Your Help Needed! CHORDS 101 Feedback!!!

Published by Chris Marx on February 27, 2009 08:02 pm under CHORDS 101 Piano Lessons, Uncategorized
Please Share This Post On Twitter!!!

TALK TO ME!

Please tell me what you wish had further explanation! Anything that you didn’t quite understand, or aren’t sure how to apply it. Just post a comment to this post and I’ll do my best to update the course!

I really want to make the Chords 101 Course better, as you can see I’ve posted a new blog category called “CHORDS 101″ (in the right hand link bar under “categories”) By clicking on that, you’ll find all the videos that have been associated with the Chords 101 E-book. Its easier to show examples of certain piano concepts through video. Its also more fun to watch!

Til now, I’ve just been guessing what concepts you’d like to see explained in further detail. It would be really useful to hear your feedback though!

Thanks,
Chris Marx

New Chords 101 Videos:

Beginning Piano Day One - Learning Half Steps and Whole Steps - Chords 101 Course - DAY 1

Building Major and Minor triads by counting half steps - Chords 101 Course - DAY 2

The 12 Most Common Chords on Piano - Easy Lesson with Picture Chords - Chords 101 Course - Day 3

PLEASE SHARE THIS PIANO LESSON!!!

41 Comments so far

Andrew Wilce on March 2nd, 2009

Hi Chris,
What I would love are piano accompainment pattern lessons(so I can accompany myself whilst I sing) for the following:-

Country Shuffle
Country Waltz
Country Pop
Swing
POP
Ballad
Bossanova
Twist
Rock
Disco

Intro
Endings

Hope not too much to ask for….

Cheers

Andy

Hey Andy!
I briefly started a course on playing and singing (thats on hold until chords 202 is done!)
But you can get some of the tips here: http://instantrockpiano.com/blog/
It covers the song Santeria by Sublime which is a pop song.
The basic patterns where you doggy paddle between two hands are the same patterns I
use to accompany myself playing and singing.
The trick is to keep your hands doing simple rhythms of the bass and drums so that you can focus on the words/melody.
Thanks!
Chris Marx
Cynthia Hidalgo on March 2nd, 2009

hi … i’ve always wanted to learn about bossa nova rythms i’d like to know which are the chords used on this music style, progressions and which are the rythmical patterns that are usually used

where can i get some material about scales for the improvisation moment

i really want to learn how to play bossa nova on piano . i can’t find any book or video to use …

thanks a lot

greetings

Cynthia

Great question Cynthia!
I learned a couple standard bossa comping rhythms and then a couple left hand patterns and that was the biggest difference from playing regular jazz.
I’ll be sure to post some examples in upcoming videos.

I’ve actually made a blog post for you here!
http://fastpianolessons.com/blog/?p=142
I’ll have more details for the lesson soon.
But please give you feedback about what isn’t clear in the comments.

Thanks!
Chris Marx
Jeroen on March 2nd, 2009

Hi Chris,

First of all many thanks for your videos!
I would like to know more about inversions in relation to common chord progressions. Are there general rules for choosing certain inversions to achieve smooth transitions?

I hope my question makes sense

Kind regards,
Jeroen

Your Welcome Jeroen!
Thanks for being appreciative
The goal with inversions is smooth voice leading. That means every note in the chord usually moves the shortest distance possible. This is a good goal to practice towards because its challenging, but there are times when its not necessary.
Also you’ll want to bring your chords up higher if they get too low and muddy.
Lets say I’m playing C going to F, (I to IV a common progression).
I’ll do [CEG] to [CFA] then practice that in other keys.
Then try [EGC] to [FAC]
Then try [GCE] to [ACF]
The point is the have each finger move the shortest distance possible to the notes in the next chord. This prevents really jumpy/disjointed sounding harmony.

By this point, you’ve practice all the possible inversions. The goal is to be able to see and move between them quickly. So keep playing around with those inversions till each change is happening in a split second.

I’ll make sure to address this more in Chords 202
Al on March 2nd, 2009

Hello Chris, and thanks for your website and instuctional videos. I have been playing piano for many, many years but find that I can always learn more. Enjoy receiving tips along the way making my style even more defined. I grew up learning and playing Southern Gospel music, some by reading music, alot playing by ear. I have always wanted to know more of the technique of adding the little runs “Floyd Crammer” style. I realize this style is so fast using only the thumb and two fingers (usually), but the sequence of fingers escapes me often. Any help would be appreciated. Oh, I will have more questions in the future

Hey Al,
It seems to me, if you were lucky enough to have all 5 fingers, you might as well use them.
Try playing the C major scale with one finger, now try playing it with the correct fingering using all 5 fingers. Of course using all your fingers is going to be faster. I would assume the same is true with 2 fingers, even if you really worked at making those two fingers fast.

Playing classical music will give you a good understanding of fingering. But also the blues licks we cover will help. Each song is a different problem, take the time to figure out the most logical fingering for each song… even if it it takes you a while to actually perform it.

Other General Fingering Tips:
I try and keep my thumb off the black notes in most scales.
Use 135 fingers for playing major triads in root position.

I’ll be sure and post some videos on fingering.
Thanks!
Chris Marx
Katherine Wheatley on March 2nd, 2009

Hello Chris,
First, thank you for being so thorough in your approach. I am moved by your generosity.
I am interested in excerises that would help me play everything with more ease and accuracy. Particularly in the left hand. I want to strengthen my baby and index fingers. They seem pretty useless.
Also - following up Andy’s question - I’m interested in knowing which songs provide good examples of styles of music - i.e. the “essential” repertoire for getting those styles down. Just one or two essential songs for one or two styles would be a good start.

Thanks, Katherine

Hi Katherine, as far as the songs go, there are whole books with the different titles, organized by genre. Also most music stores are organized by genre, so you could find lots of Funk, Blues, Rock or Jazz songs that way… Then you just need to find something at your level. Ask me for a specific genre suggestion and I’ll try to give some good answers

I like to assign fur elise to strengthen the 4th and 5th fingers in students right hands because those fingers get used a lot in the beginning of a song. Hanon exercises are GREAT for finger strength. If you don’t want to buy any of those books though, just playing a 5 note scale up and down can go a long ways… then create extra patterns around your 4th and 5th fingers to give them extra work

Thanks!
Chris Marx
kris on March 2nd, 2009

Hi Chris-
I liked the bossa nova idea too. I did find this http://fastpianolessons.com/blog/?p=142 and thanks!!
(The link was changed to the video’s blog post by Chris Marx)

Also, I would love to have the long fingers to reach an or more but unfortunately do not. Looking for some pointers on what to leave out if you can’t reach say a four note chord. Hope I didn’t just miss that.

I am just looking to play around pieces like So What, Strayhorn and Monk stuff.

Oh BTW, love the table of contents. That was really helpful for me in locating the things I wanted to see/learn.

thanks again!
kris

Thanks for the feedback on the table of contents!
That took at least an hour to find a solution for and figure out. Its still not perfect.

The trick for you for 4 note chords would be to play inversions that are closer together.
If you can play a 7th, you can play all the inversions.
Lets use Dmin7 as an example: [DFAC] is a wider reach than [CDFA] (only a 6th) so use the second version where the notes are clustered a little closer together. I would also trade out the root for a 9th to make it more jazzy. [CEFA] rather than [CDFA].

Other suggestions for reaching 4 note chords:
- sometimes you can get away with rolling them.
- i would leave out the 5th first… then the root. the two most important notes would be the 3rd and 7th.

Keep posting any future questions
Thanks,
Chris Marx

ps. I like the lego post on your blog by the way!
Henrik on March 2nd, 2009

Hi chris

i’ll start with excusing my english since it’s not my first language.

So far i have loved the lessons i find on this site. I have been playing piano for a few years but only classic so this is a new genre that really has opened my eyes.

Something would like you to add is perhaps some more things you can play with your right hand to all the different bass lines there are on this site. maybe show the basics and show ous how we ourselves can figure out things to do in the righthand. Maybe some more advanced things aswell so we can get motivated to play even more to be able to play the faster and harder stuff:P

Thanks for this site, really love it so far

Henrik

Hey Henrik!
I’ve actually been making a bunch of right hand exercises for a blues course I’m working on. I emailed you a sample
Thanks,
Chris Marx
tris on March 2nd, 2009

Hi Chris, i would like to write my own song. using a series of chords. so i can put lyrics to it. it would be nice to have it in major. and have a solo in the middle. You know like a blues scale but quick! If you arent sure what i mean type in pianoman by billy joel into youtube. and in the middle of the song you will hear a solo. reply soon.

Thanks, Tris

Hey Tris!
I’ve learned that solo. If thats the sound you’re looking for, the best way to learn it is to listen to the recording a bunch of times and slowly transcribe it… (learn it from the recording). Or buy a billy joel book with the transcription of the solo in it.
You should know some chords from the chords 101 course, but you learn what order to put them in by learning famous songs you like. Everyone has a different way of putting chords together. So next time you hear a song you like, go learn some of the chords, and then remember their tricks for when you write your own song.

For example, I would look at great balls of fire as being a major chord (C), going up a perfect 4th interval to anther major chord (F), going up a whole step to another major chord (G).
More simply put: I (one chord) to the IV (four chord), to the V (five chord).

Its pretty hard to explain this without getting into some tricky theory. But long story short, copy the same set of intervals or structures that you hear in your favorite songs.

Thanks!
Chris Marx
Richard on March 2nd, 2009

Hi Chris, I love your videos instructions. It has come a long way from the time when I could only guess what and the music was supposed to sound like on a piece of sheet music or hear what was happening on a cassette and not see the fingering etc. Thanks lots.

What I would like to learn more about is the proper way to make a smooth modulation to different keys. Also( I think someone else mentioned this also) what to do to accompany yourself,and what to do doing breaks in phrases(fill-ins) or passing.
Thanks

Hi Richard!
A lot of great questions. You must be composing because you asking how to modulate to different keys and you wouldn’t normally do that unless your reworking an existing tune or writing your own.
Look to the professional songwriters that you admire for how they modulate… I’m thinking of jazz songs specifically. There is no right or wrong way to do it, you could have a “direct modulation” and just abruptly change from one key to the next.
I think the smoothest way to do it is to go between to keys that share a lot of the same notes, like C and the key of F (which has a Bb) then in your song in the melody introduce the Bb note in there somewhere and you’ve modulated. As soon as you play a chord with the Bb you’re more committed to the modulation and as soon as you start doing V to I type movements in that new key (C7 to F) you’re really pointing to F as the new key center.
Hope that helps, that question is better suited for an in-depth composition course or book. But we’ll definitely be covering your other two questions more as we go along in Chords 202!
Thanks,
Chris Marx
Alex on March 2nd, 2009

Hi Chris, first of all - I find your blog very original and helpful. Personally I am interested in boogie woogie and of course would like to learn more of it. Take into account that in some genres sites like yours are the ONLY source of instruction, for boogie woogie isn’t the thing you can easily learn in Russia. In general I always find interesting:
- the whole workflow on particular song, going from zero to a nice sounding arrangement
- what you find interesting, thrilling and exciting - will most probably be interesting for me. Get personal - take some song that influenced you much or you were mad about.
Thanks

Hey Alex, I just checked out your blog. You’re a great designer
I have a lot of fun learning songs with a groove or silly songs from movies. So I recently have been working on thriller, toxic - britney spears, silly songs: the cantina song/darth vader theme from star wars
those are the songs that give me the most fun out of learning piano. Its not really about learning how to play the fastest or improvise the most impressive solo… those take too much time and the payoff is far less for me than just playing something that bring a smile to my face and other people
Harry potter and the simpsons have been fun too. I love playing musical triva, asking people, name this tune and then playing it for them. Most of them I’ll learn the melody by ear but need notes for the harmony.
Thanks!
Chris Marx
moldalex on March 2nd, 2009

Hi Chris!
Thank you for your videos and effort!

I’m trying to play bossa nova songs. I found some parts of famous Antonio Carlos Jobim’s songs! All is cool there but there are chords signs which is hard to understand or just unknown. For example E0 (zero is crossed) or A flat 07 (just zero here) or F with triangle in upper index…
Also some chords are written as A7 5. How to play such chords by 1 hand? Sometimes they sound awful and sometimes I can’t even take them

Hope my comments (questions) are usefull for your future Chord lessons!
Thanks again!
The Best whishes!
Alexei

Hi Alexei,
The shouldn’t sound awful. What you need to do is go find an arrangement of the song and compare it to your existing chart, then you have voicings for each one of those chords you dont know! That is a great way to learn.
LEAD SHEET INTERPRETATION is a topic for Chords 202:
E0 (zero is crossed) = half diminished chord. [EGBb] (aka Emin7b5)
Abo7 (just zero here) = diminished chord (not half diminished) [Ab BDF]
F with triangle = Fmajor7 [FACE]

Thanks!
Chris Marx
Malk on March 2nd, 2009

HI Chris!

I am from Brazil, and I am avid to learn more about 80´s music, I am beging to play alone my keyboard, I appreciated so much FUR ELISE in 80´s style, might you put some more of how to play EUROPE, JOURNEY, DEEP PURPLE, VAN HALEN, AUTOGRAPH, BON JOVI (ONLY THE beginning) movies themes (Goonies, Ghostbusters), ahhh TOP GUN ANTHEM… all in a way for people who are learning alone and initiating, (following to play songs)

great Salutation, More 80´s ahaah I was watching dreams VAN HALEN

HEAVY METAL RULES 80´S YOND FOR AND EVER!

I Learned english alone with book and movies if any thing is not exact.. do not mind!

Hey Malk!
Thanks for the suggestions
I know a few journey songs etc. Fur elise was good because it showed people a different way of doing something everyone already knows.
Your english is great, thanks for taking the time to learn it!
Chris Marx
baim on March 3rd, 2009

Hi Christ… long time i search website that could teach me more about playing piano… Finally i found your site ^^… If i can request, i wish you can teach the chords of new and famous song right now, like Jason Mraz ^^… hehe… thanks lot bro…

Hi Baim!
at the moment I don’t know any Jason Mraz, but I have to learn it.
I’ll get to work!
Thanks,
Chris Marx
Mike on March 3rd, 2009

Hi Chris,
Here are good question that I think will benefit many beginners.

1) How do I learn to play better without looking at the keyboard and fingers as much. I was going to try and start playing blindfolded but haven’t tried it yet. Would you suggest this.

2) Are there any basic fingering rules. I find myself using some all the time that make sense for most songs but then when used with other songs, sometimes hit adjacent keys which sounds horrible. Are there sometimes specific fingering for different songs that you just learn as you practice that particular song?

- Mike

Hi Mike,
#1) I think i play by touch a lot in my left hand so that I can watch what the right hand is doing. I do this by holding down one note while I feel out the next one… (As soon as you lift your hand off the keyboard you can’t feel around for the right notes any more. So always keep a finger on a note.)
Practice with your left hand going from a C root, to F to G. I learned how to do that without having to think about it. I think you’ll naturally learn how to do it as you play more.

#2) There isn’t really a one fingering fits all situation. But if you want to learn fingering, play through minuet in G by bach. that gives you a great start. Also playing the scales. Then try and figure out the most efficient fingering to use on the C blues scale. Thats a tricky one… but almost every song and key are different fingerings.

Thanks!
Chris Marx
sam valiente on March 3rd, 2009

hi chris..

it’s me Sam. just wanna know how to make broken chords since normal chords sounds are kinda boring sometimes right?

thanks for sharing your time and talent to all music lovers out there.. what a blessing you are.. hope i can get to meet you sometime in person…

Samantha

Hi Samantha!
I think the best example of broken chords is Imagine by The beatles. They play C and an F chord. but it the C major chord goes back and forth between the notes [eg] + [c]. Fmajor goes between [fa] + [c].

Think of other ways you can play chords! (we’ll talk about this in chords 202, but there are arpeggios (rolling the chords) and rolls/shakes.
Its best to demonstrate this in a video.
Here is a video on rolling the chords:
Ballad variations: http://fastpianolessons.com/blog/?p=108

Thanks!
Chris Marx
Vijay on March 3rd, 2009

Hey ,

How do you arrange a sequence of diminished chords without making it sound spooky ?

Hey Vijay!
Whenever I hear Diminished chords, i always hear them as moving to another type of chord… not diminished. So the spookiness is only temporary i suppose.

One thing that is interesting about diminished chords is that there are really only three of them. They’re all just inversions of eachother:
Cdim7, Ebdim7, F#dim7, Adim7 only use these notes [C Eb F# A]
C#dim7, Edim7, Gdim7, Bbdim7, only use these notes [C# E G Bb]
Ddim7, Fdim7, Abdim7, Bdim7, only use these notes [D F Ab B]

I think we’ll definitely have to talk about diminished chords in the Chords 202 Course
Thanks,
Chris Marx
Matt on March 3rd, 2009

Hello, Chris.

I am interested in learning gospel piano chords. I saw your video on YouTube entitled “Gospel Piano Chords - Add that Gospel sound to any song” which led me to your website. I thoroughly enjoy it; I’m now in the process of learning the key changes. Do you have any more videos or instructions to help me learn chords, techniques, “walking the bass”, etc. to give my piano playing a more gospel sound?

Thank you for your reply.

Matt

Hey Matt!
Blues and gospel go well together. Because I don’t have many gospel videos, I would recommend the blues videos. Especially for the basslines since they both have very similar movements.

Thanks!
Chris Marx
jordan on March 3rd, 2009

hey how and why do cords change even when the root doesnt????

Chords change a certain way because someone wrote them that way and thats the sound the composer was going for. Each chord has a different sound if you change the root.
Study inversions on lead sheets to figure out how they get used most commonly.

Here is a good reason to use inversions (different bass notes other than the root). Lets say we have the chords C G Am… if you play each of those roots in your left hand for the bass line, you get a very jumpy bassline going from C to G to Am.
However if we play C to G/B to Am… then the root motion is no bigger than a whole step. The bass line goes C B A which is much smoother. This is one of the reasons to use inversions.
Another is to get the player to play a much bigger chord. For example:
Em/C is really a Cmajor7 chord.

Thanks,
Chris
tris on March 4th, 2009

thanks chris, have you thought of a solo i can use for the song im writing, hopefully in major

Tris,
I’m sorry, I can’t write a solo for you.
I could, I’m just swamped with lessons.

Billy joel has already written the solo for you,
you just need to learn it! Set aside some time each day to practice it

Thanks,
Chris Marx
linda on March 4th, 2009

hey yall i was just wondering if you would do a lesson or some exsamples of specific songs like,”his eye is on the sparrow, put a little love in your heart, angel ,ect,ect. it would be really nice

thanks yall
linda in Sweet Home Alabama

Hey Linda!
Thanks for the suggestion. I’ll have to learn some of those tunes eventually. Gospel/Hymns aren’t my forte.
Hope the sky is blue in sweet home alabama.
Thanks!
Chris Marx
Frank on March 4th, 2009

hi christ! this is my first comment in this blog.
I just want to tell that I`m a Spanish speaker so I don`t understand every single thing every time. I want to thak you `cause I play a piano and you gave me many tools. And now I`m practising intemediate classes of your blog, so thank a lot and continue posting.

Frank

Glad to inspire and offer some piano shortcuts Frank!
Thanks,
Chris Marx
Malk on March 5th, 2009

Salution Chris Marx

It is me again and against the world! ahah (Heavy Metal phrase, reminds me LIZZY BORDEN)
It was astounding to see your answer!
might you tell me some technic, for initiate sing and play together, I am yearning to play and sing to develop my psycho-motor abilities, Spacial intelligence, and others, ( my father has Auzheimer´s Disease) and it is a great motivation for evolve my intelligences, Auzheimer affects spacial sense, coordination, memory between orders, so play and sing shall be (without words) for mental development and do not have the same as he.
for better comprehension people in the world can avoid this disease, passing through the life, studing, memorizing, playing, our brain needs challenges
and as PITAGORAS always was saying for the pupils play a musical instrument
and the importance of this… so why not

So who readed this and is studing and playing you are in the way!

IF I COULD FLY LIKE THE KING OF THE SKY (HELLOWEEN)

FARE THEE WELL!
Malk on March 5th, 2009

Salutation!

Chris!

I was perceiving in the Categories there is no Heavy Metal secession
Could you creat one named Heavy Meal 80´s (Rock and Roll with respect is another thing a great and intense thing, but not the same) so full of:

VAN HALEN
DEEP PURPLE
EUROPE
AUTOGRAPH
SURVIVOR
JOURNEY
RAINBOW for example

I could aid to build it sending music suggestions, and I shall divulge for many people here in Brazil your work, Vehemently I ask you it, help to show for the world that is it music, deserve respect, people say Headbangers are just …..
and do not know nothing… They do not play nothing, (they forget the best players guitar players nowadays are from Heavy Metal, they forget that still alive PAVAROTI did mension that ROB HALFORD (JUDAS PRIEST) was a admirable singer for him. and many others…

and I and ask you to put as first lesson in this session, VAN HALEN - JUMP
and DREAMS
I know a lot of people who shall appreciate it, beacuse they want to learn and they want to learn but they have no money to pay teachers, and here are the “place of samba” and Bossa Nova, the government do not give opportunity for people other things, as Blues, Jazz, Rock and Roll and Heavy Metal!

if I am daydreaming alot and bothering frankly say me and I stop with it, do not use more the space!

I homenage to the girls who use this blog

HEART - ALONE

FARE THEE WELL
mathew barkho on March 6th, 2009

chris. can you teach me how to play i saw her standing there from the beatles
Dave on March 10th, 2009

Hello Chris!

I was wondering is there anything or way that you would recommend to practicing how to play one thing with one hand and play something else with the other? This seems to be the hardest thing to do for me. You do it so effortlessly!!! Thanks for the opportunity to post this and the great work you do with your blog. Thanks again ……..Dave

Hey Dave!
Start with simple patterns that you can accomplish in 5 minutes…
then add a few more notes… practice until you’re comfortable with the more complicated version
then a few more etc…

But the patterns you do in each hand can be broken down to much simpler patterns,
until its almost not playing anything at all..
thats where you have to start from..

Same thing with reading complicated music… I cross out a lot of hard notes or extra notes first… and
just try to grasp the basic concept of the piece. Then work on adding each of the notes i left out before

Are you referring to a certain video?

Thanks,
Chris Marx
Jr on March 10th, 2009

Hi Chris,

First, thanks for taking the time to provide some musical education and/or sophistication to the masses, particularly those of us who are interested in learning how to play some easy piano pieces.

I have a little bit of musical knowledge from playing the cello when I was a kid and from teaching myself to play the guitar as an adult. My problem is in finding the time to practice the piano and, as a consequence, I’m more drawn to those songs that are relatively easy for a beginner to learn, such as Warren Zevon’s, “Werewolves of London” or some of the early basic rock n’ roll stuff where there aren’t too many chord changes to remember. The guitar is well-suited for that approach (three chords and away you go), but it doesn’t always seem to translate as easily on the piano.

So I guess what I’d like to see is more easy-to-play piano songs that make it sound like I know what I’m doing even if I really don’t. THX!

Jim

Thanks for the feedback Jim

I’m working on some stuff like that now, but I need your help to make it better.
right now its only a bunch of sheet music so maybe I should put all the examples onto video?

I’ve emailed you the info on the groove report

It has a bunch of patterns in it that you could use for rock songs… but I think I need to add more for the sweet home alabama/werewolves london style.

The trick that you might be looking for is that guitar can only play one rhythm at a time.
Piano can imitate the bass and the guitar rhythms at the same time though. So think like a bass player and a guitarist
play the bass note on 1 and 3 and the chord on 2 and 4 for starters…

Thanks!
Chris Marx
Doreen on March 10th, 2009

Hi Chris!

thanx for the video.. and sorry for my broken english.

I learned grade 7 classical piano. But i found that it’s really hard to learn pop piano, when comes with chords. I tried to find chords with the songs that i like ( Jap pop song), but it’s really hard for me… I do not know where should i start. And i feel like i cant even play piano without piano score. It’s really a shame…. i really need your help. My friend laughed at me, saying that how could a grade 7 pianist could’nt even play the song that they like…

please help me…
Dave on March 19th, 2009

Hi Chris,
Dave on March 19th, 2009

Hi Chris,

I was wondering if you could do something on chord progressions. Is there a basic formula for this? Thanks……. Dave

Hi Dave!
what do you mean a basic formula?

Every song has a different chord progression.
However certain progressions get used much more frequently than others.

For example, most blues songs use a “I” “IV” and “V” (1,4,5) chord progression.
In the key of C that means C F & G.
In the key of D that means D G & A.

A lot of “swing” rock songs like “Great Balls of Fire” use 1,4&5 chords as well.

Thanks,
Chris Marx
Dave on March 19th, 2009

Hey Chris,

Sorry that I didn’t post this in my earlier post but I am just waking up!! I was wondering when you are playing a blues progression I,IV, V in C do you play a C blues scale throughout the song or do you play a different blues scale when you are changing chords? Also what does the blues scale consist of? Thanks for all your help!!!! Dave

Hi Dave,
use the C blues scale throughout the whole blues. That will sound great and is only one scale to focus on.

It limits you to only those notes though… when you have mastered playing the C blues scale in your right hand, then try and learn the scale that works for each individual dominant chord. (C7, F7, G7)

On a C7 for example, the whole scale is spelled [C D E F G A "Bb"].
Another way to think of it:
On a C7 play the Cmajor scale, BUT lower the 7th note. (lower B down to Bb)

That scale is really called C mixolydian mode…
although I sometimes call it the C dominant scale or the C7 scale.

The C7 chord has the notes [CEG Bb] many of the same notes that are in the C7 scale.
This is why they work well together.

SUMMARY:
On C7 we would play C mixolydian mode.
(Cmajor scale with a flatted 7th - thats Bb)

F7 you could use F mixolydian mode.
(Fmajor scale with a flatted 7th - thats Eb)

G7 you could use the G mixolydian mode.
(Gmajor scale with a flatted 7th - thats F)

Thanks!
Chris Marx
Sarah on April 11th, 2009

Hi Chris!

I been enjoying your site. It’s very helpful, but I need some instructions. I actually played very well, for an infant, about… like 5 or 6 years ago? (I’m 15) and right at the age of 10 or so I dropped the piano and haven’t played it since. I knew all the names of the notes and everything, which REALLY helped. I just started getting back into it for 2 months and I’ve been using youtube videos. I know Fur Elise and A River Flows in You, and some of Moonlight Sonata. I recognize the c, d, e, f, and g chords, but I’m not a piano whiz or anything with triads or other piano jargons. I was browsing some nice songs to play for the holidays and your Christmas songs are brilliantly played, and I was wondering if you could put up some more instructional videos on them.

Gracias!
Sarah
R F on April 17th, 2009

The chord lessons were very helpful. Do you have any lessons on the most common bass lines to go with progressions you find in most popular music?
Thanks.
RF

Hi RF,
One thing I’ve learned about basslines is that they all have a lot of similarities.
In otherwords a lot of them are variations on the same bassline.
I’ve attached 3 pdfs to your email that I’ve made that have a few jazz and blues examples.

The best way is to just start by playing the root of the chord on beat one.
Another really common note to use is the 5th of the chord on any beat other than one.

Ask some more questions so I can give more specific answers
Thanks!
Chris Marx
Blake on May 5th, 2009

Hi Chris! I really enjoy your videos, I also loved the video I found on Norah jones Dont know why. I really love her work and it would be fun if you could do one or two more of her songs! but if you dont no harm done I am still a big fan of your leasons!!!!!!!
D on May 26th, 2009

Hi Chris,

Thanks for the videos!

And I have a question about playing the piano for accompaniment. I just want to learn how to play while I sing. If you could make a video about this that would be great.

Hi D!
I’m working on some videos right now to help out.
I’ll send an email when they’re done.

GENERAL GUIDELINES:
Simplify what your hands are doing so you can focus on your singing.

I can only focus on one thing at a time well. If I’m playing with two hands AND singing, then 2 of the 3 things need to be on autopilot. In other words, I practice them so much that I don’t have to think about them. Then I can focus on the the 3rd thing.

Try to stick with chords in the right hand and the left hand plays a bass note or line.
Then if the singers stop or rest, I’ll put in some melodic fills… but I try not to do that at the same time they’re singing.

Thanks!
Chris Marx
Greg on June 8th, 2009

Hi Chris,
Thanks for the terrific site and all your time, I appreciate that.
Before I found you I have memorized all the maj, min, aug, dimished chords but I dont really understand how the scales are. Or when someone says,”use the g flat scale”, my question is how do I figure out what it is? Or the b flat scale, etc, etc.
Finally, how do you recommend I use your site, I am interested mainly in blues and boogie woogie, should I click on lets say, blues and follow every lesson or something else?
Thanks again for your time,
Greg

Hi Greg!

Thanks
Sounds like you’ve already covered a lot of ground with the chords.

Scales all have the same structure.
Gflat major scale has the same structure of half steps that a C major scale has.
Major Scales are:
Whole Step, Whole Step, Half Step, Whole Step, Whole Step, Whole Step, Half Step.
I think of it like this: WWHWWWH

That should get you started, but keep bugging me with more specific questions you have so I can know what to make a video on.

I don’t really have an organization method for the blog that is better than those “CATEGORIES” yet.
Clicking on blues will bring you to all the blues related links.
ALSO try using the table of contents link at the top of each page.
http://fastpianolessons.com/blog/table-of-contents/
The problem is you’ll find some lessons that are in the blues category, also in the rock category…

I’m working on some dvds and booklets that will be very organized and solve that problem though…
Thanks Greg!
Chris Marx
Greg on June 9th, 2009

Chris,
Somewhere in all your work you ask if we like the digital piano above you actual keyboard, my answer is a big YES! I can see the keys better on that board due to them being highlighted in blue.
I hope you continue to use it,
Thanks for everything,
Greg

Hi Greg!
It takes extra time and preparation to put in, but I’ll keep using it!

Thanks!
Chris Marx
Dee on July 26th, 2009

Hey ! How are you? I just wanted to ask if you know ( I’m sure you do :)) any “techniques” for fast fingering(wow that must sound weird lol) ? Like in this “Flight of the bumblebee” piece?? Do you see what I mean?? I don’t play piano professionaly so I don’t really know how to call it…but then I’m sure you know what i mean. I have this piece where i have to “drive” my fingers very fast through almost the whole piano so I’d really appriciate any advice from you or from anybody. Please write me. Peace, Dee
Chris Marx on July 27th, 2009

Hi Dee!

Fast fingering

Ummm… practice? Thats the trick to doing anything faster.

Practice it slowly A LOT, then you’ll be able to do it faster…

Scales might help a bit… but not for playing specific songs like you’re asking about.

Also MAKE SURE to use the correct fingering for the song. If you try and play Flight of the Bumblee with one finger, its going to be much slower than if you use all your fingers. Using bad fingering can really slow you down, so try to avoid using the same fingering twice.

I can’t really summarize every fingering lesson in an email, but practicing scales should help and thinking to yourself, “how can I use my fingers to play this faster” Fingering is not rocket science, just force yourself not to be sloppy. Plan out which fingers you’re going to use!

Good luck Dee!

Chris Marx
Birdy on September 30th, 2009

Hi Chris!:)

I was woundering if you knew something about “bar music”(smooth jazz).
I have been looking for some chords or some simple, but yet smooth listening, songs i could play just to learn how to play in that style.
I am working on reading the chords at once without “thinking” I am a trompet player, so i know much about music. As i play mostly Classic on my trumpet, i really wanted to learn jazz piano, but then i found the “bar music” or lounge music, and i really like it, because its so relaxing. Any tips? Thank you very much !
Love
Lasse
Rollie Aquino on January 31st, 2010

Hi, Chris!

Thanks for all the goodies.
I’m from the old school and although I’m starting to begin to like video (DVD) demonstrations of the lessons, I still would like to see the notation of the techniques that I see or watch on the video. I find I learn faster and could apply better the lessons to other songs. I print them out and compile them into a folder, which I keep by the keyboard or piano. for fast (easy) retrieval.

More power to you,
Rollie
Stephanie on July 23rd, 2010

I have a chord on a lead sheet that I do not know how to voice on the piano. It is a Bb2(#4). Can you help me out on this?

Thanks so much,
Stephanie

Trackback URI | Subscribe to the comments through RSS Feed

Fast Piano Lessons Blog