Make Amazing Grace Bluesy

by jj

Learning an Instrument Completed

Learning an Instrument Journey Overview

Follow this step-by-step learning an instrument journey to see real progress updates, challenges overcome, and practical experience.

Progress Updates (4 total)

Update #1: Make Amazing Grace Bluesy

I had Amazing Grace stuck in my head this week. Decided to learn it on piano and this is two days of practice. I noticed when making a mistake, it's easy to create a jazzy feel to it. So, let's learn it then make it bluesy on purpose!
Challenges Overcome: Spent a couple days learning the basics. It's really only three chords, G D, F (or some variation of those). Took a minute to get pass the initial memorization and muscle memory phase. Learned from this vid: https://youtu.be/mDZvsfQippE

Update #2: Found a few good notes

50% complete
This helped me breakdown that there are really only 3 areas that need some tweaking some a bluesy sound. And really, only a few notes really need to change: Add a Fb, add an E, add Eb, and an F. Check out the link, Terry is the best at this.
Challenges Overcome: Broke the song into 3-4 patterned sections- as with these sections, good sounding variations can be made and added to different areas.
Obstacles Faced: Adding left hand, especially in a boogie woogie timing. Playing it sound smooth and precise.
Next Steps: Need to practice practice practice. Once practicing with these a lot, will be able to improv and make some cool stuff come out naturally.
Looking Back: Switch D-B to D-F-B. Switch C-E-G to C-(Eb+E)-G. Use a riff G-E, G-D, (Bb+B)-D, G

Update #3: Added left hand

85% complete
Found the base chords for the left hand. Now we have an easy way to find variations to make the song sound a little better!
Next Steps: Off to boogie
Looking Back: Turns out there's an A and D chord in there

Update #4: Got groovy with it

100% complete
More or less where I was envisioning the song. Still need to work on timing, and there are some areas where left hand could chop better, but it's fun to play around with. A little more practice and I think it'll be sounding pretty cool
Challenges Overcome: Combined both hands are getting more comfortable improving and having fun with it.
Obstacles Faced: Hard to keep chop rhythm with left hand while letting right hand do its thing
Next Steps: Practice more
Looking Back: Practice until you can just feel it then let it flow

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