Chord Mixing (part 1)
May 11th, 2008 by admin
This is about playing 2 different chords alternately while playing the same bass note(s). And the technique comes in very handy quite often.
In general, this is how I mix chords…
When the chord you are supposed to play is Chord I, you may mix Chord V to it, i.e.,
Chord I ( + Chord V )
Similarly, you may mix Chord I to Chord IV, i.e.,
Chord IV ( + Chord I )
And to Chord V, you may mix Chord IV, i.e.,
Chord V ( + Chord IV )
Let’s use the C key as an example again. It’s always easier to use the C key.
If you are supposed to play C (Chord I of C key), then try playing two chords instead, i.e., first play C (Chord I), and followed by G (Chord V), while the bass continues to stay on C. In terms of sequence, you may also do it the other way round, that is, to play G first, and followed by C. (That depends on the melody that is supposed to go with the chords. Use you own discretion.)
Similarly, if you are supposed to play F (Chord IV of C key), then try playing F (Chord IV) and C (Chord I) alternately instead.
As for G (Chord V), try playing the two chords: G (Chord V) and F (Chord IV) alternately instead.
Here is an illustration on video…
In fact, if you haven’t noticed, what we are doing to Chord I by mixing it with Chord V is essentially producing a Chord I2 (i.e., Sus2 of Chord I) sound.
That’s what we have done to Chord IV as well. That is, by mixing Chord IV with Chord I, we have produced Chord IV2.
Well, they are indeed the Sus2 chords that we have learned in my “Improvising Sus2” post. The point, however, that I would like to make here is, whenever you see a Chord I and Chord IV on your music score or chord chart, try to have it in your mind that you can always mix those chords with their corresponding “pairs” above. You will be surprised how much enhancement you can make to the music by doing so (appropriately, of course).
As for Chord V, by mixing it with Chord IV does NOT give you a Chord V2. So, this is slightly different. However, the same point needs to be made, i.e., whenever you see a Chord V on your music score or chord chart (especially if the chord following it is Chord I), do remember that you can mix that Chord V with a Chord IV. You will like the sound!
[...] Hmye This song by Chris Tomlin is a good example to illustrate our Chord Mixing trick (See “Chord Mixing (part 1)” and “Chord Mixing (part 2)” [...]
[...] chord, more of an enhancement to the G chord and the Em7 chord in the chorus. Refer to my “Chord Mixing” post (under “Cheat Tricks” category) for this enhancement [...]
Hi Les,
Your chord mixing video has no sound.
You are right! I just tried and it has no sound! And I don’t know why. Anyway, since the illustration is quite simple, I believe whoever reads the post or sees the video can try it out on his/her own piano to hear the sound. Haha!
Thank you so much for highlighting this. Really appreciate it!
Cheers,
Les
Hi Les, Your site is awesome!!! I was wondering if you could put the song “Bless that wonderful name of Jesus” used in your mixing chord lesson with just you playing instead of the one you have posted with the singer. Thank you for all of your help.
Sorry:( The song is “How great is our God” I really hope you can.
Thank you very much for your feedback, Jimmie. Regarding “How Great Is Our God”, I will try doing it. Actually, I am not very keen to do Chris Tomlin’s songs because almost every time I post a PianoCheat video of his song, I get a copyright warning from YouTube.