Piano Accompaniment

[wjdgpdbs]

To start off, I've been playing the piano ever since I was six-years-old. I'm now seventeen and have no problem reading or performing works of composers like Chopin, Beethoven, and Debussy.

I've also been practicing accompaniments for my church, but strangely enough, I've found it really hard. I was so used to just reading and playing the notes on pieces that I have no idea how to create my own melody from the chords.

My problem is that although I know the chords, I have no idea how to put them together to create a melody. Any suggestions for me?

[rhpatten]

To accompany hymns, and singers in general, you yourself can practice, not just by playing the piano or organ, but by SINGING.  Start by singing the melody line to the open vowel "AW", and then sing it again putting in all the words.  Please do this often in private, as part of your practising routine. 

From your question, it sounds as if someone has given you accompaniments with "just chord names" .  Am I right?  If so, who chooses the music?  Where did this person get it from?  Have they written out the chords themselves by hand? All you need to do is to find the original copy from which they got it, where the music with its proper melody will be printed in full.   If the chords are in a publisher's printed edition ("busking book" style?) contact the publisher because there is SURE TO BE a full copy in existence with all the notes including the tune and words completely written out.   Buy the book ....    or get the church to buy it for you.

I am really pleased that you are enjoying piano accompaniment because it can be the most rewarding aspect of piano-playing, both financially and socially within your community.   

[mad_max2024]

https://www.pianostreet.com/smf/index.php/topic,30942.msg378700/topicseen.html#msg378700

Maybe you can find some help here

[timothy42b]

From your question, it sounds as if someone has given you accompaniments with "just chord names" . 

That would be my guess too.  They are playing from "lead sheets" which have just a melody line with guitar chord names written in.

You shouldn't write these chords out.  Playing from lead sheets is too useful a skill, and at your level of performance is too easy to learn. 

There is an inexpensive book in the music stores called How to Play from a Lead Sheet or something like that.  It was very helpful to me when I started playing with a praise and worship band in church.  It might be a little elementary for you.  Or go to Greg Howlett's site on Becoming a Church Pianist, it has a good section on lead sheets. 

By the way, you don't have to memorize thousands of chords.  Guitars can only play in D and usually only 3 - 5 chords.  (humor)

If you're talking block chord style, where you play thick right hand chords with the melody on top, that's a different story.