Q. I know scale positions on a guitar but how do I learn which chords can be played in a certain key? I want to be able to jam with chords, not just play solos.
A. Doing this well requires a good knowledge of music theory, but here is a basic stuff to get you started:
You first need to find the relative major scale of key you are using. For example, G is the relative major to E min because they have the same notes, just a different order. C is the relative major to A min, ect.
If you are in a major key, the distance between the notes should be as follows
I-whole-ii-whole-iii-half-IV-whole-V7-whole-vi-whole-viidim-half-I
The "wholes" represent two half steps (two frets) and the "halfs" represent one half step, or one fret. For example, F# is one half step above F. G is one whole step above F.
When counting up, remember what a piano looks like - there is no black key between B/C and between E/F. This means that F is one half step up from E.
Now that you have your scale, you find the chords. If you look at the spacing chart above, you'll notice some roman numerals are capitalized - this means they are major chords. The lower case are minor chords. The V7 means a 7th chord (you can do major or minor depending on the style of music [ie jazz uses min7]) You can also just play a major chord if you don't want to get fancy. The viidim is a tricky chord. It is REALLY hard to figure in melodically. Many people just use vii instead.
To sum it all up, let me give an example. Let's say we have the Emin scale. I'd want to find the relative major scale - G. The notes in G are G-A-B-C-D-E-F#-G. The chords, therefore, are G Amin Bmin C D (or D7) Emin F#min (or F#dim) G.
There is quite a bit more to this on when to use 6th chords, and augmented chords, and more....but you need to know the basics first. Every song can be jammed to or played with basic chords. Making them more complex will add style once you get the basic chord progression down.
What is the best piano method for beginning adults?
Q. I am an adult who wishes to take piano lessons - is their a clear concensus on piano teaching methodology? I desire to be able to play classical pieces, as well as be able to read down a jazz chart!
A. Play Piano In a Flash - Even If You Don't Know Where Middle C Is
So, you've been dying to play the piano. But you don't want to spend years learning how to read music. Of course you don't! And you won't have to IF you learn a chord-based approach to playing the piano.
Here's a method I use to get my students playing piano in a flash. First, you need to learn a few chords. But not just any chord type. No. The chord type I have my students learn first is something called the open position chord. And with it, you'll be able to create your own unique music right away!
The open position chord is exactly what its name implies. It's a chord structure that covers more than 2 octaves of the keyboard AND uses both hands right away. If you don't know what an octave is, not to worry. Suffice it to say that 2 octaves are over 16 white keys. It's a handful to play this chord structure but once you master it, you'll be well on your way to unlocking the secrets of keyboard harmony.
So, how exactly can we use this chord to create music with? Easy. Take a look at my free piano lesson "Reflections in Water" (available by clicking below.) The first thing you notice about this lesson is that it's unusual. It's not your typical piano lesson by far. In fact, you might even think it looks like an art lesson - and you'd be right! I specifically designed the lessons using a step by step approach that many art instruction books use.
The lesson contains four open position piano chords with fingering diagrams. The beautiful thing about this chord structure is that once you master it, you can easily use it to play ALL the chords in all 12 keys. The first thing I ask you to do is play the chords - first all tones together (solid chords) and then with the tones broken up (broken chords.)
Once you have this chord structure under your fingers and you've developed a muscle memory for it, the rest is easy!
In the lesson "Reflections in Water," we use this chord structure to improvise a few minutes of music. The chord progression is laid out for you and all you have to do is simply follow along. I also provide audio examples so you can hear how I used the same chords to improvise with.
If you really want to play piano in a flash and don't want to wait, try the open position piano chord. You won't be disappointed!
How do I make a song into a jazz song?
Q. Hey im having trouble on deciding on choosing a jazz song for music so I decided to change a song that I already know into a jazz song. I play piano and I'm going to sing to it but I dont know how to go about changing it as I've never played a jazz song before :O
Could someone point me in the direction of some jazz scales or how to go about creating the style?
Thanks heaps!
A. The cliche piano/voice duet sound usually revolves around adding extensions to chords, and adding subs, and extra leading chords into the progression.
Lets say for example you have a chord progression C Am Em G, which isn't an extremely uncommon chord progression in Pop tunes.
I would start by choosing some more interesting chords.
I would start by adding extensions to the chords: I would likely choose at first glance, Cmaj7#11, (C,E,G,B,F#), Am9 (A,C,E,G,B), Em7, (E,G,B,D), G7add13, (G,B,D,F,E). These are a little more colourful chords. Further still, lets say this progression repeats, so the G, goes back to C. Another colourful, and hip thing to do is to sub the dominant chord, (in this case G), with the Dominant chord, a tritone away from the fifth, G, so in C, this is a Db. It creates chromatic movement back to C, So I would like play G7, and then push a Db7 back to C.
Harmonizing the notes of the major scale introduces some more colourful chords, as well as an interesting harmonic idea, the functions of these chords. I find this chart helps me organize the function of chords in relation to tonic (T), sub dominant(SD), and dominant chords(D), in the key of C major,
Cmaj7 = T
Em7= T
Fmaj7 = SD
G7 = D
Am7 = SD
Bm7b5 = D
You now have potentially a whole tonne of possible harmonic substitutions to try:
Instead of Em7, you could try a Cmaj7 type chord with an E in the bass, (Cmaj7/E). Or instead of Am, you could try and squeeze in a Fmaj7 type chord. The possibilities are endless. With all this in mind, you must also consider voice leading.
A good arrangement might include a 'secondary dominant, (when functioning, leads to a chord other than the tonic' approach.
A good example would be to push a E7 sound (the fifth of Am) near the end of the measure in C, into the Am.
If you use some of these tricks, you might be able to get something good out of it, I find that if you are making a solo arrangement it is important to not be too 'floaty' with the changes, you can be more liberal in the sense that there is no rhythm section to contend with, but you still want people to hear the movement, and contrary to what some may think, sometimes it is better to play simple things right in the pocket, than to go nuts and try making something sound hip.
A good arrangement will also take into consideration the melody line. When you write it out, make sure that none of you chords clash with the melody notes.
The only real rule in jazz harmony I can think of is to 'avoid' the interval of a minor 9. Its not that you can't do it, it's just generally better if you don't. Exceptions to the m9 rule obviously include the use of chords like G7b9. But it is still considered the the most dissonant of all intervals.
You may also want to learn the Charleston Rhythm, depending on if you are arranging a ballad or a swing tune.
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