Note: To learn the tips and techniques to play songs on your own in all twelve keys go to:
Hear and Play Chords
It's another Thursday here and I just wanted to give you some details on a topic that we musicians are very familiar with. The Number System and Progessions
The number system is very key in the world of music. For those who play with sheet music it is the same thing. Those musicians who learn how to play by ear you could do this without sheet music.
This is a very quick and easy concept to grasp. If you know all your scales and quickly take a pen and a piece of paper and number them 1 to 8 ( include the first note ). Thats it.
Let's break this down then. Let be in the key of F
F G A Bb C D Eb F
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 ( the octave)
If you can master this then you will be able to figure out progressions to this
Now progressions exist in about 80% of songs. Some of the progressions can be big and some can be small. There are many and many different chords progressions that are out there. There is one basic progression or pattern that most songs when your first learning begin with that is the "1-4-5" pattern.
So in the Key of F that would be
1 which is the F major chord (F-A-C)
4 which is the Bb major chord(Bb-D-F)
5 which is the C major chord (C-E-G)
Breaking this down all that is required is for you to move from the 1 chord to the 4 chord to the five chord. There are infinate ideas of how to utlitize this such as inversions, tritones and many others. (That for a future and later post!)
Keep in mind that you bass for the one chord would be F, the four chord would be Bb and the five chord would be the C bass.
Here a tip for the musicians whether you play bass, guitar, keyboard, cello (Yes I did say cello!) or any instrument.
When you master something it will become instantly embeded in you mind. Practice, Practice, Practice!
Numbers will become instant when you master the skill.
Here a list of some progressions that you can do:
1-4-5 progression
2-5-1 progression
2-6 progression
1-2-3-4-5 progression
7-3-6 progression
I am carried away but I want to break down another progression for you all!
1-2-3-4-5 progression in the Key of F
F major > G minor > A minor > Bb major > C major
Here are the chords
1 chord -- F major (F-A-C)
2 chord -- G minor (G-Bb-D)
3 chord -- A minor (A-C-E)
4 chord -- Bb major(Bb-D-F)
5 chord -- C major (C-E-G)
The progression can work the same way in the Key of G
G major > A minor > B minor > C major > D major
Remember any and every progression can work in any key!
I hope this post will give you the tools to advance your playing. Just remember it's not about the letters it's about the numbers. If you memorize the numbers for one scale and transfer it to a different key its UNIVERSAL!
If you interested and serious about giving your playing the boost with the number system and chord progressions take a look at The Secrets to Playing By Ear
Here is a brief overview
300pg Course - Learn the secrets to playing literally any song on the piano with a few simple, "easy-to-understand" techniques and principles! Jermaine Griggsa will teach you tons of music theory, concepts, and tricks that will help you to learn piano by ear!
"The Secrets to Playing Piano By Ear" . Start Learning the Number System and Progression Secrets Today!
I highly recommend it.
Talk Soon
BizModerator