I think you are better just to learn the theory and the physical placement of the chords, and by the way that A13th is a nasty sounding thing to start with for people to hear and invite in to listen to things. To a non musician that would sould like the cat landing on the keys after falling off the lid, not some cool cat landing a nice Jazz chord.
The problem with this video is that it uses a totally nonexistant (or rather renamed) chord, and tries to explain a principal using it. It would probably be a lot clearer if you would use C Major. What you are trying to say is totally correct, but the way you explain it is confusing. And, for your info, this is not a pros exclusive. I learned the principal quite simply on another website. No big deal.
I am a pianist, over 20 years now, and have been teaching kids how to play for many years. it's a very good way of teaching particular people and aiding in them understanding how it works, as we all learn differently. A balance of both alternative and theoretical learning is best in my opinion. However, if this typical American hustler musician is charging people for a course in "picture chords" he is scamming you as he did not create this method of teaching. We all know it already mate!
Oh, my, must be something really good for the acidic responses. I taught myself to play by chords and I've always used a visual approach to chords, but some of what he said here gave me things to think about. Nope, not all of us were lucky enough to sweat over "Fur Elise" for hours; we had a raggedy piano and we taught ourselves any way we could.
This entire video just shows how to play a 13 chord in a single voicing. To be compentent you would want to practice 13 chords in other voicings, with alterations. Then you've got to examine the myriad of different combinations of chords that each make their unique sounds, then learn the voicings for each one. Your strategy only covers about 1/100th of the chords that need to be learned to become competent
Sorry, I dont see the point of this. Someone who is able to play the piano well enaugh to actually need these specific voicings of the chords often enaugh to actually use your method is almost certainly going to figure out any voicing he wants without it, too, without spending any more time. If any of you dont know how to make chords: GET A HARMONY BOOK, OR SOMETHING SIMILAR!!! It really pays out. By the way, shoot me, but I insist that originally the "Amen" is a IV-I (plagal cadence) !!!!
Holy crap Batman tell me somthing I don't already know its called music theory and improvisation I do this with jazz peices all the time also playing by ear
BTW, ask any pro to show you these chords and if you are willing to pay they will show them to you. There are no secrets, just hard to find someone who teaches this and teaches it well.
I don't agree with Greg's method but I have to defend him on this concept. When you learn how to construct a chord, do you really think root, third, nine? You do this initially but in order to play in real time your brain translates that into a picture. Learning by picture skips the complicated theory and gets you playing and is the best way to do it. Some theory is needed but you don't need to get wrapped up in it.
Really awesome tip, as a computer musician rather than an instrument player I find this very helpful. Once I have the chord I can work out different ways of voicing it. Thanks.
Learn your theory people. Get with a music teacher because books and tapes alone are not going to give you the knowledge and know how when it comes to playing whatever instrument you’re interested in. Beside, books and tapes are for more advanced musician in my opinion. There is a verse in the book of Psalm 33:3 that tell us to play skillfully on our instrument. That mean study and learn from someone that knows what he or she is talking about
i think a paragraph explanation is frankly unnecessary. you just gotta PRACTICE. any 'technique' to circumvent true, unadulterated practice is a waste of time in my opinion
There are only five chord types..Major, Minor, Dominant, Diminished, and Augmented. The only thing that a student has to do is learn how a chord is constructed. It's just a skip sequence. 1,3,5,7,9(2),11(4),13(6). That's it. There are only two reasons ever for variations 1. texture 2. direction to the next chord.
Long story short..as an improvising musician..the only things you have to learn are:Chord construction, Chord inversions, and how to harmonize a melody. Those will get you everywhere.
that plus 5 thingy hes talking about, its called augmenting... if you just learn music theory you wouldnt have to do math or think about stuff like this...
Its just spacing things 5 apart... in relation to C major, thats C E and Ab theres 4 half steps inbetween each note. its diminished when its within 3 half steps between each note... then that Ab goes Ab B D F.. thats used in neo classical metal guitar solos all the time...
just learn the scales, and how to make chords and its easier..
okay....this could be usefuld...for those of you having trouble learning these complex "voicings" all the "pros" use and you see in every jazz piano book and tutorial, you must understand that having complex voicings at your fingertips is the result of a gradual process of ear-brain building: start by doing your INVERSIONS of all of your TRIADS (major, minor, dim, aug) around the cycle, and use a metronome at a slow speed and work your way up. Then learn all of your seventh chords&inversions etc
@wasupthere its not bro... lol i play guitar and understand this theory and what it means... if you just learn actual music theory, you wouldnt have to memorize every single chord.. becuase you could know the formula for doing it... hes teaching an even more complicated way to learn chord positions when All you have to know is scales and how to build a chord. FYI, im not a teacher or anything, just someone whos trying to prevent a scam.
I fully appreciate the fact that you are showing that repeating the mathematical relationship found within a simple voicing yields the same structure in other keys. Intervalic relationship pretty much applies to all scales, patterns, voicings etc. In fact I call music math with emotion. I understand your intent but what I don't see is it's practical use in real life performance based upon my previous comments. I assume that since it is an actual course it should be functional as well.
Another factor is that if you try to apply this method to larger more professional symmetrical voicings it would become far more tedious than simply learning the basic scale and the voicings derived from that scale. Learn how those chords function in relationship to the tonal center and transposing becomes not only easy but actually practical because you will choose and create the voicing that actually suits the situation. This method teaches laziness without practical use. No offense intended.
This only shows the novice how to physically replicate a very specific close position voicing in various keys. While it is effective to that end it is not remotely practical. In real life playing note choices and voicing are contingent upon the ideal keyboard range so will differ depending upon the key. Also when you get into open, drop two, drop four, quartal, upper structure, rootless, shearing etc. voicings which professionals actually DO use this is useless. Useful for copy purposes only.
@coolpianoteacher I again repeat this response, what you are saying is not relevant to the concept being demonstrated in that for any chord there is a mathematical relationship between all the notes. Look at the remember the relationship and the chord can be made in any key..
@coolpianoteacher understands this. What you are talking about here are "cluster" voicings. The only "professional" I can think of who routinely uses cluster voicings is Cecil Taylor - and I don't think many students are looking to sound like him! You may have some very personal way of looking at the keyboard, but it doesn't cover many, if any, of the circumstances that real piano players find. To describe this as a "trick of the professionals" is false advertising!
This approach may work in a few contexts and situations, but the issue is that different chord qualities require different voicing that this approach simply doesn't cover. For example, the A "Picture Chord" that you're playing has a dominant quality due to the G natural you're stacking below it. Moreover, you're altering the 11 by stacking the D#. This simply wont work over a Major 7, minor 7, or Natural dominant chord. Sorry kids... there are no shortcuts to playing music.
@JazzSpeaks6214 What you are saying is not relevant to the concept being demonstrated. in any chord there is a mathematical relationship between all the notes. Look at the remember the relationship and the chord can be made in any key..
@JazzSpeaks6214 "no shortcuts"? Yeah, an' just wait till Christmas rolls around--somebody's gonna haft' call a pianist, . . . or say, Easter, or 4th of July, or maybe, even, Happy Birthday, . . .
I really like the approach you are demonstrating there. When I heard your explanation of these “picture chords” I immediately remembered the many different approaches I tried when I started to learn playing piano. One way that is still a very important way for me to remember music is seeing what I want to play. I used a book to learn playing back then that called this approach “photographic memory” and “mental play”.
I think the main thing here is speed of application... There are definitely hard pieces (usually written that way) to play but there are some that just want to play (usually by ear). Even still, there NEVER is a shortcut when it comes to playing as your fingers need to become used to forming the chords, I think the point here is to reduce the mental work on piano (which lends easily to "picture chords"). However, people should also be taught fundamentally what makes a 13th chord by the numbers.
To be honest, I don't see how this is different from whatever you call the "traditional" approach:
"Surrounding" the imaginary bass note in the upper octave isn't much different from playing those same notes measured by their intervals to the actual bass chord.
Let's take your "second" chord - it's D flat, then a third, and three fourths. Let's take the first one: it's A, a 7th and a 9th (yes, surrounding the 8th - OBVIOUSLY), then a 3rd + octave... and you go from there.
If you have all these basic chords and scales in your head, it goes like a knife through butter - sure, some chords and relations are more difficult than others, but then again, so is "surrounding" a note with a complicated combination of intervals as opposed to simple whole tones.
No "dumb transposition" needed at ANY rate - it's all about seeing the harmonical connections and your brain working fast enough, building on tropes and licks you already know.
@twooffour Some people do not see that the relationships are what are key. Some think that each chord must be learned individually note-for-note. i.e. They learn a C major, then they learn a D major, etc........i.e. "I can play a C major chord but I didn't learn the G Major yet, I need to look that one up"
Ah, okay... as far as I know, though, that's not the "traditional" approach, that's the "dumb kid in the basement" approach ;)
I mean, I dunno, I'm sure there are bad teachers around, but having attended a German conservatory for 2 years, they use the "intelligent" method to teach harmony as well :)
It only takes so much time because the majority of students is rather unmotivated and the material is fed them one piece at a time :D
MUSIC IS A HEARING ART NOT A READING ONE ! I am not discounting sight reading,though some classical oriented people are just too pedantic and use condescending tones to others who have other methods or formulas. A few of the above comments seem to like a pedant employing the use of verbiage trying to sound as though he is more educated than someone else. Music is about harmony amongst other elements like rhythm etc. There are different brances that lead to a desired expression in music.
Its just you. They sound lovely. But they yearn for resolution- in Jazz, chords are all about tension and resolution. Listen to Claude Debussy for a year (preferably the preludes) and I guarantee you an epiphany.
it is only meant to be a mnemonic technique and you can take it or leave it.... We can always profit from different approaches to any subject.... open minds are learning minds !
These comments are nuts? it's like saying everyone prefers your way of learning. It's quite patent that women and men learn differently (visual vs oral) so whats to say picturing chords is a bad way, if you still think in terms of scales you are limiting yourself. NOT every chord falls into the scale you are playing! it sound like classical dudes banging on gospel and jazz music cos it sounds dissonant.
The best thing about playing keyboard or guitar is you can live without the stave!!!!
Classical, at least from the 19th century on, sounds just as dissonant - and neither does every note in classical music somehow "fall into the scale you're playing".
I can't get past the whole "secrets pros won't expose or admit to," it really comes off as paranoid; why would people hide secrets that would make their and everyone's lives easier?
1. Learn intervals/scales (begin with minor and major)
2. Learn the chords' structure and picture them in your mind
3. Now you can build any chord on any given key, because for each chord is a specific combination of intervals.
Well, actually this is just harmony, but learning chords this way explains a lot of things. No one has ever said that in music you need to picture your hand on the keybord and other intruments don't have a keyboard.
I think there is a distinct difference between playing and understanding. If you are playing progressions in a band situation, you won't always have the time to analyze and build chords from scales. If you take the play/picture first approach you can then look at the chord and analyze it. What's more there is a specific flavour to a specific voicing which is something that isn't easily understood by merely analyzing the structure. Often it is better to know the flavour & use it first
Oh, and everyone's brain works differently. This is how it works for madameve, and it's clearly helped at least a few others out. All he's doing is explaining his mental schema for transposition; he is not going to cure all the problems with music education in an 8 minute video.
Also, if the end goal of music education is professional musicianship, then teachers must be doing very badly...think about that one.
This approach is tantamount to the delusional belief that one can "communicate" in a foreign language by merely learning phonetically a few isolated words. The words may impress others who don't speak the language but are relatatively meaningless to those who actually know the language. The approach circumvents the process of attaining true musical literacy-- the ability to proficiently read music and aurally comprehend the inter-relationships of scales, intervals, chords and melodies.
@flugelrog9 I see that you are probably a victim of the flawed system of traditional music education. There is no need anybody to endure that silly pain that persists for 5-10 years when the same result can be achieved in months. Read out free 10 page report on the "Pitfalls of Traditional Music Education"
There is no need to waste 5 years on learning basic chords and scales - what takes years in conservatory and school can ALWAYS be learned in a relatively short time, if you really want.
The only skill that may take time is developing your ears, but then again, you need that in any case ;)
@RonBurgundy609 FYI. im not going to listen to video to figure out what you are talking about, and I may have mis spoke, but but amen can be V-I a IV-I a VI-I or ANYTHING I WANT.... music is an art
@RonBurgundy609 Not at all. Traditionally, an 'amen cadence' (plagal cadence) is a IV-I 'resolution.' The presence of a suspension is merely decorative. However, I tend to think of the 'amen cadence' as an expansion of the authentic cadence that almost always precedes it, and not a cadence in its own right. So if one looks at the plagal cadence as just a type 'harmonic afterthought' instead, madameve has a valid point. As long as it's in the spirit of an 'amen', it makes aural sense.
best way to do it, play the root of the chord in the left hand then play the 3rd note of the chord and the 7th not of the chord. so in C left hand is the base note. then play the e and the Bb and the d in the right hand. so Left hand (1) then right hand 3 7 9. and you get some cool sounds
It´s not about remembering pictures of a difficult Chord or earning money (@madameve). With this knowledge you are able to play this Chord, but what exactly is A13? To a beginner it´s a more or less fitting Chord to a Root note. It tells nothing about the use in a musical context.
This is a bit like thinking you are a chef by following the instructions on a pasta packet. But really the learner won't understand the ingredients and their contributing fabric. However, perhaps you are the next Charlie Parker and will show the world a new way that us musicians are too scared to accept as of yet. Good luck, but I didn't like you performance and that was before you started trying to sell me picture chords.
you didn't need to reply in the same manner as he spoke to you. who cares how much money you made. that is not a professional reply. And also, I was totally interested until I heard the "omg" in your video. 1:09.
@ridespirals I'd give you 5 thumbs up if I was born in a radioactive wasteland and was capable of such a feat, but sadly I have only two... and even sadderly youtube limits it to one.
The problem with learning chords this way, is that you never explain how to make the chords in the first place hahaha (A 13 chord consists of a root, a major third, a perfect fifth and an added 6th, btw) Its better, in the long run, to learn the theory than learn what chords "look like"
@greenarrow719 The best thing about learning the theory, is that with enough practice you don't even have to think about it anymore, it becomes second nature, but you aren't limited in any way. This type of instruction is just meant to make money from people who don't want to learn music.
@greenarrow719 That would simply be an A(add6) chord. Using "13" as opposed to "6" implies that the 7th and 9th are also present (and the 11th if it's a minor13 chord). A-C#-E-G-B-F#. But yeah, I agree with what you said about learning theory, most people just don't want to learn it but it really does help A LOT. Then again, I'm a beast at theory but I suck at playing keys. lol
There IS something to this method, Ive learned my chords by a similar technique although i never gave it a name like 'picture chords'.
But Im a little bit skeptical though about people who come up with a marketting gimmick and say this is the next big thing etc. To be honest, i would love to have stuck at music the traditional way and learned to play properly, instead im stuck in my own incomplete method.
You cant substitute discipline for 'magical techniques'.
i taught myself how to play the organ/piano and i approached accompaniment this way: pictures. well, sort of. i saw them as inter-related chords. Then, by dint of acquaintance through practice, it comes naturally. Just like learning a language. Actually, the names of the notes/chords came later to me. They were just sounds that i thought i had to figure out. Then, the pattern 'swells'. I guess some people learn quicker by pictures. thanks for the post!
the problem is that you are having to memorize the positioning of your fingers to even get to that fluid chord and then you still have to recognize what chord your playing so you have to count in the end anyway.
How can we calculate how many possibilities are in 12 notes. Factorials? There is a finite number of combinations, but when you add in rythmn you get even more, and rests phrases became almost infinate...lol
This isn't bad teaching or even a shortcut. It's a reference tool for playing any chord in any key. Guitar players often use this method of "photographing" or recording the distances between the individual notes of any given chord to memory as well (example 03:38). This clip focuses on one chord, is faster than the 01:39 concept and is beneficial at any level of playing - especially for those who want to be more fluid in all keys and get away from using transpose! This is a useful tool. Thanks!
ahh maybe i'm a bit slow on the uptake but wheres the advantage in this how hard is it to learn 12 scales transposing isnt that hard whatever way you look at it you have to put your fingers on a certain note and like how many songs use these obscure chords????
Minor correction - at 4:48 we're told that a V-I cadence, or "usually like a five-one, some kind of five-one" is an "Amen" cadence. Whether we're learning to close out a hymn or we're in a university taking a music theory course, we're all told that an "amen cadence" is a IV-I (four-one), which is also called a plagal cadence. A V-I (five-one) is a closed, or authentic, or perfect cadence and it's a much stronger way to return to a tonic chord. But it's not an Amen cadence.
Maybe good for the beginner to get started quickly just like microwave food. But if I would choose between a 5 star guide Michelin restaurant meal and a microwave meal, the choice would be obvious...
philly thats not really true. a scale is just another device to outline the harmony, it just happens to contain all the notes of that harmony. if you could play any chords by knowing your scales there would be many more great players. the more shapes you learn the more ways you can see the total harmony across the board. this is just a way to quicky learn how chords look in all keys.
This is a great concept I dont know what all of these musicians are talking about. I use this samething in my playing. We all do whether you know it or not. Duh. Not to be rude. Thats how we learned how to play the piano or organ. You saw patterns. And then you applied that pattern to ever key. Then you kinda trained your ear to recongnize those different sounds. This is just simple teaching. Every muscian does this all the time. Just go ahead and admit it. Its not bad we all do it all the time
Snake oil. "Instant" success is no success. My teacher explicitly avoided teaching me this way because the student doesn't come out understanding music, they just have a bag of tricks. Because I learned theory and can transpose, I am able to take my knowledge of music from one instrument to another. Learning chords based on shapes doesn't do that. This might be good for a beginner learning their triads, but beginners don't need altered dominants. Don't teach easy, teach right.
Wow, you gave me a LOT to think about. I've known for years that I've out grown the simple C-E-G chords, but I didn't know where to go to build on my knowledge. Thank you for sharing this!
I find this to be a much more intuitive way. Many people thinking that learning music is all about memorizing scales & licks. They don't understand it's a language. Just by learning phonics and learning latin roots to understand the meaning of "foreign" words, versus going to school and memorizing words for a dictionary and still having no clue!
much respect to u sir but in music in general learning scales is 1st. and the number system. because 1st is getting a clear understanding. learning the formula for every chord. it might take a little longer but its getting a clear understanding all over the keyboard
this is more or less like knowing scale degrees in a chord which is what any music major thats gone through theory classes accompanied with piano proficiency courses. i still wouldn't substitute this for my knowledge of transposing. this would be great added knowledge but not substitutable knowledge.
This is a great way to learn for a lot of people, I'm a very visual person who plays music also. But I learn visually as opposed to from books or reading, I find it quicker and a lot easier to remember.
Thanks and please remember that for every negative comment there's probally a dozen people thanking God for this simple method. It is encouraging to people who lack confidence. I now want to learn MORE. Ignore Phillytalented's negative comment he's probally insecure..
I have been in the same shoes and lost years of growth by trying to "take short cuts". They dont exist in music. Like wheatworks say " if you wanna play, dont play around" Bill Evans said that because he loved music soo much, he never toiled at practicing. My advice is to fall inlove with music and learn it the real way which in actuual life is the quickest way
Again I dont think you understand the system. This is an inventions that has taken the msic community by surprise. There is no a new way to "do it." We no longer have to do it the way it was done for the last 1000 years. Look for some very shattering announcements in the near future as for we are on the forefront of reinventing music education. You can now cook in a microwave and get similar resuls as using the oven. There is now a better way stay tuned.
No maybe you donot understand my comment. Would you honestly make a great home cooked meal in the microwave? NO! we use it when we are too lazy to make a real meal. thats what you "Picture chord" trick is. The fastest way to a half decent meal that leaves you unsatisfied.
You know what I admire these "tricks" madameve! Unlike back in the day where there was good music education and a bridge between the older and younger generations, that doesnt exist now. so being a young cat thats attracted to jazz and r&b from the 40's-70's it leaves a bad taste in my mouth to learn how alergic the older generation is to youth now and wont bother to teach BUT are the first to PUT DOWN. these short cuts are my way to learning to PLAY instead of SAMPLING. AND IT WORKS.
@phillytalented This is the Year 2010, if you want to stay in the past and use music intruction methods of the 1500's feel free. Be sure never to use your Microwave oven and cell phone. New things and techniques have been invented.
@madameve lmao you have it completely backwards. A good understanding of music theory will allow you to execute and understand music on a level that will NEVER be matched by your horse shit shortcuts. Its like the cell phone is there just waiting to be used and you are showing them how to rig up cups and strings. Your teaching methods are harmful and dishonest.
@phillytalented hey why dont you post some of your master pieces so that we can all enjoy your growth, but your wont you know why? because it is easier bad mouth others than to be critized by others, i know music theory as much as anyone it doesnt do any thing without, ready practicable tips. By the way philly "talented"!??? BS
This isnt a short cut, it will actually set a player back. yeah you learn the chord but you are restricted to just that chord. If you learn scales, you can transpose into any key knowing simple theory. instead of learning these so-called picture chords, you only really have to know major and minor and add on to them. you know your scales, you can say i know an Ab7 i can just add the 7 to Bb to get the Bb7. wanna add the 13? just ofcourse add the 6th. no pictures, just common sense
and thats just a quick concept,'picture chords' that has nothing to do with the intellectual property thats Pending in the United States Patent office.
@phillytalented dats right doc. the only true way is learning scales and the number system there is a formula for every chord u cant go wrong with theory where talking about every chord in every key. scales 1st 13th chord basic formula is 1 3 5 7 9 11 13 to make it phat u can do it many ways to make it minor flat the 3 and 7 but doc u right learn scales!
@phillytalented kind of...a 13 inherently contains a 7,9, and 11. Because the 13th is enharmonic to the 6th adding it does not make it a fully voiced 13. I'm sure bill evans would appreciate unique ways of looking at the instrument he loved and keeping it in the toolbox than just a strictly traditional learning system, it is pretty interesting...I am a theory instructor...as long as it sparks interest and discussion I think it has served a purpose...got you a clarification didn't it? :)much love
to cal: technically, any musician uses that concept; as past the octave when embellishing a chord, the 7(being an essential "color tone" second to the 3rd), it is commonly associated as below the respective octave of choice from the root note rather than so far above the bass note's/root's choice octave in it's relative position. In his so called "secret", as long as you "surround the notes with the other respective tones of the scale, you can't help but play the extended notes 9, 11, 13.. yup.
This works for finding the chord sure enough, but then you still need to think about what voicing sounds best and the picture is removed at that point. I guess it would work well for those who play "chord piano" though, so not that bad of a concept.
I love the willlingness to share...but by experience the best way to remember a chord is by the numbers...once you figure out what number your chord is, you start using it in a progression...then a song.
I wouldn't call this a "secret" that pros won't admit to, it's a good method but there's no need to label it as a conspiracy. Everyone has different methods for learning chords and I personally haven't met any pro piano players who use this one. still quite interesting though
This is the first time I was able to pick up how to improvise with the left hand...the left hand plays the main note and the right hand is harmonizing with the chord shown at the beginning...This is the most helpful yet after years of piano lessons!
This SEEMS like a great technique (on the surface). However, transposing pieces using 'picture chord' method will lead to very high or very low voicings if transposing up or down 6 tones. This method means that the whole chord shifts up or down and when trying to keep voicing close together, invertions go completely out of the window. I don't think you can escape general chordal knowledge using this method, as the voicings would be all over the place.
No, because if the voicing was too high or too low, you would simply use a different "picture chord", for the same chord quality. And you would know if you had to do this before you put yor hand on it.
So that would mean that you have to memorise every single picture chord in all of its inversions. It also means that you will be restricted when altering notes in left hand voicings such as adding flattened 5ths, 9ths etc.
Jazz is about the spirit of the moment and if you feel like you should slip a flattened 6th into a chord then you do it during performance because that is when you feel the groove.
Hi, You are missing the entire intent of this technique. When "some" people learn a chord and voicing, for example C = CEG, They then go forwared and MEMORIZE it in everykey.. this is a shortcut for those who use THAT method (they now just learn it once as a picture. There is no restriction because this is ONE of many tools to choose a voicing. My self in this instance I would simply memorize it as a 1 3 5 and call it a day. This entire course is about spontaneity. The next chord is always ??
who the hell are you?????where are you from marss or somthing?? this is fantastic ,I should have found you when I was 12 years old know Im 35 ,hope its not to late lol.thanks man..
X13 isn't enough as information to form the 13 chord. You also need the function (scale degree) that X represents.
kwalliander 1 day ago
INTERVALS: THE SECRECT THE PROS DONT WANT YOU TO KNOW!!!
MartyCMega88 4 days ago
i wanna surround you with whole armies an take u out lol
WESSERPARAQUAT 6 days ago
I think you are better just to learn the theory and the physical placement of the chords, and by the way that A13th is a nasty sounding thing to start with for people to hear and invite in to listen to things. To a non musician that would sould like the cat landing on the keys after falling off the lid, not some cool cat landing a nice Jazz chord.
pissandwind 1 week ago
@pissandwind You'll have to agree that is a matter of taste too ;) But I agree, most people would raise a brow at you.
Fussino 1 week ago
The problem with this video is that it uses a totally nonexistant (or rather renamed) chord, and tries to explain a principal using it. It would probably be a lot clearer if you would use C Major. What you are trying to say is totally correct, but the way you explain it is confusing. And, for your info, this is not a pros exclusive. I learned the principal quite simply on another website. No big deal.
arlenbeiler 2 weeks ago
Comment removed
chromatic8 2 weeks ago
I am a pianist, over 20 years now, and have been teaching kids how to play for many years. it's a very good way of teaching particular people and aiding in them understanding how it works, as we all learn differently. A balance of both alternative and theoretical learning is best in my opinion. However, if this typical American hustler musician is charging people for a course in "picture chords" he is scamming you as he did not create this method of teaching. We all know it already mate!
santeagofam 1 month ago
this is shit mate.
Criticalperspective2 1 month ago
Achille-Claude Debussy
Music is the space between the notes.
electro257 1 month ago
ace lesson thanks.... love the 13ths voicings... cool way of thinking about them too... as a music graduate and studio friendly player i liked it...
electro257 1 month ago
Comment removed
talboko 1 month ago
Comment removed
markbra 1 month ago
Oh, my, must be something really good for the acidic responses. I taught myself to play by chords and I've always used a visual approach to chords, but some of what he said here gave me things to think about. Nope, not all of us were lucky enough to sweat over "Fur Elise" for hours; we had a raggedy piano and we taught ourselves any way we could.
shannon1664 1 month ago
This entire video just shows how to play a 13 chord in a single voicing. To be compentent you would want to practice 13 chords in other voicings, with alterations. Then you've got to examine the myriad of different combinations of chords that each make their unique sounds, then learn the voicings for each one. Your strategy only covers about 1/100th of the chords that need to be learned to become competent
gillyguthrie 1 month ago
84 pros watchd this vdo
ashwin87music 1 month ago
Sorry, I dont see the point of this. Someone who is able to play the piano well enaugh to actually need these specific voicings of the chords often enaugh to actually use your method is almost certainly going to figure out any voicing he wants without it, too, without spending any more time. If any of you dont know how to make chords: GET A HARMONY BOOK, OR SOMETHING SIMILAR!!! It really pays out. By the way, shoot me, but I insist that originally the "Amen" is a IV-I (plagal cadence) !!!!
ANSIcode 1 month ago
Holy crap Batman tell me somthing I don't already know its called music theory and improvisation I do this with jazz peices all the time also playing by ear
Ladiesman217n 1 month ago
BTW, ask any pro to show you these chords and if you are willing to pay they will show them to you. There are no secrets, just hard to find someone who teaches this and teaches it well.
Markpianist1 1 month ago
I don't agree with Greg's method but I have to defend him on this concept. When you learn how to construct a chord, do you really think root, third, nine? You do this initially but in order to play in real time your brain translates that into a picture. Learning by picture skips the complicated theory and gets you playing and is the best way to do it. Some theory is needed but you don't need to get wrapped up in it.
Markpianist1 1 month ago
gay title of this clip
gloryboxmusic 1 month ago
Thanks Sir Amazing.
GOHBOYZ 2 months ago
This has been flagged as spam show
Really awesome tip, as a computer musician rather than an instrument player I find this very helpful. Once I have the chord I can work out different ways of voicing it. Thanks.
fatalist6o9 2 months ago
Learn your theory people. Get with a music teacher because books and tapes alone are not going to give you the knowledge and know how when it comes to playing whatever instrument you’re interested in. Beside, books and tapes are for more advanced musician in my opinion. There is a verse in the book of Psalm 33:3 that tell us to play skillfully on our instrument. That mean study and learn from someone that knows what he or she is talking about
thomjz 2 months ago
i think a paragraph explanation is frankly unnecessary. you just gotta PRACTICE. any 'technique' to circumvent true, unadulterated practice is a waste of time in my opinion
Csibon13 2 months ago
There are only five chord types..Major, Minor, Dominant, Diminished, and Augmented. The only thing that a student has to do is learn how a chord is constructed. It's just a skip sequence. 1,3,5,7,9(2),11(4),13(6). That's it. There are only two reasons ever for variations 1. texture 2. direction to the next chord.
Long story short..as an improvising musician..the only things you have to learn are:Chord construction, Chord inversions, and how to harmonize a melody. Those will get you everywhere.
Sn4pDr4gon 2 months ago
that plus 5 thingy hes talking about, its called augmenting... if you just learn music theory you wouldnt have to do math or think about stuff like this...
Its just spacing things 5 apart... in relation to C major, thats C E and Ab theres 4 half steps inbetween each note. its diminished when its within 3 half steps between each note... then that Ab goes Ab B D F.. thats used in neo classical metal guitar solos all the time...
just learn the scales, and how to make chords and its easier..
eddieisfiction 2 months ago
okay....this could be usefuld...for those of you having trouble learning these complex "voicings" all the "pros" use and you see in every jazz piano book and tutorial, you must understand that having complex voicings at your fingertips is the result of a gradual process of ear-brain building: start by doing your INVERSIONS of all of your TRIADS (major, minor, dim, aug) around the cycle, and use a metronome at a slow speed and work your way up. Then learn all of your seventh chords&inversions etc
livelovelisten100 2 months ago
Great. no wonder you get so much shit from all these " alledgedly" know how to play piano....they feel somehow robbed. great secret unfolded...THANKS
wasupthere 2 months ago
@wasupthere its not bro... lol i play guitar and understand this theory and what it means... if you just learn actual music theory, you wouldnt have to memorize every single chord.. becuase you could know the formula for doing it... hes teaching an even more complicated way to learn chord positions when All you have to know is scales and how to build a chord. FYI, im not a teacher or anything, just someone whos trying to prevent a scam.
eddieisfiction 2 months ago
Brilliant idea. I'm glad I found this site. Thanks a lot.
millions2nette 2 months ago
The "amen" chord is actually a plagal cadence that goes from IV to I
infinite729 2 months ago
@Madameve
I fully appreciate the fact that you are showing that repeating the mathematical relationship found within a simple voicing yields the same structure in other keys. Intervalic relationship pretty much applies to all scales, patterns, voicings etc. In fact I call music math with emotion. I understand your intent but what I don't see is it's practical use in real life performance based upon my previous comments. I assume that since it is an actual course it should be functional as well.
coolpianoteacher 3 months ago
Another factor is that if you try to apply this method to larger more professional symmetrical voicings it would become far more tedious than simply learning the basic scale and the voicings derived from that scale. Learn how those chords function in relationship to the tonal center and transposing becomes not only easy but actually practical because you will choose and create the voicing that actually suits the situation. This method teaches laziness without practical use. No offense intended.
coolpianoteacher 3 months ago
This only shows the novice how to physically replicate a very specific close position voicing in various keys. While it is effective to that end it is not remotely practical. In real life playing note choices and voicing are contingent upon the ideal keyboard range so will differ depending upon the key. Also when you get into open, drop two, drop four, quartal, upper structure, rootless, shearing etc. voicings which professionals actually DO use this is useless. Useful for copy purposes only.
coolpianoteacher 3 months ago 8
@coolpianoteacher I again repeat this response, what you are saying is not relevant to the concept being demonstrated in that for any chord there is a mathematical relationship between all the notes. Look at the remember the relationship and the chord can be made in any key..
madameve 3 months ago 3
@coolpianoteacher understands this. What you are talking about here are "cluster" voicings. The only "professional" I can think of who routinely uses cluster voicings is Cecil Taylor - and I don't think many students are looking to sound like him! You may have some very personal way of looking at the keyboard, but it doesn't cover many, if any, of the circumstances that real piano players find. To describe this as a "trick of the professionals" is false advertising!
ILikeLadyGooGoo 2 months ago
thank you for sharing this valuable secret, its an eye opener!
GigaGroover 3 months ago
shit simple.....i can play!
MrBeav62 3 months ago
And what's the point?
NIKM21 3 months ago
This approach may work in a few contexts and situations, but the issue is that different chord qualities require different voicing that this approach simply doesn't cover. For example, the A "Picture Chord" that you're playing has a dominant quality due to the G natural you're stacking below it. Moreover, you're altering the 11 by stacking the D#. This simply wont work over a Major 7, minor 7, or Natural dominant chord. Sorry kids... there are no shortcuts to playing music.
JazzSpeaks6214 3 months ago 19
@JazzSpeaks6214 What you are saying is not relevant to the concept being demonstrated. in any chord there is a mathematical relationship between all the notes. Look at the remember the relationship and the chord can be made in any key..
madameve 3 months ago
@JazzSpeaks6214 "no shortcuts"? Yeah, an' just wait till Christmas rolls around--somebody's gonna haft' call a pianist, . . . or say, Easter, or 4th of July, or maybe, even, Happy Birthday, . . .
phillipgaley 2 months ago
Ok, so all i have to do is surround it...right? :P
BabyPetti 3 months ago
thank you very much!!! very easy!
revivalvoice1 3 months ago
I really like the approach you are demonstrating there. When I heard your explanation of these “picture chords” I immediately remembered the many different approaches I tried when I started to learn playing piano. One way that is still a very important way for me to remember music is seeing what I want to play. I used a book to learn playing back then that called this approach “photographic memory” and “mental play”.
kaffeetrichter 3 months ago
Ok, so all you do is SURROUND the note. lol
RAMPKORV 3 months ago
Awesome!! Thanks!
mandopianoify 3 months ago
So you take a note, and hit every note around it except for that one note? wait what?
xxRandomnameguyxx 4 months ago
@xxRandomnameguyxx
If you want to play the 7th and 9th, yes.
1612HavenhurstDrive 3 months ago
awesome video , very helpful , thank you :)
shintastic1 4 months ago
I think the main thing here is speed of application... There are definitely hard pieces (usually written that way) to play but there are some that just want to play (usually by ear). Even still, there NEVER is a shortcut when it comes to playing as your fingers need to become used to forming the chords, I think the point here is to reduce the mental work on piano (which lends easily to "picture chords"). However, people should also be taught fundamentally what makes a 13th chord by the numbers.
AtypicalIC 4 months ago
I dont like shortcuts, due to a lack of accuracy in sound.
williamshivers 4 months ago
To be honest, I don't see how this is different from whatever you call the "traditional" approach:
"Surrounding" the imaginary bass note in the upper octave isn't much different from playing those same notes measured by their intervals to the actual bass chord.
Let's take your "second" chord - it's D flat, then a third, and three fourths. Let's take the first one: it's A, a 7th and a 9th (yes, surrounding the 8th - OBVIOUSLY), then a 3rd + octave... and you go from there.
twooffour 5 months ago
@twooffour
If you have all these basic chords and scales in your head, it goes like a knife through butter - sure, some chords and relations are more difficult than others, but then again, so is "surrounding" a note with a complicated combination of intervals as opposed to simple whole tones.
No "dumb transposition" needed at ANY rate - it's all about seeing the harmonical connections and your brain working fast enough, building on tropes and licks you already know.
twooffour 5 months ago
@twooffour It's not. Its just that some people don't see it, or never see it; and I was just trying to explain it in a mechanical way
madameve 5 months ago
@madameve
I don't even know what you just said.
Some people don't "see what"?
If you're saying that "memorizing" every chord in every tonality is silly, well, of course it is ;)
twooffour 5 months ago
@twooffour
Though I guess it's pretty easy to provide an "alternative" to that "traditinal method" if you replace the latter with a strawman ;)
twooffour 5 months ago
@twooffour Some people do not see that the relationships are what are key. Some think that each chord must be learned individually note-for-note. i.e. They learn a C major, then they learn a D major, etc........i.e. "I can play a C major chord but I didn't learn the G Major yet, I need to look that one up"
madameve 5 months ago
@madameve
Ah, okay... as far as I know, though, that's not the "traditional" approach, that's the "dumb kid in the basement" approach ;)
I mean, I dunno, I'm sure there are bad teachers around, but having attended a German conservatory for 2 years, they use the "intelligent" method to teach harmony as well :)
It only takes so much time because the majority of students is rather unmotivated and the material is fed them one piece at a time :D
twooffour 5 months ago
3 minutes in and it already made my life so much easier. Thank you!
TobeIam 5 months ago
mUSIC IS A HEARING ART NOT A READING ONE ! I am not discounting sight reading at all ,Some classical oriented people are too pedantic and
JACKSON2012music 5 months ago
MUSIC IS A HEARING ART NOT A READING ONE ! I am not discounting sight reading,though some classical oriented people are just too pedantic and use condescending tones to others who have other methods or formulas. A few of the above comments seem to like a pedant employing the use of verbiage trying to sound as though he is more educated than someone else. Music is about harmony amongst other elements like rhythm etc. There are different brances that lead to a desired expression in music.
JACKSON2012music 5 months ago
All these haters on this man's video. Where exactly can I buy your tutorial? Oh, you don't have one? Right.
stanjonesjr83 5 months ago
@stanjonesjr83 good point
anthonymiele 2 months ago
all i can say is lol, and give all these comments thumbs up
ohmydaisies 5 months ago
My god ,is it just me or does this technique make it sound like your hitting the wrong key?
deltafour1212 5 months ago
@deltafour1212
Its just you. They sound lovely. But they yearn for resolution- in Jazz, chords are all about tension and resolution. Listen to Claude Debussy for a year (preferably the preludes) and I guarantee you an epiphany.
realraven2000 5 months ago
@realraven2000 If you say so. Sounds off key to me but hey, it's your tutorial
deltafour1212 5 months ago
I know how to play piano and know music theory and this still makes no sense
deltafour1212 5 months ago
hahahaha that chord sounds treacherous
PMHGOODS 5 months ago
it is only meant to be a mnemonic technique and you can take it or leave it.... We can always profit from different approaches to any subject.... open minds are learning minds !
pepeolarte 6 months ago 3
These comments are nuts? it's like saying everyone prefers your way of learning. It's quite patent that women and men learn differently (visual vs oral) so whats to say picturing chords is a bad way, if you still think in terms of scales you are limiting yourself. NOT every chord falls into the scale you are playing! it sound like classical dudes banging on gospel and jazz music cos it sounds dissonant.
The best thing about playing keyboard or guitar is you can live without the stave!!!!
alexgowers 6 months ago
@alexgowers
Classical, at least from the 19th century on, sounds just as dissonant - and neither does every note in classical music somehow "fall into the scale you're playing".
You just don't know what you're talking about :D
twooffour 5 months ago
I can't get past the whole "secrets pros won't expose or admit to," it really comes off as paranoid; why would people hide secrets that would make their and everyone's lives easier?
Daruqe 6 months ago
There is an EASIER way to play chords:
1. Learn intervals/scales (begin with minor and major)
2. Learn the chords' structure and picture them in your mind
3. Now you can build any chord on any given key, because for each chord is a specific combination of intervals.
Well, actually this is just harmony, but learning chords this way explains a lot of things. No one has ever said that in music you need to picture your hand on the keybord and other intruments don't have a keyboard.
AnasTangi 6 months ago
@AnasTangi
I think there is a distinct difference between playing and understanding. If you are playing progressions in a band situation, you won't always have the time to analyze and build chords from scales. If you take the play/picture first approach you can then look at the chord and analyze it. What's more there is a specific flavour to a specific voicing which is something that isn't easily understood by merely analyzing the structure. Often it is better to know the flavour & use it first
realraven2000 5 months ago
@realraven2000 True, I agree :)
AnasTangi 5 months ago
Oh, and everyone's brain works differently. This is how it works for madameve, and it's clearly helped at least a few others out. All he's doing is explaining his mental schema for transposition; he is not going to cure all the problems with music education in an 8 minute video.
Also, if the end goal of music education is professional musicianship, then teachers must be doing very badly...think about that one.
pilam2013 7 months ago
This approach is tantamount to the delusional belief that one can "communicate" in a foreign language by merely learning phonetically a few isolated words. The words may impress others who don't speak the language but are relatatively meaningless to those who actually know the language. The approach circumvents the process of attaining true musical literacy-- the ability to proficiently read music and aurally comprehend the inter-relationships of scales, intervals, chords and melodies.
flugelrog9 7 months ago 16
@flugelrog9 I see that you are probably a victim of the flawed system of traditional music education. There is no need anybody to endure that silly pain that persists for 5-10 years when the same result can be achieved in months. Read out free 10 page report on the "Pitfalls of Traditional Music Education"
madameve 7 months ago
@madameve
There is no need to waste 5 years on learning basic chords and scales - what takes years in conservatory and school can ALWAYS be learned in a relatively short time, if you really want.
The only skill that may take time is developing your ears, but then again, you need that in any case ;)
twooffour 5 months ago
@madameve I agree with you on that point and that's exactly how I was taught.
producer4real 3 months ago
this is awesome!!! really helpful!
aaronjell14 7 months ago
Comment removed
RonBurgundy609 7 months ago
@RonBurgundy609 FYI. im not going to listen to video to figure out what you are talking about, and I may have mis spoke, but but amen can be V-I a IV-I a VI-I or ANYTHING I WANT.... music is an art
madameve 7 months ago
Comment removed
RonBurgundy609 7 months ago
@RonBurgundy609 Not at all. Traditionally, an 'amen cadence' (plagal cadence) is a IV-I 'resolution.' The presence of a suspension is merely decorative. However, I tend to think of the 'amen cadence' as an expansion of the authentic cadence that almost always precedes it, and not a cadence in its own right. So if one looks at the plagal cadence as just a type 'harmonic afterthought' instead, madameve has a valid point. As long as it's in the spirit of an 'amen', it makes aural sense.
pilam2013 7 months ago
best way to do it, play the root of the chord in the left hand then play the 3rd note of the chord and the 7th not of the chord. so in C left hand is the base note. then play the e and the Bb and the d in the right hand. so Left hand (1) then right hand 3 7 9. and you get some cool sounds
nicknearthebay 7 months ago
What are you smocking man?
Vahayr 7 months ago
this actually makes sense!
joeykun44 7 months ago
Music = Sound!
It´s not about remembering pictures of a difficult Chord or earning money (@madameve). With this knowledge you are able to play this Chord, but what exactly is A13? To a beginner it´s a more or less fitting Chord to a Root note. It tells nothing about the use in a musical context.
CptKaracho 7 months ago
@CptKaracho Get the rest of the course and it is all explained.
madameve 7 months ago
This is a bit like thinking you are a chef by following the instructions on a pasta packet. But really the learner won't understand the ingredients and their contributing fabric. However, perhaps you are the next Charlie Parker and will show the world a new way that us musicians are too scared to accept as of yet. Good luck, but I didn't like you performance and that was before you started trying to sell me picture chords.
RIPMmusic 8 months ago in playlist Passing chords 62 video
@RIPMmusic Think as you wish.. 4.2 million dollars in sales last year says something different
madameve 8 months ago
you didn't need to reply in the same manner as he spoke to you. who cares how much money you made. that is not a professional reply. And also, I was totally interested until I heard the "omg" in your video. 1:09.
evergreenpinecone 5 months ago
they teach this in my music theory class.
megaryu101 8 months ago
So what are the 'pictures' for all of the other ways to play an A13 chord??
ScarpiMusic 9 months ago
Comment removed
CreedTheBand 9 months ago
If someone is "turned off" by having to "learn things" in order to play piano, then music is not for them.
ridespirals 9 months ago 2
@ridespirals I'd give you 5 thumbs up if I was born in a radioactive wasteland and was capable of such a feat, but sadly I have only two... and even sadderly youtube limits it to one.
EstevanMusic 8 months ago
@EstevanMusic I'll give you a thumbs up for that, so collectively we've given each other 2 thumbs up.
ridespirals 8 months ago
Hi, i heard from good players "amen" is IV-I.
markbra 10 months ago
I was unaware that Dane Cook taught piano.
tcgilson1 10 months ago 5
The problem with learning chords this way, is that you never explain how to make the chords in the first place hahaha (A 13 chord consists of a root, a major third, a perfect fifth and an added 6th, btw) Its better, in the long run, to learn the theory than learn what chords "look like"
greenarrow719 11 months ago
@greenarrow719 The best thing about learning the theory, is that with enough practice you don't even have to think about it anymore, it becomes second nature, but you aren't limited in any way. This type of instruction is just meant to make money from people who don't want to learn music.
ridespirals 9 months ago
@greenarrow719 That would simply be an A(add6) chord. Using "13" as opposed to "6" implies that the 7th and 9th are also present (and the 11th if it's a minor13 chord). A-C#-E-G-B-F#. But yeah, I agree with what you said about learning theory, most people just don't want to learn it but it really does help A LOT. Then again, I'm a beast at theory but I suck at playing keys. lol
melismaticmusic 9 months ago
this is how ive always done it, common sense to me
wiggygfe 1 year ago
I love this stuff. =)
MarkHansAvon 1 year ago
There IS something to this method, Ive learned my chords by a similar technique although i never gave it a name like 'picture chords'.
But Im a little bit skeptical though about people who come up with a marketting gimmick and say this is the next big thing etc. To be honest, i would love to have stuck at music the traditional way and learned to play properly, instead im stuck in my own incomplete method.
You cant substitute discipline for 'magical techniques'.
zero33AD 1 year ago
i taught myself how to play the organ/piano and i approached accompaniment this way: pictures. well, sort of. i saw them as inter-related chords. Then, by dint of acquaintance through practice, it comes naturally. Just like learning a language. Actually, the names of the notes/chords came later to me. They were just sounds that i thought i had to figure out. Then, the pattern 'swells'. I guess some people learn quicker by pictures. thanks for the post!
Mannheim67 1 year ago
the problem is that you are having to memorize the positioning of your fingers to even get to that fluid chord and then you still have to recognize what chord your playing so you have to count in the end anyway.
reptaryay 1 year ago
just 12 notes. and so many possibilites....
deemilieu 1 year ago
@deemilieu
How can we calculate how many possibilities are in 12 notes. Factorials? There is a finite number of combinations, but when you add in rythmn you get even more, and rests phrases became almost infinate...lol
greati9 1 year ago
This isn't bad teaching or even a shortcut. It's a reference tool for playing any chord in any key. Guitar players often use this method of "photographing" or recording the distances between the individual notes of any given chord to memory as well (example 03:38). This clip focuses on one chord, is faster than the 01:39 concept and is beneficial at any level of playing - especially for those who want to be more fluid in all keys and get away from using transpose! This is a useful tool. Thanks!
GodsHandMusicMnstry 1 year ago 3
ahh maybe i'm a bit slow on the uptake but wheres the advantage in this how hard is it to learn 12 scales transposing isnt that hard whatever way you look at it you have to put your fingers on a certain note and like how many songs use these obscure chords????
mugwamp4 1 year ago
Minor correction - at 4:48 we're told that a V-I cadence, or "usually like a five-one, some kind of five-one" is an "Amen" cadence. Whether we're learning to close out a hymn or we're in a university taking a music theory course, we're all told that an "amen cadence" is a IV-I (four-one), which is also called a plagal cadence. A V-I (five-one) is a closed, or authentic, or perfect cadence and it's a much stronger way to return to a tonic chord. But it's not an Amen cadence.
d3zapped 1 year ago
Neat!
edcollante 1 year ago
you do realize that your shortcut around transposing is just transposing with a different name, right
AniSaps 1 year ago 3
Maybe good for the beginner to get started quickly just like microwave food. But if I would choose between a 5 star guide Michelin restaurant meal and a microwave meal, the choice would be obvious...
frankihl 1 year ago 2
philly thats not really true. a scale is just another device to outline the harmony, it just happens to contain all the notes of that harmony. if you could play any chords by knowing your scales there would be many more great players. the more shapes you learn the more ways you can see the total harmony across the board. this is just a way to quicky learn how chords look in all keys.
JaredCS 1 year ago
How is this simpler? It explains nothing! Its like hey see this shape? Yeah just play it in any key! Why? What? Why are you asking that?
version191 1 year ago
This is a great concept I dont know what all of these musicians are talking about. I use this samething in my playing. We all do whether you know it or not. Duh. Not to be rude. Thats how we learned how to play the piano or organ. You saw patterns. And then you applied that pattern to ever key. Then you kinda trained your ear to recongnize those different sounds. This is just simple teaching. Every muscian does this all the time. Just go ahead and admit it. Its not bad we all do it all the time
YoungmanwithOldsoul 1 year ago
Snake oil. "Instant" success is no success. My teacher explicitly avoided teaching me this way because the student doesn't come out understanding music, they just have a bag of tricks. Because I learned theory and can transpose, I am able to take my knowledge of music from one instrument to another. Learning chords based on shapes doesn't do that. This might be good for a beginner learning their triads, but beginners don't need altered dominants. Don't teach easy, teach right.
warbread 1 year ago
Wow, you gave me a LOT to think about. I've known for years that I've out grown the simple C-E-G chords, but I didn't know where to go to build on my knowledge. Thank you for sharing this!
shanm1971 1 year ago
I find this to be a much more intuitive way. Many people thinking that learning music is all about memorizing scales & licks. They don't understand it's a language. Just by learning phonics and learning latin roots to understand the meaning of "foreign" words, versus going to school and memorizing words for a dictionary and still having no clue!
Thank you so much for this video!
corndogers564 1 year ago
much respect to u sir but in music in general learning scales is 1st. and the number system. because 1st is getting a clear understanding. learning the formula for every chord. it might take a little longer but its getting a clear understanding all over the keyboard
martyev22 1 year ago
this is more or less like knowing scale degrees in a chord which is what any music major thats gone through theory classes accompanied with piano proficiency courses. i still wouldn't substitute this for my knowledge of transposing. this would be great added knowledge but not substitutable knowledge.
cellfrk90 1 year ago
This is a great way to learn for a lot of people, I'm a very visual person who plays music also. But I learn visually as opposed to from books or reading, I find it quicker and a lot easier to remember.
j8mm3r 1 year ago
This is cool. Thanks!
MrCountrypop 2 years ago
interesting technique
homePicShow 2 years ago
Thanks and please remember that for every negative comment there's probally a dozen people thanking God for this simple method. It is encouraging to people who lack confidence. I now want to learn MORE. Ignore Phillytalented's negative comment he's probally insecure..
musicaldawnful 2 years ago
I have been in the same shoes and lost years of growth by trying to "take short cuts". They dont exist in music. Like wheatworks say " if you wanna play, dont play around" Bill Evans said that because he loved music soo much, he never toiled at practicing. My advice is to fall inlove with music and learn it the real way which in actuual life is the quickest way
phillytalented 2 years ago 20
Again I dont think you understand the system. This is an inventions that has taken the msic community by surprise. There is no a new way to "do it." We no longer have to do it the way it was done for the last 1000 years. Look for some very shattering announcements in the near future as for we are on the forefront of reinventing music education. You can now cook in a microwave and get similar resuls as using the oven. There is now a better way stay tuned.
madameve 2 years ago
No maybe you donot understand my comment. Would you honestly make a great home cooked meal in the microwave? NO! we use it when we are too lazy to make a real meal. thats what you "Picture chord" trick is. The fastest way to a half decent meal that leaves you unsatisfied.
phillytalented 2 years ago
@madameve i do agree this way is much 'quicker'.
but really. its NOT the HONEST way.
:)
MegaTruth12345 1 year ago
@madameve But microwave food can not compare to proper food made in the oven, or on the stove.
DackxJaniels 1 year ago 3
You know what I admire these "tricks" madameve! Unlike back in the day where there was good music education and a bridge between the older and younger generations, that doesnt exist now. so being a young cat thats attracted to jazz and r&b from the 40's-70's it leaves a bad taste in my mouth to learn how alergic the older generation is to youth now and wont bother to teach BUT are the first to PUT DOWN. these short cuts are my way to learning to PLAY instead of SAMPLING. AND IT WORKS.
qdubbs 2 years ago
@phillytalented This is the Year 2010, if you want to stay in the past and use music intruction methods of the 1500's feel free. Be sure never to use your Microwave oven and cell phone. New things and techniques have been invented.
madameve 2 years ago
@madameve lmao you have it completely backwards. A good understanding of music theory will allow you to execute and understand music on a level that will NEVER be matched by your horse shit shortcuts. Its like the cell phone is there just waiting to be used and you are showing them how to rig up cups and strings. Your teaching methods are harmful and dishonest.
version191 1 year ago
@madameve you're a fool
quickbrownthoughtfox 8 months ago
@phillytalented dont worry abt it. i do understand what ur saying.
yes. in many ways, this picture chords thingy is trying to take short cuts.
yes so what if u can 'visually' picture the chord? can your ears hear it? :)
back at u man madeameve. if u only wanna play sounds with ur eyes, FEEL FREE. :)
all the greats play so well because they got great ears. and that takes YRS andd YRS to get.
:)
MegaTruth12345 1 year ago
@phillytalented hey why dont you post some of your master pieces so that we can all enjoy your growth, but your wont you know why? because it is easier bad mouth others than to be critized by others, i know music theory as much as anyone it doesnt do any thing without, ready practicable tips. By the way philly "talented"!??? BS
ignacioacup 1 year ago
This isnt a short cut, it will actually set a player back. yeah you learn the chord but you are restricted to just that chord. If you learn scales, you can transpose into any key knowing simple theory. instead of learning these so-called picture chords, you only really have to know major and minor and add on to them. you know your scales, you can say i know an Ab7 i can just add the 7 to Bb to get the Bb7. wanna add the 13? just ofcourse add the 6th. no pictures, just common sense
phillytalented 2 years ago 24
and thats just a quick concept,'picture chords' that has nothing to do with the intellectual property thats Pending in the United States Patent office.
madameve 2 years ago
@phillytalented dats right doc. the only true way is learning scales and the number system there is a formula for every chord u cant go wrong with theory where talking about every chord in every key. scales 1st 13th chord basic formula is 1 3 5 7 9 11 13 to make it phat u can do it many ways to make it minor flat the 3 and 7 but doc u right learn scales!
martyev22 1 year ago
@phillytalented This is for sepcific chord voicings...
kratanuva725 1 year ago
@phillytalented kind of...a 13 inherently contains a 7,9, and 11. Because the 13th is enharmonic to the 6th adding it does not make it a fully voiced 13. I'm sure bill evans would appreciate unique ways of looking at the instrument he loved and keeping it in the toolbox than just a strictly traditional learning system, it is pretty interesting...I am a theory instructor...as long as it sparks interest and discussion I think it has served a purpose...got you a clarification didn't it? :)much love
ajolsen4544 6 months ago
interesting trick
ragerpez 2 years ago
to cal: technically, any musician uses that concept; as past the octave when embellishing a chord, the 7(being an essential "color tone" second to the 3rd), it is commonly associated as below the respective octave of choice from the root note rather than so far above the bass note's/root's choice octave in it's relative position. In his so called "secret", as long as you "surround the notes with the other respective tones of the scale, you can't help but play the extended notes 9, 11, 13.. yup.
stepminestepminestep 2 years ago
This works for finding the chord sure enough, but then you still need to think about what voicing sounds best and the picture is removed at that point. I guess it would work well for those who play "chord piano" though, so not that bad of a concept.
zestymike48 2 years ago
I love the willlingness to share...but by experience the best way to remember a chord is by the numbers...once you figure out what number your chord is, you start using it in a progression...then a song.
TheHolySongster 2 years ago
do you have tuts?
KimTheStar 2 years ago
I wouldn't call this a "secret" that pros won't admit to, it's a good method but there's no need to label it as a conspiracy. Everyone has different methods for learning chords and I personally haven't met any pro piano players who use this one. still quite interesting though
cal679 2 years ago 2
Is there a conspiracy among the "pros" to keep us from learning these valuable tips?
libertymaniac 2 years ago
This is the first time I was able to pick up how to improvise with the left hand...the left hand plays the main note and the right hand is harmonizing with the chord shown at the beginning...This is the most helpful yet after years of piano lessons!
SpeakerAuthor 2 years ago
WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOW!!!! this really blew my mind.. this is a great technique and I believe it will making it easier... great job doc!
simdrummer2 2 years ago 4
This SEEMS like a great technique (on the surface). However, transposing pieces using 'picture chord' method will lead to very high or very low voicings if transposing up or down 6 tones. This method means that the whole chord shifts up or down and when trying to keep voicing close together, invertions go completely out of the window. I don't think you can escape general chordal knowledge using this method, as the voicings would be all over the place.
snakekid33 3 years ago
No, because if the voicing was too high or too low, you would simply use a different "picture chord", for the same chord quality. And you would know if you had to do this before you put yor hand on it.
madameve 3 years ago
So that would mean that you have to memorise every single picture chord in all of its inversions. It also means that you will be restricted when altering notes in left hand voicings such as adding flattened 5ths, 9ths etc.
Jazz is about the spirit of the moment and if you feel like you should slip a flattened 6th into a chord then you do it during performance because that is when you feel the groove.
snakekid33 3 years ago
Hi, You are missing the entire intent of this technique. When "some" people learn a chord and voicing, for example C = CEG, They then go forwared and MEMORIZE it in everykey.. this is a shortcut for those who use THAT method (they now just learn it once as a picture. There is no restriction because this is ONE of many tools to choose a voicing. My self in this instance I would simply memorize it as a 1 3 5 and call it a day. This entire course is about spontaneity. The next chord is always ??
madameve 3 years ago
who the hell are you?????where are you from marss or somthing?? this is fantastic ,I should have found you when I was 12 years old know Im 35 ,hope its not to late lol.thanks man..
reydawks 3 years ago 2
just brilliant tricks;)
tzoaye 3 years ago 2
I like the concept of "surrounding the notes"!
Thank you!
mzklover 3 years ago
there's an F there which really makes it an Ab13 lol. An interesting concept you got there bro, keep it up!
Quoph 3 years ago
Your voice reminds me of that Ice-T guy. lol
Ubernaut 3 years ago 4