LearnJazzPiano.com archives: How to think chords and scales
mstore -- 05/06/2004, 10:07:49 -- #4156
hello,..

I have a habbit to think chords like clusters or a clumps. what do you think about that? how should i think when practising? for instance cm11 b5  like a cluster or from the melodic minor scale or how? should i be able to think so fast that for instance the 3rd is eb and the 7is bb and b5 is Gb and the 9 d . do you guys think like that superfast in all keys? Is that a good way to think when practising chords? I allways seem to have the chords and scales in my fingers rather than in my head. If i try to write a scale or a chord on a paper i have to "play it" my hands move before I think and then I know what notes the chord consists of. Why is this? Is this normal? If you have read my other posts you have  probably noticed that im in to "thinking music"

martin

7 -- 05/06/2004, 10:49:57 -- #4159
Remember that in the real world chords occur in context.

They are part of a longer structure.

By using the information gleaned from the preceding and succeeding chords you will be able to establish the inner lines that the composer chose.

Seeing the context of the chord in relation to its surrounding chords will allow you to choose the most appropriate voicings.

The vast majority of your musical life you will be able to examine a chart in peace and tear it apart at your leisure. The arrangement you build can take place at a leisurely pace so that you'll have the opportunity to put together a nice logical form to use when you play it later live.

Over time these voicings will then become internalized so that you  won't have to "think superfast", they will just "be there" for you.

7

mstore -- 05/06/2004, 12:46:18 -- #4162
well. What can I do about it? That is what im wondering.

martin

smg -- 05/06/2004, 13:08:31 -- #4163
The word "superfast" is what I'm focusing on too,even before I saw 7's reply....

Here's what I'm going to suggest,based on this thread and the recent others,with respect for you as a player,fellow musician,and LJP colleague.

Lay  back.

Whatever recent events have impacted your over-all musical involvement,I'm getting the feeling that they've triggered some kind of meltdown,and I'd step away from the situation for a week or so,take a few deep breaths,and then take a look at what's what.

Players that think about music/play their instrument/compose/read/
whatever..in a way others describe as "superfast" invariably got that together "superslowly" over many years of dedicated study and involvement.....

To answer your question,there are different ways of conceptualizing things and often players do think in terms of the notes of a given chord arranged in consecutive order...but the difference between whatever way you intellectually understand music right now and changing this to be more effective is something that will take place as a result of processes you can put in place based on a rational review of things......I keep thinking of players I knew who were great local cats but who went to NYC,got their mind blown by some major heavyweight and fell apart trying to sound like them instead of just playing themselves as an analogy to where I think you might be at right now..obviously this recent exam has had a  similar effect....
Take my advice man and spend a week or two putting things in perspective.It's the full moon right now,the beginning of summer...be cool.Music will always be here.

albetan -- 05/06/2004, 13:23:28 -- #4164
Hi Martin:
As minus you think while playing, your perfomance is better.
Practise scales, chords and arpeggios until mastering it. In your post i see very interesting notes as:  
"I allways seem to have the chords and scales in my fingers rather than in my head. If i try to write a scale or a chord on a paper i have to "play it" my hands move before I think and then I know what notes the chord consists of. Why is this? Is this normal?"
You are experimenting a fight between conscious mind and subconscious.
When you have dominion on a stuff, it is in subconscious... you don't need to think in it while playing.
All material that you practise and learn is like information that you are loading and saving in your powerful computer of subconscious. Let it do its job, no thinking, and enjoy your perfomance.

Dell -- 05/07/2004, 17:48:47 -- #4183
Hello sir, plz kindly help me to know how to play onall the keys, cuz am onlyplaying on just 2 keys, i want to plzkindly give to the logic on how to play on all keys. And also give mesome scales to runn on jazz. Thanks.

albetan -- 05/07/2004, 18:05:31 -- #4184
Hi Dell:
I invite you to "Albetan's Area". Please download  "files":
"Beginning scales and chords"
"Beginning modal scales and arpeggios"

There you will get dominion on all keys.

Good luck.

albetan -- 05/07/2004, 18:24:08 -- #4186
Dell:
Please see the search engine upwards in right corner and write: "scales and chords"  "modal scales" selecting "files.

Copyright © 2005 by Scot Ranney. All rights reserved.
Click Here for more information about performances and clinics. Click Here to sign up for Scot's music announcements.