys that were once challenging .
ITS OWN REWARD
Not only is learning to play fluently in every key an incredibly practical skill to master , it ’ s also quite rewarding . There ’ s nothing quite like the feeling of being able to hop into any song that ’ s thrown at you and find your way . If you ’ ve found yourself discouraged in the past as you struggle to adapt to that last minute key change , there ’ s no time like the present to start building these muscles . Change takes time but it ’ s worth the effort . If you think to do so , reach out and thank that first piano teacher of yours as you make progress !
David Pfaltzgraff Founder and Lead Sound Designer at SundaySounds . com , a site that resources worship keys players and guitarists around the world . David currently resides in Des Moines , IA with his wife and two boys . He enjoys volunteering in his church ’ s worship ministry , old synthesizers , and a good super-hero movie .
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