Korg Forums

[pagey]

How about a thread for anyone learning to play the keyboard or wanting to improve on their playing skills?

I'm sure there's a vast array of people on here from beginner to concert pianist and it would be nice to have a section that deals with playing rather than programming.

I for one am self taught by ear, never had a lesson in my life and probably have loads of bad habbits but would benefit from some guidance/tips on playing for example - How is one supposed to play the GM7(add13) chord with the left hand as I only have 5 fingers and the chord has 7 notes?
or
Is there an idiot proof scientific correct way that says what finger should play which note in a chord and why?

A bit off the beaten track I know but I would be interested in peoples thoughts on this.
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ESKIMO WALK acoustic band

Korg Kronos61, Triton Extreme 61, M50

[shrike]

[Voltan]

[jazlover]

To your question about too much chord and not enough fingers, there are some basic rules that are fun to work with. Typically Jazz players (and studio players) play two-fisted chords where the important notes must be in there with perhaps the high note being the melody note. Everything else is his own recipe (whatever sound he is going for).

Some notes of the chord are very important (the essence of the chord), the rest is like cooking ... you season according to taste . For example, everybody's Mom may have made Apple Pie. Some things have to be in it, in order for it to be Apple Pie (like Apple, crust somewhere, and some sweetener of some sort). Those are essentials, without them every one is saying "what do you call this?" Now your Mom may use brown sugar...or nutmeg....or a bit of salt, whatever else she uses to make it her own way ( the way you like it). This is the same wonderful process for coloring chords. This will make your ear smile.

Chords have few important notes, eg. Cmin7 (the minor 3rd and the 7th)..... Cmaj7 (major 3rd and major 7th) ..... C7 (major 3rd and regular 7th). These notes must be in there or it is another chord. The least important notes are generally... the bass note ( or the root) and the fifth. These notes (unless they have a special function found in certain music genres) are heard by the ear anyway whether you play them or not. These notes are heard in the overtones of the piano and in your head. You will likely have a bass player anyway. Let him lay the bass down.

Chords that are more complex like GM7(add 13), the 13th becomes an important note. Truly there are only three very important notes in this chord (the D, the F# and the E). Many of us use polychords like a partial GM7th in the left hand and a Dmaj or a Amaj in the right hand.

Also the note of the melody are often important. Try playing around with these rules and see if it doesn't give you cool sounds with fingers left over.

Finally here are some examples. Try them and listen to the magic.
A typical chord arrangement for blues in C: play the left hand (B flat, E and A) for C7 and (A, E flat and G) for F7.
Try this two fisted chord for a Cmaj7 (notes E,B,C,D and G). This hasn't even scratched the surface.
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“I’m into scales right now.”
John Coltrane

[Voltan]

That's a nice and useful post!

[pagey]

These are just the type of things i wanted.

Please keep this thread alive
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ESKIMO WALK acoustic band

Korg Kronos61, Triton Extreme 61, M50

[fitless]

Fingering on the keyboard should be comfortable as well. If it feels awkward, figure out a new way to play the music.

Playing 2 notes with one finger (especially 1st finger, or thumb) can be very handy.

Basic stuff, but sometimes overlooked.

Les

[jazlover]

If there is more interest in this sort of thing, (theory, harmony) we can keep it going. I have always thought that more people (in this forum) are interested in the technical aspects of hardware, software, and recording. We can share principals we use successfully in our own playing.

All of these rules are simply strategies. The ear is always the real judge to whether they work or not. I will try to adds some more through the week.

Two-fisted chords tend to sound better if they are built like a pyramid. The left hand (the bottom of the pyramid) has a wider spread of notes and the right hand (the top) has a smaller spread of note. For example: the left hand may spread from the root to the ninth while the right hand is a simple triad. If you spread the note more on the top the chords (for standards chords) then the chords does not sound as good.
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“I’m into scales right now.”
John Coltrane

[mdh]

[pagey]

Ok another Question.

I have some sheet music I want to play and it has Cb chords above the music. How do you play a Cb chord? I didn't think there was one or is it just played as a B?
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ESKIMO WALK acoustic band

Korg Kronos61, Triton Extreme 61, M50

[Lorenzo]

yes it's a B... the only difference is the theory... when you're playing in G scale you have to hit the F# note and you call it F#, but the key is the same as the Gb... but due to the theory we know that the scales are C G D A etc all with # and F Bb Eb etc etc with b (then there are some more differences due to the different tuneing... so that you have differences in commas but there is no practical application of this)
regards, Lorenzo
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http://www.synthaddicted.com

[pagey]

Thanks Lorenzo
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ESKIMO WALK acoustic band

Korg Kronos61, Triton Extreme 61, M50

[Ultimate Dj]

Heya,
just found this awesome thread.
and i need some help (duh). This may be to big a question to ask here but im gonna try anyways !
Im trying to create a Dance/Trance song. and i need some help with the drumkit.
I tried taking apart the Combi in my Oasys called Summer Anthem and this helped a bunch but i still need some more advice. pretty much i want to know how to play the cymbals that make a dance song without over killing it but without getting bored with it either.
so any help lyk what exact keys to play in wat order...etc!
Thanks alot! whateva u can add pleazee do!
thnx


Pura Vida
DJ

[jazlover]

[Ultimate Dj]