KEYS
[ GO FIGURE: PIANO, PART 1 | Ed Kerr ]
Take a look at the list of most performed songs put the 5th finger of your right hand on the D examples is that there are a lot of ways to play
on the CCLI website today and you’ll see “What above middle C, and play a D5 voicing. Then these chords. A slight change in one or both of
A Beautiful Name”, written by Ben Fielding and play the following voicings: SEE EXAMPLE 1 your hands can bring new momentum to the
Brooke Ligertwood, is high on the list. Hillsong
progression. Note the difference in the right
hand below: SEE EXAMPLE 6
Worship recently released an EP containing 6 This option featuring that static D on top of unique arrangements of the song, and they the right hand could morph slightly to create illustrate an important reality: the essence of any number of options for playing the chorus. Ask a vocalist from your worship team to
a song is its melody and lyric. The harmonies Keep your left hand the same, leave out the first spend some time with you singing the melody
supporting this melody and lyric can change, 8th in each measure, and play beats 3 and 4 of the chorus as you play these various piano
and so can the rhythms and instrumentation differently, like this: SEE EXAMPLE 2 parts. And spend some time developing more
used.
variations on your own. The options are literally
Here’s a slight variation of this figure, featuring
That said, a keyboard player on a modern a short long, short long short rhythm:
worship team will do well to be able not only SEE EXAMPLE 3
infinite.
There are two important takeaways for you
to reproduce the piano parts and pad parts
here. First, as long as you preserve the melody
presented on specific recordings of a song, but You could adapt the voicings slightly to include and lyric of the song, your accompaniment
also to create unique parts as well. Let’s explore some accented beats within the measures, like can be whatever you choose. Second, spend
some of possibilities. For my examples here I’ll this: SEE EXAMPLE 4 time discovering for yourself what rhythmic and
preserve the original chords but suggest new
harmonic options you find effective for any part
rhythms and voicings, and I’ll use D major, the You could let your left hand play the rhythms of a song. I’m confident that you’ll discover
original key. accented hand some very satisfying possibilities, and you
plays the short/long activity shown earlier: may well find that this song or any other song
SEE EXAMPLE 5 you’re playing is made fresh again for you, your
First, using a repeating note on the top of a
above
while
your
right
piano voicing and a stream of steady 8th notes
can be very effective. With the chorus in mind,
worship team and your congregation.
What I hope you’re noticing throughout these
EX 4
EX 1
EX 5
EX 2
EX 6
EX 3
30
July 2017
WorshipMusician.com