| LearnJazzPiano.com archives: learning changes | |
| amanmahajan -- 12/06/2004, 04:14:54 -- #9499 | |
| Hi, I've gotten into jazz over the last two years or so. So far I have been using fakebook scores all the time I play tunes, for chord changes, if not the melody itself. Now, especially since I'm at a stage where I'm getting into more and more substitutions and playing around with chords, I'd like to be able to play tunes without using the score at all. I find the easiest way for me to do this is to first analyse the song and establish chord relationships. This method (as opposed to blind memorization) seems to work pretty well, except when I don't understand what's happening on a particular progression. Also, I find that transposing to other keys, even after looking at chords from a functional viewpoint, isn't as easy as I thought it would be. Any advice/tips/ideas would be greatly appreciated. How do each of you normally go about doing a new tune? | |
| albetan -- 12/06/2004, 05:52:17 -- #9501 | |
| Write "Chord progressions" selecting "files" in search engine (upwards). | |
| Jazz+ -- 12/06/2004, 09:30:26 -- #9506 | |
| I use the same approach you do, I learn the changes first and the melody later. I learn tunes it in phrases of bars, never as a whole. If the chords change frequently, say every two beats, then I learn it in two bar phrases. If the chords change every four beats I learn it in four bar phrases. | |
| amanmahajan -- 12/13/2004, 23:23:41 -- #9670 | |
| Jazz+, are you talking about learning a completely new song from score, or a song you have heard somewhere before? | |
| marksdg -- 12/14/2004, 06:18:16 -- #9673 | |
| Learning changes is definietely much more important than memorizing melody. As long as you can sing the melody, you can always give an approximate version of the melody, with some artistic liscence. As far as transposing, the only way to learn it is to do it. It really is that simple. Also, the vast majority of tunes have simple enough changes that you can mostly learn to hear them by ear. Try playing tunes you have done but don't remember the changes for, and try figuring out the changes from scratch without the music. I would even say to make this a regular part of your practicing. | |
| albetan -- 12/14/2004, 06:47:57 -- #9675 | |
| The best method for remembering chord changes is to use the internal ear. You may develop your internal ear in this way: Select one of your favourite standards. Imagine the melody sounding with a virtual sax or horn or singer. While you imagine melody sounding, try to accompany it with bass and rhythmic chords in your piano.Try it several times. When you have mastered it, try to play bass and rhythmic chords or harmonic shells with left and improvise something in right, always imagining your virtual melody. This is the best method for working in a jazz combo. All guys imagine the virtual melody that nobody is hearing, each musician is playing his/her part correctly and without papers nor chord charts. Do these exercises and you will develop your internal ear. Remember the life of Beethoven who was completely deaf when he composed his master works, but he got it thanks to his internal ear. Good luck and enjoy all the resources of your subconscious. | |
| Jazz+ -- 12/14/2004, 07:22:06 -- #9676 | |
| Either a new song or an old one, I learn the changes by the Roman numeral system. And I also see how the roots of the ii, V and I chords move visualy in the standard key. | |
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