Chords: Forever Young-Rod Stewart

Cover of Voice: Very Best of Rod Stewart
I have a birthday coming up pretty soon and I love the lyrics to the song Forever Young from the 1988 album, The Very Best of Rod Stewart by Rod Stewart. It's a simple rock song to play.

If you have the time, listen to the piano player and his style of the song. I think it's a pretty good example of improv. I think I mentioned earlier that you can change the melody around by:

1. playing an octave higher
2. changing rhythm and adding more notes per measure
3. sliding off a note half or whole step higher or lower
4. adding octaves in l.h. for fuller sound
5. bass walk ups/walk downs in l.h.
6. add those suspended chords for those boring measures to add tension
7. play with different inversions

Rod Stewart - Forever Young (piano)

Credit: rodstewartfan13

So in the key of D, the same sequence would look like: D-Em-F#m-G-A-Bm-C#dim. Notice that there are two chords in the key of D that are “sharp.” This is how you can determine that a song is in the key of D: there will be two “sharps” in the “key signature” at the very front of each staff, like this:

INTRO: (Repeat once)
  D        D2 D G
  G Em7 G
  G Em7 D

May the good life be with you down every road you roam,
D          G     D D D D2 D G

And may sunshine and happiness surround you when you're far from home.
D             G       D D D D2 D G
May you grow to be proud, dignified, and true,
D     G         D D D D2 D G

And do unto others as you'd have done to you.
D        G          D D D D2 D G

Be courageous and be brave,
C                    G

And in my heart you'll always stay
C                             G

Forever young  (Forever young)
        D  G

Forever young  (Forever young)
        D  G


May good fortune be with you and may your guiding light be strong,
D       G                    D D D D2 D G

Build a stairway to heaven with a prince or a vagabond
D      G    D D D D2 D G

And may you never love in vain,
C                         G

And in my heart you will remain
C                        G

Forever young  (Forever young)
        D  G

Forever young  (Forever young)
        D  G

Forev--er young                               Forev--er young
G  Em7 C  D      D D D D D D2 D2 G G  D D D D D D2 D2 G G  G  Em7 G  D


When you finally fly away I'll be hoping that I served you well,
D      G                    D D D D2 D G

For all the wisdom of a lifetime no one can ever tell,
D     G             D D D D2 D G

But whatever road you choose,
C                     G

I'm right behind you win or lose.
C                    G

Forever young  (Forever young)
        D  G

Forever young  (Forever young)
        D  G

Forev--er young  For, for--ever  young  Forever  young
G  Em7 C  D      G    G      Em7 D      G    Em7 D


D D  Dsus4 D D2 D D

"The beautiful thing about learning is that no one can take it away from you." B.B.King

How To Play Color Chords

To get a really full sound in your right hand, try putting in not only the notes of the chord under the melody, but also try to incorporate a color tone of some kind, such as a 6th, 7th, major 7th, or 9th. You can overdo it, of course, but this short video demonstrates how it is done.

Use thirds, sixths and full chords to your melody. Major 7th and  Major 9th's are called color chords, adding motion to your sound. This is one of the best instructional videos I have found online by Duane.


Piano Lesson on YouTube

To identify interval sounds in a song, I think I have found another great tool 
for you, Interval Song Examples Chart

Here's an example of descending Major 6th in the left hand. 

Intro Chords:  E  E   E   E

Verse 1
A                      D
Where it began I can’t begin to know it
A                                  E
But then I know it’s going strong
A                       D
Was in the spring, and spring became a summer
A                                               E
Who’d have believe you’d come along

Chorus
A         Amaj7
Hands         touching hands
E                       D                           E
Reaching out touching me  touching you

A               D                                E
Sweet Caroline  Good times never seemed so good
A            D                                  E
Im inclined to believe there never would
D   C#m  Bm
But now I’m

Verse 2
Look at the night and it don’t seem so lonely
We fill it up with only two
And when I hurt Hurting runs off my shoulder
How can I hurt when holding you

Warm touching warm
Reachin out touching me touching you

Chorus
A         Amaj7
Hands         touching hands
E                       D                           E
Reaching out touching me  touching you

A               D                                               E
Sweet Caroline  Good times never seemed so good
A            D                                  E
Im inclined to believe there never would
D   C#m  Bm
Oh no no

Intro Chords

Chorus

Understanding the Power of Intervals in Jazz Music

By now, you probably already know what whole 

and half steps are.

To review:

Half Step (h) - From key to key (no keys in between).

Whole step (w) - Every other key (one key in between).

Here are some things to keep in mind:

2 Half Steps = 1 Whole step

2 Whole Steps = 4 Half Steps

1 Half Step = 1/2 Whole Step

Examples:

C to E = 2 whole steps or 4 half steps

F to F# = 1 half step

G to C = 5 half steps

Intervals 

Intervals are important. They form major, minor and 

other types of chords. Do you know what an interval is?

An interval in music, is the distance in pitch between 

two notes. (major, perfect, melodic, harmonic, minor, 

augmented, diminished, etc.)

Major Third:

Is the distance between the root and the (3) degree 

of a major scale.

For example, in C Major, the root is (C) and the (3) 

degree is E.

C and E played together is classified as a major third.

This is the beginning of a major chord.

Perfect Fifth:

Is the distance between the root and the (5) degree of 

a major scale.

For example, in C Major, the root is (C) and the 5th 

degree is (G).

C and G played together is classified as a 

'perfect fifth'.

As you will learn, these two intervals combine to make 

up the major chord.

Try to figure out the major third and perfect fifth 

intervals in all 12 keys.

If you want to learn more on intervals, order Jermaine Grigg's 

300 Page Course Book

"The beautiful thing about learning is that no one can take it away from you." B.B.King

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• I Know You Know by Esperanza Spalding (pianodiana.blogspot.com)
• The Minor Ninth Chord in Db (pianodiana.blogspot.com)

Do You Recognize The 7 Chords in This Song?

What is the one thing Tom Petty and Taylor Swift have in common besides they both play the guitar?


Well, here's the same song, American Girl, with words and music by Tom Petty in 1976 and later performed by Taylor Swift in 2009. 

Do you hear the 7 chords in this song?

1. D = D/DF#A

2. E7 = E/DEG#B


3. G = G/GBD, then G7 = G/BDFG


4. A7 = A/GAC#E


5. Em = E/EGB


6. A = A/C#EA , then Asus4 = A/EAD


7. Bm = B/BDF#

Taylor Swift - American Girl (Tom Petty cover) New single 2009

Watch the best YouTube version Tom Petty American Girl Live 1985

American Girl

Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers

	D
Intro:  manic strumming on

	D/F#	D/E	D	D/E
then	-	-	-	(2x)

	D	E
	Well she was an	American girl

	G	A
	Raised on	promises

	D	E
	She couldn't help	thinking that there was

	G	A
A	little more to life	somewhere else

	D
After all it was a	great big world

	G	Em
	With lots of places to	run to

	A
	Yes and if she had to die trying she'd

that's one real promise she was gonna keep

	G	A
	Oh yeah,	allright

	D	Bm
	Take it easy baby,	make it last all night

	G	A	D
	She was,	an American	girl

	D	E
	Well it was kinda	cold that night

	G	A
	She stood alone on her	balcony

	D	E
	She could hear the	cars roll by

	G	A
Out on	441 like	waves crashing on the beach

	D
And for one desperate	moment baby

	G	Em
	He crept back in her	memory

	A
	God it's so painful when something is so close

But still so hard to reach

	G	A
	Oh yeah,	alright

	D	Bm
	Take it easy baby,	make it last all night

	G	A	D
	She was,	an American	girl

RIFF NOTES G G G G G# A D 3X THEN G G G A A A

Young people and mostly my piano students have requested this song, so thank you

!

 Have fun with it in 4/4 time.

Do you know your chords? You might want to check out Chords101 & 102 Collection

Best,
LadyD

"The beautiful thing about learning is that no one can take it away from you." B.B.King

Riff and Walking Bass Notes: By the Grace of Charles Mingus

Cover of Charles Mingus

"Charles Mingus was a great jazz bass player and composer. His playing and composition reflected a deep understanding of the possibilities of jazz. Well-versed in all styles of music, his imaginative experimentation made a lasting impression on composers and performers. His impressive bass technique featured all the tricks of the trade, and he certainly used riffs and grace notes in exciting and interesting ways."
 (from Teach Yourself To Play Jazz)

 1. Grace Note

The Grace Note is indicated by a small note played quickly before the beat. It is a favorite figure among Jazz players, especially bass players. A grace note before starting a walking bass part adds drive and bounce to a tune.

2. Caesura (//)

A caesura is a small break or pause in the tempo.

3. Practice Walking Bass Notes Slowly

G, C, E, F, G (Walk Up)
Start with the left hand, a quick G (grace note), then play down to C and walk up,
playing E, F, G and return  to the C note.


C, C, Bb, A, G (Walk Down)

F, A, Bb, C (Walk Up)
Start with F (grace note), then drop to lower F octave below,
F, F, A, Bb, C


C,C, B, A, C (Walk Down)


D, G, B, C, D (Walk Up)
Start with the left hand, a quick D (grace note), then play down to G, walk up
G, B, C, D


F,  F,  A,  Bb,  C (Walk Up)


C, B, A, G (Walk Down)


C, Eb, Gb, A (Walk Up)


4. Practice Right Hand Riffs

Play Eb, E, G, C (2 x)
Then E, G, F, Eb, E, C, D, C

Now play Ab, A, C, F, Ab, A, C, F
Then E, G, Gb, F, Eb, E


Play Bb, B, D, G ... then, Ab, A, C, F

G, C, G, Gb, F, Eb, C... then
C, Eb, C, A, Gb, A, C, A, Gb, Eb


5. Ending


Both hands play Gb, F, Eb, C... then CBb/ACE

6. Midis of Charles Mingus Songs


Ecclusiastics

Goodby Porkpie Hat 


7.  YouTube: Charles Mingus

Charles Mingus - Goodbye Pork Pie Hat

For more information, visit:
Cagedream: Charles Mingus


Jazz Bros.: Charles Mingus

"The beautiful thing about learning is that no one can take it away from you." B.B.King

One of My Favorite Hymns

Portrait of Mary Lou Williams, New York, N.Y., 1946

 

 

 Yours truly playing Amazing Grace on a Yamaha keyboard.


 

Over the years, I have listened to many artists play one of my favorite hymns, Amazing Grace.

1. B.J. Thomas on YouTube singing Amazing Grace


  Amazing Grace (chords w/ modulation)

F        Bb/F         F
How sweet  the sound
                                        C
That saved a wretch like me

   
    F             F7/A
I once was lost


       Bb          F
But now I'm found
 
        Dm
Was blind
 
       F/C  C7  F
But now  I     see
 
           F                               Bb/F      F
T'was grace that taught my heart to  fear
 
                                     C
And Grace my fears relieved
 
         F            F7/A          Bb     F
How precious did     that grace appear
 
       Dm      F/C   C7   F   D7  C/E
The hour I first   believed
 
 D/F#      G       G7         C              G
Through many dangers, toils, and snares
 
                        D7
I have already come
 
D/F#  G                G7/B         C            G
Tis'   grace hath brought me safe thus far
 
        Em             G/D  D7  G     C/D
And grace will lead    me  home
 
 D/F#   G              G7         C     G
When we've been there 10,000 years
 
                                   D7  C/E
Bright shining as the sun
 
 D/F#  G         G7/B    C                G
We've no less days to sing God's praise
 
          Em          G/D  D7  G  E7 D/F#
Than when we first   begun
 
 E7/G#  A
A .........mazing Grace
 
 A7    D             A
How sweet the sound
That saved
 
                                              E7  D/F#
Yes that saved a wretch like me
 
 E7/G#  A            A7/C#
I           once was lost
 
        D           A
But now I'm found
 
 E/G#  F#m
Was    blind
 
       A/E  E  F#m  D
But now  I  see
 
A/C#  B7          D/E  E7  D/A
Was   blind but now  I     see

2. Yoke Wong (Suspended Chord Tutorial)
Free Sheet Music: Amazing Grace

3. Chris Tomlin (Amazing Grace My Chains are Gone)
Learn To Play

Verse 1:
G                 C         G
Amazing grace how sweet the sound
     G                   D
That saved a wretch like me
  G                  C       G
I once was lost, but now I'm found
    G         D     G
Was blind but now I see

Chorus:
              C                  G
My chains are gone, I've been set free.
          C                   G
My God, My Savior has ransomed me.
          C               Em
And like a flood his mercy reigns.
         D              G
Un-ending love, amazing grace

Practice Tips: 

Listen to the Amazing Grace melody for ear training. Keep 

in mind that the melody will be derived from the C Major 

Scale. Try to play the melody on the piano,keeping in mind 

that there are only 8 notes used for this melody.

Remember how neighboring and passing tones work. Many 

melodies will utilize neighboring tones. Listen to whether 

the neighboring tone is higher or lower in pitch than the 

previous tone.

Determine the time signature. There are three beats per 

measure.

Here are the right hand melody notes: 

G C E C   E    D   C     A    G
Amazing grace how sweet the sound
G     C     E C E    D   G
That saved a wretch like me
E  G   E C E      D   C    A   G
I once was lost, but now I'm found
G    C     E C  E D C

Was blind but now I see
 

If you are looking for a more bluesy-gospel sound, you will 

want to order Hear and Play's

300 page Course Book and understand the theory to the  

Altered Version of Amazing Grace

Best,

-- LadyD

"The beautiful thing about learning is that no one can take it away from you." B.B.King

How To Play A Suspended Chord

Image via Wikipedia

The suspended chord (sometimes called a suspended 4th chord) is constructed from the major scale using the first (1), fourth (4), and fifth (5) notes of the scale. The symbol for this is the letters sus (or sus4), placed after the letter name of the chord. There are two inversions for each suspended chord that you should practice and become familiar with, using both left and right hands. This is a major chord with the fourth substituted for the third.

In root position:

Symbol Notes in Chord

Dsus D G A
Asus A D E
Gsus G C D
Fsus F Bb C

Unlike the V7th chord, which leads back (resolves) to the I chord (In the key of C, G7 resolves back to C), the suspended chord resolves to the same major chord it is derived from. Gsus resolves to G, Dsus resolves to D, regardless of the key of the chord progression. Sus chords are useful for making accompaniment more interesting when there are long passages of a song using one chord. Instead of playing a C chord for eight bars, you could add a few Csus chords.

So, here are more sus4 chords in root, first and second inversion.

Dsus4 = D G A
Dsus4 = G A D (first inversion)
Dsus4 = A D G (second inversion)

Then, we have:

Dbsus4 = Db Gb Ab
Dbsus4 = Gb Ab Db (first inversion)
Dbsus4 = Ab Db Gb (second inversion)
D9sus4 = D G A C E

Now, we have:

Esus4 = E A B
Esus4 = A B E (first inversion)
Esus4 = B E A (second inversion)

You can listen to suspended notes in use in songs like Free Falling by Tom Petty. They are useful when you have a song that makes use of one chord for a long time. You can also listen to suspended tones in worship songs like Jesus Mighty God.

Suspended second chords are merely inversions of suspended fourth chords. These chords are often found in folk music & popular music. A jazz sus chord is a dominant seventh chord with an added fourth (Gsus, for example), & may be written as a slash chord (F/G, or even Dm7/G) so as to show its function in II-V-I progressions.

Give it a try. The suspended triad will provide a cool tension and spice to your playing.
Ezine Article-Suspended Chords 

Tom Petty: Free Fallin' Chord Chart:

INTRO
D/Dsus   Dsus/D/Asus (x2)
(simply put, this is the chord pattern for the ENTIRE song)

        D    Dsus  Dsus  D   Asus
she's a good girl, loves her mama
      D  Dsus    Dsus D  Asus
loves Je-sus and America too
        D    Dsus  Dsus  D   Asus
she's a good girl, crazy 'bout Elvis 
      D   Dsus        Dsus  D      Asus
loves hors-es and her boy - friend too

(intro again 1x)

       D    Dsus  Dsus   D    Asus
it's a long day   livin' in Reseda
          D    Dsus  Dsus  D           Asus
there's a free-way runnin' through the yard
          D   Dsus        Dsus   D    Asus
and i'm a bad boy, cause i don't even miss her
      D   Dsus    Dsus     D   Asus
i'm a bad boy for breakin' her heart


CHORUS 
        D-Dsus Dsus-D-Asus
now i'm free                  
     D-Dsus Dsus-D-Asus
free fall-in'
       D-Dsus Dsus-D-Asus
ya i'm free                  
     D-Dsus Dsus-D-Asus
free fall-in'
http://www.azchords.com/p/pettytom-tabs-5458/freefallin-tabs-112674.html

Jesus Mighty God

Gsus  G
Jesus

Gsus  G 
Mighty God
 
Gsus  G             Our Rock Our Fortress Our  
 
C
Defense

Gsus            G Your conquering arm 
Gsus         G
will be our strength

Gsus    G                

O God of power and 

 C

righteousness

Am             C  

Every foe will tremble at Your
 

G

           

name             

Am             C

Every foe will tremble at Your 

G

name

Related posts: 

 mixolydian-mode-and-sus-chord

 http://ladydpiano.blogspot.com/2008_09_01_archive.html

I play lots of suspended chords in worship songs. 
It really gives the musician something to do besides just laying on a chord. 
Vamping on a major chord and then back to a suspended chord is used a lot in an introduction to a song. 
It sets things up and then you're ready to break into your song. 
It's pretty easy to incorporate the suspended chord into your piano playing.

All the best,

-- LadyD          

"The beautiful thing about learning is that no one can take it away from you." B.B.King

Related articles

• The Minor Ninth Chord in Db (pianodiana.blogspot.com)