Do piano composers often start out with C major?

Question

I'm wondering if composers write their pieces starting with C major since it's just the white keys, and then later transpose the finished song to the key of their choice? Or will starting with the intended key from the start produce better results? Edit: or "A minor" for minor songs

Answer 1

Often, a composer’s choice of key depends on the tambre/mood they want to achieve with the piece. A classic example is the difference between major and minor keys, which give a “happy or sad” feeling throughout. But some keyboard composers even wrote in every key! For example, both Bach and Chopin wrote their 24 Preludes in 12 majors and 12 minors, probably just to create a complete body of work. And if you think about the famous piece by Debussy, Clair de Lune, which is in the warm, mellow key of Db—when you transpose it down to C, it just loses its serene, ethereal nature. I have also heard Moonlight Sonata in D minor rather than the original C# minor…it may be easier to play, but it just doesn’t sound right. And the best way to be able to play in every key? Study and master all 24 major and minor scales. You can find the fingerings for all scales in the Hanon Virtuoso Exercises.

Answer 2

Hi, most composers have a deep knowledge of music theory and they wouldn't like to be limited to one specific key. Beethoven composed in so many different keys but he especially liked C minor. Modern composers could compose sometimes ignoring key centers. Transposition however could be depend on many different reasons such as range of the instrumentation and others.

Answer 3

 

No, probably not. Keys actaully have "colors," and a composer might pick a particular key to match the mood of a piece or the text (words). Sharp keys are usually "brighter," for example D major, which is the key of Handel's "Hallelujah Chorus." Flat keys are usually "darker" or more mellow. Composers sometimes write pieces with particular instruments or voices in mind, and certain keys better suit the range and timbre of certain instruments. It's pretty fascinating!