Playing Mood Music Video By Greg Howlett

In this video, Greg Howlett teaches how to play soft piano music when playing reflective songs.

You can download the example used in the video here.

Here's an outline on what you'll learn in this video:

Outline - Playing Mood Music with Greg Howlett

I. General Principles

A. Focus on harmony. You have to know what notes belong to what chord.

B. Spread out the notes you play. Use open voicing

C. Less is More! Play less

1. Simplify the patterns you play.
2. Avoid doubling/octaves.

"Train your ear. It's your best tool."

II. Beginning Techniques (Applications)

A. Open arpeggios (left hand)

B. Play open intervals in both hands (rather than octaves). Play 6ths, 5ths, 7ths, 9ths, 10ths but avoid octaves.

C. Broken chords. Play parts of a chord in different segments of time.

1. It makes you have more control over the sound.
2. It creates movement; it fills up space.

D. Take your time (Rubato, "out of time"). This helps remove tension from the music.

III. Advanced (Harmony) Techniques

A. Add 7ths to your triads. (Major 7ths or minor 7ths).

B. Chord substitutions (reharmonization). [see also Some Reharmonization Ideas from Greg Howlett]

C. Color notes. Notes added to chords in addition to 1, 3, 5, and 7

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