Could you help gifted piano player having mental block in music theory?!
Question: I have been playing piano since I was 12. Mostly, I've taught myself. Now, in my 40s, I can sight-read many advanced piano pieces. My problem lies in that I can entertain IF I have my songbook. Music people assess me in this regard: gifted, plays by ear (if you can imagine someone who needs sheet music being described as an "ear" player), great hand positioning (perhaps developed because I have small hands), could have become a concert pianist IF he had the correct schooling, definitely not an accompanist, rather a soloist.
My learning disability focuses on the area of understanding chords and their various progressions. THIS IS LIKE MARTIAN TO ME! I've actually tried to take a couple of intro to piano classes in which such theory was taught. It's in one ear and out the other. I just don't get it! I honestly believe that I haven't the capacity of grasping chord progressions. Is there some kind of "music theory for dummies" out there? As a math teacher (yeah, go figure!), I just read a book that simplifies math in a fun, easy-to-swallow, method for kids. I wonder if there's such an animal out there for adults with a learning disability in music theory? I did try going to www.musictheory.net and, frankly, it was more of the "same old, same old" in terms of my clueless experiences with theory.
Answers: I have been playing piano since I was 12. Mostly, I've taught myself. Now, in my 40s, I can sight-read many advanced piano pieces. My problem lies in that I can entertain IF I have my songbook. Music people assess me in this regard: gifted, plays by ear (if you can imagine someone who needs sheet music being described as an "ear" player), great hand positioning (perhaps developed because I have small hands), could have become a concert pianist IF he had the correct schooling, definitely not an accompanist, rather a soloist.
My learning disability focuses on the area of understanding chords and their various progressions. THIS IS LIKE MARTIAN TO ME! I've actually tried to take a couple of intro to piano classes in which such theory was taught. It's in one ear and out the other. I just don't get it! I honestly believe that I haven't the capacity of grasping chord progressions. Is there some kind of "music theory for dummies" out there? As a math teacher (yeah, go figure!), I just read a book that simplifies math in a fun, easy-to-swallow, method for kids. I wonder if there's such an animal out there for adults with a learning disability in music theory? I did try going to www.musictheory.net and, frankly, it was more of the "same old, same old" in terms of my clueless experiences with theory.
hi-
you "do re mi fa so la ti do" is what a major scale sounds like, right?
ok-
now, most songs stay in one scale set (key) at a time-
start to learn and get used to the keys by learning the key of "C" for starters -
each scale step also represents a chord triad root
so-
as you have C D E F G A B C as the notes of the scale-
you have a matching set of chords
C Major, D minor, E minor, F Major, G Major, A minor, B diminished
notice the chords are the same alphabet order as the notes-
each chord being a triad ( Root Third and Fifth)
"C" is nice cause you can play em without fussing with the black keys on the piano
example play Louie Louie by using the first chord "C" the fourth chord "F" and the fifth chord "G"
a typical songs will the chords for harmony of the key and the notes for melody- and largly will share same notes in both
if you play a "C" chord- the melody will probably have those notes (C, E, or G) goin on as well.
good luck!
omni
=0
martian is easier to understand than music theory.
here it is.
I --> IV --> V --> I
I --> IV --> V --> vi
I--IV --> V --> I
If you can't get that through your head...i don't know how to help you.
Check out "Tonal Harmony" by Stefan Kostka, but first ask yourself why you want to understand this stuff? If you're playing off of sheet music by yourself, who cares?
Also, a sheet music player and and "ear" player are exactly the opposite thing from each other.
Also, I can improvise on the octatonic scale.
do you know what an octatonic scale is?
didn't think so.
Interesting...I myself also play the piano as well, unfortunately I am now in my early 30's and haven't really played since I was a teenager. I took numerous lessons as a child and teen and by the time I was 15 I was playing classic Mozart, Bach, etc....to bring me to my point....I have never been able to play music by ear! I can read sheet music no problem but I cannot hear a song and then sit down and play it...which drives me up the wall by the way!!
I guess what I'm trying to say, at the risk of sounding like an idiot, is it completely necessary for you to know chord progressions?? I mean as long as you know what you're playing it shouldn't be that important right? Unless of course, you just want to do this for your own personal satisfaction then I can understand....I guess this is more of a comment on your question than a real answer and for that I apologize! It is always good to talk to a fellow pianist though! Good luck!