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Gospel Instruments => Gospel Keyboard / Piano => Topic started by: Jon on July 07, 2007, 10:55:18 PM

Title: I Dont Know What to do
Post by: Jon on July 07, 2007, 10:55:18 PM

I've been playin the keyboard/paino now for about 6 years. I've been playing for churches for about 3. Everytime I go to a church to play I always have a really hard time picking up on songs escpically by ear. I know most of my scales and I'm pretty efficient at playing things in the key of Ab. The problem is I don't find myself getting any better and I'm starting to get really frustrated because for as long as I've been playing I feel that i should be better. Please, does somebody have some advice for a brother???

Title: Re: I Dont Know What to do
Post by: chevonee on July 07, 2007, 11:30:15 PM

Quote from: Jon on July 07, 2007, 10:55:18 PM

I've been playin the keyboard/paino now for about 6 years. I've been playing for churches for about 3. Everytime I go to a church to play I always have a really hard time picking up on songs escpically by ear. I know most of my scales and I'm pretty efficient at playing things in the key of Ab. The problem is I don't find myself getting any better and I'm starting to get really frustrated because for as long as I've been playing I feel that i should be better. Please, does somebody have some advice for a brother???

I have found myself feeling that same way...its called MUSICIANS BURNOUT....All that you can do durning that time is

KEEP PLAYING...DON'T EVER GIVE UP

  Also go to other sites such as http://www.hearandplay.com   Find all of the DVDs and literature that you can...but whatever you do

DONT EVER EVER GIVE UP!!!

Also go to: http://www.gospelkeyboard.com

Title: Re: I Dont Know What to do
Post by: T-Block on July 08, 2007, 06:20:50 PM

My question is what types of songs are you having trouble picking up?  Usually, there is are certain types of songs like Congregational songs, devotional songs, hymns, etc. that trip us up.  I'd say focus on practicing those types of songs so that u get better.  If there are things u already know, keep them in rotation, but focus on the problem areas.

As far as you thinking u should be further along, get that out of your mind.  It doesn't really matter how long u been playing, as long as you doing your best, it's all good.  It takes time to get better, some people take longer than others.  You just keep doing what u doing and it will all work out for you.

I've been in the exact position you are, and in some ways I'm still there.  The only way out of this "rut" is to go through it.  It gets better man, trust me. ;)

Title: Re: I Dont Know What to do
Post by: momuzik on July 09, 2007, 05:56:52 AM

I can relate. That's one of the reasons why I joined this website - another resource I can glean from. I was looking to get out of my rut and take it up a notch.

Title: Re: I Dont Know What to do
Post by: Jon on July 11, 2007, 12:53:43 PM

its mainly the congregational songs.............when it comes time to playing them i dont even know where to start. i have trouble figuring out the bass lines ans chords that go with the song to make it sound right, escpically if its in a key that i'm not familiar playing in

But thats the thing tho.......i feel like i should be doing better for as long as i've been playing and i'm not :( :(

Title: Re: I Dont Know What to do
Post by: momuzik on July 11, 2007, 03:01:29 PM

The truth is - if you do the same thing, you're going to get the same results. Do something different, learn something new, learn a new key, learn a new technique or a new way of practicing.
It might help if you started learning other styles of gospel (like jazz or blues) and incorporate them in what you already know to create a new style.

Title: Re: I Dont Know What to do
Post by: SoundofJoy on July 11, 2007, 10:20:12 PM

It sounds like you don't have a practice routine. A practice routine helps you develop a pattern for learning new music and playing old music better. Try this:
1. practice your major and harmonic minor scales in every key first right hand then left, then both together - this builds coordination and speed
2. practice root chords with inversions in evey key - this will develop your ear to hearing chords and youe finger placement on the keyboard
3. practice tradtional bass runs to a metronome or drum machine - this will develop your abilty to play in time (very important playing in church)
4. practice adding chord patterns to your bass runs e.g. if your doing the tradtional C, E, F, Gb, G, A, Bb, B, C bass run attach chord like
C / E G A C
E / E Ab Bb C
F / Eb G A C
Gb / Eb Gb A C
G / E G A C
A / E G A C
Bb / D F A C
B / Eb Gb A C
C / E G A C

5. Transpose the above chords in every key. Start slowlly at first then gradually increase the tempo. Onw mistake new musicians make is to learn everything fast like it running away from them.

This should prepare you for learning new music after this warmup.
For more tips check out my workbooks on my site at www.Samsmuzikco.com/education.htm