I agree. I think that because of the physical layout of the sax I sometimes want to play in some of the more common keys. I think this is bad learning on my part. It's better to think in terms of the chromatic scale and be able to play any note without being hindered by the mechanics. I have been trying to do this on the piano, by playing in different keys. I want to be able to do this on sax too. It will take time to gradually learn where the notes are on the c-melody since I'm more used to the other saxes. And relearning the songs is interesting! It opens up a door in my brain because it means a song can sound the same but be fingered differently, even if it's still a saxophone. I like to play them in the original key, because that's how they are supposed to sound, and then I can collaborate more easily.
Sounds like you're over thinking this. The fingerings on all saxes, including C-melody, are the same. There is no re-learning to be done. Just pick up any sax and play the tune in the appropriate key. If you've learned your scales, it's no problem. If you haven't learned your scales, then you need to go back and learn them. Once you know your scales, you'll find playing in different keys to be quite effortless.
I don't think you should get hung up on that. Male and Female singers sing standards all the time in whatever key is in their range. Different arrangements are usually in different keys as well. Unless you have perfect pitch, how can you even tell if a song is in the original key or not just by listening to it? How do you know the version in your fake book is the original key?
but it does matter what keys are traditional for a tune in jams and on gigs...especially if you find yourself caught up short on one of those tunes in that key...
Yes, which is why I want to learn tunes in the traditional key, but then also maybe transpose it to a more familiar key when playing alone with my own backing tracks. For example right now I'm working on There Will Never Be Another You. On alto this is in the key of C and it's easy to play that way. On C melody it's in Eb. I learned it in Eb but it's more familiar in C. So I made the backing track in C instead of Eb and am going to play it that way for now, just for fun.
Absolutely, which is the crux of the issue. Since getting a C-melody in addition to his alto and tenor, he now has to know every tune in at least 3 keys when he collaborates.
I only play one saxophone. And right now playing sax with other musicians, as much as I would like to do that, is limited due to current societal conditions. But I like to make my own backing tracks on keyboard so I have fun playing along with them and recording it all together. Because I'm working alone I can do whatever I want, but I still think it's important to be able to play the tune in the standard key just in case a jam session opportunity arises. I don't mind learning the tune in a couple keys. That's how I feel about it now.
Gotcha. So getting back to your original question, have you made life difficult picking a C instrument and playing tunes in the original keys. Well, in an sense, yes. But learning tunes in other keys (original concert key) will really pay off in the long run in terms of technique and your ears.
Look at "Girl From Ipanema". It was originally recorded in G (!) but the Getz/Gilberto recording that became famous is in D♭, and whoever transcribed it for the Real Book put it in F, which is where it is typically played in North America. In Brazil, they expect D♭ and will not be pleased if you play it in F. Even Stevie Wonder changed the key he plays it in when he went there.
