"Lets Address the Issue"--What area are you weak in on the keys?

[rut]

Sometimes if we address the issue then we can slove the issue
dont you agree.. I started this thread so we can cut out a lot of threads by simpling getting to the point.
I TRULY LOVE THIS WEBSITE I LEARNED SO MANY SONGS BUT IM STILL STUCK ON "THE EAR".

[musallio]

I say the issue lies in the type of listening you do.
Listen analytically to the music you listen to.
not just for pleasure..

For instance
there are people whoa re listening to music 24/7 with earphones on them all the time
but they don't really hear the music per se.

So with each song you learn
listen to what you play.

Also play slow enough to see what produces what sound.
I always play a chord alone long enough to know what it sound like on it's own
then I  try to apply it in a simple progression. thereafter it's playing it in various inversions.
In that way you learn to associate certain sounds you hear with certain chords..Just like you are most unlikely to miss out a sus2 chord or a tritone.

[Fenix]

I'm weak on soloing AND playing chords at the same time. When i play in church, i don't do runs and what-not if i am playing alone. I am so used to just playing chords with both hands.

Also my left hand is very very weak when it comes to doing runs. I am starting to do better by practicing chromatic scales, but it is still weak.

[musallio]

I'm weak on soloing AND playing chords at the same time. When i play in church, i don't do runs and what-not if i am playing alone. I am so used to just playing chords with both hands.

Also my left hand is very very weak when it comes to doing runs. I am starting to do better by practicing chromatic scales, but it is still weak.

We're in same boat man
But it depends on types of songs you sing as well..
I've never practiced LH runs, but because they do them so much, while they were singing at church, I found myself playing them & I was like "wha?&*"

[4hisglory]

The reason we struggle is because we really don't take the time to really learn what we are looking on.  It is never engraved into our playing,  This is why we end up playing the same chords/progressions we know, rather than the new stuff we have been working on.

The way to really do it is take a few concepts, and work on them until you can actually do and APPLY the stuff.

Its all about application.

[Fenix]

The reason we struggle is because we really don't take the time to really learn what we are looking on.  It is never engraved into our playing,  This is why we end up playing the same chords/progressions we know, rather than the new stuff we have been working on.

The way to really do it is take a few concepts, and work on them until you can actually do and APPLY the stuff.

Its all about application.

That is true. I have never used any of the "phat" stuff i learned here on LGM or elsewhere,lin church. I still go back to church and play the same old stuff i used to play. I have to learn to be adventurous and not be afraid to make mistakes, even in church.

[musallio]

The reason we struggle is because we really don't take the time to really learn what we are looking on.  It is never engraved into our playing,  This is why we end up playing the same chords/progressions we know, rather than the new stuff we have been working on.

The way to really do it is take a few concepts, and work on them until you can actually do and APPLY the stuff.

Its all about application.

Amen..

I have now taken the stance to learn what I've set myself to learn no matter what people around me hype about.
Because with so much info overload we tend to look at 1 thing today & the next tomorrow & forget it the next day.
So I  have all my books out & revising all the stuff there.

Application is KING!

[berbie]

Hey you guys are so spot on in what you are saying.  I do those things all the time.  I will learn something new and suddenly, when I am in church, I will play as I knew before.  I had to make a conscious effort to play new things.  Sometimes you make a little error, but you soon incorporate the new sounds/chords into your playing in a seamless manner.  But it is a continuous thing and it is so easy to revert to well known playing styles.  I learn, don't use and forget over and over again. 

I determined that I would store all but a few licks, runs and progressions and practice on those few in all keys until I could actually play them automatically in songs that I play. Then I will see a lick that looks good and I am off at it again.  So I know the solution to the problem but I , for whatever reason, have a problem going there.  Maybe I will DISPOSE of all but a few key licks runs and progressions and...............   

But likely, I will end up doing what I have been doing.  Maybe we have an aversion to the hard work of practicing something over and over, transposing to other keys, and incorporating it into our playing as opposed to playing over new and exciting licks in an easy manner.  But the hard work is what we have to do to really progress.   

We know the answer for the most part.  The question is: Do you really want to progress enough to get down into the salt mines. Or are you basically satisfied to let it flow like it is.

We don't answer that question by what we say, but by what we do.  Hey, I think I will put away all the courses that I ordered except-----and I am going to study that one until I learn it well.  And I am going to practice my scales and chords going around the circle...............for at least 15 minutes every day.(smile)


berbie

[T-Block]

RH runs.  I am currently practicing and striving to get more efficient with them in ALL keys.

[SoundofJoy]

Well, take my son for example...He feels since he's my son and from a playing family he should automatically be able to play. Not!!!!! He's struggling like any other musician learning a chord here and a run there. Now mind you, I teach gospel music over the internet and all my products are here in the same house where he sleeps ( yeah that too). He refused to go thru a DVD lesson because it takes too long? I've told him I didn't wake up and start playing, I went to school and took instrument, played in a band ans was exposed to more than just church music. Still he watches youtube trying to play behind accomplished musicians and goes away frustrated. The Bible say my people are destroyed from lack of knowledge. Its more than knowing what you want to play its applying that knowledge with practice. I'm not the best musician in the world (I have no desire to be) I just want to be effective whenever I'm playing music for the Lord. When you view me playng know that It took me years before I sounded like anything but I had a foundation of high school band playing to draw from. You have the blessings of the internet where knowledge abounds........what are you going to do with it?

[SoundofJoy]

Oh, by the way I was playing for my home church at 17 years old...he's 24......??????? What do you think happened....

[Fenix]

Oh, by the way I was playing for my home church at 17 years old...he's 24......??????? What do you think happened....

Mr Tolbert, i understand your son's pain. Its so hard to see other musicians who smoke the keys. They do it so easily that you tend to get discouraged.

I have since calmed down. There was a time when i would see another piano player and freak out over how good he was. I would go home and try and do what he did and then come away confused and discouraged. I have learned to calm down and take my time. I see improvements in my playing too.

[1stLady]

Hello to all,
When I first started playing it was me and a drummer, when my 4yr old felt like playing(the boy is bad for real  but it was just me so I pretty much ran a bass line to get the music across.  Now it is myself, another keyboard player, lead guitar, drummer(s), and sometimes a bass player depending on where we are.  My problem now is trying to just play fill-ins when needed.  If the other keyboard is leading the song and I am just doing fill-ins it is hard for me not to add a bass line.  Or even if I am leading the song or playing by myself, finding the right fill-ins are difficult for me.  Any suggestions would be appreciated.
God Bless 

[Fenix]

Hello to all,
When I first started playing it was me and a drummer, when my 4yr old felt like playing(the boy is bad for real  but it was just me so I pretty much ran a bass line to get the music across.  Now it is myself, another keyboard player, lead guitar, drummer(s), and sometimes a bass player depending on where we are.  My problem now is trying to just play fill-ins when needed.  If the other keyboard is leading the song and I am just doing fill-ins it is hard for me not to add a bass line.  Or even if I am leading the song or playing by myself, finding the right fill-ins are difficult for me.  Any suggestions would be appreciated.
God Bless 

Yeah i have this problem too. Many times the other keyboard player takes lead in the song and i have to play strings or guitar or any other instrument sound BUT piano. What i do is look for a space in the music where i can fit my instrument in. I don't want it to sound all muddy-like so i listen closely and try and pick out spots in the song where i think i should fill in.

[jgause2]

Im currently trying to practice all the progressions i know in EVERY key.....to get me more familiar with playing in different keys & modulation, and stuff like that.


I also struggle with LH runs.  My LH is very weak.  I'm still trying to learn RH runs also.  I can do a little bit...so it wont sound too boring, when all im playing is chords (which i used to do.)....i can add a little bit of flavor into the music....but im not where i want to be.........  yet.

[musallio]

Mr Tolbert's said it all.  & so has Fenix..

Just when I started messing around, there are trhings I seemed to play better than I can now.
But I decided I can't fake it--I'll never reach my potential if I just try to play stuff without much understanding.
Since I am not naturally talented, I also had to rely more on understanding & then applying.
1 year down the line, I'm being heavily rewarded...I seem to understand everything I do.
I can sit down, analyze & understand what others are doing.

I don't have to ask for progressions--understanding allows me to create my own as I so wish.

Yes, there are many areas I still lack in, but I'm taking my time to learn & practice the stuff.
Like Mr Tolbert & Jgause said--YOU CAN NEVER GET BETTER UNLESS IF YOU SIT DOWN & PRACTICE!!!!!!
I DON'T CARE WHO YOU KNOW OR WHO IS YOUR TEACHER..IF YOU DON'T PRACTICE IT, YOU'LL NEVER GET IT.

Just last week, i was so amazed at how sweetly this dude who only knows the Gb pentatonic scale was synthesizing with the brass..he was doing it so well that this guy who's been playing for a decade said to me "It's amazing how some people who don't know what they are doing can play such sweet stuff."  I could sense some jealousy in the way he said it. Why? He only leads...10 years & he's never taken the time to learn to back..other musicians have been frustrated with him..

When I heard how sweetly this guy was playing the brass, I just gave him the show & was analyzing what he was doing..
Now I've added that sweet sound to my basket.
Sad thing though about lacking knowledge is that if the scenery is changed the slightest bit, you are lost.
That was the case with this guy..when the key changed from Gb to Bb, he was still trying to synth with the Gb pent scale But I helped him by showing him the notes to use..took him a while & he was at it again..
Knowledge + APPLICATION is king.

Yesterday I was just watching George Duke & Jimmy Smith...if I tried to sound like them in 2 days Id walk awayy frustrated--even those artists would tell me that they didn't just wake up on stage & found themselves playing the organ with the heel or have a doctor come check up on you whilst you're playing a song live in front of thousands!
It's all hours of toils , frustration & getting on with it until you get it.

So once you've watched enough people playing, go & start practicing..
without practice, you'll NEVER get anywhere!

[Fenix]

Mr Tolbert's said it all.  & so has Fenix..

Just when I started messing around, there are trhings I seemed to play better than I can now.
But I decided I can't fake it--I'll never reach my potential if I just try to play stuff without much understanding.
Since I am not naturally talented, I also had to rely more on understanding & then applying.
1 year down the line, I'm being heavily rewarded...I seem to understand everything I do.
I can sit down, analyze & understand what others are doing.

I don't have to ask for progressions--understanding allows me to create my own as I so wish.

Yes, there are many areas I still lack in, but I'm taking my time to learn & practice the stuff.
Like Mr Tolbert & Jgause said--YOU CAN NEVER GET BETTER UNLESS IF YOU SIT DOWN & PRACTICE!!!!!!
I DON'T CARE WHO YOU KNOW OR WHO IS YOUR TEACHER..IF YOU DON'T PRACTICE IT, YOU'LL NEVER GET IT.

Just last week, i was so amazed at how sweetly this dude who only knows the Gb pentatonic scale was synthesizing with the brass..he was doing it so well that this guy who's been playing for a decade said to me "It's amazing how some people who don't know what they are doing can play such sweet stuff."  I could sense some jealousy in the way he said it. Why? He only leads...10 years & he's never taken the time to learn to back..other musicians have been frustrated with him..

When I heard how sweetly this guy was playing the brass, I just gave him the show & was analyzing what he was doing..
Now I've added that sweet sound to my basket.
Sad thing though about lacking knowledge is that if the scenery is changed the slightest bit, you are lost.
That was the case with this guy..when the key changed from Gb to Bb, he was still trying to synth with the Gb pent scale But I helped him by showing him the notes to use..took him a while & he was at it again..
Knowledge + APPLICATION is king.

Yesterday I was just watching George Duke & Jimmy Smith...if I tried to sound like them in 2 days Id walk awayy frustrated--even those artists would tell me that they didn't just wake up on stage & found themselves playing the organ with the heel or have a doctor come check up on you whilst you're playing a song live in front of thousands!
It's all hours of toils , frustration & getting on with it until you get it.

So once you've watched enough people playing, go & start practicing..
without practice, you'll NEVER get anywhere!

CO-SIGN!!!!!!!!!!!

[themidiroom]

LH runs mostly.  Still working on doing a lot of LH chords.  I used to be a LH bass kinda guy and had to get passed that.

[chevonee]

My biggest weakness is being able to switch keys effortlessly (sp?) and smoothly. I also have the issue with playing new things at church, but I'm getting better at dealing with that.  I completely agree with what 4hisglory said, knowing and applying is two totally different things. Just look on the bright side, its nothing that more practice can't solve. 

Well, take my son for example...He feels since he's my son and from a playing family he should automatically be able to play. Not!!!!! He's struggling like any other musician learning a chord here and a run there. Now mind you, I teach gospel music over the internet and all my products are here in the same house where he sleeps ( yeah that too). He refused to go thru a DVD lesson because it takes too long? I've told him I didn't wake up and start playing, I went to school and took instrument, played in a band ans was exposed to more than just church music. Still he watches youtube trying to play behind accomplished musicians and goes away frustrated. The Bible say my people are destroyed from lack of knowledge. Its more than knowing what you want to play its applying that knowledge with practice. I'm not the best musician in the world (I have no desire to be) I just want to be effective whenever I'm playing music for the Lord. When you view me playng know that It took me years before I sounded like anything but I had a foundation of high school band playing to draw from. You have the blessings of the internet where knowledge abounds........what are you going to do with it?

Somebody give this man a Bb on the organ, my God you preachin right here!!!

[Metronome]

My biggest thing is runs..not the simple kind.....im talkin bout the out-the-box ones that make you go whoa..........through pratice and God i can play just about (except for one crazy one) all my chords in every key....all my phat movements in naturals..........but i just dont got the phat runs.i got the simple get you through runs..WHYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY lol