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How much and What?

by David Heap
(West Yorkshire UK.)

Not a story, more a thought:

All you musicians out there amateur or professional, when you "just play" music what do you play and why?

I realize that if you are to give a recital then you must learn and play selected pieces but other than these occasions call it "leisure time"

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How much and What?

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Nov 10, 2009

What to Play
by: Matthew

Hi David,

Playing any one thing gets boring, so I play a mix of exercises that improve my skills, such as scales; music played in the classical style, such as that available here in the Free Lessons section; music played only with chords, such as that found in Rise Up Singing (Google it if you don't know this book); and music that I write, which is the easiest music to remember and play.

When I write music I take a couple of chords that I find particularly pleasing. These may be chords I know, but often I just try different fingers on different strings until I discover something that sounds good. Then I play the notes of these chords, improvising with my right hand.

There are many "forms" of songs, but one I like is called the sonata form, which is the form used in most jazz tunes. It's an eight bar melody, which we'll call "A." Then the melody is repeated, either exactly or with some variation, in another eight bars. Because this is similar to the first eight bars and is also called "A."

The third eight bars is a different melody, usually using different chords, and is called "B."

The fourth and last section is again an "A" section. The sonata form is then 32 bars, AABA.

I hope I'm not being condescending in outlining the above, but it is a widely used form and one that is easy to employ to make up your own tunes.

Here are two chords I discovered that I find particularly beautiful when played in combination. I found them by accident and use them as the basis of one of my songs.

Play the first four strings, fretting the first three strings on the second fret. It's not important, but this is a D maj9 chord.

Play the first four strings, fretting the second string on the third fret and the fourth string on the second fret. This is an A7sus4.

In short, play to improve your skills, and play what's fun.

Matt

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