How to Play Piano Using a Few Chords
How many chords do you need to create a piece of music? Would you believe that it doesn't really matter and that whole pieces of music have been created using just one chord? For example, if you play a D minor 7 chord, you could use the bass note D to create a drone effect and anchor the whole improvisation. It could last for a few seconds or many minutes.
The important thing is were you in the moment when you created it? If you were, then it will be a good piece of music. If you weren't it will be notes in the air without communication. What communicates is your feeling. It's your feeling that gets across through the notes. The notes themselves are meaningless if you are not present behind them.
I usually do not use more chords than 4 or 5 when creating. I use the chords of a certain Key, for example A major and stay within that key until the piece is done. I may change to a different key, but I will always begin with the intention of staying within one, always keeping the possibility open for change. Remember the power of limits, especially in music.
When you have too many choices it can be overwhelming and will stop you from being able to go forward. That's why learning to play in 4 and 8-bar phrases is important. It gives you the limit of chord changes. New age music is mostly a static music meaning that the chords do not change too much. In fact, you can have the same chord going on for 8, 16 and even 24 bars or more. The amount of change is dictated by personal taste and that you will acquire after you freely experiment with the music.
Remember that attitude is the number one thing. You must allow the music to tell you where it wants to go or you will most likely freeze up and stop the forward momentum. That's why I always tell students the principles for creativity must come first. Without that you are really starting on shaky ground.
So, don't worry about how many chords to insert in your music. For a good example of chord changes, look at my book "New Age Piano Made Easy." It's filled with 84 exercises completely comprised of different chord changes in all 12 keys.
Edward Weiss is a pianist/composer and webmaster of Quiescence Music's online piano lessons. He has been helping students learn how to play piano in the New Age style for over 14 years and works with students in private, in groups, and now over the internet. Stop by now at http://www.quiescencemusic.com/piano_lesson s.html for a FREE piano lesson!
 Google News Updated : Sun, 07 Sep 2008 02:07:34 GMT Dodgers overtake first place - MLB.com
MLB.com - By Michael Schwartz / MLB.com LOS ANGELES -- Manny Ramirez's five RBIs propelled the Dodgers into first place in the National League West for only the second day all season Saturday after a 7-2 win over the D-backs at Dodger Stadium. Ramirez, Billingsley lead streaking Dodgers into first place Dodgers move into first place Publ.Date : Sat, 06 Sep 2008 23:14:26 GMT Movies opening this week - San Jose Mercury News
San Jose Mercury News - By Mercury News "Burn After Reading" (R): The Coen brothers follow "No Country for Old Men" with a dark comedy about two inept gym employees who get hold of a CD-ROM containing a CIA operative's memoirs. Toronto Review: The Coen Brother's Burn After Reading Pitt Rocks to Madonna Publ.Date : Sat, 06 Sep 2008 20:56:32 GMT European space probe completes asteroid fly by - Reuters
Reuters - BERLIN (Reuters) - The European Space Agency obtained on Saturday the first images of an asteroid 360 million km (224 million miles) from earth, part of a space mission which scientists hope will help them understand the origins of the planets. Rosetta spacecraft takes asteroid photos Spacecraft flies by remote asteroid, camera stops Publ.Date : Sat, 06 Sep 2008 14:13:31 GMT Jenkins: Murray willing to play the spoiler - San Francisco Chronicle
San Francisco Chronicle - (09-06) 18:24 PDT New York -- Andy Murray must feel very alone just now. He's a long way from his native Scotland. He's carrying the hopes of British tennis, but the London press would really prefer him to be English. Federer beats Djokovic to reach US Open final Split stadiums for US Open semis ruffles crowd Publ.Date : Sun, 07 Sep 2008 01:44:27 GMT Palin and McCain’s Shotgun Marriage - New York Times
New York Times - By FRANK RICH SARAH PALIN makes John McCain look even older than he is. And he seemed more than willing to play that part on Thursday night. An Apostle of Alaska 'Sarah Palin Is Wasilla': Town Stands Behind VP Pick Publ.Date : Sun, 07 Sep 2008 01:18:29 GMT Report: Samsung working to acquire SanDisk - San Jose Mercury News San Jose Mercury News - AP Samsung was reported Friday to be considering buying Milpitas-based SanDisk, whose revenue has diminished and stock has plummeted in recent months due to the saturated flash-memory market. SanDisk Shares Soar on Samsung Interest SanDisk Shares Surge as Samsung Considers Acquisition (Update3) Publ.Date : Sat, 06 Sep 2008 16:19:13 GMT Gates outacts Seinfeld in Back To The Future - CNET News
CNET News - Which is why Crispin Porter Bogusky, the agency responsible for the otherworldly new Microsoft TV spot featuring the clowning Bill Gates and Jerry Seinfeld, is already happy. Microsoft's Renewed Vista Strategy You Thought Vista Was Bad? Publ.Date : Sun, 07 Sep 2008 00:01:52 GMT Amazon Associate Software |
PARLOT::Ebooks, Scripts,
Websites, and more... The previous two Tech Tips took a look at eight... Read More The gong is one of the oldest musical instruments in... Read More Problems with humidity can lead to heartbreak for the classical... Read More Why jazz piano improvisation?Why not gospel piano improvisation?Is it not... Read More Piano improvising and arranging is an art but definitely not... Read More Every searching artist wants to get there. It's that magical... Read More Are you confused by the various types of music file... Read More Vision Music USA is a proactive and progressive music service... Read More Technically, it's illegal to remove DRM from WMA protected music.... Read More When you read music you are deciphering the printed page... Read More Since chords (the main component of harmony) are one of... Read More The 'trois Gnossiennes' (1890) is a set of dance-like pieces... Read More You have to find radio airplay time if you're going... Read More New bands looking to book gigs and establish contacts often... Read More Learning how to improvise is confusing for most. The sheer... Read More We don't simply wear a theatrical costume; we wear the... Read More Every day musical instruments enrich the lives of people around... Read More When memorizing music there are several things you can do... Read More I was 17 at the time (the Beatles era), and... Read More Lately I've been listening to some pretty cool music by... Read More Chord symbols (for example, Fm7, Cmaj7 or G6) are a... Read More The Suzuki violin method has come to dominate the way... Read More The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) has launched a... Read More There are roughly umpteen zillion reasons why you should learn... Read More The steel-stringed acoustic guitar is usually credited with being developed... Read More
Adsense
websites
Building Your Digital Music Collection
A Brief History of Gongs
Guitar Humidification
Improvising On The Piano: Jazz Musicians Do It -- Why Not Other Styles?
Playing The Piano Using Chord Symbols Instead of Being Tied To The Written Sheet Music
Reaching For The Soul Zone
Beginners Guide to Music File Formats
Interview With Josh Epstein of Vision Music USA
How to Remove DRM from WMA - Is It Legal and Worth the Effort?
Does Reading Make Music?
How Many Chords Are There, Anyway?
Origin of Erik Saties Gnossiennes
5 Sure Fire Ways to Get Radio Play for Your ?Independent? Music!
Does Your Band Need a Manager?
How to Stop Thinking and Start Playing
Formal Highland Attire: The Correct Wearing of the Kilt; the National Dress of Scotland
Playing The Violin Is For Everyone Who Loves Music
Memorizing Music - How Is It Best Achieved?
How I Learned How To Play The Guitar After Giving Up In Disgust
Surf Waves With Jack Johnson
How To Play Piano Using Chord Symbols
Suzuki Violin Vs Traditional Violin
RIAA Files Second Wave of Lawsuits
10 Top Reasons You Should Learn to Play Chord Piano
The Acoustic Guitar
Affordable and Reliable Web Hosting Starting at $4.49/Month
MP3 Music Subscription Services. A Good Deal?
There's a reason Apple Computer dominates the legal 99-cents-a-download digital... Read More
The King of the Delta Blues Singers - Robert Johnson Still Stands at the Crossroads
Probably the most enigmatic Singer and Guitarist of the twentieth... Read More
Internet Jams
Today's technology for the recording musician has been getting better... Read More
Learn Piano the Easy Way!
There are essentially two ways to learn piano - note... Read More
Guitar Practicing or Guitar Playing?
Just because you're holding your guitar doesn't mean that you're... Read More
Surf Waves With Jack Johnson
Lately I've been listening to some pretty cool music by... Read More
Jazzing Up Your Leadership Style
I met New York jazzman Tim Armacost in college almost... Read More
CD Clubs: How to Get the Best Deals Online
(1) The BMG Music Service offers the best deal you'll... Read More
The Flower Garden and New Age Piano Music
If you've ever looked at a flower garden, not only... Read More
What All Do I Have to Know to be a Really Good Piano Player?
Many students ask me a question that goes something like... Read More
Painting with Sound
Whenever I go to a Borders bookstore here in San... Read More
Yo, is Rap Just Another Four Letter Word?
Flaunting any excessive or anti-social behavior is considered brazen. When... Read More
How To Play Guitar Like a Pro!
Having taught the guitar for many years, I see the... Read More
Your First Guitar
Congratulations, you just bought you first guitar! Now that you've... Read More
Would Chopin Have Passed A Music Quiz?
Q. My children are very interested in playing music. Is... Read More
How to Compose Your Own Music Using 8-bar Phrases
Some people think composing is this miraculous thing that only... Read More
Improvisation and Musical Form
Do you ramble on endlessly with your improvisations? If so,... Read More
What is Piano GHD Syndrome?
Do you remember the movie, Groundhog Day? In this wonderful... Read More
Bagpipe Lessons In Your Own Home !
Bringing Bagpipe Tuition to Everyone, Everywhere.I have been teaching music... Read More
Piano Playing Your Way: How To Have More Fun Playing The Piano Than You Ever Have Before
Piano playing doesn't have to be boring. There's no law... Read More
Form - Giving Shape to Your Music
Do you ramble on endlessly with your improvisations? If so,... Read More
Are iPods Changing the Way We Listen to Music
They're everywhere, and not only are they everywhere, they look... Read More
How to Make State-of-the-Art Video Singles Cheaply
When it comes to promoting their new music releases, I... Read More
How to Be in the Moment when Playing Piano
Your best music will always come when you are in... Read More
Bluegrass Music - Alive and Well in the Appalachians
One of the Appalachian Mountain region's greatest contributions to the... Read More
Music & MP3 |