what notes do you play when doing runs

[CP]

I was watching some guy play the keyboard today. He was playing beautifully. He was playing chords mostly and connecting them smoothly. Then he started playing runs up and down the keyboard. I was very impressed. Matter of fact, I'm impressed when my music teacher does it. When I ask him what he's playing he always tells me "Don't worry about it, you'll get there one day. Just concentrate on the basics." Since I'm tired of hearing that answer, I figure I'll ask here.

 

What notes do people play when they are doing runs. Is it notes of the chord, or the pentatonic scale, or some other formula.

 

Second question, if I'm practicing my voicings, what's the best way to connect the chords? I hope that makes sense. Example, if I'm practing the ii-V7-I progression in the key of C, and I play the Dm7, what notes can I play before I play the G7 that would connect the chords smoothly?

 

Thanks. And by the way, I decided I will start playing with my friend who has the studio and has been asking me to jam with him. I got some real good advice from you guys and decided to go for it. Once again, thanks.

[D_dup3]

There are many formulae that you might work from but really the choice depends on the song & style you are playing.

I suggest that you find music that contains the particular things (chord changes, etc.) you are studying & then exploring the variations that seem best to you.

Certainly a teacher can help guide you though this but you shouldn't depend on just what others tell you or look for any "foolproof" answers.

Remember, it depends on context!

[Dave Horne]

One thing to try is this - when you come across something you like, something that sounds good, __analyze__ what you've done.

 

I think in terms of scale degrees. Write it down on a piece of paper or manuscript paper. Since you've analyzed what you've done, now try, just for the heck of it, to play that lick, run, pattern, ... whatever, in different keys.

 

You will build up a bag of tricks that you can dip into when you don't feel particularly creative.

 

At some point, you might want to approach playing every lick, pattern, run (whatever), in every key.

 

Start simple, _but_ know intellectually (as well as under your finger tips) what you are playing.

 

My two cents, Dave Horne

[Dave Pierce]

Originally posted by CP:

What notes do people play when they are doing runs. Is it notes of the chord, or the pentatonic scale, or some other formula.

 

Yes, yes, and yes. Seriously though, it depends a lot on the style of music. Most of my runs are on the pentatonic. I play mostly rock and blues, and even my blues has a "rocky" flavor to it. If it's a sweet ballad, I might play a run that's more like the notes of the chord I'm in, with perhaps a 6th or 9th.

 

Also, if you want to play a run that spans more than a couple of octaves, don't worry about hitting every note. If the first and last four or five notes are on, the rest can be sloppy, and sometimes it even sounds better sloppy. Of course, maybe I just think that because I'm a sloppy technician, I don't know...

 

Second question, if I'm practicing my voicings, what's the best way to connect the chords? I hope that makes sense. Example, if I'm practing the ii-V7-I progression in the key of C, and I play the Dm7, what notes can I play before I play the G7 that would connect the chords smoothly?

Kind of depends on the melody of the song really. But a generic example for your specific question, would be something like this:

 

Dm7 chord

D-C-B melody

G chord (at the same time as the B above)

C-D-C melody

C chord (at the same time as the C above)

 

Man, we really need a way to do notation in this forum!!!

 

Hope this helps, and good luck with the jam session.

 

--Dave

[Superbobus]

Man, we really need a way to do notation in this forum!!!

I don't you if this is possible on a PC but with Macs you can make desktop pictures. How about making a desktop picture of your sheet, save it as a jpeg and copy it to the message? Never done this so I'm not sure if I'm right. Looks like a lot of work too.

 

Soulstars