A simple yet comprehensive STEP BY STEP chord book for playing piano by ear.
Ideal for songwriters, piano players, music producers, singers, piano and keyboard teachers and musicians of all abilities.
Songwriters, wanting to learn popular chord progressions fast, in order to write their own melodies over.
Piano players who want to learn how to play professional sounding chord progressions with both hands, with correct finger technique.
Guitarists and other musicians looking for a quick reference piano chord book without the need to read piano music.
Piano teachers looking to teach their students how to pick out a tune by ear without music. STEP by STEP.
Music producers wanting to learn how to play professional sounding chords and piano chord voicings for their recordings.
Singers who want to learn how to accompany themselves playing professional sounding piano chords, without having to look down at their fingers to find chords.
USING Twinkle Twinkle Little Star as a base, learn from beginner to advance level, piano chords using triads and 7th chords popular in pop and country music. Then re-harmonise the tune with 5, 6 and 7 note jazz chords using 9ths, 11ths and 13ths.
POPULAR CHORD PROGRESSIONS
Including Adele's Hello, Dua Lipa's IDGAF and Ed Sheeran's wedding favourite Perfect, as well as Blues, Rock, Jazz, 60s-70s, Harmonic, Natural and Melodic minor chord progressions! Also included are 'out of the box' unusual chord progressions including DIMINISHED passing chords, SLASH CHORDS, descending CHROMATIC bass lines.
PIANO VOICE LEADING EXERCISES
No more jumping around each chord! These piano voice leading exercises will help the student move from chord to chord using smoother transitions between chords.
COUNTRY, BLUES AND GOSPEL LICKS
Add these popular piano licks to any chord progression, to give your piano playing an extra sense of style!
CIRCLE OF FIFTHS
To play piano by ear you need to think like a songwriter. And every songwriter knows the Circle of Fifths! The Circle of Fifths are the most popular chord progressions found in any song from Classical to Modern Pop Music.
TRANSPOSITION
Transpose chords and melodies into 'higher' and 'lower' keys. Singers will find this especially useful!
BASS LINES
It's not all about just playing chords. Learn how to add movement to the chord progressions buy adding in piano bass lines.
You'll also understand...
- How to learn 60 piano chords REALLY FAST!
- New scales to ENHANCE your songwriting skills
- How to ACCOMPANY a singer by adding in piano fills 'in between' the vocal line
- How to add KEY CHANGES to your songs
- How to play in TIME SIGNATURES 3/4 and 12/8
All the piano music in Playing By Ear—A Songwriter's Way features on some 200+ PIANO VIDEO TUTORIALS which accompany the book, so even if those who can't read music or have basic piano technique, players will find value.
On completing the book, piano players and other musicians will understand exactly:
- How to HARMONISE any note using any chord in major and minor keys.
- Play tunes on the piano with CHORDS USING BOTH HANDS.
- ACCOMPANY ON PIANO, a singer or other instrumentalist adding in fills using Country, Blues and Gospel licks as well as chord arpeggios.
- Pick out other tunes on piano using SIMPLE to COMPLEX CHORD PROGRESSIONS.
John Geraghty has been a songwriter, music producer, composer, pianist, author and piano teacher for over 25 years. He has studied most genres of music including classical, pop, jazz, gospel, country and blues piano. Find out more at www.smashharry.com.
