2keyboard players at church what do I play

[2octaves]

Hi Guys
By the grace of God Mike is playing in church with a our band. We have a bass & lead guitarist,drummer and the 2keyboard players. I am the 2nd keyboard player and is playing behind the pastor who is the main keyboard player. He likes playing melody with chords for all the praise and worship songs.
For now I am playing progressions mostly 1-4-5 behind them.
What do you guys suggest I start playing as a 2nd keyboardist in church, when they say we play in the key of F (Remember I have no sheet music) in front of me.

Lastly how can I develope my sense of picking up melody with out sheet music in front of me? I always realise on sheet music and when I don't have it I am lost on the keyboard.

Mike

[SisterT]

Mike, you really need to start developing your ear so that you will not always have to rely on sheet music. Reading music is wonderful, but when you don't have the sheet music, as in your case, you get lost.

I suggets as part of your practice routinne, that you regularly listen to a song on a cd and try to decipher the chords for yourself. That means you will have to figure out the key and melody line first.

[SisterT]

Mike, there is an article on my site title "How to Listen to a Song", done by Sam Tolbert. It may be useful to you.
www.earnestandroline.com/musicarticles.html

Uummmm  interesting!  Well, my friend we have 4 keyboard players...  One brother out of all four reads music.  Now, the brother is tight...  However, when it comes to playing by ear...  he is lost... therefore, during praise and worship....  Need I saw more.  

The key I feel to this entire thing is to listen...  Listen Listen...  Matter-fact, I found this out the other day... we don't all always play in the same key...Yet, it sounds really good...  because, some of the brothers use breaks...when they are not sure and the others...  have developed their ear to...simply listen

[Davelong]

Something I like to do is to identify musical roles, and then fit in where there is a musical opening.  

Here are some musical roles as I see it:

-Melody
-Countermelody
-"pads" (strings, organ 'pads')
-Rhythm (rhythm guitar, or add rhythmic sounds from my keyboard)
-Fills
-Bassline (or double the bassline in a different octave)
-Shots (brass)

It's rare that all these musical 'roles' are already filled, so I can usually find something good to play, and remember that if there are already lots of musicians playing, then the cake is already there, you can just add some icing - with a little imagination.

God Bless!

[2octaves]

Thanks for the replies and the link Sister T.
But how and where do you start playing by ear, with all the resources on the net is there at least a starting point with some software or something.
Some people got a natural ear for picking up music, but I need something to help me developing my ear that I can stick with and see reults as times go by.

Mike

[SisterT]

Thanks for the replies and the link Sister T.
But how and where do you start playing by ear, with all the resources on the net is there at least a starting point with some software or something.
Some people got a natural ear for picking up music, but I need something to help me developing my ear that I can stick with and see reults as times go by.

Mike

Jermaine Griggs at www.hearandplay.com once had a book out "How to Play Music By ear". I don't know if he still sells it and how effective it is.

I suggest that you try using the steps Sam Tolbert teaches. Liste sevral times to a song. Sometimes I have to listen ten times straight to a song so that I can hear what is being played and for what the piano should be playing. The key is Listening over and over.

Write the lyrics out, leaving space to write the notes on top of the words.

Listen for the melody notes of the song. Write them above the lyrics.

Looking at the notes you should be able to figure out what key the song is in.  After you learn how to play by ear, you will be able to figure the key to a song just by listening.

Now fill in the melody notes with chords where you hear chords being struck (on the cd) by the piano.

If you must, write them down as well.

Just keep doing it, everytime you practice. Practice reading music and playing by ear.

[BBoy]

To add on, pick a song that challenges you but isn't out of your ability at the present time. For instance, I love the song "Increase" by Donald Lawrence for ear playing. It has pretty chord changes, you aren't rushed with a beat, and it is in an easy key (Eb is what I use to play the song)

So select some songs that challenge you, but that you can get in like no more than three days of practice. Then, push the envelope as you progress.

Be Blessed and tell us how it goes   :lol:

BBoy

[Yngkrystalkeys08]

Most, well alot of musicians who are good at learning a song right off the back pick up the bass line first. Alot of times at my church, my m.o.m. will just throw a song out and we'll have to learn it right there. Listen to the whole song first. Then decipher the bass line. If you've been playing for a while and are pretty decent, most of the time you can tell wat chord will be played with what bass such as usually in the key of Eb, there will be an Eb major chord on a C bass, usually. It will come easy if you just keep playing different songs and learning the pattern. And I kno how it is because I was the same way were I could read but not play by ear. Um, also, i'm a second keyboardist as well, and because the other keyboardist plays acoustic piano, im forced to find some other instrument. Usually horns, or strings or something. If you've got a nice board, it should come easy.

[c3hamby]

One thing you want to make sure of too, that your keyboard is in tune with the track!  

If you don't do that you will leave yourself vulnerable to the enemy who will take your soul and sanity of mind!

[Freddy229]

Well, I want to say congratulations on mastering the evasive art of music reading. I read as well, but most sheet music will leave you lacking if you don;t have an imagination.  Since you read, try writing out what you've heard and apply it to the songs being played. Strings are always good on slow-medium tempo songs and brass on uptempo songs. Listen to albums of the type of music you play at church.  Get and develop ideas from those CD's. It'll help you on Sunday morning!!

[CATRON]

Wazz Good. I've had that problem while playing live with LaShana Pace on 1 occasion. The instrumentallist where: A drummer,bass guitar,lead guitar,keys 1,keys 2, keys 3. So I suggested that I play organ to eliminate key3. AND, with the organ you can create a variatie of tones, so no matter what chords you play they want sound the same with the different drawbar settings.So take it into consideration to pick up the organ. If there is no organ at your house of worship, you can purchase an organ moudel or it u have a casio 3500 or any korg triton play the organ on the keyboard and just create the drawbar tones in the keyboard itself. Please wirte me back if this helps.
HOLLA