ApostolicPraiseSOM

The Big Four

If you really want to level up your playing quick, do this.

Well, hold on...first you need to know the BIG FOUR.

These four chords make up probably 80%-100% of most songs.

They are the 1, 4, 5 and 6m.

Or the same chords we use to play songs like

- How Great Is Our God — Chris Tomlin
- Break Every Chain — Tasha Cobbs
- Way Maker — Sinach
- When I Shout — Eddie James
- Chain Breaker — Zach Williams
- Amazing Grace — written by John Newton
- This Place — (FPCNLR)
- The More I Seek You — written by Zach Neese
- O How I Love Jesus — written by Frederick Whitfield
- You Are Holy, O So Holy — Hillsong Worship
- Throne Room Song — People & Songs / Charity Gayle

- Blessed Be Your Name — Matt Redman
- Freedom — Eddie James
- Every Praise — Hezekiah Walker

What do these songs have in common?

They only use the 1, 4, 5 and 6m chords.

So here's how YOU are going to level up today.

Let's take one of these songs "How Great Is Our God" and learn it in all 12 keys.

BUT FIRST, you have to know all of your major and minor chords backwards and forwards.
Learn those at www.apostolicpsom.com/ap-100-piano-free/.

Next, learn how to play "How Great Is Our God" in all 12 keys at www.apostolicpsom.com/the-big-four/.

What is this going to do?
1) Teach you the 1, 4, 5 and 6m in ALL 12 keys.
2) Help your ear
3) Solidify all the major and minor chords
4) Teach you how to play it in a basic way

What will it NOT do?
1) Tell you if you are playing it right OR not
2) Push and motivate you to do it
3) Help you fix what you might be doing right
4) Give you the confidence you are playing it right
5) Tell you what fills and advance chords you could do to make it even better

To learn how to accomplish all of these things, schedule a free strategy session at www.click.apostolicpsom.com/class


#apostolicpraiseschoolofmusic #pianolessons #worship #ministry #praiseandworship #ApostolicPraise #LearnSomethingNew #worshipmusic #pianolessons

1 month ago (edited) | [YT] | 3

ApostolicPraiseSOM

The one trick that will completely transform your playing and sound


This is when you move from 7ths to 9ths.


7ths sound okay. Honestly, they sound kind of old school.


But when you add a 9th to your 7th - its like adding some homemade salsa to your taco - it just takes it up a notch!

And it's super easy because the 9 is the same as your 2.

So just take any 7th chord (providing you are playing it the RIGHT way with the 7th on the BOTTOM).

And then add the 2 or the 9 to the chord.

So Am7 (G C E with A bass) becomes Am9 (G B C E with A bass).

Listen to how much better that sounds!

C7 becomes C9. (Bb E G with C bass turns into Bb D E G with C bass)

Fmaj7 becomes Fmaj9 (E A C with F bass becomes E G A C with F bass).

Easy trick to remember this is 7 + 2 = 9.

So ANYTIME you have a 7th chord, just change it into a 9th chord (99% of the time).

You're welcome and God bless!

Bro Richard

#apostolicpraiseschoolofmusic #pianolessons #worship #ministry #praiseandworship #ApostolicPraise #LearnSomethingNew #worshipmusic #pianolessons

1 month ago | [YT] | 2

ApostolicPraiseSOM

5 Tips to Upgrade Your Playing Immediately

Are you tired of sounding boring when you play?

Here are a few tips to upgrade your sound.



FOR SLOWER WORSHIP SONGS
1) Suspended 2 chords.

Add the 2nd note of the scale to EVERY major chord.

And I mean every major chord.

For example: Change CEG (boring) to CDG or CDEG

2) Minor 7th chords.

Add the b7 note of the scale to every minor chord.

NOT on the top either! (ugh sounds terrible)

Just move your root note down 2 half steps (2 notes)

For example: Change ACE (A minor) to G C E with A bass

3) Add more rhythm.

Instead of straight 1-2-3-4 with your chords, play on the 1, the 2.5 and the 4 beats.

Sounds WAY cooler!

4) Add a rolling bass line. Play 1-5-1 in your left hand.

5) Learn the rest of your chords – 9ths, 11ths, 13ths, augmented, diminished, and many more!

There are WAY more you can use. (32 actually and major and minor chords are only 2 of those)



FOR FAST SONGS

1) Play more dominant 7ths and 9ths.

2) Learn funky passing chords

3) Add more rhythm (like above for worship songs)

4) Learn the rest of your chords.

5) Learn how to vamp.



BONUS TIP: Learn more songs.

– But if you skip to this instead of growing in your theory, your playing will sound stale over time.

– This is how people get stuck and frustrated in their playing.

If you are feeling stuck and frustrated, trying to learn let’s break you out of that!

Start by booking a strategy session with me here to see if one of our programs is a good fit for you, then watch our free masterclass.



God bless!



Bro Richard

1 month ago | [YT] | 5

ApostolicPraiseSOM

I have a new favorite music Scripture!

One of my favorite Scriptures has always been Psalm 27:4 "One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to enquire in his temple."


BUT, I might have a NEW favorite Scripture about living for God and playing music. Isaiah 38:20 "The LORD was ready to save me: therefore we will sing my songs to the stringed instruments all the days of our life in the house of the LORD."


What a great verse for musicians! So many great musicians have turned away from living for God over the years to follow a dead-end road that has no true fulfillment playing worldly music, but what a blessing it is to be able to play and worship God in song and music.


That's something I want to do all the days of my life!


I have played in church for about 20 years and it has been one of my greatest joys.


But I have also played at home with my family and by myself many times and that has been JUST as much fun.


I have had times where worship or praise just broke out during a playing session! If you've never had that happen, it's pretty incredible!


One time we were going through a difficult financial period and I sat down to play at the piano.


The next thing I knew, the Spirit hit me and I started worshipping and praising God! LOL!


And I got a new job the next day. Talk about praising him in advance!


Hope this blesses you and encourages you to keep playing! Keep it fun! And make it YOUR goal to play for Him all the days of your life.



God bless,


Bro Richard


P.S. It's halfway through the week! Remember to learn something new and practice the OLD today. Use the Daily Review Routine at the top of each phase.



#apostolicpraiseschoolofmusic #MusicScripture #LiveForGod #PlayForGod #WorshipThroughMusic

2 months ago | [YT] | 16

ApostolicPraiseSOM

The importance of knowing your chords

Many musicians don't really understand chords.

In fact, I would say probably over 50% of the students I work with don't even know all 12 of their MAJOR and MINOR chords.

Now, there are about 32 chords that we use in gospel music. (WOW - that's a LOT).

BUT you DON'T need to learn ALL of them - depending on the style of gospel music you want to learn to play
- Southern Gospel
- Contemporary
- Black Gospel
- Pentecostal
- Traditional
- Hymns
- Jamaican / Island
- African

In fact, you can play MOST songs and sound good with JUST four chords.
1) Major Chords (most important)
2) Minor Chords (2nd most important)
3) Suspended 2 Chords
4) Minor 7th Chords (but you have to play them in a specific way - NOT the traditional way)

Always play minor 7th chords like this. Am = A C E Am7 = G C E over A bass note.
Always put the b7 note on the BOTTOM of the chord - NOT the top.

Most musicians put it at the top.

With just these four chords, are you going to sound like you want to?

Probably not.

But can you get through a service with the right rhythmic techniques? Most likely - yes!

So if you don't know all your major and minor chords yet, learn those like TODAY!

We have some free lessons to teach them to you WAY easier than what you and most people probably do (play C major, then Db major, then D, etc. - worst way to learn them).

Check out our free lesson in AP 100 Lesson 1 on how to learn them quickly here: www.ApostolicPSOM.com/2free

Or if you need more 1-on-1 help, book a FREE strategy session here and we can help you figure out which program would be best for you at: www.Apostolicpsom.com/call

God bless,

Bro Richard

2 months ago | [YT] | 7