Welcome! A key a day focuses on ear training using four common chord progressions and ten standards, plus one original piece called Hoover. Some of the tracks include modulations to different keys. You’ll find a blend of major and minor tracks. Practice the classical scale degrees (I, II, III, etc.) in 12 keys instead of the specific chords. For instance, think II7b5 – V7b9 in C rather than Dm7b5 – G7b9.

As you practice the standards, kick things off by memorising the melodies in each key. After that, check out the PDF with the chords for C, Bb, and Eb instruments for each track in every key so you can start playing along and improvising as well.

A key a day – Introduction video text:

Practicing in all 12 keys is crucial for jazz musicians. It helps you transpose effortlessly, regardless of whether the song transitions to a less popular key or if the tune changes keys often. Plus, practicing in each key will help improve your ears! Also this skill is especially handy when performing with singers who are singing in a different key than the original song.

Let’s kick things off with a simple melody from the Real Book. Pick four different keys each day, starting with C and then moving up by a minor third to E flat, F sharp (or G flat) and A. If it is necessary for you to take more than a day to adjust to the various keys, please feel free to do so. There is no rush, and it is not a competition. On the next day, begin with C sharp, then E, G, and B flat), and the day after that, start with D, then F, A flat, and B). Moving up a minor third in transposition can be quite challenging for your mind, which means you’ll have to rely on your ears more when playing.

At first, it might be a bit of a challenge, but as you keep practicing, it will become simpler as time goes on. Begin with a II-V progression in minor, followed by a I-VI-II-V progression, a blues with some extra chords or the advanced Stella by Starlight ending, starting with the circle of fifths on an augmented IV (+IV-VII-III-VI-II-V-I).

Before you move on to practicing the 12 keys, it’s a good idea to start with drones first. And using drones to practice your intonation is a great way to improve, way better than relying on a tuner!
Try practicing slurs, scales, legato, or staccato exercises first. Of course, feel free to come up with your own exercises!

It is worth noting that the minus-one tracks feature a unique, funky rhythm instead of the traditional swing tracks (they can be a tad dull and unsurprising).