How to Play Piano Using a Few Chords
How many chords do you need to create a piece of music? Would you believe that it doesn't really matter and that whole pieces of music have been created using just one chord? For example, if you play a D minor 7 chord, you could use the bass note D to create a drone effect and anchor the whole improvisation. It could last for a few seconds or many minutes.
The important thing is were you in the moment when you created it? If you were, then it will be a good piece of music. If you weren't it will be notes in the air without communication. What communicates is your feeling. It's your feeling that gets across through the notes. The notes themselves are meaningless if you are not present behind them.
I usually do not use more chords than 4 or 5 when creating. I use the chords of a certain Key, for example A major and stay within that key until the piece is done. I may change to a different key, but I will always begin with the intention of staying within one, always keeping the possibility open for change. Remember the power of limits, especially in music.
When you have too many choices it can be overwhelming and will stop you from being able to go forward. That's why learning to play in 4 and 8-bar phrases is important. It gives you the limit of chord changes. New age music is mostly a static music meaning that the chords do not change too much. In fact, you can have the same chord going on for 8, 16 and even 24 bars or more. The amount of change is dictated by personal taste and that you will acquire after you freely experiment with the music.
Remember that attitude is the number one thing. You must allow the music to tell you where it wants to go or you will most likely freeze up and stop the forward momentum. That's why I always tell students the principles for creativity must come first. Without that you are really starting on shaky ground.
So, don't worry about how many chords to insert in your music. For a good example of chord changes, look at my book "New Age Piano Made Easy." It's filled with 84 exercises completely comprised of different chord changes in all 12 keys.
Edward Weiss is a pianist/composer and webmaster of Quiescence Music's online piano lessons. He has been helping students learn how to play piano in the New Age style for over 14 years and works with students in private, in groups, and now over the internet. Stop by now at http://www.quiescencemusic.com/piano_lessons.html for a FREE piano lesson!
Latest News
Nokia Music Store Italy: More Than 4 Million Songs MarketWatch - has announced the launch in Italy of its new digital music site, Nokia Music Store, which already has a catalogue of more than 4 million songs amongst which ... |
![]() New York Times | He Can Bring the Wine and the Music New York Times, United States - By ERIC ASIMOV FOR music and for wine, David Chan says, language has its limitations. He should know. THE RIGHT NOTES David Chan, violinist and Burgundy ... |
![]() Adweek | Microsoft slashes prices of several Zune music players Seattle Post Intelligencer - By JOSEPH TARTAKOFF Microsoft slashed the prices of several of its Zune music players Tuesday, hoping to drive holiday sales despite the weak economic ... Crispin Unveils Push for Zune Microsoft Hopes Price Cuts Will Help Zune in the Holiday Season Microsoft to drop prices on flash-based Zunes |
Music Review | Kirov Orchestra and Chorus Prokofiev Did Relish a ... New York Times, United States - By JAMES R. OESTREICH It’s too bad, as Harlow Robinson points out in program notes, that Prokofiev never got around to reshaping his music for the two-part ... |
paidContent.org - Gaming Roundup: NatGeo; Music Mogul; Square Enix ... Washington Post, United States - ?Music-focused virtual world to launch in February : Is there room for another virtual world?and a music-focused one at that? The founders of Music Mogul ... |
Top Cyberspace Lawyer Challenges RIAA's Music-Sharing Lawsuits InformationWeek, NY - By W. David Gardner The legions of online music sharers, often forced to defend themselves in expensive litigation filed by recording industry interests, ... |
![]() ABC News | A Little Bit of Country Music Goes a Long Way for Nontraditional ... ABC News - By IMAEYEN IBANGA Country music has given birth to some of the nation's best songs, artists and has helped give birth to rock-'n'-roll. ... Country Music Finds New Star In Darius Rucker |
Ultimate Ears Launches First Earphones with Top-Fire Speaker Design MarketWatch - Ideal for a wide range of music genres, the Super.Fi 5 and Super.Fi 5vi earphones are the first products on the market with a top-fire-armature speaker ... |
![]() BBC News | Perfume maker sues musician Prince Reuters - According to the lawsuit, filed in New York State Supreme Court, Prince and his music publisher Universal Music Publishing Group reached a licensing ... Prince Spritzed With Fragrance Suit Prince sued for failing to promote perfume Prince Smells The Lawsuit |
Sky News | Melee at Music Awards New York Times, United States - A 27-year-old man was in critical condition on Sunday after being stabbed when a brawl broke out at the sixth annual Urban Music Awards ceremony at the O2 ... Urban Music Awards Shut Down Due To Stabbing, 3 Men Injured Stabbing At Urban Music Awards Man stabbed at Urban Music Awards show in London |
Resources
-
Unlimited Music & Movie Downloads
Movie traffic, great seller, great conversion, you get an easy $45 per sale.
-
MP3 Music Downloads
Best Conversion Ratio, Highest Earnings Guaranteed!
-
Unlimited Music & Movie Downloads
Download Free Music Now. Search & Find MP3
-
The Bandit A&R Newsletter for ambitious acts and songwriters
Bandit publishes details of Music companies world-wide which are in the market for new acts songwriters and masters Secure on-line card clearance system
-
My Music Inc. - Unlimited Free Music and Movie Downloads.
Top Conversion Ratio, Highest Earnings Per Sale Guaranteed ! - Updated 01/03/2006.
-
Rated "Best iPod 'accessory' Ever" Download Movies, TV shows, Music Videos and Songs for i
Capatalize on the Popular iPod Brand! Earn 75% - $35+ per Sale! Best Converting Website of 2006! #1 Product for All iPod Fans
-
Learn To Read Piano Music With Fun Piano Software for Children, Adult Beginners And Piano Teachers
"
-
Front & Back Music Software & Royalty Free Music Clips
Royalty Free Music
-
DVDxRipper.com - Copy Any DVD to CD
Brand new site, Big money maker. Incredible 75% revshare.
-
MoviesDirectPro
Incredibly high converting Unlimited Downloads site. Unlimited Moves, Tv Shows, Documentaries, Music Albums, Software & Games.



