Wow that is awesome T-Block! I usually dont post anything but I do have a question. I understand these are the fundamentals and building blocks but how do I use this to ,for example, learn the new Isreal song so that I can present it to the praise team. I mean how do I apply all this to learning songs? Don't get me wrong I appreciate all the hard work but I dont understand how to make it fit. Thanks
The method that I use to learn songs is this:
Materials needed are song, keyboard, pencil & paper or computer to type on
1. Listen to the song a few times w/out your keyboard. Get the tune in your head.
2. Figure out the key of the song, the bass notes, and some key melody notes. Write them down if necessary
3. Turn the bass notes into scale degree numbers so that I can see what kind of progression(s) I have.
4. Start plugging in chords that I think will work for the song based on progressions I have already learned and practiced. The melody notes I figured out will determine what inversion to play my chords in cuz the melody is usually the top note.
5. If the chords I play don't really fit, I listen to the song and try to figure out what they are doing. If there are some unfamiliar chords or runs being played that I think are cool to add to my playing, I will try to figure it out.
6. Keep rewinding and fast-forwarding until you're satisfied with what you come up with.
7. Play along with the CD to check yourself. Play it for someone else who knows the song and see what they think about it.
8. If you're not strong at remembering, write everything down so that you won't forget.
It's all about using your ears when you first start to learn a song. Once your ears hear something, your brain kicks in (or should kick in, lol) to help the ear make sense of it. When I was first learning about progressions, I used to write everything down, every note, everything. Now, I can do it mentally, but occasionally I do write things down and post it on here for everyone else.
Hope that helps you.
