The Church Pianist: Using Chord Substitutions for..... More About Jesus

New website: http://thechurchpianist.com/

I enjoy using chord substitutions for a hymn

that would normally sound rather plain.

The hymn, More About Jesus, has a rather

mundane bass line. The whole song mainly

consists of the one (I) and five (V) chord.

This particular hymn is written in A flat.

Therefore, the one chord is A flat and the

V chord is E flat (E flat is the fifth note

of the A flat scale).

I will show you the vocal score against the

piano score so you can see what I changed.

Please remember, the piano score will only

work as a piano solo because the chord substitu-

tions would clash with the vocal parts.

Editor's notes for Part One of More About Jesus

Measure One:

I used a IV chord in the left hand on the

syllable..."Je" of the word "Jesus".

A IV chord can be inserted when the I chord

lasts 3 beats or more beats.

The right hand is playing a suspended chord

which I will explain in another lesson.

Measure two:

Left hand plays a stepping down pattern leading

into the vi 7 chord on the word "know".

Alot is happening in this measure to the next

measure.

So....when a I chord lasts for 3 or more beats and

is moving into a V chord....you can substitute the

I chord with the vi chord and....

Measure three:

.....then substitute the V chord with the ii 7 (as long

as the V chord lasts long enough to resolve back to

the V chord...basically three or more beats.

The original chord progression for the vocal score is...

Measure one: I chord

Measure two: I chord

Measure three: V chord

Measure four: I chord

The new chord progression in the piano score is...

Measure one: I to a IV

Measure two: I to a vi 7

Measure three: ii 7 to a V 7

Measure four: I chord

I'm in somewhat of a rush but hope I've made myself

clear.

We leave in the morning for Pigeon Forge and i'm

looking forward to dreaming up more articles on the

trip!