Music Information

How to Construct Chords and Improvise


How To Construct Basic Chords on the Piano

The easiest way to start learning how to build chords is to practice their constructions in the key of C Major. You're just playing all white keys.

All you have to do is play every other white key to create a 3-note chord. A 3-note chord is called a triad. A 4-note chord is called a 7th chord. And a 5-note chord is called a 9th chord.

Now you have the option of playing your chords in one hand or you may use both hands! It depends upon the sound you want to produce.

How to Improvise Melodies

There's something irresistible about a real melody. If you can convince the listener that they're hearing a melody when you improvise, they will stay riveted to every note.

Well, you can - and it's not really that difficult. The one element that is common to almost all good melodies is: repetition.

To your success,

Mr. Ron
http://www.mrronsmusic.com

Repetition. Repetition and more repetition. I'm referring specifically to the repetition of ideas (motifs, as they are often called). Sometimes the idea is repeated exactly as it occurred the first time, as in the Holiday tune "Jingle Bells."

More often, the motif occurs higher or lower than it did originally. The notes are different but the rhythm and the shape of the line remain intact, as in "Happy Birthday." This type of repetition can be defined as "pitch-shifting."

What I'm describing here is a process often called motific development: the spinning out of ideas through the use of repetition, pitch-shifting, and extension.

So that's it... if you want your improvisations or solos to sound like a melody, you need to use a lot of repetition.

Ironically many musicians avoid using repetition for fear of sounding repetitious, i.e., boring. You bore a listener if you try to elicit the same emotional reaction from him/her two or three times in a row, but that's not what you're doing when you repeat an idea.

When you first introduce an idea, it's new. The listener waits with open anticipation to hear how the idea spins itself out. But when you repeat the idea, their reaction is very different. Now they can gain a certain sense of control, by connecting what they're hearing to what went before.

Just listen to some of your favorite songs, and you will definitely hear repetition!

Ron Worthy is the owner of http://www.mrronsmusic.com. He is a Music Eductor and Performer. His site offers online piano instruction for all ages. He specializes in Rock, Pop, Blues and Smooth Jazz Piano disciplines.


MORE RESOURCES:

Music: Sandy City Orchestra makes music accessible
Salt Lake Tribune, United States - 57 minutes ago
By Celia R. Baker You don't have to know a lot about classical music to appreciate the elegant sparkle of Mozart's music, the emotional tug of Tchaikovsky's ...
Orchestra starting season Deseret News
all 3 news articles


Carey arrives to face music in Miami
NEWS.com.au, Australia - 4 hours ago
By Peta Hellard FALLEN AFL star Wayne Carey has arrived in the US ahead of a court hearing for allegedly assaulting two police officers in a drunken brawl ...


Music: Rock Band Live: You've played the game, now see the real bands
Salt Lake Tribune, United States - 57 minutes ago
These "instruments" are used to simulate the playing of rock music by hitting scrolling notes on-screen. The game has sold nearly 4 million copies since its ...


Music Center parking loss creates traffic bottleneck for patrons
Los Angeles Times, CA - 23 hours ago
A no-show actor, singer or soloist at a Music Center performance could throw things into disarray. Ditto for a missing parking lot. ...


Music video highlights: NLCS Game 2
MLB.com - 20 hours ago
MLB.com/Entertainment is all over Rocktober, with daily videos featuring the best baseball highlights of October set to music by stars including Santana, ...


Music cruises unite performers and fans
Seattle Times, United States - 11 hours ago
I'm living a music lover's fantasy. This cruise — dubbed "Cayamo: A Journey Through Song" by its promoters — lured nearly 2000 passengers to spend seven ...


The Associated Press

Vienna director sick, but good music saves opera
The Associated Press - 14 hours ago
The audience was required to concentrate on the music and hope for the best. And here, good triumphed. Angela Gheorghiu's Marguerite suffered perhaps for ...


Smithsonian American music exhibit to visit Ferriday beginning Oct ...
Alexandria Town Talk, LA - 10 hours ago
A major traveling Smithsonian exhibition on the roots of American music opens Oct. 23 at the Arcade Theater and Delta Music Museum in Ferriday, ...
Gospel and the Blues at The Rose Bastrop Daily Enterprise
all 3 news articles


Music notes: American Boychoir in Grand Rapids
The Grand Rapids Press - MLive.com, MI - 9 hours ago
AP NEWSFLASH by The Grand Rapids Press The American Boychoir from New Jersey makes a rare visit to Grand Rapids for a program of choral music at 7:30 pm ...


A lesson in music, history
Newsday, NY - 9 hours ago
By his early teens, he was composing original music, singing, playing guitar and even performing local gigs. He was certain then that music, ...

Music - Google News

home | site map
© 2006