RABid Posted December 20, 2012 Share Posted December 20, 2012 I happened upon an infomercial last night, or maybe a better term would be misinfomercial. Ralph Paul Guitar Made Easy. Some joker selling a DVD package that will teach you to play guitar in 5 minutes. One of his methods is to ignore normal chord fingerings on guitar and learn a basic bar chord, then move up and down the neck, changing frets instead of changing fingering to play different chords. This made me think of a guitarist that I used to play with that could not stand it if I played an inversion. If I moved from a I to a IV he always wanted me to retain the 1-3-5 structure. Many times I play a IV as 5-1-3 with the thumb staying on the root of the key. I tend to play a lot of inversions. For me it is interesting. For him it was unacceptable. Ironic since guitar chords have so many inversions. Anyway, seeing the infomercial got me thinking about it again. Do other keyboardists play a lot of inversions or do you tend to stick with straight chords and more movement up and down the keyboard? This post edited for speling. My Sweetwater Gear Exchange Page Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mate stubb Posted December 20, 2012 Share Posted December 20, 2012 Inversions are the spice of life. A sure way to sound like a beginner is to avoid them. Moe --- Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jazzwee Posted December 20, 2012 Share Posted December 20, 2012 I would think that in the middle registers voice leading would be the priority and inversions would be used as needed to promote that (e.g alternating inversions). In contrast, playing LH voicings lower down would require the root to be at the bottom. At least that's what's common in jazz. Hamburg Steinway O, Crumar Mojo, Nord Electro 4 HP 73, EV ZXA1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skinny Posted December 20, 2012 Share Posted December 20, 2012 This made me think of a guitarist that I used to play with that could not stand it if I played an inversion. If I moved from a I to a IV he always wanted me to retain the 1-3-5 structure. Well, there's plenty of things guitarists play that I can't stand, either. But seriously, I play inversions all the time, usually whatever is the easiest to move to. Moving up and down the keyboard to retain the 1-3-5 structure would be asinine. Stuff and things. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe P Posted December 20, 2012 Share Posted December 20, 2012 Inversions are second nature to me. I especially like dominant 7th inversions. Regards, Joe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
retrokeys Posted December 20, 2012 Share Posted December 20, 2012 A I to IV inverted is so standard to me that going to 1-3-5 in the IV would sound weird. Also, with small hands such as mine, a ninth played as a second is also second nature but most folks think I'm just trying to do Steely Dan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iLaw Posted December 20, 2012 Share Posted December 20, 2012 ... This made me think of a guitarist that I used to play with that could not stand it if I played an inversion. If I moved from a I to a IV he always wanted me to retain the 1-3-5 structure ... That's just silly. I can't think of a single iconic keyboard part that all close root position triads. Don't let him find out that Crayola makes a 120-pack now. He's not ready. Larry. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timwat Posted December 20, 2012 Share Posted December 20, 2012 Don't let him find out that Crayola makes a 120-pack now. Wait...they make what? Back on topic, the only obvious reason I can think of to rigidly maintain a single structure (be it 1-3-5 or an inversion) from chord to chord is as an intentional "device", such as when you run an arpeggiator or sequencer to provide a background ostinato or similar. .. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
linwood Posted December 20, 2012 Share Posted December 20, 2012 Root go down.....vl go up....1 to 3....3 to 5....5 to 1 Root go up...vl go down....1 to 5....3 to 1....5 to 3 + or - 1db Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe Muscara Posted December 20, 2012 Share Posted December 20, 2012 There are no chords... "I'm so crazy, I don't know this is impossible! Hoo hoo!" - Daffy Duck "The good news is that once you start piano you never have to worry about getting laid again. More time to practice!" - MOI Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
16251 Posted December 20, 2012 Share Posted December 20, 2012 This made me think of a guitarist that I used to play with that could not stand it if I played an inversion. If I moved from a I to a IV he always wanted me to retain the 1-3-5 structure. Well, there's plenty of things guitarists play that I can't stand, either. But seriously, I play inversions all the time, usually whatever is the easiest to move to. Moving up and down the keyboard to retain the 1-3-5 structure would be asinine. unless your playing Louie Louie. AvantGrand N2 | ES520 | Gallien-Krueger MK & MP | https://soundcloud.com/pete36251 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skinny Posted December 20, 2012 Share Posted December 20, 2012 There are no chords... There's no spoon, either. http://www.fakesteve.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/photo_movieMatrix-quoteSpoon.jpeg Stuff and things. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mate stubb Posted December 20, 2012 Share Posted December 20, 2012 This made me think of a guitarist that I used to play with that could not stand it if I played an inversion. If I moved from a I to a IV he always wanted me to retain the 1-3-5 structure. Well, there's plenty of things guitarists play that I can't stand, either. But seriously, I play inversions all the time, usually whatever is the easiest to move to. Moving up and down the keyboard to retain the 1-3-5 structure would be asinine. unless your playing Louie Louie. Actually, Louie Louie uses 2nd inversion for 2 of the 3 chords. Moe --- Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daniel Heslop Posted December 20, 2012 Share Posted December 20, 2012 Lean on me is close to all roots isn't it? For me being self taught I still remember discovering inversions on my own and my whole world opened up! It is now a hall mark of my teaching. Learning a song with the right hand doing melody and chords, changing the inversion so the top note of the chord is the melody note, left hand playing bass, or I V VII patterns. So flexible! I just taught a 9 year old boy to play Amazing Grace this way, and an 81 year old gentleman Morning has broken based on Wakeman's solo piano version (plus the full Cat Stevens version intro). For both it was a revelation when I almost literally saw the light bulb go on. Stage: Korg Krome 88. Home: Korg Kross 61, Yamaha reface CS, Korg SP250, Korg mono/poly Kawai ep 608, Korg m1, Yamaha KX-5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
retrokeys Posted December 20, 2012 Share Posted December 20, 2012 Actually "Lean on Me" sounds like the kind of thing that a guitarist would play on piano if he was just fooling around with one. I don't know the story of how the song was actually written and I certainly mean no disrespect to Bill Withers. I've been a fan since I first saw him in the early 70's. I do suspect, though, that he might have been near a piano when that tune was born. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skinny Posted December 20, 2012 Share Posted December 20, 2012 Actually "Lean on Me" sounds like the kind of thing that a guitarist would play on piano if he was just fooling around with one. That's exactly what I think whenever I hear that song. When I first tried to play it a long time ago, I was like, "Who the f*** plays piano like this?" Stuff and things. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yorgatron Posted December 20, 2012 Share Posted December 20, 2012 Actually, Louie Louie uses 2nd inversion for 2 of the 3 chords. I use A C# E, A D F#, B E G, it sounds right to me anyway. I still have a hard time hearing anything more complicated than a major or minor 6th or 7th. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kanker. Posted December 20, 2012 Share Posted December 20, 2012 There are no chords... This A ROMpler is just a polyphonic turntable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wmp Posted December 21, 2012 Share Posted December 21, 2012 Inversions are indeed the spice of life. The wrong inversion is just the wrong spice. 5 1 3 is a wonder bread V chord. Try 3 7 #9. --wmp Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RABid Posted December 21, 2012 Author Share Posted December 21, 2012 I hated Lean On Me when it was in the top 40. I hated it even more when my piano teacher handed me the music to play. Even then I was thinking "Who wrote this?" I like the comment above about looking like it was written by a guitarist. This post edited for speling. My Sweetwater Gear Exchange Page Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wmp Posted December 21, 2012 Share Posted December 21, 2012 Lean On Me? Just 7 5 in the right and on the V chord. 7#9 would probably get you in trouble. --wmp Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kanker. Posted December 21, 2012 Share Posted December 21, 2012 For Lean On Me, it's best to play and ascending/descending Bb Locrian in the bass rather than the C Ionian.... A ROMpler is just a polyphonic turntable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Josh Paxton Posted December 21, 2012 Share Posted December 21, 2012 This made me think of a guitarist that I used to play with that could not stand it if I played an inversion. Glad to hear you've moved on from said idiotic guitarist. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Analogaddict Posted December 21, 2012 Share Posted December 21, 2012 Actually "Lean on Me" sounds like the kind of thing that a guitarist would play on piano if he was just fooling around with one. That's exactly what I think whenever I hear that song. When I first tried to play it a long time ago, I was like, "Who the f*** plays piano like this?" The Rhodes line is tasty though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MonksDream Posted December 21, 2012 Share Posted December 21, 2012 RABid - I can't believe this is even a discussion! No inversions? Really?? That guitar player was obviously aurally and musically challenged. Thankfully, most of us are not. Instrumentation is meaningless - a song either stands on its own merit, or it requires bells and whistles to cover its lack of adequacy, much less quality. - kanker Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Throbert Posted December 21, 2012 Share Posted December 21, 2012 no inversions, what are you, a Communist? Triton Extreme 76, Kawai ES3, GEM-RPX, HX3/Drawbar control, MSI Z97 MPower/4790K, Lynx Aurora 8/MADI/AES16e, OP-X PRO, Ptec, Komplete. Ashley MX-206. future MOTU M64 RME Digiface Dante for Mon./net Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bridog6996 Posted December 21, 2012 Share Posted December 21, 2012 I think Lean on Me is all first inversion. I hear the voice leading with the root on top, following the melody. Friggin' guitar players. If he specifically wants those certain top notes in the voicing, I suppose theoretically it's a valid request, but mt first inclination is that it's a matter of ignorance. My YouTube Channel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Throbert Posted December 21, 2012 Share Posted December 21, 2012 prety much all written music has inversions all over it. Triton Extreme 76, Kawai ES3, GEM-RPX, HX3/Drawbar control, MSI Z97 MPower/4790K, Lynx Aurora 8/MADI/AES16e, OP-X PRO, Ptec, Komplete. Ashley MX-206. future MOTU M64 RME Digiface Dante for Mon./net Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wmp Posted December 21, 2012 Share Posted December 21, 2012 I love inversions. I'm sure I'd enjoy them more if I understood all the kinky dominant and and sub dominant stuff. Modes confuse me too. I think I usually play in neanderthal mode. --wmp Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
retrokeys Posted December 21, 2012 Share Posted December 21, 2012 As to Lean On Me being all first inversion, well yes and no. RH, first inversion sure enough but with the bass line (another guitarist on piano special) it sounds like each chord is voiced 1-3-5 -1 as an octave of the bass note. The tip off is that it is played like the piano equivalent of a barre chord so major and minor thirds don't matter. Guitar player on piano for sure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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