Hearing The Changes

Several years ago (2007) I signed up Greg Hannon's online Keyboard Tricks & More.
http://www.giftedplayer.com



This very gifted keyboard player has many chord dvds and transposition charts for sale. One major point from Greg's teaching is focusing on "The Ear!" To listen to yourself playing by ear, focus on two things:

1. The dark sound of the minor key

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talk:Minor_scale#The__dark_sound_of_mminor_keys
2. The "vi" as the tonal center or the tonic.

http://www.answers.com/topic/tonality


Here's what Greg has to say from one of his lessons that I discovered online and have applied to my piano practice...
"Let's look at some popular chords used in the key of Gb major. This progression will be built around the vi chord of this key which is an Ebm chord. When thee tonal center of a key is temporarily switched to another key, we call this tonicization. In this lesson we are tonicizing the vi which is Eb minor. Therefor the I chord is temporarily replaced by the vi chord."

6-5-4 in Db
6- Ebm7= Eb Bb Eb/ Bb Db Eb Gb
5- Db2= Db Ab Db/ Ab Db Eb F Ab
4- Cbmaj9= Cb Eb Gb/ Bb Db Eb Gb

2-5-1 in Eb minor
2- Fm7b5= F Eb/ Eb Ab Cb
5- Bb7#5#9= Bb Ab/ D F# Ab C#
1- Ebm7= Eb Bb Eb/ Bb Db Eb Gb

4-5-1 in Eb minor
4- Abm7= Ab Eb/ Gb Cb Eb
5- Bb7#5= Bb F/ Ab D F#
1- Ebm7= Eb Bb Eb/ Bb Db Eb Gb

Then Greg goes in a different direction with this lesson building on the 1-2-3 progression, adding a few non-diatonic chords and a classic 4-5-1 progression.

1-2-3 in Db
1- DB2= Db Ab Db/ Ab Db Eb F Ab
2- Ebm7= Eb Bb Eb/ Gb Bb Db Gb
3- Db2/F= F Eb/ Ab Db Eb Ab


Alternate Chord Quality
2*- Ebm7b5/Gb= Gb Db Gb/ A Db Eb Gb
5- Db2/Ab= Ab Eb/ Ab Db F Ab
6- Bbm7= Bb F/ Ab Db F Ab
5- Ab11= Ab Gb/ Bb Db Eb Ab


4-5-1 in Db (with the 3rd is in the root on the 4 & 5)
4- Gb2/Bb= Bb/ Gb Ab Bb Db
5- Ab2/C= C/ Ab Bb C Eb
1- Db2= Db Ab Db/ Ab Db Eb F Ab



A resource for learning to hear jazz chord progressions and tonal shifts is at

http://www.ralphpatt.com/Tonal.html

Here is a free list of songs in Eb minor

http://www.tabwiki.com/index.php/Category:Songs_in_Eb_Minor

All the best,
~ LadyD

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Digital Downloads at Hear and Play.com

First, I want to thank all of you who are in the military, serving our country, to protect our freedom!

Then, this new post on Memorial Day, 2009 is to let you know of a sale that will end tonight... I apologize for the late notice! It seems Jermaine Griggs, the founder of HearandPlay, who teaches you how to play the piano by ear, is now going digital!

Yes, I just got word from my good friend, Jermaine Griggs over at Hear and Play Music... that he's running a "Memorial Day Weekend" 40% off sale that ends
tonight (Monday, May 25, 2009).

Digital Downloads

But what's so special about it is that for the first time ever, he's released "digital
downloads" of all his courses.

That means that you can literally download his courses to your computer and start learning piano within minutes after your purchase.

And if you've heard me talk about hearandplay before, then you know how good their courses are for learning piano by ear (especially gospel and soul music).

They've got material all the way from gospel to jazz and salsa --- from chords to worship patterns... from piano and organ to drums and even singing.

Digital Downloads

But if you're interested in their digitally downloadable material, now is really the time to take action because you're not going to beat their 40% off deal going on thru midnight tonight.

(And if you know Jermaine, you know that he doesn't do these sales often. Heck it took him 9 years to finally decide to release downloadable material. So take advantage while he's doing it).

Digital Downloads

Here's what Jermaine says, "And as you know by now, I've used this special
holiday weekend to announce, for the first time
ever, "digital downloads!"

That means you can now download our courses
directly to your computer minutes after
ordering. In 9 years online, this is the *first*
time we've ever offered this opportunity to download
our courses.

And to celebrate, I'm slashing 40% off now thru
11:59 pm tonight (Monday, May 25, 2009).

This rare 40% off special is also my way of saying
"THANK YOU" for taking action and doing what it
takes to take your playing to the next level.

Here's why you want to take advantage of this
"digital downloads" opportunity...
---------------------------------------------

-Save $7-$24 on shipping fees
(there are *NO* shipping costs)

-Now thru TONIGHT (11:59 pm), I'm slashing an
additional 40% off so not only do you save on
shipping but you get an amazing deal on the
actual courses.

-Download our best-selling courses in minutes. Start
learning from the comfort of your own home TODAY.

-No waiting for your package to arrive in the mail.

-Download any time you want, on as many computers
as you want. I've invested $15,000 to create a
download center from the ground up. This download
center allows you to log in from anywhere and
download courses you've purchased any time. So you
never have to worry about your computer crashing
or losing what you've paid for... or anything like
that.

-Go green! By downloading our courses electronically,
you're helping the environment. No dvds to
manufacture, no pollution caused by delivery trucks,
no storage. Everything's digital!



Happy Memorial Day!
~ LadyD

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How To Play Minor Scales

Here is a list of traditional songs to practice in minor keys:

I Feel Like My Time Ain't Long
I Feel Like A Motherless Child
Didn't My Lord Deliver Daniel
Go Tell It On The Mountain (verse is in minor; chorus is in major)
Go Down Moses
Joshua Fit The Battle Of Jericho
Motherless Child Really Sees It Hard
Wade In The Water
Weepin' Mary
What Child Is This
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
We Three Kings
Be Grateful in E minor
Lord I Try in Db minor
Call Me in E minor
With the Love of the Lord E minor

http://www.learngospelmusic.com/forums/index.php/topic,53462.0.html

Listen to Victory Is Mine
D minor and all minor chords version

http://www.learngospelmusic.com/media/displayimage.php?album=432&pos=2




Duane has an excellent chart on minor chords. learn to play chords in the minor scales.

http://www.playpiano.com/Tips/MinorChords.htm

Duane Shinn says "Minor chords create a sound which is somber or serious; some people even think of minor chords as "sad", as opposed to major chords which sound "normal", or "happy". Some of the great classics are written in minor keys, including Fur Elise by Beethoven, Prelude in C# Minor by Rachmaninoff, Prelude in Cm by Chopin, and many others. In popular music there is "Summertime", "A Taste of Honey", "'Round Midnight", etc. and in folk music there is "Greensleeves", "Dark Eyes", "Volga Boatman","When Johnny Comes Marching Home" and many more."

http://www.pianolessonreviews.com/minorchords.html

* Mary Did You Know- Kathy Mattea

Em D Am Bsus B7
Mary did you know that your baby boy would some day walk on water

Em D Am Bsus B7
Mary did you know that your baby boy would save our sons and daughters

Am D G D/F# Em
Did you know that your baby boy has come to make you new

Am Am Bsus B
This child that you've delivered will soon deliver you



Em D Am Bsus B7
Mary did you know that your baby boy will give sight to a blind man

Em D Am Bsus B7
Mary did you know that your baby boy will calm the storm with his hand

Am D G D/F# Em
Did you know that your baby boy has walked where angels trod

Am Am Bsus B7
When you've kissed your little baby then you've kissed the face of God



Em D Am Bsus B7 Em D Am Bsus B7
Mary did you know Mary did you know


C D Em D C
The blind will see, the deaf will hear, the dead will live again

Am D Em Bsus B7
The lame will leap, the dumb will speak, the praises of the lamb



Em D Am Bsus B7
Mary did you know that your baby boy is Lord of all creation

Em D Am Bsus B7
Mary did you know that your baby boy will one day rule the nations

Am D G D/F# Em
Did you know that your baby boy was heaven's perfect lamb

Am Am Bsus B7 Em D Am B7 Em
This sleeping child you're holding is the great "I AM"

http://www.cowboylyrics.com/tabs/mattea-kathy/mary-did-you-know-39983.html


* The Natural Minor Scales

These scales have seven different scale degrees. There are half steps between the second and third and the fifth and sixth degrees; whole steps exist between all other steps. Shown below is the A minor scale.



* The Harmonic Minor Scale

This scale is the same as the natural minor scale, except the seventh step is raised a half step. There is now an interval of one half step between the seventh and eighth notes, and one and a half steps between the sixth and seventh notes. This is a harmonic A minor.



* The Melodic Minor Scale

This is another minor scale variation. In this scale, the sixth and seventh notes are each raised one half step. All the patterns to this point have been the same as one climbs and descends the scales. The melodic minor scale, however, ascends with the modifications noted above, but descends in the natural minor scale. This is a melodic A minor.




http://www.numbera.com/musictheory/theory/scalesandkeys.aspx

* Free Downloads from Edward Weiss

Coral Reef- very pretty piece in A minor

Forest Path- so beautiful, you'll want to get the music by Quiescence Music

Cirrus- another pretty one page song

http://www.newagepianolessons.com

* How Music Works: Harmonic Minor Scale
Great article here

http://www.howmusicworks.org/hmw404.asp

* The secret to playing harmonic minor scales
Jermaine Griggs over at Hearandplay wrote a great blog entry on minor scales

http://www.hearandplay.com/main/the-secret-to-playing-harmonic-minor-scales

Piano Lesson #5 - The A Minor Scale by MillerMusicStudiosTV

Piano Lesson #5 - How to find any relative minor scale. This video concentrates on the A minor scale as relative to C Major. We cover the 3 types of minor scales and how to practice them. Also, the fifth & final section of Circus Music Duet... Diane does a great job with this teaching tutorial of minor scales.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q2E2YQ6gtxY

An example of a minor song, Arabian Nights, sample page download:

http://sheet-music.8k.com/disney-free.html

Hear and Play Jazz 201: How To Find The Melodic Minor For Any Dominant Chord

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x2pol_Uv0K8

"Never Leave Jazz Chording and Soloing to Guesswork Again!

In Over 5 Hours, You'll Learn Exactly What It Takes To Sound Like You've Been Playing Jazz For Years!"

Discover the secrets to easily playing TONS of your favorite jazz numbers without sheet music or chord charts. You'll even learn how to incorporate the chords and soloing techniques you learn into real songs!

Master professional jazz voicings, progressions, and common patterns that'll have you playing like experienced pros in months... if not weeks!

Learn to make songs "your own" by applying several proven soloing strategies that work every time... even when you feel like you're in trouble and can't think of anything unique to play.

Discover the secrets to key changes and instantly transposing chords, riffs, and licks without having to memorize anything!

Uncover the secrets to creating seamless harmonic jazz movements.

Shortcuts to playing dozens of "2-5-1" chord progressions with seventh and ninth chords and how to make subtle changes that totally alter the way the chords sound!"


LEARN TO PLAY JAZZ

Jazz 201

Jazz 101

So, to recap today's post... practice playing:

A relative minor scale (all white keys)
A B C D E F G A

A harmonic minor scale (sharp the 7th tone 1/2 step)
A B C D E F G# A

A melodic minor scale
A B C D E F# G# A (ascending)
A G# F E D C B A (descending)


All the best,
~ LadyD

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