I absolutely love adding chord substitutions to hymns! Chord substitutions add extra color and variety to gospel songs which normally contain infrequent chord changes.
Would you like to learn how to revitalize hymns like “Revive Us Again”? This particular hymn uses the same chord for at least four measures in a row!
Listen to the following audio of “Revive Us Again” with chord substitutions.
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So…what does the pianist need to know in order to add chord substitutions?
Let’s take one step at a time!
What Every Pianist Should Know BEFORE Adding Chord Substitutions:
1. A major scale is made up of 8 notes. For example, the C Major scale is made up of the following eight notes: CDEFGABC
2. So, each note of the scale is numbered one through eight. For example, C is one, D is two, etc. Now…create a three note chord (triad) on each note of the scale. Play CEG together. We call this the one chord because it’s built on the first note of the C scale. Now play DFA together. Yes, you’re playing the two chord in the key of C. Finish playing the rest of the C scale based triads until you reach the following C.
Here is a picture of what you should have played so far: C scale and then the C scale chords (triads). *Notice, the chords are numbered with the Roman numeral system. The upper case roman numeral indicates major chord, the lower case roman numeral indicates minor chord. For you theory buffs, I left out the diminished symbol for the vii chord….will explain that later.
You have learned the first foundational tool needed for adding chord substitutions. Application: Play the above scale and chords in the keys of G and F Major for ample reinforcement. * I chose easier scales for a reason….let’s keep life simple for now 😉
Hope this lesson has been clear thus far. Please feel free to ask any questions!
Just be patient with yourself and learn this basic step towards colorful playing! I’ll explain more in the next post.
I have posted audios for my piano solo arrangements of Amazing Grace & Saviour Like a Shepherd (from the Funeral Collection).. on youtube.
Several of my readers have asked if I could post all of the arrangements from my Funeral Collection on youtube. I will do so as time permits. Thanks for your interest!
These arrangements can also be used as offertories, vocal solos or violin specials! Saviour Like a Shepherd would also be appropriate for a wedding 😉
Most church pianists find it a challenge to dress-up hymns such as “O How I Love Jesus”. This particular hymn mainly consists of only two different chords the I and V chords)… with an occasional ii chord.
So…how to be creative with a hymn containing minimal chord changes? I’m glad you asked! 🙂
(I’m currently working on a congregational piano arrangement book for church pianists that need more than the hymnal to play from.)
“O How I Love Jesus” is one of the ones I’m working on now. The complete arrangement will have two verses. Click below to download the first verse of “O How I Love Jesus” FREE!
Hopefully, the following free congregational arrangement will spark some creative ideas of your own.
Do you find it challenging to find vocal specials for soloists with a limited voice range? I sure do! When I say “limited voice range” I mean a five to six note-spread.
Here are a few hymns that contain a five to six note spread…working great for the limited vocalist:
At the Cross
Wonderful Peace
Abide With Me
His Grace is Sufficient for Me by Mosie Lister
Oh How I Love Jesus
Take Time to Be Holy (Key of E flat may work better)
Take the World But Give Me Jesus by John R. Sweney (E flat may work better)
So Send I You (without special ending to avoid the high note)
*This is just a few of the old hymns that would be suitable for soloists with a limited voice range.
If you read the previous article on “Like a River Glorious” then the following will make sense.
I’m sharing a way that the right hand can climb back down the ladder after playing an octave higher during the first sentence of “Like a River Glorious”.
Here’s a quick tip that would make any church pianist sound much fuller when playing from the hymnal.
When improvising from the hymnal, the pianist can make the hymn sound fuller by playing 4 note chords in the right hand….allowing more space for the left hand to improvise.
“Like a River Glorious” is a great hymn to apply this idea…since the rhythm isn’t real busy…making it easier to maneuver.
The first two measures in the example below demonstrates the standard five-part style hymnplaying (3 notes in the right hand and 2 notes in the left hand).
The final two measures show the right hand playing an octave higher to allow room for the 4-note style in the right hand. One of my teachers from years back taught me the idea of playing a phrase in one general area and then gradually climbing back down or up (whichever the case may be) for variety.
Next time, I’ll show you a fun way the right hand can climb back down to the middle of the piano for the next phrase of “Like a River Glorious”.
One of my readers recently requested some arranging ideas for “Let Him Have His Way With Thee”. She said she hasn’t been able to find a piano arrangement of this particular hymn. So…I wrote a quickie for you all that will hopefully be a nice addition to your “free piano” arrangement collection 🙂
Click on song title to download your free piano arrangement of…
