Interesting, all this stuff.

As a self-taught player (I did try formal lessons for a while, but my ears ran away with my eyes, I never had the patience to learn to read). I have no problem playing in the keys of C, D, E, F, G, and A, and I can play all the inversions, augs, dims, flattened 5ths, 9ths, etc. in those keys, and I don't shy away from the old standards where there are plenty of altered, rootless and slash chords.

So why is it I get hung up if I try to play songs in the # or b keys, or even the key of B? I mean, some of the above keys involve enough sharps and flats, especially through the changes. It must be psychological or something. A self-taught friend of mine is the exact opposite, he has no problem with the # and b keys.

I just guess everyone has their favourite keys in which to play.