How To Play Something Beautiful: Gaither

Gaither and his wife, Gloria, have written many songs including:

 "The Longer I Serve Him,"

 "Because He Lives," 

"The King Is Coming,"

 "Sinner Saved By Grace", 

"Something Beautiful,"

 "He Touched Me", "It Is Finished," 

"Jesus, There's Something About That Name" 

"I'm Gonna Sing"

 and "Let's Just Praise The Lord." 

Do you have a favorite?

Gloria Gaither often writes the lyrics while Bill writes the music, although composing is usually a collaborative project between the two. As of 2005, they had composed 600 songs and by 2012, that number had increased to over 700. For more information, visit Bill Gaither (gospel_singer).

Something Beautiful

Words and Music by William J. and Gloria Gaither

Key: Eb

Time: 4/4

Chorus

Eb       Ebdim   Eb           Bb7     Bbdim  Bb7
Something beautiful, something good

  Fm(maj7) Fm7 Bb7  Eb    Eb7
All my confusion He understood;

Ab                                           Eb/Ab    Eb   D/G7  Cm
All I had to offer Him was brokenness and strife

Bb/Eb Ab6     Bb/Eb             Bb7                     Eb  Ab  Eb
But he made something beautiful of my life

Verse

               Eb                Ebmaj7
If there ever were dreams
                     Eb6          Ebdim
That were lofty and noble
Fm7                                                Bb7
They were my dreams at the start
                                       Fm (maj7)            Fm7
And the hopes for life's best were the hopes
             Bb7           Eb/Ab            Eb   Ebdim  Eb
That I harbored down deep in my heart
                Eb                            Ebmaj7
But my dreams turned to ashes
                Eb7                                         Ab                           Ab6
And my castles all crumbled, my fortune turned to loss
         Cm               F7              Cm7      F7
So I wrapped it all in the rags of life
        Bb/Fm7 Bb6  Bb/Fm  Bb/Eb  Bb7
And laid it at the cross

Chorus

(C) 1971 by William Gaither. Administered by Gaither Music Company

Chord Breakdown in the Song

Eb = Eb/BbEbG and EbBbEb/GBb

Ebdim = bb/AEbF#

Eb7 = EbBbEb/DbFBb and EbGBb/FBb

Eb/Ab = EbEb/CEbAb

Ebmaj7 = EbBbD/GBb

Bb7 = BbBb/AbDF and BbAb/DbF and BbAbBb/DFG

Bbdim = F/GC#E

Bb/Fm7 = Bb/EbAbC

Bb/Fm = Bb/CFAb

Bb/Eb = Bb/BbEbG

Bb6 = Bb/DGBb

Fm = FC/AbCFAb FC/FAb

Fm(maj7) = FCAb/CEAb

Fm7 = FC/CEbAb FEbF/AbC

F7 = FC/AEbF

Ab = AbEb/CEbBb

Ab6 = AbEbC/F

Cm = CBb/CEbG

Cm7 = CBb/EbG

Get several hours of  4 Free Videos and Sequence from HearandPlay.

All the best,

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

Harmony Accompanies Melody Carefully

Composers choose the notes or chords that accompany a melody carefully. This is called the harmony. Sometimes all the notes of a chord are played together; in other places they might be played one note at a time, as in arpeggios. Some harmony chords sound nice, and others can sound a bit ugly.

The stormy-sounding chords are called dissonant chords; they feel tense. They are important in music because they make you want to hear them change to a nice-sounding chord. They lead the music to somewhere else. The nice-sounding chords are called consonant. You usually want to have both in music to make it more interesting.

Consonant, Calm

G-B-D Chord

Db Eb Gb Ab Bb C D E F G A B C

Db Eb Gb Ab Bb C D E F G A B C

A-C#-E Chord

Db Eb Gb Ab Bb C D E F G A B C

Db Eb Gb Ab Bb C D E F G A B C

Harmony provides the emotions in music. It can make the music sound happy, sad, calm, angry, and any other emotion you can think of. Look at your piano music and see if you can name an emotion for each piece. Is it happy, sad, impatient?

Dissonant, Uneasy

G-A-Bb

Db Eb Gb Ab Bb C D E F G A B C

Db Eb Gb Ab Bb C D E F G A B C

F-Bb-E

Db Eb Gb Ab Bb C D E F G A B C

Db Eb Gb Ab Bb C D E F G A B C

You can make a chord from every note in a scale by adding thirds to it. To name these chords, musicians use Roman numerals, such as I ii iii IV V. When the chord is major, the Roman numerals are capital letters, and when the chord is minor, the numerals are small letters. The chords also have English names like tonic, dominant, and mediant.


Composers often use specific combinations of these chords in the harmony for their music. When they use the chords in one of these patterns, we call it a chord progression. Probably the most famous chord progression is the Amen that concludes a hymn. It uses the chord from the 4th note in the scale and the first chord (or tonic).

Db Eb Gb Ab Bb C D E F G A B C

Db Eb Gb Ab Bb C D E F G A B C

IV Chord = FAC  (A - men)

Db Eb Gb Ab Bb C D E F G A B C

Db Eb Gb Ab Bb C D E F G A B C

I Chord = CEGC (A-men)

This example is based on the C major scale but the chords can be based on other scales as well. Another important chord progression that is heard in almost all rock and roll music is the I-IV-V-I. Hundreds of songs use only these three chords. (CEG / FAC / GBD)

On my other blog, I have a post on chord extensions and keyboard voicings, Chords and Harmony

You may be interested in taking a look at Hear and Play offering Gospel Keys Ministry Musician 1 featuring Jason White. He teaches gospel piano chords.

photo credit: second sax lesson via photopin (license)

Wishing you a Happy 4th!

Blessings,






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

Learn Lookin' Out for Me: Kirk Franklin

The Rebirth of Kirk Franklin (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

 Here's a slow groove song, in the Key of Ab, Lookin' Out for Me by Kirk Franklin.

Intro

Bb13,  C7(#5 b9),  Ab13,  Bb13, C7(#5b9), Ab13, Bb13, C7(#5b9), Fm, Bbm7 Ab

Ab13 
Every time I look back 
                        Bb13 
And every time I think back 
Bb 
On all the stuff I been through 
                              
I prayed through I cried through 
C7(#5b9)          Ab13                             Bb13                                   
And then I tried you and just when I was about to fall 
                               C7(#5b9)                       
Your love caught me when your name I called 
Fm         Gm/Bb Fm/Bb    Bbm7     Ab       
Jesus you keep on looking out for me 
Ab13              
Remember when the doctor said 
                              Bb13  
He said he couldn't help you and 
                                                    
Remember when the money was getting low 
                           C7(#5b9) 
You're hurtin' now you're feelin' low and 
    Ab13                         
Just when you thought the night would never end 
Bb13                          C7(#5b9)                                   
The sun came out now you can smile again 
Fm         Gm/Bb Fm/Bb    Bbm7   Ab 
Jesus you keep on look-in' out for me 
Ab7      Bb/Ab    Dbm6/Ab    Ab     
You keep on lookin out for me (repeat 3x's) 
Fm/Bb        Fm/D    Db/Eb Db/Gb C7(#9)
In spite of all I've done 
Fm7   Bb13                Db/Eb   Ab
Jesus you keep on look-in out for me 
Ab13        
I shouldn't be here today 
                                         Bb13                               
And when I look back on all my mistakes if it hadn't been for your grace 
                   C7(#5b9)
I don't know where I'd be where I'd go 
Ab13                                  
Who can love me like you do 
 Bb13                        C7(#5b9)
And who can hold me when I'm goin' through? 
Fm         Gm/Bb Fm/Bb   Bbm7    Ab
Jesus you keep on lookin out for me
 

Ab7         Bb/Ab   Dbm6/Ab   Ab
You keep on look-in' out for me
Ab7        Bb/Ab   Dbm6/Ab  Ab
You keep on lookin out for me.

Ab7         Bb/Ab   Dbm6/Ab   Ab
You keep on look-in' out for me
Ab7        Bb/Ab   Dbm6/Ab  Ab
You keep on lookin out for me.

Fm/Bb    Fm/D    Db/Eb  Db/Gb C7(#9)
In spite of all I've done, oh.

Fm7    Bb13             Db/Eb  Dbm6/Eb
Je-sus, You keep on lookin' out for me.

Ab7
Jesus, Jesus, yeah!

Listen to the song on YouTube with it's cool rhythm and great sounding chords.

Chord Breakdown

Here's some slash chords used throughout the song, in no particular order from my copy of

The Rebirth of Kirk Franklin (Songbooks and Folios)

L.H. / R.H.

Bb13 = Bb/AbDG

C7(#5b9) = C/BbFbAbDb

Ab13 = Ab/GbCF

Fm = F/CEbFAb

Bbm7 = Ab/DbFBb

Ab = Ab/CEbAb

Gm/Bb = Bb/DGBb, DbGbBbb

Fm/Bb = Bb/CFAb

Ab7 = Ab/GbCEb

Bb/Ab = Ab/FBbD

Dbm6/Ab = Ab/FbBbDb

Fm/D = D/AbCF

Db/Eb = Eb/DbFAb

Db/Gb = Gb/AbDbF

C7(#9) = C/EBbEb

Fm7 = F/CEbAb

Eb/Db = Eb/DbFAb

Get the CD,  The Rebirth of Kirk Franklin

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

Related articles

• Learn To Play Smile: More Kirk Franklin Songs
• Kirk Franklin: Free
• Kirk Franklin- Awesome God
• Book Review: The Blueprint by Kirk Franklin

The Blood Song: Kirk Franklin

The Rebirth of Kirk Franklin (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

I am a huge fan of Kirk Franklin and you'll notice that I have organized some of his songs in alphabetical order to the right of this post on the side bar. This particular song, The Blood Song performed by Crystal Lewis, Jaci Velasquez, Donnie McClurkin with Kirk Franklin, was written in 2002. It's written in the Key of Eb, played freely with 4/4 time signature.

I was fortunate to be on the same stage with the Praise Band when Crystal Lewis performed at New Venture Christian Fellowship in Oceanside, California. She's a beautiful person with a warm personality and a fantastic, dynamic singer.  I have been in a Gospel Choir before and LOVE Gospel music!

I'm also a huge fan of Jaci Velasquez. Here I am playing her song, Imagine Me Without You.

Are you familiar with The Blood Song? Here is a clip from YouTube:

Chord Chart

Here's the  arrangement of slash chords with solo and choir parts.

L.H. / R.H.

Solo 1


Eb/BbGBb - YOU HAVE THE

Eb/CAbBb - POWER TO
 
D/BbFB - MAKE THE

C/BbEbG  - SEASONS

A/FGA - CHANGE

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Ab/GCEb  - THE RIVERS

CG/BbEbF  - FLOW FOR YOU

D/BbF - THE WIND

Eb/EbG  - WHISPERS YOUR
 
Bb/AbDbF - NAME

Eb/DbFBb - FOR ME YOU LEFT YOUR

E/BbCG - THRONE AND TRADED

F/CFAb - CROWN FOR

Eb/GBbEb - THORNS

Db/AbCF - INSTEAD, I'M

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

C/DEbBb - SAVED WITH

B/F#AD - IN NOT

Bb/AbDbF - BY YOUR

A/GDbEb - SKIN, BUT BE-

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Ab/CEb  - CAUSE

G/Bb - YOUR

F/AEb - BLOOD
 
Bb/Ab

EbBb/G - WAS MADE

EbC/Ab - RED

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Solo 2

EbBb/FG - SOME SAY YOU'RE BLACK

 EbC/  - YOU'RE WHITE

D/BbF  - THEY QUESTION 

C/BbEbG - IF YOU'RE

AG/FC - REAL, WE

AbEbBb/EbBb - TREAT YOU LIKE WE

CG/EbBb - TREAT OURSELVES I

D/FBb - WONDER 

Eb/BbEbG - HOW YOU

BbFAb/DbFBb - FEEL. To

Duet

Eb/DbFBb -  SEE YOUR CHILDREN

E/CGC - FIGHT IN SPITE THE

Solo 2

F/FAb - TEARS FOR

Eb/FG - US YOU

Solo 1 (ad lib fill) ...

Db/AbEbF - SHED

C/EBFBb - DOESN'T

B/AD#A - MATTER WHAT

Bb/FAbDbEb - COLOR YOU

A/GDbEb - ARE AS

Ab/CEb - LONG AS

G/Bb - YOUR

F/AEb - BLOOD

Bb/Ab - WAS

EbBb/GEb - RED. FOR IT'S

* 2nd time: Stronger feel
   2nd time : Solo ad lib

D/BbFBb - STRONG ENOUGH TO

Ab/AbC - WASH

Ab/FBbD - AWAY MY

G/BbEbBb - SINS

D/BbF - PURE

C/BbEbG - ENOUGH TO

F/FAbC - CLEANSE ME 

Bb/FBbD - DEEP 

Eb/GBbEb - WITHIN

F/BbDF - REAL

GF/BEbG - ENOUGH TO

Ab/AbCEb - FIND ME

B/FDF - WHEN I'M

C/BbEbG - LOST

Bb/FDbF - GREAT

A/GDbEb - ENOUGH TO

A/GCEb - DIE

Bb/AbCEb - UPON THE

Eb/ GBbEb - CROSS (2nd time to Coda)

 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

C/BbDEbG - DOESN'T

B/ADF# - MATTER WHAT

Bb/ADbF - COLOR YOU

A/GDbEb - ARE, (NO JESUS)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Ab/CEb - AS LONG

G/BbEb - AS YOUR

F/AEb - BLOOD

Bb/AbEb - WAS

Eb/GEb - RED

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 F/AbBbEb

Solo 2


Eb/GBbEb - WE MAY BE

EbC/AbBbEb - DIFFERENT BUT

D/BbF - THE GOD WE

C/GBbEb - SERVE'S THE

A/FGC - SAME

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Ab/GCEb - EVERY SUNDAY WE

C/BbDF - SEPARATE

D/BbF - BRING THE

Eb/BbEbG - FATHER

Bb/FAbDbF - PAIN

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Choir

Eb/FDbF - BUT YOUR NAME IS HIGHER THAN ANY

E/BbCG - OTHER, YET YOU

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

F/CEbAb - TOOK MY

Eb/BbEbG - PLACE IN-

Db/AbCF - STEAD

Solo 1 (ad lib fill)


C/GBbEb -  AND NOW MY

B/F#AEb - SINS ARE WASHED

Bb/FAbDbEb - A

A/GDbEb - WAY

Ab/CEb  - BE

G/B - CAUSE YOUR

F/AEb - BLOOD

Bb/Ab - WAS

Eb/ GBbEb - RED * Back to the star then Coda*

Coda

Eb/GBbEb
GF/EbGB
CC/CEbGC
BB/DGD - DOESN'T MATTER WHAT
BbBb/AbDbF - COLOR YOU
A/G/DbEb - ARE AS
Ab/CEb - LONG AS
G/BbEb YOUR
F/AEb - BLOOD
Bb/AbEb - WAS
Eb/GBbEb - RED

The rest of the song is the old hymn


EbEb/ BbEbGBb - OH!

FEb/AbCEbG - PRECIOUS

GF/BbEbG - IS THE
 
GF/BbEbG - FLOW
AF/CEbG
 
Bb/BbDF - THAT

Ab/BbDF - MAKES ME

GEb/BbFG - WHITE AS

Bb/EbFBb SNOW
Ab/DFBb

GEb/BbEbBb - NO

AbEb/GCEbG - OTHER 
AbF/FBbDF

G/GBbEbG - FOUNT I

Bb/AbCEbG - KNOW
B/AbDF
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
C/GCEbG - DOESN'T

B/GDG - MATTER WHAT

Bb/AbDbF - COLOR YOU

A/GDbEb - ARE AS

Ab/AbCEb -  LONG AS YOUR 

Bb/Ab/CEb - BLOOD WAS RED
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Solo 2

D/GACEb - YEAH
G/BF - YEAH

C/GBbEb - DOESN'T

FC/FEb - MATTER WHAT

Bb/AbDbF - COLOR YOU ARE

A/GDbEb - AS
Ab/CEb - LONG AS
G/BbEb - YOUR
F/AbEb - BLOOD
Eb/GEb - WAS 
D/F#CF - RED
G/GBF
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Solo 2

C/GBbDF - IT DOESN'T

Cb/ADbEb - MATTER

Bb/AbDbEb - WHAT COLOR I 

A/GDbEb - AM AS

Ab/CEb - LONG AS

G/BbEb - YOUR

F/AEb - BLOOD

Bb/AbEb - WAS

Eb/GBbEb - RED
 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

F/EbAbC
Bb/DGBb
Bb/DbFAb
EbBb/GBbEb


Yes, it's a long post of the piano chords but it's such an awesome song! If you want, you can order the CD, The Rebirth of Kirk Franklin from Amazon. Do you have a favorite Kirk Franklin song?

If you enjoyed this blog post, please consider following on Bloglovin'
Keep in touch with me on Twitter, Facebook, Google+, YouTube and Pinterest, too!


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

Related articles

• Kirk Franklin- Awesome God
• Kirk Franklin: Don't Cry (chords)
• Learn To Play Smile: More Kirk Franklin Songs
• Kirk Franklin: Free
• Book Review: The Blueprint by Kirk Franklin