COURSE QUESTIONS / QUERIES / COMMENTS!

RuthPower

Put any questions you have about course content here - someone else might benefit from the answer!

alexx88

**Just noticed the NEW Question/Query/Comment Discussion Area. Figured I do a little copy & pasting so this can be here in the future if anyone is looking for it. **

Just started looking at the challenge chord progression as well as the melodic riff modules. Sus 2 couples sound really cool! Actually, all of them are really cool. I think I'll do the challenge using some root positions and some voice leading. Time to quit talking and to start practicing. Have fun every one.!!!

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Vvkisamore2 hours ago

Are there ways to tinker with sus 4 to do it in different inversions. I haven't sat down to experiment, maybe I should try stuff before asking. What about sus 2 couples, is there a way to tinker with that idea to do in different inversions.

Vvkisamore2 hours ago
alexx88 Hi Alexx, I'm just getting ready to do that unique chord progression. I'm going to try the voice led high pass followed by the root position sus 2 couples. Then in a couple of days, I'll try a different combo. Hope you're having fun!!!

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alexx88 2 hours ago
vkisamore Hi Val, I’m planning on starting the melodic riff section today.
I lost you on the voice led high pass followed by root position w/sus2couples.

Are you you referring to the 1st Riff Challenge chord progression & then adding some melodic tones to it? It sounds like something cool I’d like to try too. Is this something new in the Melodic Riff section? Thanks!

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alexx882 hours ago
vkisamore I’m curious to Ruth’s answer on this, too. I’m in the process of really trying to add sus 2/4's in. I mainly only do I them in root position because my fingers are right there & I don’t have to think about anything other than what I can play in what key. I haven’t really played around to see if inversions lead to the same tension - release effect, or if it will just sound like passing notes.

RuthPower38 minutes ago
hey lovely pianists! Great question @vkisamore & @alexx88 - I had to jump on the piano for that one! So especially for the sus2 couples - when you're playing through the inversions, the riff will still work as long as you put the 'sus' between the interval of a 3rd.

So in root position we have two intervals of a 3rd - so it will work for the 2 and the 4.
In 1st inversion we have an interval of a 3rd then a 4th - so this riff needs to be based around that 3rd interval (so a sus2 which is actually a sus4 of the root position chord)
then the 2nd inversion is intervals of a 4th and a 3rd - so that top interval of a 3rd is where the riff will happen using the ring finger (which is actually the root position sus2).
I will try to do a video of this and put it in the course- because this is a really good question!!!

Also - try doing a 2nd inversion for the sus2couples riff, using that ring finger to play the sus4 (actually sus2) note! IT'S SUPER HARD on the fingers! So there's your challenge for today - try to get that feeling fluent & fabulous!

RuthPower

alexx88 Good stuff Alexx!!! 🤩 You're a star!

alexx88

@RuthPower @vkisamore Ok. So this is going to need a little more figuring in front of the keys. 🤪And a little more caffeine. Or a lot more caffeine. Saving this for another day. A video explanation would be awesome!

alexx88

@vkisamore Val, I think I’m on board with you now. If I understand correctly, you’re planning on using the 1st Riff Challenge chord progression, & using that in both the High Pass Riffs, & then again with the sus2Couple Riff.

I'm going to go through the Melodic Riffs again in other keys, starting with the same progression, then trying different progressions. I'll start with a couple of easy white keys, & an easy black key or two.

I’ll also what bass riffs I like with them. Maybe even come up with a couple of happy accident ones too!

alexx88

@vkisamore Think I’ll try D, G, E & B in different progressions. See what I think works well & what doesn’t. If I have time I’ll add either Bb or Eb progressions. Or maybe I’ll save those black note keys for another day.

My most favorite are melodic riff #2 & 6, # 4. Next fave is #4. I’ll. If I have time I’ll add in some LH.

RuthPower

@alexx88 so pleased you like the Melodic Riffs! Rhythmic riffs was released yesterday toooo!!!! 😁

alexx88

@RuthPower I saw that! I want to spend some more time playing around with the Melodic Riff Module before I move on. 😃

celiajoy

Hey lovely pianists! This is a total side note for @RuthPower - the Japanese art of mending broken pottery with gold is called kintsugi! (Or so says google...) and I love it, I paused the melodic riff video on broken chords to come chat. 😂

RuthPower

celiajoy oh fabulous!!! Ha - I was wondering who would answer that first! You win! 😄

alexx88 so people can upvote or downvote your comment - and when the comments are sorted by most popular, the upvoted ones will be near the top - that's usually how it works anyway. The 'likes' do the same thing but are basically a way to indicate that you've seen a particular comment to the person who commented. I think flagging is when there's a comment that you think goes against the rules/decorum of this forum (that rhymes) and you want the moderator (me) to look at it, to potentially remove. If you click it, it comes up with a multi-choice of what you want to report the comment for. (ie spam, inappropriate, etc)

alexx88

Hey everyone! i have a question that is non piano related. What does the "View Voters" mean under the 3 dots near reply? And while I'm at it, what is upvoting? It's probably something blatantly obvious that will be a "duh" moment.

One more. Is "flagging" good or bad? Thanks!

😆

alexx88

@RuthPower So upvoting or downvoting is agreeing or disagreeing?

I didn’t want to click the flag to see if there was a drop down menu in case there wasn’t. My luck I’d flag something I didn’t mean to, & not be able to change it lol

RuthPower

alexx88 Yep pretty much! ☺

celiajoy

RuthPower or anyone else - do you have a favorite app that you use for music notation? I was thinking about developing my own riff library to add other riffs or combinations of chords/bass riffs and it’s a bit tedious to write things out by hand!

RuthPower

celiajoy ooh what a cool idea you clever cookie! I use a software called 'Musescore' it's free, as far as I know it's a Mac program. I've not used a phone app for it before, but now I want to know too! Let me ask around.

RuthPower

RIFF MAGNETS (Module 6) IS OUT NOW!!!
If you're thinking "how dare she, I haven't even finished the last one!" then never fear. I'm just trying to keep up the pace so that we can have all modules released before the RIFF-BANK comes out end of March! Keep on at your own pace - absolutely no need to rush! 😍

alexx88

@RuthPowe Finished the last one? I haven’t even started Rhythmic Riffs yet! 😆

RuthPower

We are racing along - not to alarm anyone - please keep at your own comfortable pace... BUT the next module 'Supportive Riffs' is OUT NOW! 😱🤩

npark1025

Hi Ruth - my name is Nick and I'm enjoying the course so far! I'm a beginner-level player and am a little over halfway through the Songs by Ear course.

I just reached the "Have a Go + Song Snack" lesson in the Tried & True module and am a bit unsure of how to proceed. In the lesson, there's a part where you suggest going through the common chord progressions in different keys (as well as list out those keys and their corresponding chords in the Cheat Sheet). I understand the concept but feel like it jumped the gun a bit fast - once the more complex key signatures add sharps/flats with the black keys in them I am a bit unsure of which fingers to use for the chords. What is the best way to proceed through these chord progressions listed in the cheat sheet? Thank you!

RuthPower

npark1025 Hi Nick, welcome to the forum! So glad you are enjoying it and well done for getting halfway through Songs By Ear!
Ok great question - you're not crazy or alone! That cheatsheet really does give you the whole farm in terms of key signatures and you're not expected to go through ALL of that in one go before you move on. The best course of action is to pick a key that doesn't have a lot of sharps & flats in it to keep it simple - for instance, Key of D major, Key of F major, or Key of G major... in fact you could do all 3 of those, but work on one at a time.
Use the skills you've learned to build the major and minor chords of that progression, counting up to find the right notes. Remember, if the chord name is just a letter, like 'A' it means a major chord, if it has an 'm' beside it it's a minor chord.
For fingering, your 1-3-5 fingers will usually work, but if it's uncomfortable go with whichever fingers feel more natural.
Piece out each chord slowly and play through the four chords of the progression to become familiar with it before you move on to the next one.
Don't sweat it about playing in every single key - the idea is to just try a few different ones to get the gist of building your major and minor chords and playing those chord progression variations.
You're doing so well and let us know how you get on!