Playing By Ear (Mostly Black Keyes)

[✪ChrisHarding]

I have always wondered if play by music people get to know a song so well that they know which keys come next or do they strictly stick to using the sheet music regardless.  Now IF I need to play on black keys (say in a Bb key) would it sound different to playing in C Maj and transposing the keyboard 2 semitones down??

[✪aprilla]

One of my favourite things to do when learning piano was to transpose. The book we used taught a few simple pieces in C, then a little later when a new key was being learned it recommended going back to previous pieces and playing them in the new key(s) transposing as you played. I found that fun. I don't use the keyboard transpose, I guess because I got used to just changing key early on. But using the transpose button should sound the same, if you press it the right amount to get the key you want LOL

I need the sheet, I might not be following it but if it isn't there I am handicapped. It's weird, hard to explain. I might be able to keep playing with my eyes closed, but if the sheet goes, I'm scuppered. Theoretically I know it doesn't make sense, but there you go .... I've made attempts to get past it, but am lazy now.

After the Kenneth Baker books chords interested me, I found the Nashville Numbering System and the Circle of 5ths and they made a lot of sense for playing with keyboards. There are a lot of ways of going about things, it's good.