HearandPlay.com Monthly Newsletter --- October 2004!
http://www.Hearandplay.com
Serving 103,113 Musicians Worldwide!
 
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Contents:
I. Welcome
II. Announcements
III. Online Classroom:
       "10 Video Lessons (Mastering Worship Chords)"
              Click here to view the video clip lessons...
 
* In exchange for the video clips, all I ask is that you forward
this newsletter to five people who'd benefit from it the most!
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Dear Subscriber,
 
Welcome to my October newsletter on how to master worship chords by ear! This newsletter is so different from any other issue because I'm literally sharing over 20 minutes of step-by-step, over-the-shoulder video clips with you below!
 
Now let me say this first...
 
Just because I title them "worship chords" doesn't mean they can't be used in other genres of music. In fact, if you've been a member of HearandPlay.com for some time, you already know my favorite teaching: "Chords are recycled. They repeat themselves over and over again in different songs and even across different genres." And that principle still holds true.
 
So this newsletter could have very well been called "How to Master Contemporary Chords." Remember, it's not what chords you play, it's how you use them.
 
On one account, I recall a musician getting in trouble for playing a "secular" song in church. What the members of the church didn't realize was that he was playing a gospel song that happened to share the same chords as a particular secular song. I won't mention any song names in this newsletter but I guarantee you've played at least a dozen songs from various genres and you didn't even know it (...and perhaps you still don't)!
 
However, in this particular context, I am demonstrating contemporary chords for use in worship settings. In fact, these 10+ video lessons I'll be sharing with you are taken directly from my new GospelKeys 202 video course: "Mastering Worship Chords!"
 
Since it's release on September 1, 2004, thousands of HearandPlay students have grabbed their copies and based on the responses, have really enjoyed the content (... 3 hours of pure learning...). I mean thousands of people --- we even ran out of stock for a while and came across a huge backordering problem because of the demand. But all is well now.
 
If you know me by now, you understand that I get right to the point. I don't put on concerts for you in my courses ... I don't tell you my life story ... I get right into teaching and that's what I do best! (I don't sing either ... thank God).
 
I teach you how to recognize "patterns" in songs. Believe it or not, once you learn a set number of chords, there aren't too many other chords you have to learn or create. It tickles me every time I see a musician trying to "construct" a new chord when I clearly hear a "minor" chord or a "dominant" chord. If this sounds like you, then you could be wasting a lot of your valuable time because:
 
Once you learn all of your major, minor, dominant, diminished, 7ths, 9ths, 11ths, 13ths (and a few more altered chords), there aren't too many other chords out there!
 
...Now don't get me wrong: There are endless possibilities of voicings and ways to play chords that may "spice" or "jazz" them up. But, in terms of learning the basic "outline" of a song, it shouldn't take more than a few minutes to figure out what's going on in a song.
 
So the key is to learn patterns.
 
I'm talking about patterns like these:
 
1-4 patterns ... 1-6 patterns ... 2-5 patterns ... 3-6 patterns ... 3-4 patterns ... and the list goes on and on. (Don't worry if you don't know what these numbers mean. I will explain all of this to you in this month's classroom lesson below).
 
You'll find patterns like these in hundreds of slow worship songs. And you know what? They're even found in jazz, r&b, and other contemporary styles as well! In GospelKeys 202, you'll learn tons of these patterns. I call them "couples."
 
In the GospelKeysTM 202 video course:
 
  • Learn what I call my "7-couple" formula to playing tons of worship songs by ear! Just like you learned 5 steps to playing praise songs in GospelKeysTM 300, I will show you easy-to-understand steps to understanding how worship and slow songs are arranged! Click here for more information...
  • Discover my "3-4" principle to playing literally any worship chord progression by ear ... INSTANTLY! Chord progressions don't occur randomly. Certain chords lead to others and with this 3-4 calculation that I'm going to reveal, you will never ever have to guess where to go next! This has never been taught this way before! Click here for more information...
  • Learn over 60 new voicings, chords, progressions, and fancy arrangements to playing worship music! From fancy inversions of the ninth chord to the secret "Quartal" chord (which sounds very very smooth), you'll learn how to replace all of your basic triads and 3-fingered chords with full-sounding 9ths, 11ths, 13ths, and altered chords! Believe me when I say: "Others will notice!" Click here for more information...
  • Learn contemporary and alternative ways to playing worship favorites like "Hallelujah," "Thank You Lord," and others! While you'll be taught, step-by-step, how to play various songs by the end of GospelKeysTM 202, you'll be equipped with the chords, progressions, and "couples" (see below) to play over 95% of gospel worship songs by ear! But what you have to realize is that most songs use the same progressions over and over in different ways. GospelKeysTM 202 will show you how to recognize these changes in songs! Click here for more information...
  • Learn patterns (or what I'm calling "couples") like: "1-2, 1-3, 1-4, 1-5, 1-6, 1-7, 2-5, 2-6, 3-6, 3-4, 4-5, 4-3, 4-6, 4-7, 5-1, 5-2, 5-4, 6-2, 6-7, 7-3, and many more! Don't be intimidated by the numbers. They are simply taken from major scales. The power in understanding all of these couples is that once you know them all, there will be absolutely NO SONG you won't be able to learn! These patterns are in 95% of all gospel worship songs and you'll know them on September 1, 2004! Click here for more information...
  • Train your ear to recognize these small "couples" with specially designed ear-training sections of the video course (one-on-one with me)! Once you've mastered all of the "couples" above, then you must be able to recognize them in songs! I will constantly test you right there on the screen without you seeing the notes that I am playing in an effort to help you build your ear skills! Click here for more information...
Also learn techniques like:
  • How to repeat the ending of a worship song without using the same exact chords over and over!
  • How to play 8-fingered chords using both the power of your left and right hands!
  • How to follow a singer, worship leader, or soloist. I am actually accompanying recorded singers in the video! You'll see it "live and in color!"
  • How to play "licks" and "tricks" even during slow-paced worship songs. I include a dozen of my favorite ones! You can outright steal them from me... I don't mind!
  • How to transform a basic structure of a worship song into a more contemporary-sounding arrangement ... in 5 minutes! I actually show you how to do this right there on the screen using a real-life example.
  • ... And much much more!
For a 15-pg informational report, click here or visit www.GospelKeys202.com
 

"The Secrets to Playing Piano By Ear" 300pg Course - Learn the secrets to playing literally any song on the piano with a few simple, "easy-to-understand" techniques and principles! Join Jermaine Griggs in learning tons of music theory, concepts, and tricks that will help you to learn piano by ear! Thousands of musicians have already taken advantage of this excellent program ... why not you?

"The Secrets to Playing Piano By Ear" is full of easy-to-understand tricks, tips, techniques and secrets to playing piano by ear! For this month only, I've also been able to throw in a few bonus items (3 additional piano software programs). Click here to learn the secrets to playing absolutely any song on the piano in virtually minutes! You won't regret it!


 
2004 Newsletter Archive Available at https://www.hearandplay.com/newsletters.html
 
 
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Online Classroom:
 
"10 Video Lessons (Mastering Worship Chords)"
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Note: You might want to print this lesson out for easier
reading...
 
 
In this month's online classroom, I'm going to share with you a few video clip lessons from the GospelKeysTM 202 video course. I've selectively pulled out clips that I think you'll benefit from, whether you consider the entire course or not.
 
 
Before I introduce the video clips, it is important that you understand the whole concept of learning worships songs (or any song for that matter) by ear:
 
It all starts with major scales.
 
You should already know that there are 12 different major scales. When someone is singing, they've either knowingly picked ONE of the twelve keys to sing in (which might be their favorite key or a predetermined key for the song they're singing) OR they have just started singing in whatever range that is comfortable for them. In this instance, they don't really know their major key and it is your job to figure out what key they're singing in.
 
A singer can't be in two keys at once. At any given time, you will only be in one major key. Songs may modulate or go to another major key, but will only be in one major key at a time.
 
We focus on Db major in the GospelKeysTM 202 video course.
 
I start the course by teaching you several different chords that you can play on each tone of the major scale. Just to break down the concept for you, here is a Db major scale:
 
Db major scale
 
Db  __ Eb __ F __ Gb __ Ab __ Bb __ C __ Db __
 
 
In other words, I teach you several chords to play on each one of these tones. Since every major key on the piano has its own major scale, these same chords can be applied to all 12 major keys! Always transfer what you learn from ONE key to all TWELVE keys. This is a very very smart and effective habit to develop, especially if you're just starting out!
 
 
Also, it is important to understand each note of a major scale by its corresponding number. In other words:
 
Db = 1
Eb = 2
F   = 3
Gb = 4
Ab = 5
Bb = 6
C   = 7
Db = 8  (or the same as 1 basically).
 
 
Majority of the time, a song is progressing from one of these tones to another. I'd say more than 80% of the time, you're playing chords that correspond with notes of the major scale.
 
Yes, there are times when, in the key of Db, you'll hit a B major chord. Notice that "B" is not a part of the Db major scale. In this instance, "B" is actually the flat 7 note of the scale. "How do you create a flat 7," you may ask?
 
Simply go to the 7th note of the scale (which is "C" in this example) and lower it one-half step (or one note). Remember, only lower it one note. Don't skip any notes, whatsoever. I say that because some people don't realize that black keys are a part of the piano just as well as white keys. In other words, when you lower a note, don't skip any black notes.
 
In this case, since C doesn't have a black key behind it, you'd lower it directly to B.
 
B is the flat seventh of Db major. This is just one example where you'd play a note or chord that may not necessarily align with the notes of your major scale. This will happen but not nearly as much as regular progressions within the notes of the major scale.
 
Most of the time, you'll be playing from a 1 chord to a 3 chord, or a 1 chord to a 5 chord, or a 3 chord to a 6 chord, or a 6 chord to a 2 chord, just to give a few examples. Most songs stay with the number patterns.
 
 
Now that you understand the number system, I can talk in GospelKeysTM language.
 
Patterns like "1-3", "3-6", "6-2", "2-5-1", and others all come from major scales.
 
Db = 1
Eb = 2
F   = 3
Gb = 4
Ab = 5
Bb = 6
C   = 7
Db = 8
 
 
Just to make sure you understand, let's take a short quiz:
 
1) In the key of Db major, a 1-3 progression consists of what two keynotes?
 
____  (1)  ****  ____ (3)
 
2) In the key of Db major, a 2-5 progression consists of what two keynotes?
 
____ (2)   ****  ____ (5)
 
3) In the key of Db major, a 7-3-6 progression consists of what three keynotes?
 
____ (7)   ****  ____ (3)  **** ____ (6)
 
4) In the key of Db major, a 1-4 progression consists of what two keynotes?
 
____ (1)   ****  ____ (4)
 
 
Ok, now grade yourself:
 
Answers:
 
 
1) Db to F
 
2) Eb to Ab
 
3) C to F to Bb
 
4) Db to Gb
 
 
Note: Of course, all of these notes will be connected with chords. But for this example, I just wanted you to know the keynotes involved (the title of the chords).
 
 
Ok, so now that you have a crash course on what I call "couples" (just another way of saying very small chord progression), we can move on to the video clips.
 
 
Click to watch this video clip
 
Video Lesson #1
This clip teaches a type of voicing that few musicians have ever heard of. It's called the "Quartal" chord. It creates a very contemporary sound. Do yourself a favor and learn this chord in all twelve keys!
Duration: 1:17
Click to watch this video clip
 
Video Lesson #2
This clip teaches you multiple "2" chords to play. Remember, a "2" chord commonly begins what we call a "2-5-1" chord progression. If you understand anything about these progressions, you know that they commonly end songs. In other words, even an audience knows when to start applauding when a 2-5-1 approaches. Duration: 1:34
Click to watch this video clip
Video Lesson #3
A continuation of clip #2, you'll learn some more fancy "2" chords that are sure to spice up your playing. There is one chord I teach in this clip that you don't want to pass up! It utilizes all five fingers and I warn you --- you have to stretch for this one!
Duration: 1:15
Click to watch this video clip
Video Lesson #4
This altered chord is probably one of the most commonly played chords in gospel music. From personal experience, I use it in probably 70% of songs I play. Now, keep in mind that I'm referencing the type of chord (7 #9#5) --- remember that this chord can be played in 12 different keys! No matter what song you're playing, it will show up sooner or later! Duration: 1:13
 
 
Click here for all 10 video lessons (over 20 minutes in content)!
 
 
 
Well... obviously I couldn't fit all 20 minutes worth of video clips in this e-mail. But please do yourself a favor and visit https://www.hearandplay.com/gk202clips.html to see all 10 of them and more!
 
You'll find clips ranging from chords to chord progressions, from left-hand bass techniques to right hand "licks", from simple "grooves" to full songs with vocalists, drums, and live accompaniment. It's worth taking a look at: https://www.hearandplay.com/gk202clips.html
 
 

Explore these chord types along with the GospelKeys 202 video course:

 

Well, I hope you enjoyed my October newsletter and I'll be back in November! Take care!


This concludes your October Online Classroom Lesson
 
If you were intrigued by the online classroom lesson above,
then you would definitely benefit from my course!
 
*** “The Secrets to Playing Piano By Ear” 300-pg Course ***
 
With 20 chapters and over 300 pages, the home piano course provides several resources, techniques, tips, principles, and theories to playing the piano by ear. Along with hundreds of chords and scales, you'll also learn how to turn them into gospel, jazz and blues chord progressions and better yet, how to use them to play ABSOLUTELY any song you want ... IN VIRTUALLY MINUTES! Again, don't miss this opportunity. I've even added an additional bonus if you purchase the course this week --- You can read more about the course at:
https://www.hearandplay.com/course
 

 
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Yours Truly,
Jermaine Griggs
www.HearandPlay.com
www.GospelKeys.com
 
 

Newsletter Archive - Click here or visit https://www.hearandplay.com/newsletters.html

 
 

Further References

"The Secrets to Playing Piano By Ear" 300-pg Course

[5] Chords & Progressions: pgs 65-78, 105-130, 147-165, 182-227.

Do you know what a2-5-1” or "3-6-2-5-1" progression is? Or perhaps the famous 12-bar blues chord progression? In this piano course, you will not only learn how to play gospel, blues, and jazz progressions, but how to recognize them in songs. In addition, you will learn the simple techniques to playing these progressions, hymns, and songs in all 12 major keys! ... Enjoy learning:

The famous "2-5-1" Chord Progression: pgs 114-120, 153-156, 208, 235-236.

I - IV - I - V - I Chord Progressions: pgs 66-70.

I - IV - V - IV - I Chord Progressions: pgs 77-78.

Techniques behind the famous "5-->1" progression: pgs 68-72.

I --> IV,  I --> V Chord Progressions: pgs 74-75.

"Circle of Fifths" Chord Exercises: pg 78.

Major and Minor Chord Progressions: pgs 105-130.

"6 - 2 - 5 - 1" Chord Progressions: pgs 121-122, 157-159.

"3 - 6 - 2 - 5 - 1" Chord Progressions: pgs 122-123, 160-162.

"7 - 3 - 6 - 2 - 5 - 1" Chord Progressions: pgs 124-125, 190-191.

Gospel Chord Progressions ... ranging from "up-tempo praise" chord Progressions to "worship-oriented" chord progressions: pgs 65-78, 105-130, 147-165, 182-227.

Various Blues Progressions ... 12-bar, seventh chords, diminished chords ... and others: pgs 163-165, 192.

Jazz Chord Progressions ... using dominant ninth, eleventh and thirteenth chords: pgs 193-240

Study the different types of Root Progressions --- closing, opening, circular and other types of progressions: pgs 121-122.

Study how chord tones and scale degrees relate to each other [which chord progressions are most likely to be compatible]: pgs 122-130.

Learn various "turn-around" progressions [used in gospel music]: pg 213-214.

If you don't have the 300-pg Course, click here to read more about it.

 

 
"The Secrets to Playing Piano By Ear" 300pg Course - Learn the secrets to playing literally any song on the piano with a few simple, "easy-to-understand" techniques and principles! Join Jermaine Griggs in learning tons of music theory, concepts, and tricks that will help you to learn piano by ear! Thousands of musicians have already taken advantage of this excellent program ... why not you?

"The Secrets to Playing Piano By Ear" is full of easy-to-understand tricks, tips, techniques and secrets to playing piano by ear! For this month only, I've also been able to throw in a few bonus items (3 additional piano software programs). Click here to learn the secrets to playing absolutely any song on the piano in virtually minutes! You won't regret it!


 

Newsletter Archive - Click here or visit https://www.hearandplay.com/newsletters.html