Number Theory? QUESTION?

[playjeff]

Someone told me that if you know number theory that you can play just about any song. From what I understand number theory works on the notes in the scale... My question is this, if someone tells gives you, (3,5,2,1) how do you know what kind of chord 3 would be... Is it a major, minor, dim, aug.... How do you know? This makes no since to me... Please advise

[rjthakid]

Basically:

1: Major
2: Minor
3: Minor
4: Major
5: Major
6: Minor
7: Diminished

That's the basic outline of the number system, but that's just an outline.  You'll find that music is abstract, so in one song there may be a point where you play the 2 as Major, or you play the 3 as a diminished, or whatever.  But that's the basic outline.  I suggest you use the search engine and do a search for Chord Progressions.  Or look up chorded songs.  Once you find the baseline, you listen to the Melody note (the note the person is singing)  find a chord that contains the melody note.  Play that chord, over the Basenote.  Make sure you use an inversion of the chord that leaves the Melody note "on top" (ex: If you're in the key of CMajor, and the Melody note is "E" and the Base note is "C", you're gonna use a CMajor chord with E on top: C/G-C-E).  That's a good start.

[playjeff]

If u use this will I be able to learn a song on my own... Im tired of asking people.... For some reason, when people get good enough to hold down a service they forget how it was whey they first started out, and dont want to help nobody.... WHY? I have no idea.... Im just tired of begging, Im done... There has to be another way....

[SHOWMETHAT]

I have been playing for more than 10 years now, but I only began to play "by ear" around 6 months total. Every tiem i actually read and practice i can notice  a more full arrangement of chords. I was "taught"primarily by going to HEARANDPLAY.COM. From their free lessons and the  300 page book (not free but worth it), plus the GK300 and GK500 DVD's (also not free) i was really able to understand the "progression" thing myself. I alsways noticed patterns, but Jermaine Griggs (CEO of Hearandplay.com) really helped me out. I have only been on Learngospelmusic for 3 days although i registered sometime in February. Just from my 30 -45 minutes today I was able to learn how to play more of the style i like than in the 5-6 years playing along the lead musician at my church and the countless hours searching for stuff on the internet. I suggest you look at HEARANDPLAY.COM as a start. Hope this helps. Be blessed.

[rjthakid]

Get GospelKeys 202.  It's invaluable.

http://www.hearandplay.com/gospelkeys202.html

Everyone told me how good it was, and when I got it I understood.

Learning a new song isn't a huge task, once you've learned a few songs already.  Why?  Because music isn't random.  Learn your Circle of Fifths and Circle of Fourths

Circle of Fifths: C, G, D, A, E, B, Gb, Db, Ab, Eb, Bb, F, C

Circle of Fourths(circle of fifths backwards): C, F, Bb, Eb, Ab, Db, Gb, B, E, A, D, G,C

I heard people tell me to learn the circles but I didn't know why....now i now why.

Have you ever heard of a "Chord Progression"?  A Chord Progression is nothing but that....a series of chords.

BUT

There are Progressions that repeat in thousands and thousands of songs. 


7-3-6-2-5-1 is a common chord progression

1-4-1 is common

1-4-5-1 is common

2-5-1 is EXTREMELY common.  It ends many, many songs, and is used to get back to the "1"

7-3-6-2-5-1......why is that common?  Let's see

in the key of "CMajor" a 7-3-6-2-5-1 is:

B-E-A-D-G-C (This is just the baseline w/o the chords that go with it.  Just for instructional purposes.)

Look familiar?  Look at the Circle of Fourths!

Music moves primarily in Fourths.  So once you learn your Circle of Fourths and Circle of Fifths, you're golden.

And the thing is, there are hundreds of songs that utilize this progression, so once you learn to recognize it, you can pick up different songs.

Also, there are many songs that only go from the 1 to the 4. 

Most songs end with a 2-5-1.

A 2-5-1 in Db:

LH/RH
Eb/G-Bb-Db-F
Ab/Gb-Bb-Db-Eb
Db/F-Ab-Db
(This time WITH chords)

Check the baseline: Eb,Ab,Db....check the circle of Fourths.

Yep, music generally moves in Fourths.  I say generally because in any given song a 1 could move to a 2, or a 3, or a 4, or a 5.  But you can worry about that another time.  For now, just know that music generally moves in fourths.

Get GospelKeys 202. 

[playjeff]

When you say 4ths you mean the 4th note in the scale and when you get to that note the next would be the 4th in that scale... And would that be the same with the 5ths.... Do you practice playing this the same way you would practice the scales....

[rjthakid]

The following are two big posts by Resident gurus Hammondman and T-Block.
hammondman lists a good Circle of Fourths exercise, while T-Block gives examples of Chord Progressions.  Hope these help.

This is a post by Hammondman:

THE CIRCLE OF FORTHS AND FIFTHS IS A DRILL TO GET YOU FAMILIAR WITH CHORD PLACEMENT AND WHERE THE CHORDS ARE AT ANY GIVEN MOMENT. GOING TO THE RIGHT WILL PUT YOU IN THE CIRCLE OF 4THS, GOING TO THE LEFT WILL BE THE 5THS:

RIGHT: C_F_Bb_Eb...ECT
LEFT: C_G_D_A_E...ECT

YOU CAN USE ANY VARIATION OF CHORD TO DO THE DRILL WITH, I HAVE A CHORD DRILL THAT GOES THROUGH THE CIRCLE THAT I WILL POST FOR YOU. YOU WILL USE THE CIRCLE OF 4THS MORE THAN THE CIRCLE OF 5THS IN YOUR PLAYING OF GOSPEL MUSIC.

HERE'S SOMETHING YOU CAN USE TO PRATICE WITH AND USE IN YOUR PLAYING INVOLVNG THE CIRCLE OF 4THS:

"http://www.algieres.com/coppermine/albums/HammondmanFiles_06/HammondMusic/CIRCLE_OF_4THS_JAM.mid'
 

LH / RH
CG / Em7
CBb / A
FC / Am7
FEb / D
BbF / Dm7
BbAb / G
EbBb / Gm7
EbDb / C
AbEb / Cm
AbGb / F
DbAb / Fm
DbB / Bb
GbDb / Bbm7
GbE / Eb
BGb / Ebm7
BA / Ab
EB / Abm
ED / Db
AE / Dbm
AG / Gb
DA / Gbm
DC / B
GD / Bm7
GF / E
CG / Em7

THERE YA GO, THE CIRCLE OF 4THS, USING 9TH CHORDS AND 13(b9) CHORDS...HOPE YOU LIKE

This is a post by T-Block

BASIC PROGRESSIONS

A progression is simply a group of 2 or more chords. Each chord u play leads, or progresses, to the next chord. The ultimate goal is to get back to the 1 chord of the key u in. Progressions get their name from the bass / left hand notes u play. This is based off the circle of 4ths, which is the circle of 5ths in reverse. Here are the progressions that are used the most in gospel music. I'll put them in the key of C:

First, the members of C:
C=1 D=2 E=3 F=4 G=5 A=6 B=7


1-5-1

This progression is usually found at the end of a song. As u are playing this, once u play the 5, u should feel a strong urge play the 1.:

C / C-E-G (1) C / C-E-G (1) C / E-G-C (1) C / G-C-E (1)
G / G-B-D (5) G / B-D-G (5) G / D-G-B (5) G / G-B-D (5)
(repeat) (repeat) (repeat) (repeat)


1-V7-1 progression

This is just a little variation of the 1-5-1 progression. By adding in the minor 7th, it creates an even stronger urge to go to 1. Now, u don't add the 7th of the key u in, u add the 7th of the chord. The correct term for the V7 chord is the dominant 7th chord:

C / C-E-G (1) C / C-E-G (1) C / E-G-C (1)
G / G-B-D-F (5) G / B-D-F-G (5) G / D-F-G-B (5)
(repeat) (repeat) (repeat)

C / G-C-E (1) C / G-C-E (1)
G / F-G-B-D (5) G / G-B-D-F (5)
(repeat) (repeat)


1-4-1 progression

This progression is also called the "Amen" progression:

C / C-E-G (1) C / C-E-G (1) C / E-G-C (1) C / G-C-E (1)
F / F-A-C (4) F / C-F-A (4) F / F-A-C (4) F / A-C-F (4)
(repeat) (repeat) (repeat) (repeat)


1-4-5-1 progression

This is the most basic progression that can be used to play a whole song. A lot of the hymns follow this progression:

C / C-E-G (1) C / C-E-G (1) C / E-G-C (1) C / G-C-E (1)
F / F-A-C (4) F / C-F-A (4) F / F-A-C (4) F / A-C-F (4)
G / G-B-D (5) G / B-D-G (5) G / D-G-B (5) G / G-B-D (5)
(repeat) (repeat) (repeat) (repeat)


1-4-V7-1 progression

This is a variation of the 1-4-5-1 progression. Instead of playing a regular 5 chord, you can play a V7 chord:

C / C-E-G (1) C / C-E-G (1) C / E-G-C (1)
F / F-A-C (4) F / C-F-A (4) F / F-A-C (4)
G / G-B-D-F (5) G / B-D-F-G (5) G / D-F-G-B (5)
(repeat) (repeat) (repeat)

C / G-C-E (1) C / G-C-E (1)
F / A-C-F (4) F / A-C-F (4)
G / G-B-D-F (5) G / F-G-B-D (5)
(repeat) (repeat)


Dominant 7th chord to 4

Whenever u have any kind of major chord, you can add the minor 7th of that chord. Once u do that, it becomes a dominant 7th chord. It naturally wants to go to 4 of the chord. Key does not matter here:

C / C-E-G-Bb C / C-E-G-Bb C / E-G-Bb-C
F / F-A-C (4 of C) F / C-F-A (4 of C) F / F-A-C (4 of C)
(repeat) (repeat) (repeat)

C / G-Bb-C-E C / Bb-C-E-G
F / A-C-F (4 of C) F / A-C-F (4 of C)
(repeat) (repeat)


7-3-6 progression

This is a progression that by itself doesn't mean much. But, when u add other progressions to it, it sounds really good:

B / B-D-F (7) B / B-D-F (7) B / B-D-F (7)
E / E-G-B (3) E / G-B-E (3) E / B-E-G (3)
A / A-C-E (6) A / A-C-E (6) A / C-E-A (6)
(repeat) (repeat) (repeat)

B / D-F-B (7) B / F-B-D (7)
E / E-G-B (3) E / G-B-E (3)
A / E-A-C (6) A / A-C-E (6)
(repeat) (repeat)


2-5-1 progression

This progression can be used instead of the 1-4-5-1 progression. Sort of like a substitute progression. I like this one better than 1-4-5-1 cuz it sounds better to me:

D / D-F-A (2) D / A-D-F (2) D / D-F-A (2) D / F-A-D (2)
G / G-B-D (5) G / B-D-G (5) G / D-G-B (5) G / G-B-D (5)
C / C-E-G (1) C / C-E-G (1) C / E-G-C (1) C / G-C-E (1)
(repeat) (repeat) (repeat) (repeat)


3-6-2-5-1 progression

This progression is the musical ZIP CODE. If you want your chords to flow smoothly and naturally from chord to chord, follow this pattern as much as possible:

E / E-G-B (3) E / G-B-E (3) E / B-E-G (3) E / E-G-B (3)
A / A-C-E (6) A / A-C-E (6) A / C-E-A (6) A / E-A-C (6)
D / D-F-A (2) D / A-D-F (2) D / D-F-A (2) D / F-A-D (2)
G / G-B-D (5) G / B-D-G (5) G / D-G-B (5) G / G-B-D (5)
C / C-E-G (1) C / C-E-G (1) C / E-G-C (1) C / G-C-E (1)
(repeat) (repeat) (repeat) (repeat)


7-3-6-2-5-1 progression

As you can see from the name, it just combines all of the progressions above into one big progression:

B / B-D-F (7) B / B-D-F (7) B / B-D-F (7)
E / E-G-B (3) E / G-B-E (3) E / B-E-G (3)
A / A-C-E (6) A / A-C-E (6) A / C-E-A (6)
D / D-F-A (2) D / A-D-F (2) D / D-F-A (2)
G / G-B-D (5) G / B-D-G (5) G / D-G-B (5)
C / C-E-G (1) C / C-E-G (1) C / E-G-C (1)
(repeat) (repeat) (repeat)

B / D-F-B (7) B / F-B-D (7)
E / E-G-B (3) E / G-B-E (3)
A / E-A-C (6) A / A-C-E (6)
D / F-A-D (2) D / A-D-F (2)
G / G-B-D (5) G / B-D-G (5)
C / G-C-E (1) C / C-E-G (1)
(repeat) (repeat)


Get familiar with all these progressions. Listen to how each one sounds. Also, pay attention to the inversions used. I tried to use inversions of each chord that allow u to flow to the next chord w/out moving your hands too much. It is very important to use the nearest inversion of a chord so u don't have to jump around the keyboard, unless u want to. Since these are just basic progressions, i will be back with more familiar variations of these progressions that you hear in almost all gospel music today.

[Da Man]

When you say 4ths you mean the 4th note in the scale and when you get to that note the next would be the 4th in that scale... And would that be the same with the 5ths.... Do you practice playing this the same way you would practice the scales....

Yes, you move a 4th from where you're at.  A 4th from E is A.  A 4th from C is F.  A 5th is the same as a backwards 4th.  A 5th from F is C.  So it's really 4ths all over the place, sort of...

Da Man

[diverse379]

Get GospelKeys 202.  It's invaluable.

http://www.hearandplay.com/gospelkeys202.html

Everyone told me how good it was, and when I got it I understood.

Learning a new song isn't a huge task, once you've learned a few songs already.  Why?  Because music isn't random.  Learn your Circle of Fifths and Circle of Fourths

Circle of Fifths: C, G, D, A, E, B, Gb, Db, Ab, Eb, Bb, F, C

You have come such a long way in such a short time my brother I remember when you had a cartoon character as your picture and you were running around asking for help and chords and information

and now you are teaching theory you go boy

and keep playing and praying but not necessarily in that order

Circle of Fourths(circle of fifths backwards): C, F, Bb, Eb, Ab, Db, Gb, B, E, A, D, G,C

I heard people tell me to learn the circles but I didn't know why....now i now why.

Have you ever heard of a "Chord Progression"?  A Chord Progression is nothing but that....a series of chords.

BUT

There are Progressions that repeat in thousands and thousands of songs. 


7-3-6-2-5-1 is a common chord progression

1-4-1 is common

1-4-5-1 is common

2-5-1 is EXTREMELY common.  It ends many, many songs, and is used to get back to the "1"

7-3-6-2-5-1......why is that common?  Let's see

in the key of "CMajor" a 7-3-6-2-5-1 is:

B-E-A-D-G-C (This is just the baseline w/o the chords that go with it.  Just for instructional purposes.)

Look familiar?  Look at the Circle of Fourths!

Music moves primarily in Fourths.  So once you learn your Circle of Fourths and Circle of Fifths, you're golden.

And the thing is, there are hundreds of songs that utilize this progression, so once you learn to recognize it, you can pick up different songs.

Also, there are many songs that only go from the 1 to the 4. 

Most songs end with a 2-5-1.

A 2-5-1 in Db:

LH/RH
Eb/G-Bb-Db-F
Ab/Gb-Bb-Db-Eb
Db/F-Ab-Db
(This time WITH chords)

Check the baseline: Eb,Ab,Db....check the circle of Fourths.

Yep, music generally moves in Fourths.  I say generally because in any given song a 1 could move to a 2, or a 3, or a 4, or a 5.  But you can worry about that another time.  For now, just know that music generally moves in fourths.

Get GospelKeys 202.