tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-383097202024-03-07T20:39:26.064-07:00Dan Starr- Keyboards and Chord AssistanceI want to share my experience with keyboards and chords.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger102125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38309720.post-45097241101201065322016-05-05T12:25:00.000-07:002016-05-05T12:25:02.274-07:00How to use this Blog 2It occurs to me that folks don't actually know what their trouble is. Let me tell you its fingering and chords, both of which are thoroughly covered on this site. Try searching this blog. If you don't get the results you were seeking then email me directly at danstarrorg410@gmail.comUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38309720.post-61227579811988200262016-04-16T11:58:00.001-07:002016-04-16T12:08:11.117-07:00How to Use This Site<b>It's simple</b><br />
Just enter your trouble in the "search this blog". I checked and the titles give one the most. If you don't get any results, then email me directly at danstarrorg410@gmail.comUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38309720.post-88234033382836719002015-05-10T11:23:00.003-07:002015-05-10T11:23:57.948-07:00A few distinct advantages to owning/practicing/playing an electronic keyboard (over an acoustic piano)
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<b><span style="font-size: medium;">This short article will focus on the main three: money, time, and effort.</span></b></div>
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</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;">Basically these are the savings. I'll cover them all,
briefly. You will have to supply your own reasons but I'll tell you
what I know!</span></div>
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<br />
</div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;">Electronic instruments are <b>cheap</b>. The one thing that
some folks ask is this - is 61 keys (the size of most smaller
portable keyboards) enough? Yes, it is. If it wasn't, would they even
manufacture these things? I, as an instructor, let students know that
most music is made within those limits. You don't need 76 or 88 keys.
Few pros even use the upper and lower ends, and you ain't a pro, are
you? Also, they NEVER need tuning and contain a built-in metronome so
you don't need to <b>buy</b> something which easily gets lost.</span></div>
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<br />
</div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;">There is a savings in <b>time</b>. Electronic instruments have
many additional and new learning tools. This means <b>less time</b> spent in
taking lessons, etc. Also, if you want to learn to play the
following: Sax, Clarinet, flute, organ, violin, trumpet, trombone,
etc. all you have to do is learn some basics about how those
instruments work and the super realistic sounds of an electronic
instrument (which you already know how to play!) can make them for
you. You <b>don't</b></span><span style="font-size: medium;"> have to<b> spend the time</b> learning all those instruments.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;">Finally, keyboards can require <b>less effort</b>. I recall
very well my first encounter with the piano. I had already become a
professional level organist. Unfortunately, that kind of "always
on at full volume" sound doesn’t work on the piano, whose
single sound dies away once you make it. Doesn't matter what you do -
you gotta produce more notes all the time. I did learn to do this but
it wasn't easy. It took quite some time and even now I know that my
hands have to keep hitting keys - if I want to continue to hear
music, that is! Thus, any electronic instrument which can make other
sounds can <b>less work</b>.</span></div>
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<br />
</div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;">Now I know that sales people have sold everyone on
"gotta have weighted keys and gotta have 88 of them." I'm
here to say that this is simply false data. Who am I to make this
claim? I'm Dan Starr and I've been playing all sorts of keyboarded
instruments for 40+ years professionally and instructing the same for
25+ years, longer than most clerks have even been alive. I think I know. </span>
</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38309720.post-1516392826656982202015-04-25T16:17:00.001-07:002015-05-10T11:29:34.601-07:00What is a "Chord Progression?"<b>It's different than a chord sequence!</b><br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: justify;">
To me, at least, the key element of a chord progression is the word "progress." If the chords are merely a sequence, then they don't make progress, which is to say that they don't make sense. As I state in my book at amazon about chord progressions: (I'm gonna paraphrase myself here!) "Let's say you write down every chord there is on little sheets of paper and draw them one by one out of a hat.<br />
<br />
Some would sound like they went together and some would not. Those that sounded like they went together would be chord 'progressions' and those that did not would be merely chord 'sequences.'" </div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
I go on and on to tell my readers what elements I have found that make up chord progressions.The most common is covered in the previous essay. There are others. People have been messing with music for centuries now so this is reasonable.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38309720.post-12995435857992063122015-03-08T10:39:00.000-07:002015-03-08T10:39:02.065-07:00Diatonic Chord Progressions<b>I'll start by explaining why this is worthwhile to know.</b><br />
<br />
Lots of folks know chords - those vertical groups of notes with names and symbols. However, did you ever think that you could simply memorize what "holds these chords together" and makes them make sense. how much faster do you think you would be at reading music and memorizing music if you did this?<br />
<br />
"Dia" means through in this case.<br />
<br />
And "tonic" means all the tones of music A - G (Note: it doesn't matter a whit if you have a # or a b attached to the tone, it is still the tone.)<br />
<br />
"Diatonic chords" are merely "scale chords" cause they use only the notes of the scales they are part of.<br />
<br />
I would guess that "Diatonic Chords" sounds more scholarly than "scale chords" so it is the term that is used.<br />
<br />
Now letters A - G comprise seven notes so all Diatonic Scales have seven notes. This would be the Major Scales and the three forms of the minor scale, but not the Pentatonic scales or Chromatic scales<br />
(which have 5 and 12 notes, respectively.) Major really does mean Major in this example and minor scales are lesser than Majors.<br />
<br />
You may already know that we use the Major Scale to make chords. (Sure, you CAN use minor scales but why?) Thus it behooves you (yes, you) to know both Major Scales and how to make chords from them.<br />
<br />
Why do the chords made only from notes of Major Scales sound so good. (and they do sound "good" as evidenced by the Diatonic tunes "Unchained Melody" and Pacabel's famous "Canon in D.") It's simple. These tunes use only chords that are made up of Major Scale notes.<br />
<br />
In short, both chords and melodies to these tunes are combinations of the very same 7 notes.<br />
<br />
This produces some interesting effects, one of which is any single chords which is NOT diatonic, is the one chord that many folks will recall, as it is a change from the "diatonicity" (a word that I, personally, made up!) Much rock uses this to very good effect.<br />
<br />
Some of these chords are Major, some are minors, and one is a diminished chord! We often consider<br />
that the dominant seventh chord (which contains that diminished chord in it's last three notes) for that key to be superior to the diminished chord for that key.<br />
<br />
We use something that doesn't exist in the world to note the "majorness" or minorness" (often termed in music theory as chord "quality") namely lower case Roman Numerals (as well as normal ones.) We term the Major Chords in each key the I, the IV, and the V. The minor chords are the ii, the iii, and the vi. We also say that the vii has a little circle after it or the word "dim." The Majors are often called the Primary chords. I usually include the dominant seventh in the key (which is called the V7 cause it is based on the V) in these chords. Depending on what theory book you read, the minors and that lone diminished chord are called the Secondary Chords.<br />
<br />
Here are some Diatonic progressions for you to "mess with" (if I repeat a number then this means you must repeat that chord for an additional measure.)<br />
<br />
ii V7 I I<br />
<br />
I I I I IV IV I I V IV I V7<br />
<br />
vi IV V I<br />
<br />
Recognize them? I sure do hope so. The thing that makes them work is the fact they use only notes of the scale.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38309720.post-75582190106266629802015-02-18T16:39:00.001-07:002015-02-19T09:16:19.646-07:00Guitar Chords for everyone!<b>Many folks today are being exposed to Guitar Chords.</b><br />
<br />
Thus this post.<br />
<br />
Guitarists have this problem due to way a guitar is tuned. The problem is that they consider a "power chord" to actually be a chord when the rest of the music world thinks that it takes three notes to be a chord. Guitarists would say two notes only. HOWEVER, they have invented a notation that shows "power chords" G5 or A5 means the note given in the chord plus the fifth of the Major Scale, so G5 translates to the notes G + D while A5 is A + E. Hey, you would have to know the Major Scales to figure that out, right?<br />
<br />
In addition to knowing the major scales, I would suggest that keyboardists insert the third whenever the guitarist plays a power chord. Now it just possible that this will sound lousy, and if that is the case then don't do it. I have had good luck with this approach, in fact I try my hardest to add those missing notes the guitarists don't play whenever I can. It's a general thing that good keyboard players do. <br />
<br />
Another thing that guitarists really like is "suspended chords." There are two kinds 1. Suspended fourths (the most common kind - so much so that if you see a chord notated like this: Dsus it is a suspended fourth), and , 2. Suspended seconds (less common, in fact to notate one on have to specify it, like this D2) Both of these types are triads: 1. has the formula 1+4+5 and two has the formula 1+2+5. Now these can sound great on guitar but lousy on a keyboard, especially that Sus 2 chord.<br />
What to do? You can invert the chord, if you know how to do that, so that those notes don't sound so bad. Or you can chose to play them with two hands.<br />
<br />
Either way the secret is not play the notes so close together.<br />
<br />
Have other challenges? Leave a comment on what they are and I will help you.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38309720.post-13705706301613478372015-01-22T13:14:00.001-07:002015-01-22T13:14:50.839-07:00Guitarists need to read this<b>It explains how to get really good and eclipse most other guitarists.</b><br />
<br />
AKA: why "playing by ear" is a bad thing.<br />
<br />
Lately, I have had a rash of folks telling me I ought to teach playing by ear. I simply laugh, cause I've seen the results of this. They are:<br />
<br />
1. Never even being able to name what you are playing, which makes it really, really hard to tell anyone else, such as a bandmate or a person in a session.<br />
<br />
2. Being stuck only playing what is already been written.<br />
<br />
3. Being a bit late, except when you already know the answer through playing that song before.<br />
<br />
Only one source of info for music? Well, that source will get really, really good. I've worked with guitarists who have better ears than my own. However, I do have a pretty good ear. Plus I've got two other ways of obtaining what to do. They are:<br />
<br />
1. Simply knowing chords and their progressions. If you do this you are never late, cause you read ahead and are ready to play at the correct moment in time.<br />
<br />
2. My understanding. I can write and improv in most styles. It's cause I know "what goes with what" (chord progressions) so well that I have issued three CDs of my own compositions.<br />
<br />
Not trying to brag and for many folks this will not have the appeal of playing the latest tune. However, if you do want to "get good" you will heed my words.<br />
<br />
Ask me for help for nothing. I will answer all who comment below (you can do so anonymously) or email me directly at danstarrorg410@gmail.com.<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38309720.post-75879425855656076812015-01-11T10:18:00.001-07:002015-01-11T10:18:27.874-07:00What are the BIG problems?<b>Here's a list!</b><br />
<br />
Fingering: More people have trouble with this than they think. After all, what plays any sort of keyboard other than fingers? If this is your trouble, then use the search engine to the right and insert the term "fingering".<br />
<br />
Timing: Another huge problem. If you have timing problems (and what I mean by "timing problems" is that your notes don't have the correct duration,) then email me directly or leave a comment at this site because there are different fixes for this and some are subtle. I will respond with help.<br />
<br />
Motivation: I seem to get this often with newer students. Yes, I can serve to motivate you BUT only for awhile. To continue, even after lessons are stopped, you will need some self motivation. I mean who else is around to do it?<br />
<br />
That's why exercise coaches tell their people that the best exercise is the one you will do!Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38309720.post-78668239532149920412014-12-29T09:16:00.001-07:002014-12-29T09:16:26.623-07:00Your Keyboard is NOT Merely "A Poor-man's Piano"<b>Despite the insistence of others.</b><br />
<br />
Who are those "others?"<br />
<br />
IT sounds like conspiracy theory with that word!<br />
<br />
Well, those others are anyone who insists that this is all it is.<br />
<br />
It might be the clerk who sold you the thing or your instructor.<br />
<br />
Or even a friend.<br />
<br />
Why would they make such a claim?<br />
<br />
Well, the piano is 300 years old and up till recently it was the highest tech item out there.<br />
<br />
Not anymore, however.<br />
<br />
Keyboards have arrived!<br />
<br />
Since memory went down in price after 2000 the keyboard has "come into it's own."<br />
<br />
Push the cello tab (I use cello a LOT) and play in the lower end.<br />
<br />
Most keyboards will sound really, really good.<br />
<br />
That's cause the memory of a "real" (read acoustic) cello is what is being played each time you push a key.<br />
<br />
It's called "a sample" and you couldn't get one for cheap until memory came down in price.<br />
<br />
Now you can.<br />
<br />
And that's not all you can do with your keyboard. Please view these videos on you.tube for more:<br />
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Ii5IRaNNvs<br />
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7hXaIFZRySs<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38309720.post-69963031379760678662014-12-21T09:38:00.001-07:002014-12-21T09:38:51.968-07:00Why chord knowldege - as much as you can get - is critcial to your success whether pro or hobbyist<b>It really is important.</b><br />
<br />
Chords are those vertical stack of notes and knowing them can help you tremendously, regardless of what you want from music.<br />
<br />
Hobbyists:<br />
<br />
Many folks simply want to have a fine hobby making music.<br />
<br />
For
such people, the keyboard is the item to go with (and I don't mean that
you treat that keyboard as a "poor-man's piano." See my other article
on this blog for info on that.)<br />
<br />
The use of Fakebooks is key to their enjoyment.<br />
<br />
Of course, they have to buy a good keyboard and know all about how to use it, but this is not hard to do.<br />
<br />
Then they can purchase whatever Fakebook or Fakebooks they want from amazon.<br />
<br />
They
must next, visit "youtube" for info on using the Automatic
Accompaniment features of their keyboards, plus the various types of
sounds that keyboards produce.<br />
<br />
Professionals:<br />
<br />
Some
individuals are drawn to music (as one of them I can speak from
personal experience) and will become professional in the field.<br />
<br />
Here are the benefits of acquiring as much chord knowledge as possible for such individuals: <br />
<br />
Would you rather process only a single symbol rather than many?<br />
<br />
Do you want to read faster?<br />
<br />
Would you like to memorize much, much faster?<br />
<br />
Do you want to write music or even improvise it?<br />
<br />
Do you want to not be the victim of poor arrangements.<br />
<br />
These are great values for any pro. They all come from having as much chord knowledge as possible.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38309720.post-74142304465533526112014-11-27T10:20:00.001-07:002014-12-12T16:53:31.847-07:00Fingering - There are many "tricks"<b>However, the hands can learn almost anything!</b><br />
<br />
Yes, there are many tricks to fingering pieces. Only someone who ACTUALLY LOOKS AT YOUR HANDS and their pluses and minuses (all hands have these, there is <u>no</u> Perfect Hand) can truly guide you to do what is best for your hands and fingers.<br />
<br />
As I said above, however, your hands can learn almost anything with enough repetition.<br />
<br />
Of course, you'd like to keep this repetition to a minimum. That's the role of the personal teacher.<br />
<br />
Now, about those " inked in" finger numbers in your music,...The person doing the inking does NOT know what your hand is like. They can't. I'd say that 80% or more of the "inked in" finger numbers are better for you than anything else, but only that amount. Folks usually try to follow these things cause they a printed in ink.<br />
<br />
Remember that people have become generally bigger since the days of the early pianos. Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38309720.post-16512094159449352272014-11-19T10:46:00.001-07:002014-11-19T10:46:12.156-07:00A Keyboard is NOT a Piano<b>The two things are different despite the Internet!</b><br />
<br />
I just returned from "googling" using these search terms"keyboard lessons _______ (my area of this planet" and "keyboard teacher________" and I mostly found piano lessons and training.<br />
<br />
Friends, despite the obvious advantages of a keyboard, it is NOT a piano. Sure, I know that the piano has been around for 300 years at least and has much better "press."<br />
<br />
But a keyboard is NOT a piano.<br />
<br />
I think that the fact that folks are buying more keyboards these days is a good thing.<br />
<br />
Why?<br />
<br />
Well, as I said above, the advantages are obvious. The primary one seems to be that the things are cheaper than "real" piano (one of my students pointed out that the opposite of "real" is "imaginary" but so many folks substitute "real" for "acoustic" that I'm using it.)<br />
<br />
What I do NOT care for at all is the insistence of too many piano teachers that:<br />
<br />
1. Mostly children can learn,<br />
2. That you have to learn from a "real" piano.<br />
<br />
Those few teachers that allow keyboards (more and more these days!) only use them to teach piano.<br />
<br />
Too bad, as... <br />
<br />
...there's one disadvantage of a piano which you may not have thought of.<br />
<br />
Now I used to work at one of the best local piano stores and I've played possibly the world's best pianos (as I define the term "best.")<br />
<br />
These pianos only made one single sound, the sound of a piano. It's a fine sound but it's only one sound.<br />
<br />
Keyboards make more sounds than that.<br /><br />I do not wish to limit my musical creativity to a single sound, regardless of how good it is.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38309720.post-58431775489809361342014-11-19T10:16:00.001-07:002014-11-19T10:19:28.214-07:00Why You Can Not Get Free Online Training in Playing <b>This may come as a shock to some!</b><br />
<br />
In order to help online for free, most instructors try to generalize a student, THEIR idea of a student.<br />
<br />
Then their work, whether video or manual, starts with that "generalized student." Usually, this is a person who will purchase their course or whatever.<br />
<br />
youtube.com and other such sites are great for learning IF the circumstances permit it.<br />
<br />
Who knows, you might not have a computer at home to listen and watch. <br />
<br />
Listening to music can be a part of your learning experience. Notice I said it "can be" but it doesn't have to be.<br />
<br />
Honestly, if you want personalized service, whether instruction or performance, you will have to seek out a PERSON who can listen to you<u>. </u><br />
<br />
If you want instruction, it's worthwhile to phone some teachers. Do not take a class or anything that requires the instructor to not take your special needs into consideration.<br />
<br />
If it's performance, then you know what your people like, whomever "they" are, and can tell the performer what that is.<br />
<br />
I, personally, always start my services with an interview so I know what the student is seeking and how they best learn.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38309720.post-11203533334155601122014-11-05T08:22:00.004-07:002014-11-05T08:22:52.374-07:00Where to Get Help<b>Dan Starr's Contact Info has changed as follows:</b><br />
<br />
danstarrorg@yahoo.com is now danstarrorg410@gmail.com<br />
<br />
I would prefer you contact me via email (so I can consider your request carefully. Also, so I can answer in my underwear.)<br />
<br />
If you simply must phone me, the number you have is likely wrong - the correct number is (520) 275-0031.<br />
<br />
Leave a message if you don't get me live.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38309720.post-78033050561202410532014-10-14T16:08:00.001-07:002014-10-14T16:08:14.674-07:00More About "The Blues"<b>There are many "blues scales" (which can be played on the right hand.)</b><br />
<br />
Now there is no
denying that many instructors know only one. It is the one they were
taught to play and thus they erroneously call it "the" blues scale.<br />
<br />
However, this is NOT the case as there are many different versions of this scale.<br />
<br />
The one I have chosen to teach you today I call the "simple blues scale." That's cause it is.<br />
<br />
Simple, I mean. It's limited only by your personal creativity when applied to patterns.<br />
<br />
It's what you right hand plays while the left hand is doing those chords I told you about in the last article.<br />
<br />
It's made up of only six notes, Plus, you don't even have to change them when the left hand changes chords.<br />
<br />
I mean you can, but you don't have to.<br />
<br />
That's cause this particular scale is made up of the three roots of the three chords that make up the blues progression.<br />
<br />
If
you don't understand this last sentence, then the words you likely are
having problems with are "roots" and "blues progression."<br />
<br />
Let's stay with very simple, huh?<br />
<br />
"Roots"
are the main notes of the chords involved. The chords are usually named
for their roots. (I'm gonna assume you know what a "chord" is - if not
then put that in a comment below and I will answer.) For example, the
roots in E7 and Am are E and A.<br />
<br />
The "Blues Progression" was given<a href="http://thedanstarrmusicblog.blogspot.com/2014/09/the-blues.html" target="_blank"> HERE</a> (click the link!)<br />
<br />
Thus, the first three notes (in C) are C, F, and G.<br />
<br />
The other three notes are blue notes.<br />
<br />
Now
these are totally new to my readers. They are notes that people have
come to associate with blues (for various reasons which we won't go into
here.)<br />
<br />
These are (again for C Major) the notes Eb, Gb,
and Bb. In other words, the flatted third note, the flatted 5th note
and the flatted 7th note of the C Major Scale.<br />
<br />
Thus, my
"simple blues scale" has the three roots of the blues progression plus
the 3 blue notes for a total of six notes, C Eb, F, Gb, G, and Bb, most
of these notes can be reached with one hand.<br />
<br />
Now whatever Major Scale you are using, ]the Blue Notes are always these. And the blues progression is always what I said.<br />
<br />
Some songs sound "bluesy" without actually being blues, and that's cause they have numerous "blue notes." "Birth of the Blues" is one such.<br />
<br />
You have the notes to use now. What you do with them is completely up to you. This blues scale is called by me "the simple blues scale" since it is so very simple and you don't even have to change the scale when the chords change.<br />
<br />
If you have understood me on this you can likely tell me why it works as it does.<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38309720.post-21865574957408911722014-09-22T07:44:00.000-07:002014-09-22T07:44:25.161-07:00The BLUES!<b>It's a truly popular thing!</b><br />
<br />
Thus, I thought it would be great if I could say something useful about it, something that would help keyboard and chord people play it.<br />
<br />
First we will deal with the chords.<br />
<br />
Blues is pretty simple. It's what's known in the music business as I, IV, and V.<br />
<br />
It is a bit different in that most blues follows a 12 measure pattern (this is compared to the usual 8, 16, 32, measure patterns of western music.)<br />
<br />
Blues works like this:<br />
<br />
First you determine the key of the music. Now this might be given but if you can "sus out" the final chord you will have the "key" of the music. For instance if the final chord is E7 then the music is in E.<br />
<br />
In the Key of E Major, the three chords are I = E or E7, IV = A or A7, and V = B or B7. (A word about that Seventh chord below.)<br />
<br />
By the way, "Blues in E" is the most common way to play the blues using guitar (due to it's tuning)<br />
that when folks can't find a common song to play, they will sometimes resort to playing it.<br />
<br />
Secondly, you decide on a pattern. This can be anything but is usually what the person is familiar with.<br />
<br />
You play that pattern with the I chord 4 times. In E, you play the E or E7 chord 4 times<br />
<br />
Then you switch to the IV chord for the next 2 times. In E, that's the A or A7 chord.<br />
<br />
Then you return to playing the I chord 2 more times (E or E7)<br />
<br />
Then the V chord once (the B or B7 chord.)<br />
<br />
The IV chord one time (A or A7)<br />
<br />
The I chord once.<br />
<br />
Finally, it gets somewhat complicated - not really complicated but somewhat more so. If you want to repeat the pattern of 12 measures again you play the V chord again. If you do NOT want to do a repeat of these measures, then the 12 measure should be a repeat of the I chord. A repeat of the 12 measures is sometimes called a "chorus."<br />
<br />
Now many folks will be find the above adequate.<br />
<br />
Some won't and for these people I offer the next post which will cover what to do with your RH and the blues scale.<br />
<br />
I will whet you appetite for this by telling readers that there are many different blues scales, not just one.<br />
<br />
If you have been trained by someone who claimed to teach you THE blues scale, you might be confused by the fact that your next trainer taught you something different but called it the same thing.<br />
<br />
Is this article worthwhile for you? Does it help you with the blues? Leave me a message below.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38309720.post-76543453788183422912014-09-09T14:54:00.001-07:002016-05-05T12:30:01.525-07:00Guitarists Need Chord Knowledge, Too!<b>Know a Guitarist? Have that person read THIS!</b><br />
<br />
Guitar is huge these days, whether to attract girls or simply to play and have fun.<br />
<br />
However, most people use it as accompaniment and that spells chords. <br />
<br />
Many people know how to make certain chords, but few know all there is that they need to know about these little devils.<br />
<br />
For instance:<br />
<br />
What chords go with what chords?<br />
<br />
Why do they sound so good?<br />
<br />
There are reasons for these items, reasons that were you to understand them would help you in everything you do with chords.<br />
<br />
I use a keyboard to make chords. So what? I do understand how the guitar makes them as well!<br />
<br />
However, (again with this term!) - you have to tell me what your situation is. Otherwise I'm gonna be just spouting a bunch of generalized crap.<br />
<br />
You can post anonymously below. Or, if you're brave, you can contact me directly at danstarrorg410@gmail.com !<br />
<br />
Cost?<br />
<br />
Zero for the initial conversation. I may advice something that costs money after that. I'll try hard to keep it as cheap as possible!<br />
<br />
<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38309720.post-21089303423418557272014-08-20T10:06:00.001-07:002014-08-20T10:06:27.849-07:00Warning: Rant ahead!<strong>There is not enough music making in our society for it's own good. </strong><br />
<strong><br /></strong>
Honest, that's
what I think. And I'm a professional musician. However, it's only in
western society that everyone does NOT participate. Instead, we divide
our society into pros and listeners. Even Steve Jobs couldn't figure
this one out. His ipod and ipad helped what I see as a really, really
bad trend. And since western values and norms are permeating the entire
world this means that this value will as well. And that's just too bad.
Not everything in a culture is or even should be transferred. <br />
<br />And this is one that should NOT.<br /><br />Frankly,
most teachers would love to teach only "serious students" meaning those
small number of folks that actually aspire to professionalism. <br />
<br />However,
most people, the vast, vast majority do not desire to limit themselves
to following a life based only on music. I know, cause I've done that
and I would NOT wish it on someone I actually cared about.<br />
<br />
No,
most people would make music themselves if they could. They would relax
after a hard day's work by making a few of their favorite tunes.
Unfortunately, such people (and remember this is most people we are
talking about!) can rarely find instruction geared to their actual
goals.<br />
<br />
I just wish more instructors saw things this way. Then
perhaps we could reverse this trend in our society, and our society
would become better in many ways.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38309720.post-33379331607538437522014-08-06T10:38:00.002-07:002014-08-06T10:39:51.798-07:00For Anyone Who Has Problems Playing<b>My Book will help you solve these.</b><br />
<br />
<span class="userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}">I've
been finishing my book! Actually it was finished Monday and just last
night (late) I realized that I need to put it on all my social media
pages. So here goes. <br /> <br /> The book is titled "How to Play Better on
Any Sort of Keyboard." It's sub-titled: How to Solve Your Playing
Problems" If you don't have any playing troubles then you shouldn't be
interested. However, I've discovered that many folks D<span class="text_exposed_show">O
have some problems with playing, regardless of whom they play for, even
themselves. This book explains all the mis-understood items such as the
HOW TO of practicing. It explains why online free lessons are not all
that useful, simplifies reading music, and explains what to do once
somebody says, "So you're taking lessons. Play something."<br /> <br /> It's
cheap $9 ($14 for a hardcopy) and to get it you have to tell me you
want it at danstarrorg410@gmail.com, then I send you an invoice, which
you can pay with a credit or debit card. I then send you the book. <br /> <br />
Special offer: anyone who purchases the book during August, is entitled
to a FREE phonecall with me in which I'll diagnose your trouble and
provide some advice, advice you can chose to take or ignore. Either way
you can phone me. I'll provide my number on the invoice. Remember this
is ONLY valid for August.</span></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38309720.post-6877408169259190392014-07-29T15:55:00.001-07:002014-07-29T15:55:30.656-07:00Science Changes its Tune<b>(An Essay from my New Book!)</b><br />
<br />
<div align="LEFT" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Science! The Great God Science. Unfortunately, (or
fortunately - you be the judge) it grows and develops and says
something different.</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Such has been the case with learning. During the 90's
Science said that the brain and it's nervous system was pretty much
fixed by the time you were an adult. For this reason, it was close to
impossible to learn much. I could have told them this was not true,
having specialized in teaching a highly complex skill to older folks
for decades. Nobody asked me, however.</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none;">
<span style="font-size: small;">In fact, the Yamaha Corp. made a video that promoted
this idea. Now why would they do this? I figure it's cause they make
pianos and it's always been easy to “guilt sell” parents into
buying something expensive for their kids. Thus, the Corp. figured
that they'd make some money on it.</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Come the 2000s and the 2010s, science now knows better.
It tells us that learning goes on throughout life. They even invented
a nifty word for it: “neuroplasticity.” You could look it up
easily enough, but I will tell you right here that it means that
being “a lifetime learner” is actually possible. That fits with
my own personal observations so I “buy it.”</span></div>
<div align="LEFT" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none;">
<br />
</div>
<div align="LEFT" style="font-weight: normal; margin-bottom: 0in; text-decoration: none;">
<span style="font-size: small;">The problem is that too many older people were raised in
the bad old days, when learning new skills was the special province
only of the young. Thus, the don't pursue any learning at all,
thinking it's impossible. Thanks, Science. Your previous words help
ensure that such folks simply quit listening to any new
pronouncements.</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38309720.post-51563939756774437562014-07-11T14:14:00.001-07:002014-07-11T14:24:42.134-07:00How safe is your mind from info overload? <b>You can simplify things immensely by playing with chords and using fakebooks!</b><br />
<br />
First, some definitions:<br />
<br />
Chord: ANY group of three or more notes. The ones we like get names, naturally.<br />
Fakebook: A book of written music that ONLY contains a single note melody, lyrics to the tune and the chords that go with the melody.<br />
<br />
Now what do YOU need to "play with chords" and "use a fakebook?"<br />
<br />
You need to be able to read the RH of the music. NOT hard to learn.<br />
<br />
You need to know what chords are used in whatever book you have. NOT hard to learn.<br />
<br />
It WILL require some effort, however, as most decent and interesting things in this life do. What's in it for you?<br />
<br />
Well, that's simple to answer: Fun. It's much more fun to MAKE music rather than merely listening to it like a rock or a stump.<br />
<br />
Disagree? If you do, or you agree strongly, I'd love to hear from you. My personal email address is danstarrorg410@gmail.com !Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38309720.post-28619348510300246232014-07-04T09:21:00.000-07:002014-07-04T09:21:03.164-07:00Chords, More About<b>Let's do a batch of posts about chords!</b><br />
<span class="userContent" data-ft="{"tn":"K"}"><br />
Now our western "Major Scale" is all over the planet. What's a "Major
Scale," you ask? It's "Do-Re-Mi etc. like in "The Sound of Music." And
most folks can't define "scale" very well either, but I have to say it
makes more sense in Italian where it means "ladder" So a scale, any
scale, is a "ladder of notes"<br /> <br /> But as I say, our western major scale is taking over Earth. Other sca<span class="text_exposed_show">les (and there are many, especially in the orient) simply can't compete.<br /> <br />
Thus, most chords, in order to be harmonious with a tune built on such
scale notes (for example: C Major Scale is composed of the notes played
all on the white keys of a keyboard: C, D, E, F, G, A, B and usually the
final C is added to that.) are made only of the white key notes. Now
any group of 3 or more notes is technically a chord but some sound good
and some do NOT and thus we only name the ones we will use, which is to
say the good ones.<br /> <br /> The chords that are commonest for a tune
built on the C Major Scale are C, Dm, Em, F, G, Am and G7. Of these the
major chords are usually lumped together (C, F, G, and G7) and called
the "Primary Chords." <br /> <br /> Some theory books (although not all of them) call Dm, Em, and Am the "Secondary Chords."<br /> <br />
Every scale has a group of chords made of the same notes as the scale.
That's why these chords sound so good when used with the melody of the
song.</span></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38309720.post-43057898779808196432014-06-07T08:08:00.000-07:002014-06-07T08:08:14.896-07:00When Can You Simplify ChordsToo many demands on your resources, such as requests for money and/or time? I am not playing that game. Instead, today's post is about "chords."<br /><br />When can they be simplified? Chords, I mean...<br /><br />Most chords are based on either Majors or minors. There are a few based on other basic chords but we are not here to discuss those.<br />If the chord you are considering learning is based on one of two essential chords then you can simplify it down to that one.<br /><br />Look, it's much like Major chords are hamburgers and minor chords are hot dogs. You can put all the condiments you want on these items (musically, this would be things like 7ths, 9ths, which are called "extended chords" or flatted 9ths, 11ths etc, which are called "altered chords") but the main taste (if you will) is still that hamburger or hotdog you are dressing up.<br /><br />Get me?<br /><br />Now, for a person to know what Major or minor chords they must learn for sure, for sure, you will have to email me. I might have some questions for you about what instrument you play. This includes vocalists. There is no way to do it otherwise. Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38309720.post-13019747295295557912014-05-26T14:38:00.001-07:002014-05-26T15:01:16.324-07:00Chords!<b>What the are and why they are so common!</b><br />
<br />
Chord: (Music) any group of 3 or more notes which may be named.<br />
<br />
Now this might not apply to guitarists many of whom think TWO notes make a chord, as in power chord. (Note to guitarists - the rest of the music world disagrees with this definition. A "power chord" such as an A5 is held to be an "Interval" despite what you might have been told or read. This would make it really, really hard to comprehend music "theory.")<br />
<br />
When I say "named" I mean has a common name. Some chords sound just plain lousy and thus don't get names.<br />
<br />
Most all chords simplify to basic, three note chords. You can go through any chord list and x out anything you don't want to do this way and you'll still retain much of the "flavor" of the chord. The 9's, 11th's, and so on are mere condiments added to the basics. They do take a lot of time, time better spent learning some new material, I'd wager.<br />
<br />
Also, despite some older books, the common keys are C, F, G, Bb, and D. I have found nothing to dissuade me of this. Older books use other, less common keys, and many a learned paper has been written why.<br />
<br />
I place anything like this in the rack of "little rewards for a lot more work" and simply don't do it at all.<br />
<br />
This is a good thing, because that means that there are a more reasonable number of common chords (a topic I cover thoroughly in my ebook about chords which I highly suggest you purchase at amazon if you are serious about chords! It's called How to Use Chords and Fakebooks by me, of course.) These are chords you CAN learn in a reasonable amount of time. For the first 5 keys I've listed there are 19 of them: 7 Major chords, 7 Minor chords, and 5 7th chords.<br />
<br />
The key to playing these depends totally on what instrument you are playing. Of course, instruments that DO not make more than one or two notes can NOT play chords. The popularity of chord instruments like guitar, piano, and keyboard attests to strength of chords.<br />
<br />
Chords are part of harmony, however, NOT melody and thus are not actually tunes (another name for a melody!) However, unless you want to hear a bunch of single note instruments you will have some sort of harmony.<br />
<br />
That means chords. They are the accompaniment to almost everything written these days.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38309720.post-36908690598841371192014-04-29T13:51:00.003-07:002014-04-29T13:54:47.039-07:00How to Have an Intimate Concert and Have the Attendees Pay for It!<b>Many people want more friends but dread the expense!</b><br />
<br />
I'm good, especially at re-creating the music of the 50's and 60's! Of course, I can perform pretty much anything that you might want. The above is simply my preference. Go to my website for proof. I provide the url at the end of this very short essay.<br />
<br />
What will allow you to gain friends is a House Concert. To accomplish one you must actually know 10-15 folks you'd like as friends (or are friends with already) who would pay $15 each for an intimate 1 and 1 half hour concert in your living room. You also need a living room (but I can help with that, too!).<br />
<br />
Go to my website: <a href="http://danthekeyboardman.com/">danthekeyboardman.com</a> for all the data. Then you will contact me to finalize arrangements.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com