Piano & Chord Playing Tips

Piano chording music -- piano lessons galore for adults on DVD

Chord Progressions -- Part Six How many songs can you play with just a few chords? I thought it might be fun to count the chords in the written versions of common Christmas Carols, just to see what songs can be played with just a few chords, and what songs required more chords. Here's the results of the count: (If you get a different number, it's probably due to the fact that there are different arrangements of the same carol. I have tried to use the most standard arrangement of each c..

Chord Progressions - Part Six

Chord Progressions -- Part Six How many songs can you play with just a few chords? I thought it might be fun to count the chords in the written versions of common Christmas Carols, just to see what songs can be played with just a few chords, and what songs required more chords. Here's the results of the count: (If you get a different number, it's probably due to the fact that there are different arrangements of the same carol. I have tried to use the most standard arrangement of each c..

Chord Progressions - Part Six

Chord Progressions -- Part Six How many songs can you play with just a few chords? I thought it might be fun to count the chords in the written versions of common Christmas Carols, just to see what songs can be played with just a few chords, and what songs required more chords. Here's the results of the count: (If you get a different number, it's probably due to the fact that there are different arrangements of the same carol. I have tried to use the most standard arrangement of each c..

Chord Progressions - Part Five

Chord Progressions -- Part Five The most important question to ask yourself! Lots of people don't know that it's OK to re-harmonize a song with new and fresh chord progressions. They think that the song is written in stone -- handed down from some writer or publisher who will come after them if they alter anything. 'Taint so. Musicians alter songs all the time. They change the rhythm, they cha..

Chord Progressions - Part Five

Chord Progressions -- Part Five The most important question to ask yourself! Lots of people don't know that it's OK to re-harmonize a song with new and fresh chord progressions. They think that the song is written in stone -- handed down from some writer or publisher who will come after them if they alter anything. 'Taint so. Musicians alter songs all the time. They change the rhythm, they cha..

Chord Progressions - Part Five

Chord Progressions -- Part Five The most important question to ask yourself! Lots of people don't know that it's OK to re-harmonize a song with new and fresh chord progressions. They think that the song is written in stone -- handed down from some writer or publisher who will come after them if they alter anything. 'Taint so. Musicians alter songs all the time. They change the rhythm, they cha..

Chord Progressions - Part Five

Chord Progressions -- Part Five The most important question to ask yourself! Lots of people don't know that it's OK to re-harmonize a song with new and fresh chord progressions. They think that the song is written in stone -- handed down from some writer or publisher who will come after them if they alter anything. 'Taint so. Musicians alter songs all the time. They change the rhythm, they cha..

Chord Progressions - Part Four

Chord Progressions -- Part Four More Pseudo-Modulations The week before last we discussed the 2 kids at a piano progression, otherwise known as the Blue Moon progression, among other names. It consisted of 4 chords: the I chord moving to the VI chord moving to the II chord moving to the V chord and then back to I to make the full circle. We also showed how you could make variations out of that progression by using 1/2 step slides either up or down. F..

Chord Progressions - Part Four

Chord Progressions -- Part Four More Pseudo-Modulations The week before last we discussed the 2 kids at a piano progression, otherwise known as the Blue Moon progression, among other names. It consisted of 4 chords: the I chord moving to the VI chord moving to the II chord moving to the V chord and then back to I to make the full circle. We also showed how you could make variations out of that progression by using 1/2 step slides either up or down. F..

Chord Progressions - Part Four

Chord Progressions -- Part Four More Pseudo-Modulations The week before last we discussed the 2 kids at a piano progression, otherwise known as the Blue Moon progression, among other names. It consisted of 4 chords: the I chord moving to the VI chord moving to the II chord moving to the V chord and then back to I to make the full circle. We also showed how you could make variations out of that progression by using 1/2 step slides either up or down. F..

Chord Progressions - Part Four

Chord Progressions -- Part Four More Pseudo-Modulations The week before last we discussed the 2 kids at a piano progression, otherwise known as the Blue Moon progression, among other names. It consisted of 4 chords: the I chord moving to the VI chord moving to the II chord moving to the V chord and then back to I to make the full circle. We also showed how you could make variations out of that progression by using 1/2 step slides either up or down. F..

Chord Progressions - Part 3

Chord Progressions -- Part Three: (If you missed Parts 1 and 2 or need to review them, they are re-printed right below Part 3 for your convenience) Fake-Out-Modulations Last week we discussed the 2 kids at a piano progression, otherwise known as the Blue Moon progression, among other names. It consisted of 4 chords: the I chord moving to the VI chord moving to the II chord moving to the V chord and then back to I to make the full circle. We also show..

Chord Progressions - Part 3

Chord Progressions -- Part Three: (If you missed Parts 1 and 2 or need to review them, they are re-printed right below Part 3 for your convenience) Fake-Out-Modulations Last week we discussed the 2 kids at a piano progression, otherwise known as the Blue Moon progression, among other names. It consisted of 4 chords: the I chord moving to the VI chord moving to the II chord moving to the V chord and then back to I to make the full circle. We also show..

Chord Progressions - Part 3

Chord Progressions -- Part Three: (If you missed Parts 1 and 2 or need to review them, they are re-printed right below Part 3 for your convenience) Fake-Out-Modulations Last week we discussed the 2 kids at a piano progression, otherwise known as the Blue Moon progression, among other names. It consisted of 4 chords: the I chord moving to the VI chord moving to the II chord moving to the V chord and then back to I to make the full circle. We also show..

Chord Progressions - Part 3

Chord Progressions -- Part Three: (If you missed Parts 1 and 2 or need to review them, they are re-printed right below Part 3 for your convenience) Fake-Out-Modulations Last week we discussed the 2 kids at a piano progression, otherwise known as the Blue Moon progression, among other names. It consisted of 4 chords: the I chord moving to the VI chord moving to the II chord moving to the V chord and then back to I to make the full circle. We also show..

Chord Progressions - Part 2

Chord Progressions -- Part Two Last week we defined what a chord progression is, and how to use one to create a new song, improvisation, or piece. If you recall, we kept the same chords, but changed both the rhythm and the melody so that the original chord progression is not really recognizeable -- at least not to those who don't know about chords and progressions. (Last week's issue is re-printed at the bottom of this issue, in case you missed it, or need to review.) This week I want to shar..

Chord Progressions - Part 2

Chord Progressions -- Part Two Last week we defined what a chord progression is, and how to use one to create a new song, improvisation, or piece. If you recall, we kept the same chords, but changed both the rhythm and the melody so that the original chord progression is not really recognizeable -- at least not to those who don't know about chords and progressions. (Last week's issue is re-printed at the bottom of this issue, in case you missed it, or need to review.) This week I want to shar..

Chord Progressions - Part 2

Chord Progressions -- Part Two Last week we defined what a chord progression is, and how to use one to create a new song, improvisation, or piece. If you recall, we kept the same chords, but changed both the rhythm and the melody so that the original chord progression is not really recognizeable -- at least not to those who don't know about chords and progressions. (Last week's issue is re-printed at the bottom of this issue, in case you missed it, or need to review.) This week I want to shar..

Chord Progressions - Part 2

Chord Progressions -- Part Two Last week we defined what a chord progression is, and how to use one to create a new song, improvisation, or piece. If you recall, we kept the same chords, but changed both the rhythm and the melody so that the original chord progression is not really recognizeable -- at least not to those who don't know about chords and progressions. (Last week's issue is re-printed at the bottom of this issue, in case you missed it, or need to review.) This week I want to shar..

Chord Progressions - Part One

Chord Progressions - Part One A chord progression is just what the name implies: the way a series of chords progresses through a song. Here is a chord progression: G C G D7 G C etc. Here is another: Fm7 Bbm7 Eb7 Ab Db G7 etc. If you have a piano handy, play these chords and see if you can recognize what songs they belong to. Pretty hard to tell, isn't it? That's because there are two elements missing -- the melody (tune of the song) and the time. You have no way of knowing how long to..

Chord Progressions - Part One

Chord Progressions - Part One A chord progression is just what the name implies: the way a series of chords progresses through a song. Here is a chord progression: G C G D7 G C etc. Here is another: Fm7 Bbm7 Eb7 Ab Db G7 etc. If you have a piano handy, play these chords and see if you can recognize what songs they belong to. Pretty hard to tell, isn't it? That's because there are two elements missing -- the melody (tune of the song) and the time. You have no way of knowing how long to..

Chord Progressions - Part One

Chord Progressions - Part One A chord progression is just what the name implies: the way a series of chords progresses through a song. Here is a chord progression: G C G D7 G C etc. Here is another: Fm7 Bbm7 Eb7 Ab Db G7 etc. If you have a piano handy, play these chords and see if you can recognize what songs they belong to. Pretty hard to tell, isn't it? That's because there are two elements missing -- the melody (tune of the song) and the time. You have no way of knowing how long to..

Chord Progressions - Part One

Chord Progressions - Part One A chord progression is just what the name implies: the way a series of chords progresses through a song. Here is a chord progression: G C G D7 G C etc. Here is another: Fm7 Bbm7 Eb7 Ab Db G7 etc. If you have a piano handy, play these chords and see if you can recognize what songs they belong to. Pretty hard to tell, isn't it? That's because there are two elements missing -- the melody (tune of the song) and the time. You have no way of knowing how long to..

Piano & Chord Playing Tips

Sunday, April 10, 2005

Piano chording music -- piano lessons galore for adults on DVD

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