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Tips, Principles and Tricks for Remembering Songs
A little ear training and knowing the principles of chords and chord progressions goes a long way.
How to Remember Songs
Remembering songs is lot like remembering the directions for a road trip. There are directions, road maps, signs and landmarks. Turn here, turn there, remember this and remember that landmark.
With a few music tools and an understanding of the principles of how music works, especially how chords and chords progressions work. You can start unraveling what's going on in a song or chord progression. There is a lot more in common than you might think. Each song has it's own direction, signs and landmarks.
Where to Start
ALL music comes from some sort of scale and there is not better scale to start with than the major scale.
- Memorize the Major Scales.
All music, the chords and melodies come from scales. And, the major is one of the most common and important scales to learn and MEMORIZE in ALL 15 keys.
Most popular songs are in major keys.
- Harmonic Analysis for Chords Substitution and Scale Selection
My book Harmonic Analysis for Chords Substitution and Scale Selection - Harmonic Analysis is the understanding of the functional sequence of chords. It is the process used to analyze the harmonic structure of a progression, song or composition. This analysis is then used to make scale selections for improvisation and chord substitution.
- Learn the The Nashville Number System
This numbering system allows for comparing song an identifying the commonality between songs.
The Nashville Number System is an informal method of transcribing music by denoting the scale degree on which a chord is built. It was developed by Neal Matthews, Jr. in the late '50s as a simplified system for The Jordanaires to use in the studio and further developed by Charlie McCoy. It resembles the Roman numeral and figured bass systems traditionally used to transcribe a chord progression. By writing chords as numbers, music may be transposed easily. As a simple system of transcription, it can be used with only a rudimentary background in music theory. Improvisation structures can be quickly explained using numbers and chord changes can be communicated mid-song by holding up the corresponding number of fingers. The system is flexible, and can be embellished to include more information (such as chord color or to denote a bass note in an inverted chord).
Lesson Info
The Major Scale or Ionian scale is a diatonic scale, made up of seven distinct notes, plus an eighth which duplicates the first one octave higher. In solfege these notes correspond to the syllables "Do, Re, Mi, Fa, Sol, La, Ti/Si, (Do)", the "Do" in the parenthesis at the end being the octave of the root.
The simplest major scale to write or play on the piano is C major, the only major scale that does not require sharps or flats. The C major scale uses only the white keys on the piano keyboard.
Lessons Link
click on below link for complete lesson.
- Go to full lesson: The Major Scale
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Lesson Info
There is a load of information in traditional Key Signatures. Unlocking the principles in this circle leads to a better understanding of music and how think work.
A key signature is a series of sharp or flat symbols placed on the staff, designating the notes that are to be consistently played higher or lower than the equivalent natural notes. Key signatures are generally written immediately after the clef at the beginning of a line of musical notation. Each major and minor key has an associated key signature that sharpens or flattens the notes which are used in its scale.
Lessons Link
click on below link for complete lesson.
- Go to full lesson: Key Signatures
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The Nashville Number System
Chas Williams
The Nashville Number System
Nashville, TN
USA
eMail: nns_store@comcast.net
↑ Listing's Web Site Thumbnail Image
Links
Listing Info
( from listing's site ) - In the late 50's, Neil Matthews devised a musical number system for the Jordanaires to use in the studio. Charlie McCoy and fellow studio musicians began adapting Matthews' number system into chord charts. The Nashville Number System has evolved into a complete method of writing chord charts and melodies---combining Nashville shorthand with formal notation standards.
The Nashville Number System is 130 pages with a step by step method of how to write a Nashville number chart for any song. Included with each NNS book in Edition 7 is the cd, "String Of Pearls". This is a 10 song cd of instrumentals, including, Amazing Grace. I walk you through the details of each song and explain the Number System tools used to write the charts. Now, while listening to the cd, you can see and hear how Nashville number charts work.
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I V
I V refers to the tonic and dominant chords of a major or minor key.
- Key of C: G or G7
- Key of F: F C or C7
See the Key Signatures series of lessons for all 15 keys.
- He's Go the Whole World In His Hands
eg: C, G or G7. Changes for last chord and everytime the word "whole" is sung.
- This Train (is Bound for Glory)
I IV V
I V refers to the tonic, subdominant and dominant chords of a major or minor key.
- Key of C: C F G or G7
- Key of F: F Bb C or C7
See the Key Signatures series of lessons for all 15 keys.
There are a ton of songs using the harmonic sequence. too many to list. So common that you should learn to recognize the sound of this sequence. There's even commercial song books with some variation of "Three Chord Songs".
Here are a few:
- Brown Eyed Girl
I always get verse and chorus mixed up. It's one of those, the first part of the song, the verse and the intro.
The chorus is IV V7 I VI IV V7 I V7 and back to the verse.
This Land Is Your Land
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Links
- playukulelebyear.blogspot.com
- www.myspace.com/caravangogh
- Flea Market Music Player's Directory
- YouTube - How to Spin A Ukulele
Artist Info
(From Artichoke Community Music: Teachers and Workshops)
From simple strumming to advanced fingerpicking and jazz arrangements, I offer all styles and levels of ukulele instruction. Co-author of "The Natural Way To Music, An Organic Approach To Understanding & Playing Music", written with banjo and music theory maven, Bill Keith; we wrote the short course to understanding basic music theory.
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HARD COPY
RMA1
Hard Copy Book: $14.95
Harmonic Analysis for Scale Selection and Chord Substitution
Harmonic Analysis is the understanding of the functional sequence of chords. It is the process used to analyze the harmonic structure of a progression, song or composition. This analysis is then used to make scale selections for improvisation and chord substitution.
More info, samples, table of contents, audio, video and more...
ISBN-13: 978-0-9714044-2-7 Published: January 2003 Pages 90
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eBook
RMA1
Printable eBook/PDF: $4.95
NOW - With quick download after payment.
The Nashville Number System
Chas Williams
The Nashville Number System
Nashville, TN
USA
eMail: nns_store@comcast.net
↑ Listing's Web Site Thumbnail Image
Links
Listing Info
( from listing's site ) - In the late 50's, Neil Matthews devised a musical number system for the Jordanaires to use in the studio. Charlie McCoy and fellow studio musicians began adapting Matthews' number system into chord charts. The Nashville Number System has evolved into a complete method of writing chord charts and melodies---combining Nashville shorthand with formal notation standards.
The Nashville Number System is 130 pages with a step by step method of how to write a Nashville number chart for any song. Included with each NNS book in Edition 7 is the cd, "String Of Pearls". This is a 10 song cd of instrumentals, including, Amazing Grace. I walk you through the details of each song and explain the Number System tools used to write the charts. Now, while listening to the cd, you can see and hear how Nashville number charts work.
top
Lesson Info
Hearing The Changes are knowing what and when the chords of a chord or chord progressions occur. this lessons gets you on the raod to developing this abaility.
Lessons Link
click on below link for complete lesson.
- Go to full lesson: Hearing the Changes
top
Lesson Info
The Major Scale or Ionian scale is a diatonic scale, made up of seven distinct notes, plus an eighth which duplicates the first one octave higher. In solfege these notes correspond to the syllables "Do, Re, Mi, Fa, Sol, La, Ti/Si, (Do)", the "Do" in the parenthesis at the end being the octave of the root.
The simplest major scale to write or play on the piano is C major, the only major scale that does not require sharps or flats. The C major scale uses only the white keys on the piano keyboard.
Lessons Link
click on below link for complete lesson.
- Go to full lesson: The Major Scale
top
Lesson Info
An Enharmonic Equivalent is where a musical pitch can have different names depending on the context in which it is functioning. An example is G# produces the same pitch as Ab.
Enharmonic equivalents will sound the same but are notated differently using standard music notation.
Lessons Link
click on below link for complete lesson.
- Go to full lesson: Enharmonic Equivalents
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Lesson Info
An interval is the distance between two notes. An interval has a name and a type.
Simple Diatonic Intervals are taken from a major scale.
Lessons Link
click on below link for complete lesson.
- Go to full lesson: Understanding Intervals
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Lesson Info
There is a load of information in traditional Key Signatures. Unlocking the principles in this circle leads to a better understanding of music and how think work.
A key signature is a series of sharp or flat symbols placed on the staff, designating the notes that are to be consistently played higher or lower than the equivalent natural notes. Key signatures are generally written immediately after the clef at the beginning of a line of musical notation. Each major and minor key has an associated key signature that sharpens or flattens the notes which are used in its scale.
Lessons Link
click on below link for complete lesson.
- Go to full lesson: Key Signatures
top
Lesson Info
Ear Training is the development of the active and passive capability to relate to music aurally. This includes the ability to recognize melodic and harmonic intervals, chords, chords progressions, rhythm, melody and harmony.
Lessons Link
click on below link for complete lesson.
- Go to full lesson: Ear Training
top
Hard Copy Book: $9.95
PDF Download: $4.95
Whether your interest is in Blues, Rock, Jazz, Country or somewhere in between QuickStart Scale Fingerings for Ukulele is a valuable addition to your musical library.
QuickStart Scale Fingerings for Ukulele, Volume I, C Tuning
Learn to create exciting solos in a variety of contemporary styles!
Scales are used to improvise, create melodies and riffs. With a broad knowledge of the essential scales that are used in contemporary music and a mastery of the ukulele's fingerboard and fingering principles you're well on your way.
Master these fingerings and unlock your potential as a ukulele player!
Available for Standard Soprano, Concert and Tenor ukuleles tuned to (G C E A) Key of "C" tuning and Tenor and Baritone ukuleles tuned to (D G B E) Key of "G" tuning.
QUICKSTART - Scale Fingerings for Ukulele is a concise, well organized book ideal for any ukulele player beginning to explore improvisation. Scale Fingerings for Ukulele keeps a sharp focus on six critical scales, their fingerings and their related chords. All material is covered in every key.
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REMEMBERING_SONGS.PHP | Updated: Wednesday, 07th December, 2011 @ 09:54pm