LadyDpiano

Piano Lesson: Voicings

Image via Wikipedia

A huge difference in your piano playing with overall

sound is when you learn how to voice your chords.

What does voicing mean? It's the way chords are

played that gives them their richness. It's about how

many notes are played and the distance between each

of the notes.

There are hundreds, if not thousands of different ways

to play a single chord. So that means there are tons

of ways to play chord progressions.

Example: Cmaj7

The notes in the chord are C E G B but you can also

add D and A to the chord extension. You can do this

because these notes come from the C Major Scale.

Now you learn that these extensions do not have to

be written out when you see Cmaj7 because you can

add the 9 13.

Let's apply the theory. Whenever the melody note

is on top, you know the highest note of the chord,

in this case we'll say D... that means the 9th is part

of the chord and is on top.

Next, play C in the bass with l.h. Looking at the next

two notes, the 3rd and the 7th, are important because

these notes give the chord flavor. Play C (with pinky

finger) and B (with thumb).

Play the 3rd, 5th and 9th (melody) in r.h. with fingering,

1 2 5. The 3rd finger will play the A, the 13th of the chord.

This rich sounding chord looks like:

CB/EGAD

Remember, this is only one way of voicing the chord.
Voicing the root and 7th in the l.h. and covering the 3rd
and the melody in the r.h. is a good place to start. With
your left over fingers in your r.h. cover the 5th and any other extensions available.

A great resource that has information on chord voicings is
300pg Piano By Ear Home Study Course

Voicings become easier to play and you will discover
that your hands are barely moving especially when it
comes to shell voicings since the roots are moving down
in fifths or up in fourths. Later on you will learn more left
hand voicings in bebop style, rootless left hand voicings
and rootless shell voicings. When the left hand plays the
third and seventh of each chord, these rootless shell
voicings allow the right hand the freedom to improvise.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6202010

Just a note:

Many of you have asked for Yolanda Adams chord charts
and I'm not able to find them for free. (sorry)

I am pleased to hear from folks who have purchased the SongRobot

It is a GREAT software tool to have if you have a PC. You
can drag free midis from the internet and learn chords to
numerous songs and slow it down to recognize what's being
played. If you have a Mac, you can drag midis into Garage
Band.

While we're on the page of recommending music resources,
if you're playing hymns for church, learn how to harmonize
the melody with GospelKeys 101

In your tool kit as a musician, you've got to learn chords. I
highly recommend these audio tapes because Jermaine Griggs
is an excellent teacher on understanding chords.
Chords 101 and 102 Collection

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

Book Review: The Blueprint by Kirk Franklin

Cover of "The Blueprint: A Plan for Livin...

Cover via AmazonDear Readers,

Thank you for your comments, song requests and support. You're the greatest! I'm doing something different here today,
so stay with me. First time ever, I'm posting a book review about a fabulous person and awesome musician. As you know, I've posted many chord charts from Kirk Franklin's songs. You can find them on this site by using the search box. So very
thankful for each of you on this Good Friday... read on!

I finished reading The Blueprint: A Plan for Living Above Life's Storms by Seven-Time Grammy Award Winner, Kirk Franklin. I LOVE this book!!! I have always admired Kirk Franklin as a musician and now I appreciate him even more in revealing so many truths through his own life's struggles, pain, gain and victory.

Boy, he sure tells it like it is so you better get ready if you're in need of a spiritual boost (jump start) because The Blueprint is a real page turner! It will effect you greatly, you know, like change your perspective (divinely focused lens). I'm talking about a solid foundation you can build upon. Not a shaky one that no amount of money and fame can make solid.

Reading through the pages of Kirk's book, you'll receive such affirmation and encouragement leaping off the pages if you're feeling all alone and no one cares. Kirk Franklin is so nurturing with his loving insights into our Heavenly Father's heart. (He knows the word.)

So, how do you want to live your life? Further into the book, Kirk shares (like a map) some basic tools for you to choose. Basically, The Blueprint is all about establishing the steps you need to take to get where you want to go.
The Blueprint: A Plan for Living Above Life's Storms

Within the 13 Chapters Kirk discusses issues from sex to the soul; dealing with the overgrown weeds in our hearts, and talking about our commitments from faith to family. As a musician, one of my favorite parts of the book is where Kirk talks about Michael Jackson's video Billie Jean. (Curious? It's in the book!) And to feel what Kirk sees abroad on tour with so many folks wanting truth (Jesus) instead of rules and empty talk.

In my opinion, Kirk's honest heart-felt testimony of his own personal issues is powerful (sets him free) and revolves full circle with breaking harmful cycles (repositioning) and helping others get back in the race. (His passion for America). 5* book!

"Can you imagine that? Pursue your dreams, but don't lose yourself during the chase. Imagine you!" -- Kirk Franklin

I can't even imagine how Mary felt (Good Friday), seeing her son crucified but never has greater love been shown to us. (John 3:16).

About The Book:

Seven-time Grammy award winning Gospel artist Kirk Franklin reveals his most intimate life struggles and offers his blueprint for propelling toward a fulfilling spiritual life in the face of adversity.

THE BLUEPRINT: A Plan for Living Above Life’s Storms (Gotham, on sale 4/5, $16) is a part-memoir, part-instructional guide that chronicles Franklin ’s own adversities with drugs, teenage parenthood and poverty which, with the guidance of God, resulted in the life lessons that ultimately brought him success. Franklin offers his guide, his blueprint, to help individuals achieve success in their own lives. THE BLUEPRINT is the essential guide to creating a better you, one day at a time.

For more information, Kirk Franklin maps out The Blueprint with Essence.

Chris Zdunek with Gotham Books/Avery Marketing for contacting me for a review. (Thank you!)

I love Kirk Franklin. You do, too? Give a shout out!

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

Musicians Breakthrough Product Launch and Lenny LeBlanc: There Is None Like You

Image via WikipediaIt's a special time of year for so many of us celebrating this Easter season.
Perhaps you know this song, There Is None Like You, written by Lenny LeBlanc
in 1991. The piano chords are from the WOW Worship Songbook.

Still sounds like I'm lisping on the video. Must be the camera
speed on my digital! lol

I blogged about this song back in 2009:
http://ladydpiano.blogspot.com/2009_02_01_archive.html

For a very easy, streamlined version:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ilcTNZITk0U&feature=related

Piano Chords to There Is None Like You: (What I'm Playing!)

G        D/F#      E/C    D/G2
There is none like You.
C      B/G2            B/G    Am7       Dsus    D
No one else can touch my heart like You do.
G       F#/D           F/G      E/C
I could search for all eternity long,
    D/G             D7sus      G2
And find there is none like You.  (end)

Cmaj7          D/C            G2    Em7
Your mercy flows like a river wide,
Am7        F#/D2         F#/D   G2  G B/G2
Healing comes from Your hand.
Cmaj7          D/C      G2          Em7
Suffering children are safe in Your arms,
Am7        G/C      F#/D E/C D (Back to Beginning)
There is none like You.

Thanks Nate for the request to play a song in Gb.

Same song but we lowered it 1/2 step.

Gb       Db/F       B    Gb
There is none like You.
B      Gb/Bb               Abm7          Db
No one else can touch my heart like You do.
Gb      Db/F            B/Eb     Bm
I could search for all eternity long,
    Gb            Db         Gb
And find there is none like You.

B            Db           Gb   Ebm
Your mercy flows like a river wide,
B         Db             Gb
Healing comes from Your hand.
B             Db          Gb         Ebm
Suffering children are safe in Your arms,
Abm7               Db
There is none like You.

Maybe we should raise it 1/2 step:

Ab       Eb/G       Db   Ab
There is none like You.
Db     Ab/C                Bbm7          Eb
No one else can touch my heart like You do.
Ab      Eb/G            Db/F      Dbm
I could search for all eternity long,
    Ab            Eb         Ab
And find there is none like You.

Db           Eb           Ab   Fm
Your mercy flows like a river wide,
Db        Eb             Ab
Healing comes from Your hand.
Db            Eb          Ab         Fm
Suffering children are safe in Your arms,
Bbm7               Eb
There is none like You.

Anyways, probably by now you've received my monthly

newsletter. If not, check your spam or sign up on the

right where it says mail chimp. Also, have you heard

about Jermaine Griggs new product launch?

Here's a note about that:

Hi,

I just got word about the biggest, most
anticipated event of 2011 for gospel musicians...
and after visiting the page, I'm pretty excited
about what I've seen so far.

Musician Breakthrough

It's called Musician Breakthrough and my friends
over at HearAndPlay are the ones behind it.

To my knowledge, it's the first of its kind for
the gospel musician community.

They are featuring 7 world-class, professional
"West Coast" musicians in a pretty unique format.

Each musician is covering what they call the 
"5 Dimensions of the Church Service."

-Praise
-Worship
-Shouting
-Transitional
-Traditional

If you do the math, that's 35 segments... and I'm
told over 16 hours in total.

If you rush over to the page, you'll find video clips
of each musician playing one of these styles. There
are examples from all 5 categories. If nothing else, 
watch them and be prepared to be blown away.

Musician Breakthrough


I've already filled out the priority notification form
because I want to be one of the first to grab my copy.

I'll keep you updated if I find out any more information.
(Because of my relationship with the founder, I do tend
to get updates before the general public so I'll let you
in... hush).

Meanwhile, head over to the page.

Musician Breakthrough

Talk soon,

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