It Does Get Easier!

[bellowbelle]

This morning, after looking around and noticing for a moment all the housework I should do, I practiced that art of detachment and separated myself from the situation, and then attached myself to my concertina.

 

I randomly played that magic 3-chord package of '1, 4, 5' (I - IV - V) in a few of the easy keys, then in various keys with more sharps and flats, just sort of 'noodling' or whatever they call that.

 

I can hardly believe how much easier it's become for me to play in keys other than C or G!!! I haven't been practicing this progression specifically, but just that fact that I've been practicing AT ALL has made the whole works go better.

[Jeff Stallard]

While I'm still clueless when it comes to chords, I certainly do agree that it does get easier. I was able to get through 'Claire de Lune' (the easy first part anyway) and Massenet's 'Meditation' last night. It was a little ugly, but I've never been able to get through them before; I always got frustrated and quit. It feels pretty good.

 

Oh, and for the record, it was a version of 'Meditation' that was shifted an octave lower than the "real" version, so that makes it a little easier.

[bellowbelle]

Jeff, I'm wondering what key you play Clare de Lune in...Db, I'm guessing? Is that the original key?

 

I 'know' (meaning I recognize) Clare de Lune at least for the most part, but not Massenet's 'Meditation.' I looked for Clare de Lune at Schubertline.com, didn't find it there, but I did find it at

sheetmusicdirect.us. Here's one of the links: Clare de Lune

 

What's nice, I just discovered, is that I can get a 'fake book' copy -- that gives the chords -- as well as a copy that has the correct counterpoint (but no chords).

 

The are both in different keys -- Db for the 'real' copy, and 'D' for the fake book copy. But, it wouldn't be too hard to pencil-in the chords a 1/2-step DOWN (edited here), I guess.

 

So maybe I'll try that one, too.

 

I like to play things as written by the original composer but (especially since I don't really sightread music too well) I like to know the chord progressions, too....I figure them out myself, but, I have no complaints if someone else has already done that part!

 

Edit added...I meant to say '1/2-step DOWN, not up....play in the Db key but lower the fake book chords. However, since this post, I've found a copy in 'The Classical Fake Book,' in the key of C, and maybe I'll just go with that one. Tricky timing, though, for sure!

Edited March 11, 2005 by bellowbelle