Re: [Harp-L] Just what exactly is 'key'?

[sheltraw@xxxxxxxxxxxx]

> Yes, a jazz tune can have ii V I's or other cadences that resolve to
> different tones, but that does not change the key the song is in by the
> definition that is agreed upon by musicians the world over.

I don't think there is agreement.

> If you do not
> understand what key you are in when you are playing music - how can you
> play with other musicians or even sight read without playing endless
> clams?

By knowing the changes and which of the possible 12 transpositions those
changes will be played in. So rather than creating the concept of "key"
(an ambiguous term) why not simply ask what the first chord is? Since
all the musicians involved presumably know the structure (ie: changes and
possibly the melody) of the tune and since tunes have conventional forms
(examples: AABB or AABA) would that question be totally unambiguous?

Cheers!