How Irving Berlin Wrote "Puttin' on the Ritz" Using Only the Black Keys

How did Irving Berlin write some of the most enduring songs in American history — using primarily the black keys of the piano? In this episode, composer and Juilliard faculty member Edward Barnes demonstrates how Berlin used a transposing piano to compose many of his greatest hits, including “Puttin' on the Ritz.” By writing primarily on the black keys and shifting the mechanism of the instrument, Berlin developed a distinctive melodic style that helped shape the sound of the Great American Songbook. Through musical breakdown and historical context, the video explains how the transposing piano worked, why Berlin relied on it, and how this unusual tool influenced his compositional technique and place in Tin Pan Alley history. Learn more at SongbookStation.com