This might sound counter-intuitive to what you think, since most of my students ask me WHICH notes to play. Workshops that follow include a video demonstration of piano fill concepts being used in an actual playing situation. All steps as played plus the more technically dressed up version that I played at the end; The audio-only file for when you want to learn on the go (“listen to learn” is golden, as Piano Hackers know) OGet all that and the video download included with the tutorial pack. It is for these pianists with a desire to learn that I am writing this section, that they may further glorify God in the music ministry of their church. I think we can all agree that playing chords – providing the bed of harmony – along with the changes of a song, already sounds quite cool and full, especially when one has grasped the concept of coloring with extensions and is proficient with the basics of patterns to add some groove to his/her playing – how those chords are played. See where we’re getting at? His improvisatory skill, however, is demonstrated in the application of that knowledge. Fill-ins are played with a softer touch then the melody. Get this bible of Pop-Piano, learn to understand the language of music and express yourself just like the pros, without sheets by chords, by ear, by heart. Hack the Piano is the essential guide & backbone to all my lessons. Each course – FP Chords and FP Melodic – will help develop these exact skills. In the case of runs, most pianists have a favorite few that they use repeatedly. Whatever the case, the student desires to learn more, but they have no resource to aid them in their journey. Next let’s strip it down to quarters with the left hand, while the right keeps playing those eights. Runs and fills are made up of two elements: Notes and Rhythm. A super way to "ease into" sounding "pro!" Jazz Piano Fills: When To Use Them And How To Create Them Using the tune "I Love You, For Sentimental Reasons", I show you in this video how to play in the spaces; the places where there is a break in the melody and room for a little ad lib to move the song along and give it … Well, now that we’ve touched this more important aspect of rhythm first, I guess we can start adding. I’ve struggled with this for a very long time too. “Fills” (something “in between” chords, whether an alternative groove, riff, lick or whatever) can all be let back to patterns – which as Piano Hackers know, are derived from rhythms. It is a base to make music. Just as you can’t build a ten-story building on a foundation meant for three stories, you can’t progress as a piano … Unfortunately, if you listen to them play fifty songs in a row, they all sound the same! They are taking a run with which they are familiar and adapting it to the key and rhythm requirements for that particular song. Purpose of 7 Secrets & Modules: to help you become competent to play in all 12 Keys, and not just C Key, although C Key is always the starting point of learning. (Piano Instruction). A good church pianist has spent much time figuring out and perfecting possible runs. ORDER HERE. Learning to create fills between primary chords allows you … In these next few sections, I hope to “teach you to fish” for your own runs and fills. The main scales of western music are major and minor scales. Please do not be in this group! Now, if we’d add the 16ths to our options, strip down the right hand to the before mentioned note “c” and we’d start playing SOME of those accents (eights and sixteenths), but leaving others open, we could get to something like this. Either the teacher or the student has moved away, or perhaps the teacher has passed away. Fluent Piano. The first step in doing this is just dead simple (however, don’t be the fool that underestimates the power of simplicity): use note(s) from the chords you are playing. A super way to "ease into" sounding "pro!" To answer this question, we shall return to the old adage: “Give a man a fish, feed him for a day. But here’s the thing: it’s so super important to realise that this is just expanding upon this very idea. In some cases, the teacher simply does not know how to teach them anything else. Do note the importance of the dynamics here too! A handout (.pdf) with the images used in this tutorial; Two MIDI files. These lessons are written for the pianists who want to learn more, despite their current situation. Fill-ins are always meant to be softer than the melody to avoid distraction of the message. and add an alternative note from each main chord to my optional notes. In fact, I am still learning (as we all should be forever). However, I think most of you will also agree that it is what is played in between them – the alternations in our piano playing – that separates the players from the fiddlers. She performed that incredible Second Piano Concerto by Saint Saens with the composer conducting. Perhaps the most frequently asked question about improvisation is “How do I know what notes to play?” or “What is a good run for this spot?” While this seems like a straightforward question, it is riddled with difficulties. Whether you are just starting with keyboard or you have been playing for a while, the diligence to focus on your foundation will pay off. In stead you should first be focussing on HOW to play them. The 100 left hand patterns introduced in this book can help piano students, piano teachers, and music professionals take their piano playing to the next level by learning how to play the same song 100 different ways. These courses offer efficient, straight-line development to get you where you want to be as a musician. 5 KEY AWARENESS Scale is a sequence of tones. What do I play in between those chords. LEARN MORE, A FREE workshop on how to play piano without sheets. (to fill it up, you could play full chords with left, or, if that’s too tricky, just keep playing the roots). Every audience that attended recitals by her students, especially when they played Debussy and Saint Saens, was mesmerized. Teach a man to fish, feed him for a lifetime.”. "Cocktail" Runs --The lightning fast runs used by the great "show" pianists. A fill is a series of notes that form a musical phrase. them out on the piano. Add another note from the chord you’re playing. After attending for just a short time, I did not have to look towards the piano to know who was playing a particular offertory, or who was substituting for the congregational singing. ALL fills come from this basic rhythmic approach idea – which accents do you play, and which do you leave open. Unfortunately, one cannot discuss one without referencing the other, so there will be some overlapping in the next few sections. These pianists will never learn anything new, for they are content with what limited knowledge and ability they possess. Might very well not be the angle you’d expect to tackle it from! ORDER HERE. Begin today! Note choice – dare I say it – is secondary. Have fun and let me know how you’re doing -and if- what you’re struggling with! Workshops that follow include a video demonstration of piano fill concepts being used in an actual playing situation. Here's how you can add runs & fills to your piano playing! Fills, Licks & Riffs – Improvisation Fundamentals | Concept Lesson, James Arthur – Say You Won’t Let Go | Song Tutorial, MIDI – A Comprehensive Guide | Part 1 – MIDI for Learning, https://coenmodder.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/FillsLicksRiffs8ths.m4a, https://coenmodder.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/FillsLicksRiffs8thsandquarters.m4a, https://coenmodder.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Onenotesolo.m4a, https://coenmodder.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Onenotesolo2.m4a. Each could play the same song in the evangelistic style, but each would add his own flair to the song. Not only do they equip piano students with the technical acumen required to play the instrument, they also provide practical instruction in the basics of music theory. This book had to be written: without it, her passing would have deprived this world of a priceless art. How about that, a “solo” with just one note. This book was created to help piano students of all ages and skill levels learn how to improvise and arrange music of their own. To do so, start experimenting by adding one concept note at a time. How can I make my playing more interesting. https://coenmodder.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/FillsLicksRiffs8ths.m4a. Choose an extension – preferably for this moment choose one that fits in the key – on each chord, Other options include pentatonic scales, blues scales, the key of the song, re-harmonization and, All of the things as per discussed above in a practical and hands-on way, How to break down rhythm to options for accents to play on, How playing specific accents, whilst leaving others open results in the first step to musical alternation – improvisation, Extending this idea to even more exciting, piano improvisations, A few more exemplifications of options to choose notes from. That is because they have allowed their learning to stop.