COURSE QUESTIONS / QUERIES / COMMENTS!

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!

npark1025

Thank you for the advice! I will take this approach as I continue on with the course. Much appreciated!

MikeClarke

Hi Ruth,
Just checking in with my progress as a new starter.
Completed the 'Prepare To Play' and just completed the 'Super Basics' course/module.
Really enjoyed it, like your teaching approach, fun and with the technical info in nice progressive steps.
Even though i knew some of the theory, i approached it with a 'Beginners Mindset' and enjoyed it, and learnt.
Did it daily along with exercises, already the fingers are getting the motor skills playing the thumb/finger tuck song and i'm feeling positive about the journey ahead.

Just checking with you, I'm going to start the 'Playing By Ear' course/module.

All the best, Mike

RuthPower

MikeClarke Mike this is awesome progress! Well done! And so pleased you are already reaping the rewards of your hard work and feeling good about the journey - keep going with that momentum! Thank you for letting me know about the broken link, will get that fixed! 😄

MikeClarke

PS. At the end of the 'Super Basics' lesson, clicking on the link to the info on Playing By Ear didn't work (error message). Might be something you want to check if it does that for others.

RuthPower

MikeClarke Here is the link to the 'Songs by Ear' course for members Mike. Enjoy! https://school.pianopicnic.com/courses/enrolled/162195