LadyDpiano

How To Play God Bless America

This is a very cool arrangement of a popular song by Irving Berlin. It's pretty famous. In fact, it's one of my aunt's favorites. Wherever you are this holiday weekend, I hope your hearts are filled with thanksgiving and praise for this great country of ours. Keep praying for one another and sing loudly!

God Bless America

Words and Music by Irving berlin

Key of F
4/4 Time, Moderately

© 1938 Irving Berlin

Intro

Bb F/A C7/E F A7/C# Dm Gm7
F/C C7 F Fmaj7/A Gm7 C7

Verse (Freely)

F F#dim Gm C7 F
While the storm clouds gather far across the sea,
Dm Bb6 C7 F
Let us swear allegiance to a land that's free,
F#dim Gm E7 Am
Let us all be grateful for a land so fair,
F6/A Ab7b5 C/G Em Dm7 G7 C7 Eb7 C7/E
As we raise our voices in a solemn prayer.

Chorus (Moderately)

F G#dim C7/G C7
God Bless America,
F F7
Land that I love.
Bb Gm7b5
Stand beside her, and guide her
Dm7 G9 C7 F6
Thru the night with a light from above.
C7 F
From the mountains, to the prairies,
C7 F Ab/Gb Cm/G F7/A
To the oceans, white with foam
Bb F/A C7/E F A7 Dm
God bless America,
Gm7 F/C C7 F7 Ab/Gb Cm/G F7/A
My home sweet home.
Bb F/A C7/E F A7 Dm
God bless America,
Gm7 F/C C7 F
my home sweet home

Chord Progressions

L.H. / R.H.

Intro

Bb = BbBb/DFBbD
F/A = AA/CFC
C7/E = EE/CGBb
F = FF/CFA
A7/C# = C#C#/AEG
Dm = DD/ADF
Gm7 = GG/DFBb
F/C = CC/CFA
C7 = CC/BbEG
F = FF/ACF
Fmaj7/A = AA/CEFC
Gm7 = GBb/DFC
C7 = CBb/CEC

Verse

F = F/CFA
F#dim = F#/EbAC
Gm = G/DGBb
C7 = E/BbCG
F = FF/CFA
Dm = DD/ADF
Bb6 = BbBb/GDG
C7 = CC/BbEG
F = FF/ACF
F#dim (same as above)
Gm (same as above)
E7 = G#/DEB
Am = AA/EAC
F6/A = AA/CDF
Ab7b5 = AbAb/CDF#C
C/G = GG/CEGC
Em = EE/GBE
Dm7 = DD/FAC
G7 = GF/GBD
C7 (same as above)
Eb7 = EbEb/BbDbG
C7/E = EE/BbC

Chorus

F = FF/ACF
G#dim = G#G#/FBD
C7/G = GG/EBbE
C7 = CC/EBbC
F (same as above)
F7 = FF/ACEb
Bb = BbBb/DFBb
Gm7b5 = GG/DbFBb
F/C = CC/CFA
Dm7 = DD/ADF
G9 = GG/BA
C7 = CC/BbCEG
F6 = FF/ACDF
C7 = CC/BbCEG
F = FF/ACFA
C7 = CC/CEGBb
F (same as above)
Ab/Gb = GbGb/AbC
Cm/G = GG/CEbGC
F7/A = AA/CEbFC
Bb = BbBb/DFBbD
F/A = AA/CFC
C7/E = EE/CGBb
F = FF/CFA
A7 = C#C#/AEG
Dm = DD/ADF
Gm7 = GG/DFBb
F/C = CC/CFA
C7 (same as above)
F7 (same as above)
Ab/Gb (same a above)
Gm7 (same as above)
F/C = CC/CFA
C7 (same as above)
F = FF/ACF, FCA/FACF

Back Pocket Band Software: LadyDpiano.com

So, if you're looking for music software with rhythm beats to jam with, you might want to read up on Back Pocket Band Software.

Wishing you and yours a wonderful 4th of July!

All the best,

-- LadyD

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

Go: Chords and Lyrics

ICF Worship: Go l Luca Aprile (Chords-LadyDpiano.com)

Go

Words and Music: Luca Aprile and Dave Kull
From the album "Pouring Love" by ICF Worship

Key: B Major
Time: 4/4

Intro

B / F#

Verse 1

F# B F#

I live by faith and not by sight

B Bsus B F#
I walk with you through day and night

B Bsus B F#
I’m not afraid no need to hide

B Bsus F#
All through this life you’re by my side

Chorus

I will go go go

F#
Wherever you lead me

G#m
Wherever you want me

E
Your ways are higher than mine

B(B'D#)
I will go go go

B F#
Wherever you lead me

G#m
Wherever you want me

E B E B
Your ways are higher than mine, higher than mine

Verse 2

B Bsus B F#

You are my light, show me the way
B Bsus B F#

I live on every word you say

G#m E B F#
It’s not a secret that I’ll stay
G#m E F#

With you forever all my days

Bridge

C#m F#

I turn to you and see the light

B E
My heart gets stronger every time

C#m F# B
I fix my eyes on you alone

B E C#m
I know you’ll never let me go

F# E
‘Cause You are with me

F# E
You are with me

F# E F#
You are with me

B / F# / G#m / E / B / F# / B

Written by: Luca Aprile, Dave Kull

Gospel Guitar 101: HearandPlay l LadyDpiano.com

You may be interested in the Guitar Tutorial on YouTube from Luca Aprile. HearandPlay offers tons of songs to learn on the guitar with their Dvd, Gospel Guitar101

If you would like to know how to play that cool riff you hear after the chorus, here are the single melody notes:

B,B, C#, D#, E / E, E,D#,C#,B / B,B,C#,D#,A# / A#,A#,B,C# /

B,B,B,C#,D#,E / E,E,D#,C#,B / B,B,C#,D#,A# / A#,A#,B,C#

There are lower notes to play at the same for the harmony:

D#,D#,E,F#,G# / G#,G#,F#,E,D# / D#.D#,E,F#,C#

C#,C#,D#,E / D#,D#,D#,E,F#,G# / G#,G#,F#,E,D# / D#,D#,E#,F#,C# / C#,C#,D#,E

All the best,

-- LadyD

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

Piano Tips from Anthony

It's the end of the school year 'crunch time.' I'm wrapping up my lesson plans for the month and heading into a recital with my piano students soon. My goal is for the students to have some performance experience. You never know when you're going to inspire someone with your piano playing. I think it's all about encouraging one another. Needless to say, students don't have to memorize their recital songs but many of them have. Probably, around 8 chose to play without sheet music. So great!

Well, a long time ago, a very talented musician named Anthony Gray encouraged me with some chord patterns and they have helped me a lot. One is just improvising in C and playing this pattern:

L.H. / R.H.

CG/C = C Chord
CG/Em = CM7(add9)
CG/ Am = C6
CG/Bb = C9(sus4)
CG/G = CM7(add9)
CA/G = C 6/9

So, try it and I think you'll like it. Then, do it in all keys. Here's another tip that Anthony shared with us...

Using both hands, choose C with your left-hand pinkie (#5), then play G with your pointer finger, and play C with your thumb (#1). So, CGC and then right-hand thumb plays E-G-C. You will notice a pattern on the left hand (you have an octave with a 5th). On the right hand, you have skipped one white key, played G, then skipped 2 white keys and played C. Press all the keys down at the same time to memorize this pattern. You can start on any white key and use this pattern. These notes sound good together in any way you want to play them. One at a time, or two at a time...

Here's another song I learned from Anthony:

L.H. / R.H.

Ab/DbFAb You
Bb/EbGBb are
C/EbAbC great
Eb/GBbEb and
Db/FAbDb awe-
C/EbAbC some
Bb/EbGBb God

Bb/EbGBb For
C/EbAbC ev-
Db/FAbDb er
Eb/GBbEb faith-
Eb/GBbEb ful
Db/FAbDb right-
C/EbFAbC eous
Bb/EbGBb king

Db/FAbDb your
C/EbAbC name
Bb/EbGBb be
Ab/DbFAb prais
Ab/CEbAb ed
Ab/CEbAb your
G/BbEbG name
F/AbDbF be
Eb/GBbEb praised

There's a lesson on Seventh Chords that was popular a while back and it sure helped a lot. If you remember that a 3-toned chord is called a 'Triad'... Then, you may recall a 4th-toned chord is called a 'Seventh'.

A seventh (or dominant) chord is built similar to a major triad. In fact, a seventh chord is a major chord with an added 'minor third" interval on top. Remember that a major triad is:

major third + perfect fifth
major third = 4 half steps or two whole steps
minor third = 3 half steps or 1 1/2 whole steps

Seventh chord = major third + perfect fifth + minor third

So, a C major chord is CEG. To create a C Seventh Chord (C7), simply add a minor third on top of the G. From G to Ab is 1 half step. From G to A is 2 half steps and from G to Bb is 3 half steps.

3 half steps = "Minor Third interval. So, by adding a Bb to a C major chord, you have now created a C7 chord.

C7 = C + E + G + Bb

Try playing this chord in all 12 keys! ( C7, D7, E7...)

This chord is one of the most utilized chords in gospel music. the added minor third creates the "blues" feeling used in gospel hymns, blues rhythm & blues, rock and so on.