How do you play fast songs better?

[TheGiftedOne]

Someone told me that the fast songs I play all sound the same. What do I do to help give me some variety in my fast-song playing? (if I need, because everyone has their own opinion).

[T-Block]

Someone told me that the fast songs I play all sound the same. What do I do to help give me some variety in my fast-song playing? (if I need, because everyone has their own opinion).

Well, first of all if the way you are playing works for you, then don't worry about what others are saying.  If they could do it better, they would be in your position.  Second, if you want to switch up your style, try adding in different chords or runs in between the "regular" chords for an added twist. 

[KurzLand]

Someone told me that the fast songs I play all sound the same. What do I do to help give me some variety in my fast-song playing? (if I need, because everyone has their own opinion).

I depends on the kind of genre you play in church. If you play only Gospel then it's gonna sound like gospel.

I play different styles:Latin,Rock,Gospel,Blues,etc. I may not play them perfectly but you can tell what style I'm playing.

Learn other styles and maybe mix a little of something when you play.

Hope this helps.

[TheGiftedOne]

I depends on the kind of genre you play in church. If you play only Gospel then it's gonna sound like gospel.

I play different styles:Latin,Rock,Gospel,Blues,etc. I may not play them perfectly but you can tell what style I'm playing.

Learn other styles and maybe mix a little of something when you play.

Hope this helps.

Thankyou!!!

Well, first of all if the way you are playing works for you, then don't worry about what others are saying.  If they could do it better, they would be in your position.  Second, if you want to switch up your style, try adding in different chords or runs in between the "regular" chords for an added twist. 

Thankyou, that's really encouraging!!!! May God continue to bless!!!

[music911]

Personally I learn the overall melody in the right had first and just add a repeated bass run in the left

[TheGiftedOne]

Personally I learn the overall melody in the right had first and just add a repeated bass run in the left

Does that sound off when you play it?

[music911]

no it don't b/c when u on the keyboard and u playing bass in left and chords in right it don't. The poster asked about fast song playin, like 'Jesus can work it out' got a main bass run that I hear with some riffs in it, that are easy, but i learn the right hand chords first, then go back and catch the bass, it sounds very good. It just depends on the song, and what the keyboard settings are.  If ur playing piano, it's better to write out the chords u find as u go along in left/right format-it makes it easier for a piano

[TheGiftedOne]

no it don't b/c when u on the keyboard and u playing bass in left and chords in right it don't. The poster asked about fast song playin, like 'Jesus can work it out' got a main bass run that I hear with some riffs in it, that are easy, but i learn the right hand chords first, then go back and catch the bass, it sounds very good. It just depends on the song, and what the keyboard settings are.  If ur playing piano, it's better to write out the chords u find as u go along in left/right format-it makes it easier for a piano

Okay.

[diverse379]

we all fall into this rut from time to time

here is a suggestion

get a chord book and every now and then replace all the chords you use with these new ones
so be sure to replace your one four and five chords at least with some new ones each month this will add so much variety to your playing because instead of having one 5 chord at the end of the year you will have 12 and when you get good you can play four of them in one measure but then they will say you are busy

cant please everyone oh well any way

also try playing in different keys you will tend to sound different from key to key
because of the layout of the board

for an interesting switch play the same song in minor
so if you are in Ab start the song in fminor and still play mostly the same chords from Ab but your home base is now fminor

and if you really want to have some new stuff cooking

play chords from Db against the melody in Ab so instead of starting on Ab start on Db but keep your melody in the key of Ab but your chords will all be from Db (overall you will keep the same chord progressions just modulated up a half step  experiment

you may only be able to do this on certain sections but it is enough to make it sound good

another idea is to use fourth chords in your playing
this gives a mysterious ambiguos quality and fourth sound great when you move them chromatically

try 373 voicings they sound very open example

Ab major 7  AbG/CGC
Bbmin7 BbAb/DbAbDb

this is  an instant way to sound different playing the same chords play a different bass note

mke sure the bass note is either the 1/3/5 7 of the chord and make it go to the nearest 1/3/5/7 of the next chord

so if you are going from 1-6-2-5 in Ab

instead of your roots being


Ab/ABbCEb   
F/AbCEbG
Bb/AbCDbG
Eb/GCDbG

try playing the same chords with these new roots
Eb F  f G

to practice this play your 2-5-1 using different roots

you have several possibilities a 2-5-1 in c

is roots normally d g c but they could be

f g g
f g c
f f g
f d c
a g c
a b c
d d c
d d g 

the list goes on keeping the right hand the same all the root notes make the chords sound different



try this one
C Eb F G

they dont even sound like 1-6-2-5 but they still are

and you didnt have to alter your right hand at all just change your bass notes


next try varying your rhythm

get a good funk book or  book that coves styles rhythym is a big component in stylization

study hezekiah
and kirk
their styles are very different

then study twinkie and kim burrell

then study new dircection
and richard smallwood

the diversity in these styles should pave a path
as you study a song learn it and try to fit the new chords into songs you play
if your ear isnt great then buy a wow song book they will have a variety of styles in it and learn to play one song from your favorite artists pick songs that sound devotional and churchy or whatever style you want to capture and then try to make some of those chords work within songs you already know

take excerpts and make talk music out of it

as musicians we tend to do what is comfortable
but when you practice you must do what is uncomfortable so eventually it will be comfortable enough to do live.

all of the sugestions are things i have done and
my playing is very diverse

i play for senior choirs and sound like classical music
gospel choirs i sound like blues

willing workers choir i sound like midwest gospel

mens chorus i sound like blues

youth choir i bring it contemporary style

hymns i play straight jazzed classical or gospel whatever it takes

study styles and what makes those styles unique

good sources for blues is
alfred blues keyboard series big int advanced all books come with cd

hal leonard put out a series
with swing piano 
blues
beebop
r&B
cool jazz
post bee bop

this is a serious series studying a variety of styles

if you dont like books with cd's then

subscribe to a music engine like nabter or yahoo
and pick a song you play or a hymn you are familiar with and listen to all the different ways people play the song

it is well was done by the brentwood quartet and it was jazzed up and sounded great

gene harris plays i surrnder all beautifully

dont be afraid to stretch out

t-bl;ock gave good advice dont let people jack up your head
but keep growing and stretching yourself too

did I say A suggestion
A lesson in diversity
whew

[TheGiftedOne]

Thanks for all of the help and suggestions....What I'm probably going to do is get some different fast-paced gospel songs and listen to them, such as Moses Tyson's CD, I'm going to just stick with this. I don't want to study R & B and all of the different blues styles. But I am going to get some different chords to fit in different places. But definitely, thank you for the help!!!! May God continue to bless!!!

[oldskoolgospel]

as musicians we tend to do what is comfortable
but when you practice you must do what is uncomfortable so eventually it will be comfortable enough to do live.

Come on now!