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Author Topic: HOw I remember chords to songs.  (Read 5123 times)

Offline 4hisglory

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HOw I remember chords to songs.
« on: December 19, 2005, 01:44:36 PM »
When I first started playing this year, I would learn a song, then two weeks later, I couldn't remember how to play the song.  After about two motnhs of this, I realized that I was waisting alot of time going through this process over and over.  Thats when I started to analyse the songs I was playing.

I would analyse the song putting the scale degrees beside the chords.  This way, it was easy to learn, and at the same time, I could then go to the keyboard and work it out in any key I wanted to.

Lets look at T-block version of 'Now Behold the Lamb' in the key of Bb.

This is what I would do


D / Bb-C-D-F Now be-.............1
Eb / G-Bb-C-F hold the...........4
F / G-A-C-F Lamb.................5
/ F-F (octave higher)
/ Bb, A the
D / C-F-Bb Precious..............1
Eb / G-C-F Lamb of...............4
F / A-C-F God....................5
/ F-F (octave higher)...................5
D / C-D-F-Bb born into...........1
Eb / G-Bb-C-F sin that I.........4
F / A-C-F may....................5
F# / A-C-D live a-
G / G-Bb-D gain, the............6
C / Bb-Eb-G Precious............2
F, C, F / Bb-Eb-F Lamb of.......5
Bb / Bb-D-F God.................1
(repeat many times)

This way, when I went to the keyboard, I could play the chords I am familiar with, which made it easier for me to remember.  After a while of doing this, you will see that alot of gospel songs have the same pattern and you will begin to hear them.
:)

Offline T-Block

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HOw I remember chords to songs.
« Reply #1 on: December 19, 2005, 02:38:50 PM »
Quote
D / Bb-C-D-F Now be-.............1


4hisglory, that is actually a 3 not a 1.  It is a 1 chord, but the 3 in the bass makes the whole chord a 3.  I know what u saying though.  Good job!!!
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Offline playhear

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HOw I remember chords to songs.
« Reply #2 on: December 19, 2005, 06:04:29 PM »
4hisglory, that general process is exactly what I do. I’ll go even further to say that I never write down actual chords like Cmaj7, etc. I write down just the number on top of the lyric where the chord change occurs. Depending on how confident I am with the song, I’ll alter or substitute the chord on the fly. You’re right, with that method, transposing to different keys is a snap. Well, not yet a snap for me, but mastering this technique will allow me to transpose to any key like butter baby!!!

Offline T-Block

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HOw I remember chords to songs.
« Reply #3 on: December 20, 2005, 10:39:11 AM »
playhear wrote:
Quote
I’ll go even further to say that I never write down actual chords like Cmaj7, etc. I write down just the number on top of the lyric where the chord change occurs. Depending on how confident I am with the song, I’ll alter or substitute the chord on the fly.


Me too.  Honestly, I could care less whether I am playing a C7 or a G13 or a D7 (#9/b5).  All I know is I am playing a 1 or a 4 or a 7.  But, I can analyze it if I want to.  Play now, analyze later!!!
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Offline 4hisglory

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Exactly!!
« Reply #4 on: December 20, 2005, 10:44:14 AM »
Exactly!!!  I am the exact same way.  As my chord vocabulary grows, I will be able to use more chords, but until then, I don't want to waiste time figuring stuff out, I just want to play the 1 chord, 4 chord, etc.... that I know.
:)

Offline playhear

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HOw I remember chords to songs.
« Reply #5 on: December 20, 2005, 11:15:43 AM »
Here’s another thing I do. Sometimes I have to leave out intermediate melody notes out of necessity when playing in a shaky key.  I’ll just play the melody note at the instant of the chord change only.  (If a confident vocalist is there, the melody may be left out completely.)  For many songs, if I first play the melody completely in my confident key, then transpose to a shaky key, the listener’s brain will fill in the gaps and barely notice the missing melody notes.  Do you guys do this?  Or am I just being lazy?

Offline psychopianoman

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HOw I remember chords to songs.
« Reply #6 on: December 20, 2005, 04:06:44 PM »
Quote from: playhear
Here’s another thing I do. Sometimes I have to leave out intermediate melody notes out of necessity when playing in a shaky key.  I’ll just play the melody note at the instant of the chord change only.  (If a confident vocalist is there, the melody may be left out completely.)  For many songs, if I first play the melody completely in my confident key, then transpose to a shaky key, the listener’s brain will fill in the gaps and barely notice the missing melody notes.  Do you guys do this?  Or am I just being lazy?


I think u r right. When you have a singer u only need to back them up with the music because they r the melody so I do not think it is lazy but allows to make a fuller sounding arrangement by breaking up the chords and using runs and fill ins and turnarounds.

On the other hand when playing for a congragation or a solo then I feel the melody needs to be kept intact.

I guess it is really up to the individual.

Offline 4hisglory

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Same..
« Reply #7 on: December 21, 2005, 09:28:00 AM »
Playhear, we approach songs in much of the same way. :)
:)

Offline 4hisglory

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HOw I remember chords to songs.
« Reply #8 on: December 23, 2005, 09:01:26 AM »
Quote from: T-Block
Quote
D / Bb-C-D-F Now be-.............1


4hisglory, that is actually a 3 not a 1.  It is a 1 chord, but the 3 in the bass makes the whole chord a 3.  I know what u saying though.  Good job!!!


T-block,
   I usually think about these type situations as a one chord with a 3 in the bass so you are saying u think of it purely as a 3 chord???  I guess that would be a Dm#5
:)

Offline T-Block

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HOw I remember chords to songs.
« Reply #9 on: December 23, 2005, 10:24:25 AM »
I don't really think of it as a 3 chord per say, just as a 3 cuz there is a 3 in the bass.  To call it a 1 chord or a 3 chord by itself, in my opinion, would both be incorrect.  You should say a 1 chord with a 3 in the bass. But, I understood perfectly what u meant, just want to eliminate confusion for the beginners who just learning this stuff.
Real musicians play in every key!!!
Music Theory, da numbers work!

Offline Jniles_NCF

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HOw I remember chords to songs.
« Reply #10 on: December 29, 2005, 11:17:05 AM »
i've actually found my self doing the same thing... especially with hymns... i have what is called "fake" music sheets were they just put the chord above the changes like "F/Cmaj" stuff like that.. i find that a lot easier then trying to read the actually note by note on regular sheet music.. i still want to be able to read music.. i just find it easier and like you said 4Hisglory the more my chord vocabulary increases the eaiser it is for me to do the substiutions. so instead of just playing the Cmaj  i would play a Cadd9<--- i like using the add9 it makes it sound pretty gives it some colour...
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Offline Eggs

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HOw I remember chords to songs.
« Reply #11 on: January 05, 2006, 02:49:33 PM »
Question:

Is:

F# / A-C-D live a-

really a Dmaj6 serving as a dominant to:

G / G-Bb-D gain, the............6  :?:

I know it's just a half step passing chord, but I having trouble placing
the 'D' at the top that way!   :D

God bless,
Eggs

Offline Eggs

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HOw I remember chords to songs.
« Reply #12 on: January 05, 2006, 02:51:13 PM »
Sorry,  I meant D7!

Offline sjonathan02

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HOw I remember chords to songs.
« Reply #13 on: January 06, 2006, 09:42:29 AM »
Quote from: Eggs
Sorry,  I meant D7!


I'm going to go out on a limb and say, "Yes"
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Offline T-Block

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HOw I remember chords to songs.
« Reply #14 on: January 06, 2006, 02:29:50 PM »
Yes, F# / A-C-D is a D7 chord with the 3rd in the bass.  And yes it is functioning as a dominant for the G minor chord, cuz that is what the D7 chord is, a dominant 7th chord.
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Offline nextlevelmusic

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Re: HOw I remember chords to songs.
« Reply #15 on: February 23, 2006, 04:58:56 PM »
So T-block or 4hisglory, for us beginners who are learning, can you rewrite what was posted because after reading this ( I am like you'll, I like to have the #'s over the words so I can know where I am going instead of CMaj7add5b)  I am kinda confused.  So if that has been corrected, can we get the beginning of this post written out again.  Thanks in advance.

Offline 4hisglory

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Re: HOw I remember chords to songs.
« Reply #16 on: February 23, 2006, 06:11:26 PM »
Hhhmmm.....I'm not sure what you are asking because the chords were written out note for note.
:)

Offline nextlevelmusic

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Re: HOw I remember chords to songs.
« Reply #17 on: February 24, 2006, 03:32:04 PM »
The number on the chords.  I.e.  he said that
I don't really think of it as a 3 chord per say, just as a 3 cuz there is a 3 in the bass. To call it a 1 chord or a 3 chord by itself, in my opinion, would both be incorrect. You should say a 1 chord with a 3 in the bass. But, I understood perfectly what u meant, just want to eliminate confusion for the beginners who just learning this stuff.

So if this is true, can you post this again?  Sorry about the confusion.  Thanks for the reply though.

Offline 4hisglory

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Re: HOw I remember chords to songs.
« Reply #18 on: February 24, 2006, 11:27:02 PM »
I am sorry again but I do not know what you want posted again??  Are you talking about the chords in this thread??  or something else??
:)

Offline T-Block

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Re: HOw I remember chords to songs.
« Reply #19 on: February 25, 2006, 02:53:18 PM »
I got this one 4hisglory:

The Original Post

Quote
D / Bb-C-D-F Now be-.............1
Eb / G-Bb-C-F hold the...........4
F / G-A-C-F Lamb.................5
/ F-F (octave higher)
/ Bb, A the
D / C-F-Bb Precious..............1
Eb / G-C-F Lamb of...............4
F / A-C-F God....................5
/ F-F (octave higher)...................5
D / C-D-F-Bb born into...........1
Eb / G-Bb-C-F sin that I.........4
F / A-C-F may....................5
F# / A-C-D live a-
G / G-Bb-D gain, the............6
C / Bb-Eb-G Precious............2
F, C, F / Bb-Eb-F Lamb of.......5
Bb / Bb-D-F God.................1
(repeat many times)

Quote
I don't really think of it as a 3 chord per say, just as a 3 cuz there is a 3 in the bass. To call it a 1 chord or a 3 chord by itself, in my opinion, would both be incorrect. You should say a 1 chord with a 3 in the bass. But, I understood perfectly what u meant, just want to eliminate confusion for the beginners who just learning this stuff.


So if this is true, can you post this again?  Sorry about the confusion.  Thanks for the reply though.

Quote
Revised Post to fit statement above

D / Bb-C-D-F Now be-.............3  *1 chord w/3 in the bass
Eb / G-Bb-C-F hold the...........4
F / G-A-C-F Lamb.................5
/ F-F (octave higher)
/ Bb, A the
D / C-F-Bb Precious..............3  *1 chord w/3 in the bass
Eb / G-C-F Lamb of...............4
F / A-C-F God....................5
/ F-F (octave higher)...................5
D / C-D-F-Bb born into...........3  *1 chord w/3 in the bass
Eb / G-Bb-C-F sin that I.........4
F / A-C-F may....................5
F# / A-C-D live a-
G / G-Bb-D gain, the............6
C / Bb-Eb-G Precious............2
F, C, F / Bb-Eb-F Lamb of.......5
Bb / Bb-D-F God.................1
(repeat many times)

Is that better nextlevelmusic?
Real musicians play in every key!!!
Music Theory, da numbers work!
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