LadyDpiano

How To Play Common Progressions In Gospel Music

There's common progressions in gospel music that correspond with the numeric scale/chord degrees. For example:

7_3_6
5_1_4
3_6_2
2_5_1

Longer progressions are a mix between the above shorter progressions. To play these contemporary chords, you must know what they are. The rule of thumb is, what you can play for the 1, you can also play for the 4. Here's a list of chords and they are all C chords:

CG/CEG
CG/CEGB
CG/CEGBb
CG/CEbGB
CG/Bb
CG/Eb
CG/G
CG/Em
CG/Am
CA/G
CBb/A
CBb/DGC
CBb/EbM7
EBb/D
CBb/Ab

So depending on the inversion, you can come up with some interesting sounds in your music. You can add altered chords at "key" points in the music:

GD/FM7 There
CG/Em7 Is
DA/C A Name I
EB/DM7 Love To
AE/Dbm7 Hear

Depending on the type of songs you play, you can take progressions and use different voicings:

Common Progressions:
2_5_1
7_3_6
5_1_4
7_3_6_2_5_1
1_6_2_5_1
5_6_2_5_1
3_6-2_5_1

Scale Degrees and Chords Associated with them:

Major=1
Minor=2
Minor=3
Major=4
Major=5
Minor=6
Diminished=7
Major=8

Use Chart Above and Create Voicings with Above Progressions:

2_5_1 Key of C (normal)

2= DC/Gbdim7
5= GD/F6
1= CG/C7

2_5_1 Key of C (altered)

2= DC/E
5=GD/Eb
1=CG/Em7

C Chords/ Substitutions:

CG/Em7
CG/Am7
CG/Eb
CG/Bb
CG/G
CA/G
CBb/A
EBb/E
CBb/E
CBb/EAD
CEG/BDG
CEbG/BDG
CEbG/Bb
CEbG/Eb

If you use any of these for the I chord, you can use the equivalent of that chord for the IV chord. Depending on how you look at the board, these altered chords offer color to your music. If you want a more mellow or aggressive tone to your music, it's all about voicings:

1_4_5 (normal)

CG/C
FC/F
GD/G

1_4_5 (7th voicing)

CBb/C7
FEb/F7
GF/G7

1_4_5 (9th voicing)

CG/G
FC/C
GD/D

1_4_5 (11th voicing)

CG/Bb
FC/Eb
GD/F

1_4_5 (13th voicing)

CA/G
FD/C
GE/D

Hearing the differences in the sounds, mix them up, play around with them and practice in every key... have fun! If you're looking for a music theory book, I recommend:

Learn to Play Altered Chords

All the best,
~ LadyD

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How To Play Slow Gospel Blues Piano

Image by zen via Flickr

My friend dazza from the zone community at hear and play sure can play the blues! You will learn so much from dazza's piano tutorial on playing slow blues. I have posted a chord chart for his chord progressions. Those quick grace notes add such a cool sound!

learn this at:

http://www.learnasongseries.com, plus loads of free videos on how to play piano

* Chord Chart

Pick Up - (r.h. notes) Bb, B, D, E

G D/B G

B B/A B D G

C C/Bb, (Eb), E G, (Bb, B, D, E) (C9)

D D/F# C D (D7)

/ D Bb, C A

G D/(Bb) B G

E E/Gb D G (E7 add9)

A A/G C# (A7)

D D/F# C (D7)

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Chord Chart: Say So by Israel Houghton

Chord Chart | Say So (Israel Houghton)

VERSE

EM9 D
What does it mean to be saved? Is it more than just a prayer to pray?

A/C# D EM9
More than just a way to heaven?

EM9 D
What does it mean to be His? To be formed in His likeness

A
Know that we have a purpose

BRIDGE

C#m
To be salt and light in the world in the world

D
To be salt and light in the world in the world

CHORUS I

E
Let the redeemed of the Lord say so

Bm7
Let the redeemed of the Lord say so

A D E
Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, say so

CHORUS II

E
I am redeemed, I am redeemed

D
I am redeemed, I am redeemed

C#m D E
I am redeemed, I am redeemed, say so

* Alternate Chords:

I would play this intro: EM7 DM9 C#m7 DM9 E5 EM7

I would play DM9 for D

I would play A sus for A

I would play C#m7#5 over More Than

I would play E5 over Redeemed

Israel and New Breed with Hillsong - Say So

* Another Chord Chart:

VERSE 1
EM7 DM9
What does it mean to be saved? Isn't it more than just a prayer to pray,
C#m7#5 DM9 EM7
More than just a way to heaven?
EM7 DM9
What does it mean to be His, to be formed in His likeness,
Asus
Know that we have a purpose?

PRE-CHORUS
C#m7
To be salt and light in the world, in the world
DM9
To be salt and light in the world

CHORUS
E5 Bm7
Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, let the redeemed of the Lord say so
A5 D6 E5
Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, say so, say so (Repeat Chorus)

VERSE 2
EM7 DM9
Oh the church would arise, oh, that we would see with Jesus' eyes
C#m7#5 DM9 EM7
We could show the world heaven.
EM7 DM9
Show what it means to be His, to be formed in His likeness,
Asus
Show them they have a purpose.

PRE-CHORUS
C#m7
To be salt and light in the world, in the world
DM9
To be salt and light in the word.
F#m7
To be salt and light in the world, in the world
C#m7 DM9
To be salt and light in the world

BRIDGE
E5 EM7 E5 EM7 D6
I am redeemed, I am redeemed, I am redeemed, I am redeemed
C#m7#5 DM9 E5
I am redeemed, I am redeemed.

CHORUS 2
E5 Bm7
Let the redeemed of the Lord rise up, let the redeemed of the Lord rise up
A5 D6 E5
Let the redeemed of the Lord rise up, rise up, rise up

http://www.ultimate-guitar.com/tabs/i/israel_houghton/say_so_crd.htm

Say So - Israel Houghton - Piano Lesson - How To Play - Deeper Level

“I awoke this morning with devout thanksgiving for my friends, the old and the new."
~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

Happy Thanksgiving to all my readers!
Thank you for stopping by,

~ LadyD

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