ShinnDig!
Saturday, July 02, 2005
Piano Playing Your Way: How To Have More Fun Playing The Piano Than You Ever Have Before
Piano Playing Your Way: How To Have More Fun Playing The Piano Than You Ever Have Before: "Piano Playing Your Way: How To Have More Fun Playing The Piano Than You Ever Have Before
Piano playing doesn�t have to be boring. There�s no law that says you have to play a song the same way everyone else plays it. By learning some basic music theory and chord formations, you can have the time of your life playing music like you�ve always wanted to.
Every musician has a different method of arranging. Some start with the bass, some start with the melody, some just arrange everything all at once. You'll eventually discover the process that works best for you, but here's a basic guideline list to get you started.
- Play the song as written. Pay careful attention to the melody and harmonies so you understand how the song is supposed to sound before altering it. Make sure you can play the song very well before moving on to an arrangement.
- Analyze the song's chord structure and form. Know all the chord changes and any key changes. Separate the piece into parts using the letter system discussed in this course; often, you'll be able to add some spice to an arrangement by simply knowing where a verse switches into a chorus.
- Look at the song's context to determine the appropriate sort of arrangement. For instance, if you're working on a classical lullaby or wedding song, you probably won't want to add western bass or a march beat. Of course, there's no rule saying you can't do that if you're going for a comical effect. Just be aware of the effect every sort of arrangement technique will have on a song.
- Change the bass chording pattern based on the just-analyzed song's context. Working with 'Git Alone Little Dogies'? Try a western bass. A classical romantic song? Give upward inversions or arpegg"
