You have to admit, it is enjoyable to put practice music to one side, and play any music you feel like.  However, it may be difficult to find the sheet music for every song you enjoy.  Well, there are a couple of techniques you can use to overcome this problem, and in some ways they are similar.  The first idea is the use of a Fake Book, and the second is to learn how to improvise. 

You can get Fake Books at music stores or by ordering them online.  Another version of the same idea is when you stumble upon a simplified song notation.  Be aware that when using a Fake Book, it only contains two ways to help you. To start with, a melody line in the treble clef will be illustrated.  Although this seems overly basic, it at least shows the song in a very simplified version. 

Along with the melody line, you will also be presented with a letter above the staff.  The letter signifies the chord you are to play in the bass clef and could possibly add to the treble clef if you are skilled enough.  You’ll notice that the letter appears above the staff for each quarter change. 

if you have thoroughly learnt the chords, you put yourself in good enough steed to easily use a Fake Book.  You can use the straight chords or invert them.  You can play them as running chords where you play each note separately in succession.  Any rhythm can be chosen for the bass clef. 

The Fake Book may require that you put your creative skills to work.  You have to use what you know to fill in the blanks that are left by an incomplete score.  In that regard you are in charge of inventing the music.  You can usually find Fake Books that are fairly current, with music you have heard recently on the radio. 

Yet, if you want to really come up with your own original song or instrumental piece, you can do it better by learning to improvise.  It does sound difficult to learn the theory of improvisation, but it’s okay to begin with the knowledge you already possess.  Your main skill set should be the mastery of chords and scales. 

Perhaps to make things easier to begin with, choose a C scale, for the main reason that it uses white keys only.  Now all you have to do is choose the chords  within the scale.  If you have chosen the C major scale, the  use of the G major and F major chords are the best combination.  This is because they do not have any sharps or flats in them. 

Create your own chord progression.  A nice order would be C-F-G-C.  Make sure the chords are played with the left hand.  The base chords are usually played below middle C, but that is not a rule, by any means.  Play them wherever you see fit.  Play them as simple triads or invert them.  Play them in any sequence.  Then keep practicing until it becomes second nature. 

When you are comfortable with your chord progression, you can begin to improvise a melody.  Take one note at a  time, and play these with your right hand, eventually forming a melody line.  It may not seem like music at first, but if you keep trying you will eventually come up with an interesting melody line. 

Also, try improvising with a melody you’re already fond of.  Say you want to play Jingle Bells, but you do not have the music.  You can quickly pick out the melody.  after you have chosen the melody this way, chords can be fit to the melody, simply based on the melodies scale of key.  So as you can see, even though you may not have the sheet music, there are ways you can still play the music without.

Learning to play the piano is easy, even for a beginner. One possible starting point is the no-obligation course at Learning To Play Piano Today. Check them out today, and enjoy your new found skill.

Tagged with: • • • •

Filed under: Classical Performers

Like this post? Subscribe to my RSS feed and get loads more!