From my years as an engineering student, I'm used to discussions of resonance overtones. So as I listened closely, I could definitely hear what you were doing. I'm not a great reader; so I take time to get through a hymn ( particularly if it's an unfamiliar one ). Yet, I do grasp the significance of what you're pointing out. I actually love practicing hymns since they seem to implicitly lend themselves to reharmonization. However, until I watched this I never considered going the other way around so to speak. Many jazz and gospel piano tutorials do a fine job of stressing the importance of opening up a chord and performing inversions. I think that your video gives more clarity and a new insight to playing chords. Thanks
I came to this conclusion 13 years ago and then found a church that allowed me to play these hymns. Previously, I was just a jazz pianist but after playing in church and learning these hymns it elevated my playing to a much higher degree!
I taught myself to play piano from a hymn book. I had never realized most of the things you are saying in the lesson. I've been trying to learn jazz for a while because I've always loved the sound of major 7th chords. Thanks for the excellent lesson!
Good points. I have played from hymn books all my piano playing life and I always took it for granted that a chord should be evenly distributed. Also, while hymns are often written to be easy to sing, chords in protestant hymn books are often quite complex, a lot of diminished and augmented plus 7, 9, and 11 chords with surprising inversions. Handel, Bach, Mendelsohn, etc. contributed to hymns and that gave competition for the other hymn composers.
Great advice! Your explanation of how voicing relates to the overtone series is one of the best I’ve seen. BTW, a pretty good jazz pianist named Oscar Peterson has said he practiced playing hymns. (interview with Marian McPartland). Another suggestion would be to practice Bach chorales (which are also a good way to practice sight reading).
Wow, this confirmed what I had always suspected about Oscar he was well versed in just about EVERY facet of music you could imagine! Definitely the greatest jazz pianist that ever lived!
Oh man. As a jazz player, am so intimidated by hymns and I’m supposed to play a new one each month at church. I labor over it and sweat and weep and gnash my teeth! This helps!
@@davidlanemusic1 I think I just need to sit down and work through them and not be so anxious about it. I’m fairly good at improvising in a church four part harmony style believe or not so I don’t know why reading it intimidates. Growing up in church that just used lead sheet chord charts (contemporary Christian music) is what I got accustomed to. I’ll figure it out. Thanks again!
Very helpful video, merci. It's slightly out of my pay grade, but not for long. When you're playing like this, shouldn't you emphasize the melody with the right thumb a lot of the time? It seems to me that's another skill to develop, n'est-ce pas?
Not really the right thumb since that would be the middle of your 2-hand voicing, but definitely emphasize the 3-4-5 fingers of the RH. That's more an exercise of weight distribution, and a good idea for a future video.
I don't think it matters which one. I'm most familiar with various Baptist, Methodist, and Presbyterian hymnals. They're all very similar musically. I used The Celebration Hymnal for the demo.
No doubt! Like so many videos I've posted, I immediately thought of other things I could have said...in this case about the commonalities of hymnal playing and lead sheet chords.
@@davidlanemusic1 I'm a protestant too but I go where the money is. Don't waste any time with Catholic anything. The Episcopal will open your mind and heart!
From my years as an engineering student, I'm used to discussions of resonance overtones. So as I listened closely, I could definitely hear what you were doing. I'm not a great reader; so I take time to get through a hymn ( particularly if it's an unfamiliar one ). Yet, I do grasp the significance of what you're pointing out. I actually love practicing hymns since they seem to implicitly lend themselves to reharmonization. However, until I watched this I never considered going the other way around so to speak. Many jazz and gospel piano tutorials do a fine job of stressing the importance of opening up a chord and performing inversions. I think that your video gives more clarity and a new insight to playing chords. Thanks
I never made this connection between hymns and jazz but that must be why I enjoy playing both! Great video.. love your channel!
@@clares58 thank you!
I came to this conclusion 13 years ago and then found a church that allowed me to play these hymns. Previously, I was just a jazz pianist but after playing in church and learning these hymns it elevated my playing to a much higher degree!
I taught myself to play piano from a hymn book. I had never realized most of the things you are saying in the lesson. I've been trying to learn jazz for a while because I've always loved the sound of major 7th chords. Thanks for the excellent lesson!
Thanks! Yes, hymnals are great resources for learning how to smoothly play piano music of all types.
I really needed this video. Nice tips that my teacher never explained to me. Thank you.
Good points. I have played from hymn books all my piano playing life and I always took it for granted that a chord should be evenly distributed. Also, while hymns are often written to be easy to sing, chords in protestant hymn books are often quite complex, a lot of diminished and augmented plus 7, 9, and 11 chords with surprising inversions. Handel, Bach, Mendelsohn, etc. contributed to hymns and that gave competition for the other hymn composers.
It is interesting how many great musicians had their beginnings in the church.
Great advice! Your explanation of how voicing relates to the overtone series is one of the best I’ve seen. BTW, a pretty good jazz pianist named Oscar Peterson has said he practiced playing hymns. (interview with Marian McPartland). Another suggestion would be to practice Bach chorales (which are also a good way to practice sight reading).
@@mikeragsdale112 Thanks! Absolutely with Bach chorales for voice leading, though those are a little more difficult than the average hymn.
I've not been a skilled reader. So, I appreciate your suggestion
Wow, this confirmed what I had always suspected about Oscar he was well versed in just about EVERY facet of music you could imagine! Definitely the greatest jazz pianist that ever lived!
Oh man. As a jazz player, am so intimidated by hymns and I’m supposed to play a new one each month at church. I labor over it and sweat and weep and gnash my teeth! This helps!
I never thought about approaching this from reverse, but I'm glad this helps.
@@davidlanemusic1 I think I just need to sit down and work through them and not be so anxious about it. I’m fairly good at improvising in a church four part harmony style believe or not so I don’t know why reading it intimidates. Growing up in church that just used lead sheet chord charts (contemporary Christian music) is what I got accustomed to. I’ll figure it out. Thanks again!
Very informative thx 👍🏽
Very helpful video, merci. It's slightly out of my pay grade, but not for long.
When you're playing like this, shouldn't you emphasize the melody with the right thumb a lot of the time? It seems to me that's another skill to develop, n'est-ce pas?
Not really the right thumb since that would be the middle of your 2-hand voicing, but definitely emphasize the 3-4-5 fingers of the RH. That's more an exercise of weight distribution, and a good idea for a future video.
Which Hymnal? Source please.
I don't think it matters which one. I'm most familiar with various Baptist, Methodist, and Presbyterian hymnals. They're all very similar musically. I used The Celebration Hymnal for the demo.
There's maybe more here than you might think!
No doubt! Like so many videos I've posted, I immediately thought of other things I could have said...in this case about the commonalities of hymnal playing and lead sheet chords.
What's wrong with the Catholic hymnal just kidding don't get me started 😅 I would recommend the Episcopal 1982 Hymnal ❤
@@dkant4511 I have no experience with either hymnal but would love to check them out.
@@davidlanemusic1 I'm a protestant too but I go where the money is. Don't waste any time with Catholic anything. The Episcopal will open your mind and heart!