Ten Tips For Piano Players

Tips for Piano Players

1.    Piano Practice

Practice Tips

2.    Ear Training

Ear-Training Article

3.    Sight Reading

Sight-Reading-Practice-Tips

4.    Chord Construction

Constructing-Simple-Chords

5. Chord Recognition

How-to-Form-Chords

5.    Pedal Practice

Damper-Pedal-Practice

6.    Suspended Chords

How-to-Play-Suspended-Chords

7.    Rhythm Workshop

Workshop-of-Rhythm

8.    Diatonic Harmony

Diatonic-Harmony-To-The-Musician

9.    Chord Voicings

The-Art-of-Piano-Chord-Voicings

10. Harmonize The Melody

How-Do-I-Harmonize-These-Melodies

Let's talk a little about some of these points...

#7 Rhythm:

You can hear and play rhythm patterns into different groups, like rhythm & blues, jazz, rock, dance patterns, marches, waltzes, swing, discos, ballads, gospel, bossa-novas and more. Practicing complex rhythms is indeed challenging. Learning how eight notes and dotted quarter notes relate and sound in one measure. Duane Shinn discovered how to establish a baseline in his left hand.

#6 Suspended

Suspensions (sus) are chords in which the 4th degree of the scale takes the place of the 3rd degree.

Example:

Csus = CFG and C7sus = CFGBb

Gsus = GCD and G7sus = GCDF

You’ll find suspended chords to Jesus Mighty God and a Tom Petty song at an earlier post of mine, how-to-play-suspended-chords

Duane illustrates these examples very well, suspensions

Example of suspended Chords:

Amazing Love by Hillsong

Intro: (D/F# G2 Asus A)

D/F#   G2           Asus        A     
I’m forgiven, because you were forsaken
D/F#   G2          Asus         A
I’m accepted, you were condemned
D/F#   G2          Asus         A
I’m alive and well, your spirit is within me
G2          A             D
Because you died and rose again
[ Tab from: http://www.guitaretab.com/h/hillsong/255499.html ]
Chorus:
D2		      G2
Amazing love, how can it be
D2                    Asus     A
That you my king would die for me
D2               G2
Amazing love, I know its true
D2 	      Asus    A
Its my joy to honour you

G                 A    D2
In all I do I honour you

Bridge:
D    D2    D  D2
You are my king, you are my king
D    D2    D  D2         D       D2    D
Jesus, you are my king, Jesus, you are my king

#5 Chords... So many to know.

major chords

  

  minor chords

  

  diminished chords

  

  augmented chords

6th chords

minor 6th chords

7th chords

minor 7th chords

7th with aug 5th chords

7th with flat 5th chords

minor 7th with flat fifth chords

diminished 7th chords

major 7th chords

major 7th chords with aug 5th

major 7th chords with flat 5th

major 7th chords with flat 3rd and flat 5th

major 7th chords with flat 3rd and sharp 5th

9th chords with all their variations (flat 5th, maj 7, etc.)

11th chords

13th chords

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

Related articles

• Play Diminished 7th, Half Diminished 7th Chords
• Let Everything: Kim Gentes
• How To Play Auld Lang Syne
• The 9th Chord

The 9th Chord

We have learned that triads such as major, minor, augmented and diminished chords are 3-note chords. Hence, the word triad. When we add one or more note to a chord, we call them "extended chords." Chords like minor 6ths and 7ths have an extra note that extends beyond the triad. When you get to the 9th chords and beyond, you have 5 or more notes in the same chord.

English: Description of triads (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

All 9th chords (C9, G9, D9, F9, A9, B9, Ab9, Eb9, Db9, Gb9, Bb9, etc.)

Ninth chords are five-note chords that span the usual intervals up to a ninth (root-3-5-7-9); and most often, the ninth interval remains major, even in minor 9th chords.

Read what Jermaine Griggs says about ninth chords.

The major 9th chord is basically a major 7th chord with one extra note added - the major 9th.

Playing the major 9th chord is easy. Just play a major 7th chord, and add a note that is an interval of a major 9th from the root note of the chord. Another way to think about it is by using a formula of half steps. Below is the formula for the major 9th chord.

Root + 4HS + 3HS + 4HS + 3HS

You can play the major 9th chord in all twelve keys. Below is a list of all 12 major 9th chords.

Key of C: C, E, G, B, D

Key of G: G, B, D, F#, A

Key of D: D, F#, A, C#, E

Key of A: A, C#, E, G#, B

Key of E: E, G#, B, D#, F#

Key of B: B, D#, F#, A#, C#

Key of Gb: Gb, Bb, Db, F, Ab

Key of Db : Db, F, Ab, C, Eb

Key of Ab: Ab, C, Eb, G, Bb

Key of Eb: Eb, G, Bb, D, F

Key of Bb: Bb, D, F, A, C

Key of F : F, A, C, E, G

Here is an example of a Casting Crowns song, Friend of Sinners.

Intro - G

G                              (C9)            (G)

Jesus Friend of sinners we have strayed so far away

(C9)                                                 (G)    Em    D

We cut down people in your name but the sword was never ours to swing

G                                     C9               G

Jesus friend of sinners the truth's become so hard to see

C9                        G              Em               D

The world is on their way to You but they're tripping over me

C9                        G                    D

Always looking around but never looking up I'm so double minded

C9                                        G         D

A plank eyed saint with dirty hands and a heart divided

Chorus:

G                    C9 - D

Oh Jesus friend of sinners

Em                     D                                C9

Open our eyes to the world at the end of our pointing fingers

G                       C9  - D

Let our hearts be led by mercy

Em                            D        C

Help us reach with open hearts and open

Am                                  C9

Oh Jesus friend of sinners break our hearts for what breaks yours

(Em  C9   G    D) – Instrumental

Yeah,yeah,yeah

G                            C9           G

Jesus friend of sinners the one who's writing in the sand

C9                  G                  Em                    D

Make the righteous turn away and the stones fall from their hands

G                                    C9          G

Help us to remember we are all the least of thieves

C9                G                  Em                    D

Let the memory of Your mercy bring your people to their knees

Prechorus:

C9                                                        G  -  D

Nobody knows what we're for only what we're against when we  judge the wounded

C9                                                                  G - D

What if we put down our signs crossed over the lines and love like you did

-Chorus  x1 -

Bridge 1 -

Am                                            C

You love every lost cause; you reach for the outcast

G                                               D

For the leper and the lame; they're the reason that You came

Am                                        C

Lord I was that lost cause and I was the outcast

G                                              D

But you died for sinners just like me a grateful leper at Your feet

Bridge 2--

G            G                       C9            D

You are good, You are good And Your love endures forever   x4

-Chorus x1-

G                                            C9 - D

And I was the lost cause and I was the outcast

Em -  D – C9

Yeah(hold note)

G             C9                    D

You died for sinners just like me, a grateful leper at Your feet

http://tabs.ultimate-guitar.com

Do you need a refresher course to brush up on your chords? Here's an audio series that I recommend, Chords 101 & 102


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

• 144 Chords To Know
• Play Diminished 7th, Half Diminished 7th Chords
• Let Everything: Kim Gentes

Let Everything: Kim Gentes

Kim Anthony Gentes is a great song writer and worship leader. I've talked about him before and you can find the chords to another one of his songs, You're My Refuge.

In 2009, he wrote a song, Let Everything. This is a great fast-paced worship song in the key of E major. For more information, visit his website www.kimgentes.com

Songs from the album, Kingdom Rain

1. Let Everything
2. Kingdom Rain
3. Holy, Holy Is The Lord  Almighty
4. Whispers Like Thunder
5. Only Jesus
6. All of Me For All of You
7. You're My Refuge
8. In Your Presence
9. Run To You
10. Made To Worship
11. Bless The Lord
12. Wash Over Me


Here's a chord chart to the song from guitarmann and you can also download the PDF version, here.

 LET EVERYTHING KIM GENTES & BRIAN THIESSEN
Introduction: 
E5  B/E E5  B/E A5/E  B/E  A5/E  B/E
      E5                                                             B/E        E5                                                          B/E
Let everything that has breath, let everything that has breath                    A5/E     B/E                        A5/E      B/E 2/4: A B To End: E5Praise the Lord               Praise the Lord     (repeat section) 
E5                                B/D #                 A/F #           B
Come all you tired and weary, come all you lost and lonely E5                                 B/D #                A                   B
Come all you broken-hearted, offer up the sound, offer up the sound                                                                                 E5 B/E E5 B/E A5/E B/E A5/E B/E
E5                               B/D #          A/F #         B
Come every generation, come every tribe and nation E5                               B/D # Come all you sons and daughters A                                B                                A                               B
Offer up the sound, offer up the sound; offer up the sound, offer up the sound 
E5                         B/D #                    A/F #            B
Come, all creation bow down; come, all the heavens resound E5                               B/D #                       A                          B
Come, every star in the night sky, let creation sing, let creation sing 
E5                                  B/D #                        A/F #                   B
Come, let the instruments worship, dance to the Lord, cast your cares upon Him E5                                        B/D # Come, with the pounding rhythms A                                 B                               A                               B
Offer up the sound, offer up the sound; offer up the sound, offer up the sound A                   B       A                  B       A                   B

Let creation sing let creation sing offer up the sound

Also, you may be interested in looking at a timeline that Kim created, reviewing 15-years-of-modern-worship. I hope this song is a blessing for you.

How would you like to improve your improvising, sight reading, piano accompaniment, and other piano playing skills?
Sign up for our free piano tutorials now!
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Do you have a favorite song by Kim Gentes? Check out Kingdom Rain

*some affiliate links in this post*

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

• Play Diminished 7th, Half Diminished 7th Chords
• 144 Chords To Know
• Primary Chords to Know
• Kirk Franklin: Don't Cry (chords)
• Three Ways to put Chords under a Melody - Chord Leading