Hard times by Ray Charles tutorial

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Learn the song Hard Times by Ray Charles

The Genius Sings the Blues is an album by Ray Charles, released in October 1961 on Atlantic Records. The album was his last release for Atlantic, compiling twelve blues songs from various sessions during his tenure for the label. The album showcases Charles's stylistic development with a combination of piano blues, jazz, and southern R&B. Hard Times is one song from this album

In the lesson link below you will find chords charts in Cmaj and Ebmaj as well as a video showing you this classic slow blues.

Click The link below for the entire free lesson and video.

Hard Times by Ray Charles

Tri Tone Substitutions

Tritone substitution is not difficult to understand and once you begin to use this harmonic device it adds a lot of options to your musical pallet.

I was using tritone substitutions long before I ever heard the term or understood what they were.

Playing general business gigs for a lot of years I read a lot of chord charts and we had to come up with interesting endings to songs on the fly.

I quickly learned that at the end of a song to make things interesting I could land on the bII7 chord for a bit before resolving to the Tonic or 1 chord.

In the key of C, I would play a Db7 (C#7) chord before playing the final C chord.

Quite often in a C blues jam a Db7 or Ab7 chord would be used for a measure to resolve to the 1 or V7 chord.

If you have ever done either of those things, congratulations! you are a hip jazz musician using tritone substitutions! For this great lesson, chord chart, and video click the link below!

Tri-tone Substitutions

I started my musical career over 40+ years ago and without the church I may have never grown to love music and playing and singing inspirational gospel and praise music.

During the week I played jazz, rock, soul, country and most other styles of popular music professionally but come Sunday morning I was always giving my best performances in Church.

There is something about praise music that just reaches out and touches the hearts of believers young and old.

Gospel Piano Styles

Most gospel music will be very vocal oriented and will often use three and four part harmony.

Most forms of gospel music will utilize choirs, use piano or Hammond organ, drums, bass guitar and, electric guitar.

Most gospel songs will have a refrain and use more syncopated rhythms as opposed to the traditional Hymns which are much more stately.

The most recognizable styles of gospel music include contemporary gospel, urban contemporary gospel sometime called "black gospel, southern gospel, and modern or contemporary Christian music.

The same fundamentals you use to play rock , jazz, blues , country and soul can be and are used within these various forms of contemporary gospel music.

To learn these important fundamentals click the Link below

Learning Gospel Piano and Organ

In this free keyboard chords theory lesson you will learn simple formulas to help you find absolutely any chord on the piano keyboard without having to rely on bulky chord charts or written music.

Understanding these keyboard chord formulas will make a big difference in your ability to enjoy making music on piano or electronic keyboard. For the complete lesson and video tutorial click the link below.

Complete keyboard chord lesson with video

You Need to check out this software! Very cool!

I've got to tell you I was truly impressed by this new software and you would do well to check out the worlds first internet powered song learning software. If you can find a song on Google or anywhere on the internet this software will teach you from beginning to end.

I have personally tried this and so have many of my more serious students. Its like having me there as a teacher 24/7..

Check this out for yourself by clicking the link below..

Amazing Song Tutor software

An understanding of music scales and the major scale in particular is one of the most important single concepts to understand as we continue to study the basic music theory required to get the most out of your experience playing piano or electronic keyboards.

To learn chords by memorizing each note or looking at pictures is like learning speak and foreign language with out understanding the meanings or context of the words.

By learning a few formulas starting with the formula for a Major scale you will not only speak the language of music but truly understand the how and why of chords and chord progressions.

Major Scales: the foundation to chord theory

Our website is geared toward those who want to learn the language of music and to develop their ears and improvisational skills.

To this end I will be busy giving my best attempt at a series of guided video lessons that will start with the very basics and lead to the eventual goal of every teacher to "not be needed anymore"

I will also be redoing many of the video tutorials to make them more understandable and comprehensive as well as adding many new song tutorials in various genres of music.

Your comments and suggestions are helping greatly in the development of this new curriculum. thank you so much!!

First Adult Piano Lessons

Piano Lessons for life .com contains dozens of great lessons on keyboard theory and learning to play the keyboard by ear.

To the beginner however it may be difficult to know where to start or what to do next.

To remedy this I am adding a series of adult piano lessons that will take the beginner through what I believe to be the most important skills and concepts you will need to become a well rounded keyboard artist!

Learning to play the piano is one thing and learning to understand what you are playing is the key to being an "ear player" and separates the player from the musician.

These lessons are designed to do both!!

By following the links in these lessons and taking all the time you need to digest the material it is my hope that you will get to the point where you can teach yourself!!

Get started by trying the first two lessons below.

adult piano lessons lesson 1

Adult piano lesson two fundamentals

Have you ever thought: “How excellent would it be to sit at a piano and play any melody that comes into my mind – without any notes?”

Or: What do I do when my band wants me to take a Piano Solo?

Piano improvisation, is the art of spontaneously playing melodies on the piano at the spur of the moment.

You may think it is domain of few very creative, experienced, and gifted musicians and thus unreachable for hobbist musicians or beginners. However......

I believe if you read on and go through some of the suggestion contained in these lessons that you or anyone can begin to learn this awesome skill.

View the whole video lesson by clicking below.

piano improvisation

Learning the 12 bar blues progression is basic to understanding the roots of American popular music.

When you see a group of musicians getting together to play everyone seems to know what to do almost magically.

This is because at one time or another they learned the 12 bar blues progression.

While there are lots of variations of this timeless progression the most common is a three chord 12 measure version explained in this lesson.

The 12 bar Blues for piano

Have you always wanted to learn to play jazz & blues on the piano but never had the time or money?

Or couldn't find the right person or course to teach you the "real" stuff?

If so, I've definitely found someone who can help you.

I'm talking about James Wrubel, an amazing musician and expert instructor. He's been there and back as a professional jazz musician and has played with some of the top names in the industry.

In two dvds and over 2 hours of step-by-step instruction, he takes you by the hand and shows you how to master tons of jazz & blues tricks and techniques as well as signature soloing secrets that'll have you sounding like you've been playing for years.

Here's some highlights.

Discover: * How to quickly and easily form tons of chord patterns and runs that'll have you sounding pro almost overnight.

* How to accelerate your jazz learning curve by combining 3 secret elements pros don't want you to know!

* How to pack every chord and voicing with just the right amount of flavor to get the job done.

* 7 secrets to playing signature solos without hesitation or even thinking about anything.

* And much more.

Clink the link below to get started!!

Learn Jazz Here!!

Best Gospel Course for Ear players

Also you can find a contact form on the site and suggest a song for a future lesson. Don't be shy. Let me know how i can help!!

I am grateful for all of you, and wish you the best success in your playing!!

Thanks, Greg

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