Jazz piano player with no idea how to play gospel. In dire need of help.

[Samushighwind]

Hello!

I'm a 17-year-old student and I've been playing jazz piano since the sixth grade.  I can comp and I play in a jazz combo.

HOWEVER--

I'm interested in playing with a thick gospel sound and I'm unable to figure it out on my own.  I'm interested in learning gospel organ but gospel piano would be a nice start, as I don't have any organ to mess with except for the jazz organ patch on my digital piano.

The videos I've found online are somewhat frustrating because I know chords and how to read symbols, and learning by being told which keys to press is much too elementary for me.

Does anyone know some good references that would provide a good starting point for me?

Thanks a ton.

Ben

[T-Block]

Gospel music has chord patterns just like jazz music does. It's just that with most gospel music, u aren't reading it like sheet music, it's all by ear. So, u have to memorize the patterns used in gospel music. These links can help ya out:

Basic Progressions:  http://forums.learngospelmusic.com/index.php/topic,15720.0.html

Basic Progressions 2:  http://www.learngospelmusic.com/forums/index.php/topic,65920.0.html

More Advanced Progressions:  http://forums.learngospelmusic.com/index.php/topic,15731.0.html

Progressions Practice Routine:  http://forums.learngospelmusic.com/index.php/topic,18903.0.html

Progressions Practice Routine #2:  http://forums.learngospelmusic.com/index.php/topic,31384.0.html

Progressions Practice Routine #3:  http://www.learngospelmusic.com/forums/index.php/topic,36503.0.html

Explaining Progressions:  http://forums.learngospelmusic.com/index.php/topic,18550.0.html

Explaining Progressions part 2:  http://forums.learngospelmusic.com/index.php/topic,31163.0.html

Explaining Progressions part 3:  http://www.learngospelmusic.com/forums/index.php/topic,33036.0.html


Also in gospel music, u got different sub-categories like traditional, contemporary, etc. If u want that old-school gospel sounding music, then these next 2 links will help get you there. These are the congregational songs, songs used in the old school baptist and pentacostal churches:

Congregational Songs help:  http://www.learngospelmusic.com/forums/index.php/topic,32178.0.html

Congregational Songs help 2: http://www.learngospelmusic.com/forums/index.php/topic,66913.0.html

[Samushighwind]

Thank you, that's helpful.

I play reading chord symbols rather than staffed sheet music most of the time.  I can read symbols and play pretty much any chord (Cm, Dø, G7#9, Cm(Δ7), etc) and I've learned the 3-6-2-5-1 progressions-- and while the references you provided are indeed helpful, a reference that taught gospel progressions and voicings as associated with these types of chord symbols would really help with the learning curve for me.

If you don't know anything like this, thank you anyway, these are very good references.

Thanks!

[Samushighwind]

I guess a better question would be, does Gospel really have unique voicings different than jazz or is it just the progressions that are common to gospel?

I often feel like when listening to gospel, I notice a much richer, deep sound that you don't get in a lot of mainstream jazz music and I don't know quite where that comes from.

[T-Block]

I guess a better question would be, does Gospel really have unique voicings different than jazz or is it just the progressions that are common to gospel?

I often feel like when listening to gospel, I notice a much richer, deep sound that you don't get in a lot of mainstream jazz music and I don't know quite where that comes from.

Jazz and gospel have many of the same voicings. The rich sounds probably come from the blend of all the instruments. You have piano, organ, bass, guitar, etc. all going at the same time. I would focus more on the progressions, or bass movements. You can pretty much use whatever chords u want.

[Samushighwind]

Thank you!

[betnich]

What T-Block has posted is good...but IMO half the feel of Gospel is in the rhythm. If you play straight-ahead jazz, bebop with a lot of runs, or styles like Herbie Hancock or Chick Corea there's not a lot of swing.

In contrast, 1950's Classic Gospel relies on Blues harmonies and lots of triple time (6/8-9/8-12/8) beats. Even the 4/4 songs often have a "shuffle" feel. Think Ray Charles, Elvis or doo-wop.

More contemporary Gospel songs rely on the styles current at their time. Right now it seems to be lots of neo-soul Jazz-influenced 'crazy' chords and runs, mixed in with some aspects of Rap and Hip-Hop, like similar sounds, repetitive melodies and chord changes, production values.

But at the same time there is a Gospel 'punch' in keyboard articulations, a feel quite unlike Classical or Pop or even smooth jazz...listen to the first song in MJ's funeral, the piano/choir rendition of Andrae Crouch's "Soon and Very Soon" for a taste of this...

[tuhinkhangf]

He told me that when "Sister Act," the sugary farce featuring Whoopi Goldberg as a lounge singer hiding out in a convent, enlisted as the convent's new choirmaster, who then taught the nuns to sing slightly modified versions of songs like "My Guy" (now "My God") and "I Will Follow Him," the musical style caught on like wildfire in his adopted country.



Mazda Millenia Parts

[docjohn]

Sam,maybe check out the videos/courses at Sams Muzick and/or Wheatworks.I think you could find some stuff;no matter how advanced you are;sometimes starting at square one is a good idea and discipline.

I've got some Tony Monacco videos where he talks about having to start at practicing simple scales when he's off he road ;get back and away from bad habits ,etc..If a monster chopster can do this,who are we NOT to.

One of the things I've learned on this site,coming out from a lifetime of jazz/disco/ccwm and other music is to be open to learn,study/think in a different mindset.It's like learning a different language/culture etc. In a word-humility;a four letter word to most musicians.

[SoundofJoy]

Hello, I instruct in the traditional gospel style using elements of melody, left hand chords, right hand voicing and bass patterns. My lessons bridge the gap between the number system and the "feel" of gospel music. Check out my web site at www.Samsmuzikco.com . I read where you have a strong background in jazz theory, much of my course is for the musician who never took formal lessons (like myself). My advanced videos may be more to your of what your looking for and I have 229 videos on youtube covering many aspects of hymnal and gospel music styles.

[docjohn]

SAM;SOJ-you ARE then man;your clips have blessed me-thanks!

[lorenz_j]

All the resources mentined in this thread are good. 

Also check these out:

http://www.amazon.com/DVD-Learn-Play-Gospel-Piano/dp/B000092OM7/ref=pd_sim_b_5
DVD- Learn To Play Gospel Piano by Ethel Caffie Austin



http://www.amazon.com/Gospel-Keyboard-Styles-Authentic-Education/dp/0634037358/ref=pd_sim_b_2
Gospel Keyboard Styles: A Complete Guide to Harmony, Rhythm and Melody in Authentic Gospel Style by Mark Harrison


http://www.amazon.com/Gospel-Piano-Leonard-Keyboard-Style/dp/1423412494/ref=pd_bxgy_b_img_b
Gospel Piano: Hal Leonard Keyboard Style Series by Kurt Cowling