Question on playing by ear theory!!!

[ctgrad98]

I have a question? Am I supposed to chord the melody of a song note for note? Let's say the melody is  C,C,D,E in the key of C. Let's use the  congregational song "This is the day". Am I supposed to play CEG, CEG, DFA,EGB. If so, why doesn't it sound right? When I hear other musicians play it does not sound anything like that.

1ST OFF, MAKE THE MELODY NOTE YOUR HIGHEST NOTE, THE SOPRANO NOTE, IF YOU WILL, SO YOUR CHORDS WILL LOOK LIKE THIS:

C_C_D_F

EGC_EGC_FAD_GCE

DEPENDING ON HOW YOU PLAY THE SONG, YOUR LEFT HAND WILL PLAY:

CG______DA___ED

I TRIED TO PUT IT IN LINE WITH THE CHORDS ABOVE, BUT IT'S LIKE THIS:

CG / EGC - THIS
___ / EGC - IS
DA / FAD - THE
DE / GCE - DAY

PLAY THAT, HOPE THIS HELPS

ALSO, YOU DON'T HAVE TO PLAY EVERY NOTE FOR NOTEEITHER, JUST THE "KEY POINTS" OF THE SONG. i DID A POST ON THIS A WHILE BACK, ON THIS SITE, TYPE MY NAME IN THE SEARCH AND EVERY POST I EVER DID ON THIS SITE SHOULD POP UP.

[ctgrad98]

Thank you so much this helps out alot.

[MsB3]

hi hammond i see where you say play at the "key points" can you explain that further and are you talking about cadences? get back at me God Bless!

Hello MsB3,

Yes cadences, the stress points of the song you're playing, when you notice the cadences of any song, you can alter the song at will...

CG / CEG - WHY
DA / CFA -  SHOULD I FEEL DIS -
ED / GCE - COURAGED

OR:

CG / Em7 - WHY
DA / FGCEG -  SHOULD I FEEL DIS -
ED / GADGbA - COUR -
AG / GADbFA - AGED
 
OR

CG / DEG - WHY
DA / CFA - SHOULD I FEEL DIS -
EbAb / DGBb - COUR -
GF / CFA - AGED

PLAY THOSE, EACH IS THE STARTING VERSE OF " I SING BECAUSE I'M HAPPY "

HOPE THESE HELP!