LadyDpiano: play piano by ear

Showing posts with label play piano by ear. Show all posts

How To Accompany a Singer on the Piano

I wanted to share a great tutorial about backing up a singer on the piano. Whether you're playing for your church or doing a gig, the tips in this video lesson are important to understand. You want to follow the singer and play some beautiful parts on the keys without playing the exact melody line he or she is singing. Plus, no loud chords of banging in the lower register. I especially like PianoFellow's input on adding ninth chords such as C2, F2, and G2. Enjoy hearing his style of worship and blues behind a singer. Visit his website for more information:
http://www.thepianobyear.com

In this video PianoFellow will show you HOW to accompany someone who

is singing. It's a quick video that's detailed yet simple... good instructional video.

All the best,
LadyD

Four Videos for Free on Playing Piano By Ear (and More)

(de) Klavier, Tastatur; (en) piano, keys.

Image via Wikipedia

Jermaine Griggs, the founder of http://www.hearandplay.com is reintroducing his great music resource offers, that is piano dvds, once again. I wrote a post awhile back on these excellent resources and if you missed it, here it is again:
http://ladydpiano.blogspot.com/2009/11/musician-transformation-collection.html

You can also see Jermaine and Sarah Grigg's new addition. Stop by his blog:
http://www.hearandplay.com/main/

VIDEO LESSON #1 - “Finding the key to any song”
If you ask any ear-musician, this skill will be at the center
If you can’t determine what key a song is being performed in just by listening, you’ll have many problems down the road (at least when it comes to playing by EAR in situations where you need to “think on your feet.”)
This is the most “intuitive” of all the skills and knowledge you’ll attain. It’s not like reading sheet music where you look at the grand staff and determine what key the piece is in by the number of flats or sharps that appear at the beginning of the music.
YOU DON’T HAVE MUSIC IN FRONT OF YOU.
No reference.
Just your ear.
This video will make it plain… Note: If you really like what I talked about, I have an 80-minute course that covers finding the key to any song. You can find it here.

VIDEO LESSON #2 - “The KEY to getting to the next level in your piano”
This next lesson reveals a very important STRATEGY you MUST have as an ear-musician.
Again, if you’re reading sheet music, this probably isn’t emphasized as much… but when it comes to playing by ear, “NUMBERS” rule.
And your ability to know your numbers “inside” and “out” will determine how far you get… and how fast you get there.
If you have no idea what I’m talking about, check out the next lesson below. There is also a 28-pg report that goes along with it.
(You may also find my “core fundamentals” courses helpful)

VIDEO LESSON #3 - “The SECRET to playing ANY and EVERY chord you want in SECONDS”
This next lesson will take you even further…
It borrows a very familiar concept from the car industry (popularized by Henry Ford in the early 1900’s) and adapts it to music!
It’s the very next logical step in the process and you’ll get it laid out for you plainly in this video…
(there is a 14 page report included at the bottom of the video)
If this topic interests you, then you may like my “hear & play chords” series.
RESOURCE: Click here to download the free 14-pg report that goes along with this video lesson.

VIDEO LESSON #4 - “The MISSING PIECE OF THE PUZZLE to playing almost any song out there”
This last video could arguably be the MOST IMPORTANT part when it comes to learning real songs and understanding just how closely related songs are (yes… all songs follow the same general patterns and principles — this video will reveal all of this to you…)
There’s also a 12-pg report that goes along with it…
RESOURCE: Click here to download the free 12-pg report that goes along with this video lesson.
(If you’re into gospel music, GospelKeys 202 really breaks down the idea of “patterns.” 70 to 80% of songs have the same common movements in them. This course is revolutionary in that it breaks down all these patterns and covers the “how,” “what,” and “why.” Click here for more information)

Resources:
http://www.hearandplay.com/findingkey.html

All the best,
LadyD

Learn To Play Piano By Ear Harmonizing Melodies With Chords

Here 's my review for HearandPlay's GospelKeys 101 Dvd

Great Beginning- GospelKeys101

I love GospelKeys101!!!Here's an outline of the Dvd:

1. How To Instantly Figure Out Chords To Simple Melodies
(How to put chords behind certain notes)
A. Determine The Melody
B. Harmonize The Melody
C. Adding The Bass

2. Songs You'll Be Playing Right Away
A. Kumbayah, Jesus Love Me
B. Wheels On The Bus, Mary's Lamb

3. Inversions
(Different Ways To Play Chords

4. Primary Chords
( I IV V )

5. Exercises

6. Bass Techniques

I highly recommend this Dvd for those who want to play without sheet music!

http://zone.hearandplay.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=Review&file=index&req=showcontent&id=187

This Dvd will teach you everything you need to know to get started playing basic hymns and congregational songs by ear. If you're a beginner and would like your very own gospel piano teacher on dvd, this course is definitely for you! This dvd course moves at a very comfortable pace and leaves no questions unanswered.

Step One: Determining the Melody

Step Two: Harmonizing the Melody

Step Three: Adding the Bass

These three steps are not super complicated theories that require several years of experience. In fact, they were designed for the total beginner with absolutely no musical experience.

What most people don't understand is that most songs follow patterns. If you've been mistakenly learning songs, one by one, you're only exercising your ability to MEMORIZE chords --- and that's exactly why it takes SO LONG to learn just one song.

BUT...

If you concentrate on LEARNING PATTERNS, you'll never go wrong because songs are built on repeating patterns. You should NEVER
EVER have to memorize over 100 songs when they all share the same exact CHORDS, PROGRESSIONS, AND PATTERNS.

Click Here, GospelKeys101

* Learn To Play Piano By Ear Harmonizing Melodies With Chords

This harmonization scale technique that I've learned from this "Gospel Keys 101" DVD has helped me A LOT to instantly play songs by ear. Anyone can pick up a melody, but learning how to harmonize it with chords. After I learned the "Harmonization Scale" from this video, I was surprised how quickly I put chords and bass to the melody, resulting in full-sounding songs. This Harmonization Scale is also taught in their best selling 300 pg piano course:

Click Here, 300 Page Piano Course

* Gospel Keys 101: The Secret To Playing Hymns!

The GospelKeysTM 101 Series dvd course will teach you everything you need to know to get started playing basic hymns and congregational songs. I will show you, step-by-step, how to harmonize every single tone of the major scale. AND since songs are based on melodies (and melodies are based on major scales), you'll be able to harmonize MOST songs.

Play By Ear- Imagine Me by Kirk Franklin

"Imagine Me" by Kirk Franklin is a very pretty song from the Hero album.
The song is in the Key of C and you'll hear a repeated pattern of just 4 chords:
F E B C

Jermaine Griggs has a great tutorial on the song, Imagine Me. He is a great teacher and you'll learn to play this song by ear. He goes on to explain:
1. Find The Key
A home-base chord doesn't need to resolve.
A key that you can hold down through the whole song.
2. Determine The Melody
C chord ends the phrase.
3. Recognize The Pattern
F C G (IV to I) (V to I)
4. Determine Correct Chords
Mostly Major Chords
Then take the song to any key.

* Chord Chart To Imagine Me

"Imagine Me" by: Kirk Franklin
Key C LH/RH

Part 1:

*F / G, F, C *everything starts above middle C, notes played backwards
/ G, F, C
E / G, E, C
/ G, E, C
/ G, E, C, G
(repeat 2x)

B / G, F
/ *G, B, D, G *1st G drops an octave, then goes up
C / G-D, E *slide D to E

Part 2:

B / G-D
A / E-*A-C *A is optional
(don't know all the single notes here)
B / G-*B-D *B is optional
C / G-D, E *slide D to E
/ D, E
D / A-*D-F *D is optional
C / G-*C-E *C is optional
Bb / F-G-A-C

Part 3:

F / G, F, C *everything drops an octave from beginning, notes played backwards
/ G, F, C
E / G, E, C
/ G, E, C
/ G, E, C, G
B / G, D, B
/ G, D, B
G / Bb-D-F, F
C / G-C-E
F / G, F, C
/ G, F, C
E / G, E, C
/ G, E, C
/ G, E, C, G
B / G, F
/ *G, B, D, G *1st G drops an octave, then goes up
C / G-D, E *slide D to E

* Kirk Franklin: Imagine Me piano cover By David Sides

Gospel

Kirk Franklin - Hero By Kirk Franklin. This edition: 306771. Piano/Vocal/Chords Songbook (Arrangements for piano and voice with guitar chords). 128 pages. Published by Hal Leonard. (306771)
See more info...

http://www.LadyDpiano.com

Learn Songs By Ear

How do I go about learning a song by ear?

Here's my answer to the question. When I listen to songs...

1. Find the melody (some of it first) and listen for where a song resolves. For example, at the end of the verse, you can hear the I chord (one chord) or the "tonic" chord. That tells you the key the song is in. When you know the key, then you can figure out the progressions from there, usually. And, it just takes time to hear major or minor keys.

2. Next, listen for bass notes. Most of the time you can hear the bottom the best, and then you figure out what chords will go with that bass note. I can hear "suspended" chords well (C F G) and augmented chords(a chord w/a sharp 5th) for instance C(#5) is C E G#. I can also hear a bass note with a different chord over it, for instance C\G = LH/RH G\C E G. Listen for your bass notes. Once you have your bass notes and a pattern, go from there.

3. Organization is the key. Type out the words, while listening to the CD. Stop, start, stop, and start. Get all the words typed out with space in between each line to write. This way, you can see and hear, the verses, choruses and vamps. So many songs are so much alike (at least very similar) that once you start to really engage your ears, you find you can play one song, and you can play 4 or 5 others you like.

4. Successful ear players have a plan, and a method. Find your own method. I need to "hear" things over and over, hearing the patterns, the chords, and paying attention to what's repetitive in the song.

5. Harmonize the melody. The melody note, that is the soprano part if it's a choir singing. Build your chord beneath that melody note and you have the choir parts too!

So, is it possible to Play The Piano By Ear?

* Yes, the ability to play a piece of music is simply listening to it repeatedly!

* Repetition is a great way to understand a song and chord structure.

* Figuring out the notes and rhythms to a song helps you to learn how to effectively structure a song in that particular genre.

* Playing by ear is also beneficial in helping a musician develop his or her own style; creating something distinctive, something indicative of them only.

* Learning music is the same as learning a language; it's acquired by years of hearing it, eventually coupled with formal training.

* Anyone can learn enough about the basics of playing by ear if they learn the following skills:

Being able to hear a tune and have a general sense of the contour of the melody -- when the tune moves higher or lower as the song progresses.

Learning to chart that melody contour either on paper or in their memory.(as mentioned earlier).

Learning to match the melody to appropriate chords.

Playing by ear is really a combination of three factors:

1. Using your tonal memory to recall music you have heard:

2. Using your ears and fingers to help you reproduce what you recall;

3. Using "melody contour" (the "shape" of the tune), "chord structure" (how to form the chords on the keyboard to match the tune), and "chord progressions" (the path chords take as they move through a song).

The real key to playing by ear is learning how to chart the shape of a tune, learn how to construct chords, and then determine the likelihood of chord progressions -- in other words, which chord comes next.

I have purchased these resources from HearandPlay and believe these are the best Books, Cds and Dvds on learning how to play a song by ear. Read more here and order today if you're serious about learning how to play a song by ear!

Learn To play By Ear

Learn To Play Any Song By Ear

Learn Chords

http://www.LadyDpiano.com

Jazz Piano Links

I always listen to Jazz, play Jazz and love Jazz!
I have found some great resources on the net that I wanted to share with you. Take a look at these links for jazz music, jazz dvds, jazz chords, jazz progressions, jazz scales, and jazz videos.

Willie Myette

http://www.jazzpianolessons.com

Jazz Chord Charts

http://www.realbook.us/

Scot Ranney

http://www.learnjazzpiano.com

Blues Jazz Piano

http://www.bluesjazzpiano.com/

JMP

http://www.jazzmediapress.com/

Jazz Theory For Beginners

http://www.petethomas.co.uk/

Jazz Piano.com

http://jazzpiano.com

Detroit JazzStage

http://www.jazzstage.us

Jazz Chords

http://forums.musictoyz.com/

Jazz Piano Lessons- San Diego

http://www.apassion4jazz.net/piano_lessons.html

Jazz Practice Loops

http://www.jazzpracticeloops.com/loops/251.htm

All About Jazz

http://www.allaboutjazz.com

Online Interactive Streaming Video Jazz Lessons

http://www.jazzpianoonline.com/

James Wurbel

http://www.LadyDpiano.com

5 Tips- How To Find The Major Key of A Song By Ear

5 Tips To Help Find The Major Key of A Song By Ear!

1) Listen for the note that you can sing consistently throughout the whole song.

2) The major key (when trying to find it by ear) is the note that gives you a feeling of "home base" ... a feeling of rest and calmness. Train your ear by trying to play songs you can sing from memory on the piano. First, determine what key the song is in by finding which note the song seems to resolve on. This note is known as the tonic.

3) If the song were going to come to an end, what chord would it be?

4) Try playing octave bass notes in your left hand at the end of the song to determine what key you are in.

5) If you are not 100% sure you are singing the right note, try singing a fourth up to see if that's a better match.

Learn how to quickly recognize what key a chord progression is being played in --- regardless of its complexity!
Learn how to listen to a chord and within seconds, figure out what type of chord is being played!

A great technique to play a song by ear is to listen to the bass notes that are being played in a song. After you figure out the bass notes, then figure out the chords. Most of the time the bass notes correspond w/ chords (usually major or minor) that have that bass note as the root note of chord (except when it's a slash chord ie C/E would be C chord w/ E bass). A lot of times when the bass note is different note than the root note of the chord, it's usually another note in the same chord (ie E is another note in the C chord). If the chord that's being played w/the bass note sounds "happy" you can figure it's a major chord. If the chord sounds "sad", it's probably a minor or diminished chord.

Watch the bass notes that the guitar guy is playing in the band. You can figure out a lot of the chords.
i.e. if he's playing G C D bass notes a lot in a song, you can figure that he's playing in the key of G b/c C and D are the 4 and 5 of the key and G is the 1. A lot of times you'll find the 1, 4, and 5 of a key in the bass notes of a song. The main thing is to look for the 4 and 5 which are a whole step apart.

PRACTICE FINDING THE MAJOR KEY TO A SONG:

Use this online tool to find major keys when you're away from a piano.

http://www.pianoworld.com/fun/javapiano/javapiano.htm

Next, go to
http://www.TowerRecords.com and type in any song. You can get a 30 second sample of it. They have a wide selection to choose from,knowing the title of the song or the album.

Jermaine Griggs, the founder of HearandPlay.com, suggests the following:

"Then...

1) Listen for the note that you can sing consistently throughout the whole song.

2) The major key (when trying to find it by ear) is the note that gives you a feeling of "home base" ... a feeling of rest and calmness.

3) If the song were going to come to an end, what chord would it be? How would you hum it? In "Happy Birthday to you," you're looking for the final "YOUUUUUUUUU!"

4) Remember "Do RE MI FA SOL LA TI DO?" Well, the key that you're looking for is "DO." So as you listen to the song, try to sing "DO."

5) If you are not 100% sure you are singing the right note, try singing a fourth up to see if that's a better match. In the nursery rhyme, "The wheels on the bus go round and round," this would be like singing "The---wheels." Perhaps, wheels is the key you should be singing but you are incorrectly singing "the" when it is not the key (the tonic).

Try these to get started."

I highly recommend all of the HearandPlay music resources. I have been using them for years, incorporating them in my piano lessons, to help students play by ear. This is a very well-worth stop, so visit the H&P Blog and hear it from the professional, play-by-ear guru himself, Jermaine Griggs! You'll be glad you did!

http://www.hearandplay.com/main/tag/key-center

http://www.LadyDpiano.com

Hey Jude

Hey Jude (original title: The Beatles Again) is a 1970 collection of non-album Beatles singles and B-sides, as well as "I Should Have Known Better" and "Can't Buy Me Love", two singles released by Capitol Records whose only previous American album appearance had been on the A Hard Day's Night soundtrack album which had been released by United Artists Records.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hey_Jude_(album)

English rock band The Beatles that was recorded in 1968. Originally titled "Hey Jules", the ballad was written by Paul McCartney—and credited to Lennon/McCartney—to comfort John Lennon's son Julian during his parents' divorce. "Hey Jude" begins with a verse-bridge structure based around McCartney's vocal performance and piano accompaniment; further details are added as the song progresses to distinguish sections. After the fourth verse, the song shifts to a fade-out coda that lasts for more than four minutes.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hey_Jude
I have included the Na-Na-Na-Na
part in the chord chart below. Rock on my piano friends!

Thousands of listeners, all being Beatles fans, have downloaded or purchased this very popular song:

http://www.last.fm/music/The+Beatles/_/Hey+Jude

For those who would like to download many of your favorite Beatle songs, musicnotes.com will give you the first page of sheet music for free:

http://www.musicnotes.com/features/artists/beatles/

Hey Jude is in the Key of F. Here's the chord chart:

F F/ACF
C C/GCE
C C/GBbD
F F/ACF
Bb Bb/FBbD
F F/ACF
C C/ACF
* * * * * *
F-E-Eb (r.h. single notes)
Bb Bb/DF
A A/DF
G G/BbDG
F F/BbDG
E E/GCE
C C/GBbE
F F/ACF
* * * * * *
F/ A-C-Eb
C G/ CE- DF- EG-EG-EG FA-GBb
* * * * * *
E-F/ Ab-A/ B-C/ E-F/ Ab-A/ B-C/F end on F chord
* * * * * *
F F/ACF
Eb Eb/GBbEbF
Bb Bb/FBbDF
F F/ACF

Watch this tutorial of Hey Jude. You'll soon be jamming away with the song! Thank you pianojohn for teaching us
Hey Jude in the Key of F with great rhythm, bass walk downs and then cutting loose on the na-na-na-na part for everyone to join in!

http://www.LadyDpiano.com

2- 5- 1 Chord Progression

In teaching my students over the years to play by ear and put aside their sheet music, we learn to play chord progressions. It is very important to learn music theory!
"If you listen to music, you've definitely heard a "2-5-1" progression. They are found in just about any type of music --- regardless of style, genre, or rhythmical pattern. It is commonly the series of chords that end a song or phrase. In this chord progression, the 2 chord leads to the 5 chord which in turn, produces a strong pull towards the ending chord (which is usually the 1st major chord of the scale)". For more info on this progression
http://www.learngospelmusic.com/articles/view.php?1gmid=85
Perhaps, yes I think I will post the rest of the article here because I refer to it often to help others.
"Let me start by showing you what chords correspond to each tone of a major scale:
1 tone - Major
2 tone - minor
3 tone - minor
4 tone - Major
5 tone - Major (dominant)
6 tone - minor
7 tone - Half Diminished
To understand the chart above, you must understand that each tone of a major scale has a chord that goes along with it. For example, the following is a C major scale:
(C -- D -- E -- F -- G -- A -- B -- C)
Each tone above has a matching chord. Simply add the endings of the chart above to the scale as shown below:
>C MAJOR< >D MINOR< >E MINOR< >F MAJOR< >G MAJOR / DOM< >A MINOR< >B HALF-DIMINISHED< href="http://www.hearandplay.com/at.cgi/441295">
Learn to Play the Piano By Ear
On page 185, you'll be able to study the 2 5 1 chord progression.
To further understand progressions, lets number each chord:
1 = C Major
2 = D minor
3 = E minor
4 = F Major
5 = G dominant
6 = A minor
7 = B half - diminished
8 = C Major
Now, to create a "2-5-1" chord progression (or any numbered chord progression), simply take the 2, 5, and 1 chord out of the entire series of chords above. That is, we would not use the 3,4, 6, or 7th chord.
The 2 chord is D minor; the 5 chord is G dominant; and the 1 chord is C Major.
Here is the most basic "2-5-1" chord progression:
Dmin --- Gdom --- Cmaj
min = minor
dom = dominant
Maj = major
D minor chord = (D) + (F) + (A)
G dominant chord = (G) + (B) + (D) + (F)
C Major chord = (C) + (E) + (G)
Example: To play a D minor chord simply play all three of the notes shown above at the same time (D+F+A)
If you want to learn Churchy 2-5-1 Chord Progressions, and Contemporary 2-5-1 Chord Progression, you'll be stretching your fingers and adding the ninth tone!
Play Shouting Music Today!
Progressions are just a way to get the harmony to support the melody. In any key if your melody sticks to the key you are in:
I chord will harmonize three notes, V chord will harmonize two additional notes and the IV chord will harmonize the remaining two notes. So the I IV V chords will harmonize every note in a given melody providing it stays in key.
You can replace the 2 chord for the 4 chord. So now we get the 2 5 1. You can expand the one chord if you are sitting on it for a while
and can play different bass notes under to help create motion. That is where we get the 1 3 6 2 5 1.
The 6 chord and the 3 chord fill in for the 1 chord. And the 7 fills in for the 5 chord. The 6 chord can also lead to the 4 chord. All this may seem confusing but it all starts with the one chord, the 5 chord and the 4r chord.
If you just use these three chords you can play with most songs.
When you get more advance you can use the 2 5 1 as a little intro to each new chord you will play. So to introduce the one chord you play 2 5 and then 1. When you want to go to the four chord, you introduce it by playing a 2 5 1 in the key of the 4 chord.
So, if you were in the key of C and you want to go to the F, you introduce the F by playing G min7, C7 and Fmaj (2 5 1)
So, now you have it! 2 5 1 are derived from 4 5 1 and they have over time become embellishments and static chords to rest on to support the melody.
Jermaine Griggs, the founder of Hear and Play, offers a 2 5 1 chord progression lesson here:
http://www.hearandplay.com/sstpky98.html
While you're learning about progressions, why not take the opportunity to join one of the fastest growing on-line musician's community on the net? It's free to join. You'll be greeted by many fellow musicians who are learning to play piano by ear. I sincerely hope you'll join us!
http://zone.hearandplay.com/user.php?op=register&module=NS-NewUser&refid=3017

http://www.LadyDpiano.com

Chord System- Learning Piano

“ A SYSTEM “

WHAT IS IT? IT’S WHAT YOU NEED!

SCALES - 12 BASIC SCALES:

C- C#- D- Eb- E- F- F#- G- Ab- A- Bb- C

8 NOTES TO A SCALE

KEY C#- ( one note scale of the 12 )
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Root degrees C# Eb F F# Ab Bb C C#

The 3rd and 5th scale degrees are critical notes to chord types.
Chord Extension is the same chord types with notes added to change voicing- like adding the 7th.
Extensions never, ever, change types.........

Learn Piano By Ear

CHORDS - 8 NOTES ARE CONVERTED TO 8 CHORDS
RULES TO CHORDS - THERE ARE 4 TYPES OF CHORDS:
NAMES OF CHORD TYPES:
“MAJOR_MINOR_DIMINISHED_AUGMENTED”

60 Free piano Lessons

KEY C# -
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

(C#FAb) (EbF#Bb) (FAbC) (F#BbC#) (AbCEb) (BbC#F) (CebF#) (C#FAb)

MAJ MIN MIN MAJ MAJ MIN DIM MAJ

YOU PLAY THE ROOT NOTE OF SCALE IN LEFT HAND...
EX: C#/C#FAb

Learn Piano On Line

PROGRESSIONS - 4 basic progressions you need to know in every key scale.

Here is C# -

Eb/F#BbC#F____Ab/F#BbCEb___C#/FAbC# - 251
C/BbCEbF#____F/ACEbF_____Bb/AbCC#F - 736
A/F#BbBEb____C#/FBbBEb____F#/F#AbBbC# - 514
F/EbAbB_____Bb/AbC#DF#____Eb/F#BbC#F - 362

Now all these chords have names, and they consist of the different types, and extensions, as well as substitutes in some chords............these particular set of chords designed within this basic pattern of progressions are where we are going!

SUBSTITUTES - what makes a chord a substitute; is placement! The chord in and of itself is nothing more than one of the 4 types of chords. But as you move into putting chords and making progressions together, it’s hard to avoid subs.....subs enhance your playing....... all of this done in repetition will take you where you want to go!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

There are really two groups of piano players:

Those that play from a jam and do level of feeling and those that know all the rules and how they fit together.

Both musicians can arrive at the same point but they get there from different routes. That brings me to chord systems. Some players get these sounds naturally. Others need some guidance in order to get there.
There is no judgement here as to which is better. They are just different means to get to the same ends.

I wish I had a real intelligent answer as to what a chord system actually is but I don’t. So I will explain it this way… Let’s say you want to play chords in the left hand and solo in the right… there is a system of chords that facilitate this goal. Your left hand chords sound too muddy? Go to a system to show you how low certain formulas go.

You see a lot of complex chords but you don’t have enough fingers to play all the intervals. Systems offer a way to use your four or five fingers to play all the tensions… #11 b13 add 6 #9 b9 etc

You want to play bigger chords. How do you find which notes to add which ones to leave out?

Two hand voicing formulas are there for you.

You want to have real tight clusters. Again there are systems that deal with this.

In other words, whatever sound you want to have, there is a voicing system out there to help you achieve the sound you are looking for.

rootless left hand voicings
quartal voicings
lock hands voicings
open chord
clusters
combinations
These are all jazz systems that have been played in most contemporary styles.
If you want to add some polish to your chords or you want a more uniform sound, pick up a jazz book that deals with chord formulas and study them. The difference is not in how they look but how they are played. They all have the same keys and could all be played exactly the same way but if you did that you would not be getting the best out of all the instruments.

A piano uses hammers that strike strings which vibrate and resonate within the cabinet of the piano. Therefore you have to strike the keys firmly in order to produce good tone. Also because the strings vibrate, they create harmonic overtones that cannot be duplicated by an electronic instrument. If you are going to play piano, you have to have good technique because there are no string sounds or effects to cover up your mistakes.

Keyboards imitate other instruments like horns, pianos, organs, and strings. They are used to play everything from worship music to contemporary gospel. Musicians often layer bass guitar in their left hand while combining keys and horns or strings. Some keyboards have piano patches that sound almost as good as the real thing but overall if someone wants a keyboard player they want someone who can get the best out of a keyboard such as synthy sounds and layered sounds to emulate a band or a horn section.

Organ:
This instrument has foot pedals so it is common to play the bass lines with your feet and chords with your left and right hands and sometimes solo with your right hand. They also have over a million possible sounds by combining the draw bars in different ways. All the sounds still sound like an organ but the organ sounds are different… flute like, string like, etc.
Although they all have the same keys, your approach is very different. They have different roles.
So, learn all you can with different chord voicings and systems.

Learn to Play those foot-stomping Praise Songs on the organ!

http://www.LadyDpiano.com

Play Apologize by One Republic on Piano

I wasn't familiar with this song "Apologize" by One Republic until a piano student requested it. I did a Google search and I came up with this awesome video tutorial. What I especially like about the video is that the piano patterns are mapped out for you to play the song in both hands. It's a very nice piece and easy to play. Here's the vid, enjoy!

I can't get over how many young people are playing this song! His another video where he gives the fingering pattern:

This gentleman plays the same song on piano rather than keyboard, with much feeling expressed as an artist!

For those who read notes, take a peek inside for an easy arrangement of this song "Apologize"

http://www.sheetmusicplus.com/store/smp_detail.html

A very nice piece and easy to play the progressions, whether you play by ear or need the notes!

http://www.sheetmusicplus.com/store/smp_detail.html?item=17598195&cart=3428833571128615&cm_re=289.1.4-_-Results+Item-_-Title

For those who play by ear:

Am Fmaj13 C Em7/B Am Fmaj13 C Em7/B

http://www.LadyDpiano.com

How To Play By Ear- Mary's Lamb- Jazz Style

Mary Had A Little Lamb is a very easy song to play because you only need to know a few notes. If you read music, here are the right hand melody notes:

http://library.thinkquest.org/15060/data/lessons/less6/index2b.html
As I move deeper into discovering the authorship of this
English Folklore, I discovered Lowell Mason set the nursery rhyme to a melody in the 1830s, adding repetition in the verses.
http://www.answers.com/topic/mary-had-a-little-lamb
In order to remember any tune, simple or complex, over a long period of time, you can do two things. Listen to it often, so that it becomes as familiar as Mary Had A Little Lamb. If you find a written version of a tune you would like to learn, make a tape of yourself playing it from the music. If you listen to it often enough, you'll know what it's supposed to sound like, and will be able to tell if you're hitting the right notes when you try to play it. Play the tune often enough, and your fingers will start falling into place automatically.
Mary had a little lamb
3 2 1 2 3 3 3
little lamb, little lamb
2 2 2 3 5 5
Mary had a little lamb
3 2 1 2 3 3 3
its fleece was white as snow
3 2 2 3 2 1
Awhile back, I wrote an article on Harmonizing The Melody. This particular song is a good example to practice grabbing those extra notes in your right hand to this very familiar melody line.
http://EzineArticles.com/?id=1116717
There are many different ways to alter and change the sounds of Mary Had A Little Lamb. One excellent example of incorporating the Lydian Scale
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lydian_mode and adding G Diminished Arpeggio Chords
http://www.playpiano.com/101-tips/6-diminished.htm
rworthy says: "If You Know Your Scales and Arpeggios, You Can Turn a Child's Nursery Rhyme into a Sonata." Listen to his beautiful style and enjoy!

How to Practice Scales and Arpeggios to Play Piano With Precision and Feel!

http://www.sheep.com/sounds/LambSound_1.wav

How To Harmonize The Melody

http://www.LadyDpiano.com

Three Steps To Passing Chords

Passing Chords= Passing notes are non chord notes that lead from one chord note to another. They can be diatonic or chromatic; they can be in a melody or in a harmony part. If you read notes, then Pete Thomas explains passing chords with great illustrations:

http://www.petethomas.co.uk/jazz-passing-chords.html

Learn how to use cool Passing Tones, Turnaround Chords and Endings that Black Gospel And Jazz Music are so famous for. Any chord can be changed or altered, thereby changing its color, its sound.
http://www.jazzchrisitan.com/workbook-pages/passing-chords

The passing note fills in the gap between the two harmony notes in the chords before and after the passing note. The short duration and nature of the passing note does not create a feeling of a change of harmony. The passing chord is an extension of the passing note such that the duration of the passing note and the way the note sounds, in conjunction with other notes of the chord, creates a senses of a change in harmony.

There are three steps in getting passing chords to work for you. The first, is to learn how to simplify the changes down to their bare basics so you can hear the actual changes of the tune as you play through it. The second step is learning to play passing chords comfortably and in time to start with. Third step involves learning to hear where the bass line is going as this will key you in on where you need to go with the chords. As you have more and more experience listening to Jazz, and as you get more experience playing and used to playing with a more analytical ear, you'll eventually just naturally feel what's missing.

Here's an example of a song that uses passing chords:
I Don't Feel No Ways Tired
F/ACDF.....I
A/GCE.....don’t
F/ACDF....feel
Bb/BbCDF..no
C/BbDEG...ways
F/ACDF....tired
Bb/BbCDF...come too
A/GCE......far
D/ACDF....from where
G/BbDFG...I started
C/BbDEG....from
Db/BbDbEG...(passing chord)
D/ACDF......nobody
A/GCE.......told me
Bb/ACDF.....that the road
A/ACDF......would be easy
G,A,Bb,C/DbFGBb-CFA (alternate the chords with the bass LH)
C/CFA.......I don’t
A/CEG.......(passing chord)
D/CFA.......believe
G/DbFGBb.....He brought me this far
G,A,Bb,C/DbFGBb-CFA (alternate the chords with the bass LH)
C/CFA.......I don’t
A/CEG.......(passing chord)
D/CFA.......believe
G/DbFGBb.....He brought me this far
C/BbDFG......to leave
F/ACDF.......me

The Spirituals of Harry T. Burleigh: Low Voice Arranged by For Solo Voice By Harry T. Burleigh. For Voice. (Low Voice). Vocal Collection. Spiritual. Book. 208 pages. Published by Alfred Publishing. (EL03150)
See more info...

To sum it up, my dear friend James says:
"Passing chords are chords that move in between the main chords in a progression, but don't necessarily have the same strong PULL that a dominant or diminished chord may have by wanting to move up a perfect 4th or up a minor 2nd, respectively.

Here is an example of PASSING chords where each chord would represent 1 beat:

C - C - Dm7 - C/E - F. Notice the main chords are C and F. The Dm7 and C/E are just passing chords, but don't by themselves lead strongly in any direction.

Let me give you an example of a Dominant Chord being used as a passing chord. Suppose I was beginning on a C chord and heading to A7, just for fun I might insert a B7 and Bb7 on the way to A7. Even though these two are dominant 7 chords, in this setting, they would be just PASSING chords.

So whereas Dominant and Diminished chords my lead strongly to a certain chord, major or minor, passing chords are just "Passing Through" filling the space in between the main chords of a line to provide a little color." I think I'm getting the hang of passing chords.

http://www.LadyDpiano.com

Learn Chord Theory

There are courses aimed at teaching you everything you need to know to play chords by ear. From major, minor, diminished, and augmented to major sevenths, dominants, and half-diminished sevenths (and more). You will understand the "why" and "how"behind these chords.
Not only that, but you will learn how to apply them inreal situations and why the "circle of fifths" is so important to learning every song you've ever wanted to play.

Step-by-step, you'll learn how to form various types of chords: major, minor, diminished, augmented and the easy theory behind them. Do you know the classes of chords and the difference between triads,sevenths, ninths, elevenths, and thirteenths?

Do you know that notes create scales, scales create chords, and chords create progressions? Once you master this simple process, learning songs comes easy, even to a beginner!

How to form various types of seventh chords and why they
are so important in playing by ear. Why seventh chords are the foundation of many more extended chords like ninths, elevenths, thirteenths, and altered voicings.
9th, 11th and 13th chords all have a 7th in them. That is what makes them 9th, 11th or 13th. There are several different ways to form these chords, and everyone has their own tricks depending on how they like to voice the chords.

Here are some shortcuts to form these chords.

To play a ninth, play the root in your left hand. In your right, play a minor triad a fifth away from the root.

So here is C9

LH / RH

C -C / G Bb D

Here is F9

F - F / C Eb G

To form an 11th, just play the root with your left hand. With your right hand, play a major triad one whole step down from the root.

So to play a C 11, do this:

LH / RH

C - C / Bb D F

Here is an F11

F - F / Eb G Bb

Here is a G 11

G -G / F A C

To form a 13th, do the same thing except play the root and a sixth above the root in your left.

C13 = C-A / Bb D F
F 13 = F-D / Eb G Bb

The power of the "magic 3rd & 7th" and how manipulating
them can help you to instantly play dozens of chords in all twelve keys... very easily!

The concept of "tertian chords" versus "non-tertian" chords and how to form both types. Musicians that understand both kinds play a lot more interestingly and unpredictably than those that stick to regular chords.

While it's great to be able to "see" things in action,
sometimes, it's equally effective (if not
better) to only "hear" things and be able to relate to what you hear without seeing it.

If you're looking for a course that really spoon-feeds you the information and leaves absolutely nothing out, then Chords 101 and Chords 102 audio courses are definitely for you. Each course is approximately 2 hours long. Remember it's an Audio Course, not a dvd to watch. Take it with you in your car, i pod, stereo, or to the gym! Go ahead and rush over to

http://www.hearadnplay.com/441295/hpchords.html
and read the entire report.

http://www.LadyDpiano.com

Learn To Play By Ear

Three years ago I purchased a 300 page course book with cd called "The Secrets To Playing By Ear!" Learn To Play By Ear The author of the book Jermaine Griggs, is the founder of HearandPlay.com I joined his website embarking on a wonderful journey to learn how to play by ear.

Jermaine's theory is: "If you can hear it, you can play it." So, if you can hear the melody in your head, you can play it on your instrument. Coming from a background of reading notes, I would say that playing by ear is difficult at first, unless you were blessed with a special gift like Stevie Wonder! It takes practice to hear the melody of a song, determine it's key center and know what chords to play in your left hand.

Hear are 4 steps to learning how to play a song by ear!

4 Steps to
Learning How to Play Any Song on the Piano

1.
Determining the melody - Melodies determine what chords
will be played. If you can use your ear to figure out what
notes are being played in the melody, you are 1/4 on your
way to learning a song!
More resources on learning how to determine melodies

2.Harmonizing
the melody - Once you have figured out the melody (using
some of my techniques on the resource page), it is time to
harmonize it. This is simply choosing various chords to
accompany the melody. There are several techniques and
tricks to doing this.
More resources on learning how to harmonize melodies

3. Altering
Chords - This is the best part! Now that you have
strategically figured out the melody to a song and have
harmonized it, altering your chords to produce certain
sounds is the next step. If you were playing gospel music,
you would alter your chords differently than if you were
playing classical or country music.
More resources on altering chords

1. Listening
- After you have determined the melody, harmonized the
melody, and altered some of your chords, there are various
techniques you can use to make sure that your song sounds
right.
More resources on listening techniques

I personally recommend "The
Secrets to Playing Piano By Ear" 300-pg Course and through
my relationship with Jermaine (the author of this course),
I've been able to get him to throw in a few bonus items (3
additional piano software programs). He has taught literally
thousands of musicians how to play the piano by ear. If you
understood just half of what he discussed above, you'll
definitely benefit from his 300-pg course.
Click here to learn the secrets to playing absolutely any
song on the piano in virtually minutes! I highly
recommend it.

Also, both the book and the 300 pg course teach you the basics of playing songs by ear, first by determining the melody, then harmonizing the melody w/ chords (Harmonization Scale), and then adding the bass and altering chords. Once you learn your basic Harmonization Scale, you'd be surprised how fast you'd be taking a melody and turning it into a song. Also, the great thing about the DVD is it comes w/ a free e-book that you can print out. It has notes from stuff taught in the DVD, as well as the Harmonization Scale illustrated in every key. Like Jermaine says, if you learn the scale in 2 keys a week, in 6 wks you can be playing in all 12 keys.

http://www.LadyDpiano.com

Martha My Dear

I have always loved this song by the Beatles, off of their White Album called Martha My Dear. Here is a view of the sheet music: Wikipedia's entry on Martha My Dear
I have found a great tutorial where the teaching video posts the chords up above and shows you how to play the song! Enjoy and happy learning!