 Bringing
Life To Those Old Favorites
 I wanted to use this lesson as a tool to help people obtain maximum benefit during their involvement with ProProach. A challenge that we all face is what I refer to as the "what's next" syndrome (I know from personal experience : o )) What I mean by that is we will learn something new, accept it at face value, and then dismiss it, once the "novelty" of the lesson wears off. Gosh, this can really lead to self-sabotage... and I want to help prevent this from happening to you. You see, an individual who excels at creative piano playing is a person who understands the value of over-using concepts to the point of making them his or her own. Those of you who are involved with ProProach know that this is an idea that I emphasize time and time again. This is because it's a truth that simply cannot go unacknowledged if we are to realize what we are capable of. It's no different than the process of learning a language... Have you ever looked up a word in a translation dictionary? For example, if you look up the word "play" in n English-Italian dictionary, you find that the transation in Italian is "Creativo"... now, it's one thing to see that word on paper... it's another thing to pronounce that word properly... and it's yet another thing to recite that transation within the context of a phrase or sentence... and it's quite ANOTHER to do this with confidence. But what happens once you do follow through with the first three? And then use that word in the context of more and more phrases and sentences? Well, you get pretty confident when it comes to using that word! As a matter of fact, using it becomes quite automatic, doesn't it. Friend, it works the same way with learning new musical ideas (in this, case, piano chord voicings) Let's take a look at what we just acknowledged in an outline format: 1) See the new word 2) Learn to pronounce that word 3) Use that word in the context of a phrase or sentence 4) Use that word in the context of many phrases and sentences - and you own it! Let's "translate"... 1) See the new musical idea 2) Learn to play that musical idea and feeling comfortable doing so 3) Use that musical idea in the context of a segment of a song 4) Use that word in the context of many segments of many songs - and you own it! It's a very basic and simple concept to understand, yet you might be surprised how often many people will shy away from following through with it. If there's a "magic pill" that you're waiting for when it comes to playing piano creatively, you just received the only prescription you need to start making a truly remarkable difference in your own piano playing. The personal joy and satisfaction that result from making this your own way of thinking are wayyyy to bountiful to explain! However, you don't need it explained - you just need to experience it for yourself. So let's apply this concept... In Lesson #1 of ProProach, the piano chord voicing that we are exposed to is illustrated once again here:  In that lesson, we simply started with a Cmaj7 chord in root position ( C E G B ) and opened it up by taking out those two middle chord tones , placing them above, and then added a 9th at the very top... Though not limited to such usage, this is a super cocktail piano voicing that you can use in so many beautiful ballads. Now, taking a look at that piano chord voicing above is one thing (#1 in our list of 4 items above)... playing it comfortably is another (#2 above)... and using it in the context of a song segment is another (#3 above)... Have you taken yourself through this process? Let's consider an example of how you might apply this voicing... let's take a look at a short segment from Erroll Garner's Misty...   Do we have any Major 7th chords in this phrase? (If you need to get a handle on 7th chords, you can do so here) We sure do... we have Ebmaj7 right at the beginning, so let's use that one. In doing so, I would like to present a very important point when it comes to making the most of your ProProach experience... Don't let this obstacle sabotage your success... You'll
notice that the
voicing in Lesson #1 of ProProach
is Cmaj9... yet, our example is Ebmaj9. So, we have the exact same type
of chord, yet in another key. In order to use our knowledge, we need to
allow ourselves to grow musically by transposing
that voicing to the key of Eb.
Since we know that the Cmaj9 voicing illustrated above is based on the 1 - 7 - 3 - 5 - 9 tones of the C major scale (in that order), then simply applying this simple formula to the Eb major scale gives us this result: Eb - D - G - Bb - F (in that order) Remember, the formula, from bottom to top, is: 9 5 Right Hand 3 _________ = __________ 7 Left Hand 1 So now we have: F Bb Right Hand G _________ = __________ D Left Hand Eb This is our new Ebmaj9 chord voicing! Using it in context... We
have a splendid
opportunity in that first measure of Misty
to put our new idea to good use!
Play that melody, starting with those pick-up notes... Bb >>> G>>> D That D, the first melody note in measure #1, lasts for three beats - in music, that's a lot of time! This is a perfect place to use a "chord filler"... and it's simple as pie to do... Again, play that melody, starting with those pick-up notes... Bb >>> G>>> D .... Now, after you have given that melody note D its respect by playing it on beat #1, go ahead and play that Ebmaj9 chord voicing for beats 2 & 3... and listen : o ) (remember to play that Ebmaj9 chord voicing softly, since you want to compliment the melody, not overpower it, right?) By the way, you can simply play those pick-up notes and that first melody note using no chords whatsover and allow that "filler chord" to stand on its own after you play that D (holding it with the sustain pedal) - what a nice effect of using space in your music!  Gosh, this is just one simple way to apply one musical idea, and it didn't take long to find it. Do you know how many songs exist where you can use this idea in just measure #1 alone? (Do I need to say "many, many, many?") But if Misty is a song that you love to play, go ahead and look for other places where you can use this piano chord voicing as a "chord filler." (#4 above!) A reason for everything... Now, if we were to immediately move on to Lesson #2 of ProProach this very second, what would happen? You would miss out on the value that awaits you by going through the above process many times, including learning that piano chord voicing in some other keys, applying it in the context of other musical segments, etc. Only by over-using the concept will it become a part of your musical vocabulary in the real sense. So many people will send me an email after receiving Lesson #2 asking me for all the lessons at once. Now, I think you probably know my response to them. Please learn to love using your newly found knowledge in different ways. I have such a passion for wanting you to "really get this." It's my purpose for being here. Now, if you apply yourself to this concept for a little time today, by the time you actually do receive Lesson #2 (once you enroll), that lesson will mean even more to you. You see... learn an idea... use it... over-use it... learn another... etc... this "accumulation of ideas" that you make a part of your creative musical vocabulary will serve you so very well. Oh, gosh, the confidence that you're in for! Hey, this is what it takes to "play like those pros you admire." Even if you're saying, "well, I only want to be able to play a fraction as well as them," then do a fraction of what they have done, which is what has been spelled out for you here. When it comes to playing by ear... When you learn one of these piano chord voicings to the point of knowing it "like the back of your hand," don't you think you will recognize that sound when you hear it played by another player, whether live or on a recording? You bet you will! Go ahead and absorb Lesson #5 of ProProach, play with those chord voicings for a while, then turn on some of those Bill Evans recordings and see if you don't recognize some of those sounds you're playing as they roll off the fingertips of that legendary pianist! This act of "associating" what you are playing to what you are hearing ultimately works in reverse, too! What's that mean? Keep learning how to achieve those chord sounds... keep listening to those recordings... you'll find out for yourself :o) Continuing the journey... In Lesson #2, we actually expand on Lesson #1 and apply what we've learned to an actual chord progression that you can expect to see in your music time and time again! Can you imagine the results that you will realize if you heed the suggestions above and apply them throughout your experience with the 24 ProProach lessons that follow? Well, simply put, your success is inevitable. Please apply what you have read here to some degree... enjoy the whole process... and as you do so... Remember... Always... ALWAYS... PLAY WITH PASSION!  Take
advantage of this special ProProach
promotion while
it lasts!
(Would you pay a piano teacher $2.08 a week to transform your piano playing?)  |
