The Ultimate Gospel Piano Course

This course is the most efficient way to quickly move from a beginner to an intermediate or even advanced level on the piano.

This is specially designed to take beginners with basic knowledge on the piano to an intermediate level faster than any other approach. We start with a recap of the basics and then move into more intermediate to advanced concepts. The concepts are broken down to make them easily understood.

Imagine being able to sit down at a piano and PLAY - Gospel and Contemporary Piano Music without the need to read sheet music? Now you can easily achieve this within weeks not years and without wasting money, time, and effort on traditional Piano Lessons.

Absolute beginners should take my beginner course [The Ultimate Play Piano By Ear Course | Easy Piano Lessons] before proceeding to this course.

High Definition Videos and PDF Resources

With an overhead camera and light-activated piano roll, you can easily see what fingers are used as well as the exact notes that are being played. The knowledge obtained from this course can be applied to other genres of music like Ballad style, Blues, Jazz, etc as you are equipped with the knowledge to create your own music.

The course is divided into 9 easy to follow sections:

Recap of the Basics
Harmonic & Melodic Intervals
Seventh Chord Voicings
Chord Options for Root Notes Within the Major Scale
Chord Options for Root Notes Outside the Major Scale
Popular Gospel and Contemporary Chord Progressions
More Intermediate Concepts

What's inside

Learning objectives

Play gospel piano by ear
Play contemporary piano by ear
Learn seventh chords and some advanced chord extensions with an easy system
Learn chord options for notes within the major scale

Learn chord options for notes outside the major scale
Learn to play any song out there using chords studied in this course
Learn popular jazz, contemporary and gospel chord progressions

Play gospel piano by ear
Play contemporary piano by ear
Learn seventh chords and some advanced chord extensions with an easy system
Learn chord options for notes within the major scale
Learn chord options for notes outside the major scale
Learn to play any song out there using chords studied in this course
Learn popular jazz, contemporary and gospel chord progressions

Syllabus

In this section, you will find quick snippets of the basics. I recommend to go through this section quickly based on which lecture title you are not so confident about. You may skip this section.

The purpose of this section is to provide you with a quick recap of the basics in order to proceed to the intermediate lessons.

For students who have already taken my beginner course, kindly skip this entire section. Feel free to go through to refresh your memories on the basic concepts.

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Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Builds upon basic piano knowledge and quickly transitions learners to intermediate and advanced gospel piano techniques

Teaches seventh chords and advanced chord extensions, which are essential for playing gospel and contemporary music

Explores chord options for notes both within and outside the major scale, expanding learners' harmonic vocabulary

Requires learners to first complete a beginner piano course, which may pose a barrier to entry for some

Features high-definition videos with an overhead camera and light-activated piano roll, which facilitates visual learning

Focuses on gospel and contemporary music, but the knowledge can be applied to other genres like ballad, blues, and jazz

Reviews summary

Play gospel piano by ear

According to learners, this course offers an effective approach to learning gospel and contemporary piano by ear. Students highlight the course's focus on chord voicings and popular progressions as particularly useful for developing practical playing skills without relying on sheet music. The video demonstrations, often featuring an overhead camera and lighted keys, are frequently mentioned as being clear and easy to follow, aiding understanding of finger placement and notes. While many find the course successful in bridging the gap from basic knowledge to intermediate/advanced concepts, some reviewers note that the pace can be quick at times and express a desire for more practice exercises or song examples.

Skills learned extend beyond just gospel music.

"While focused on gospel, the chord knowledge is applicable to jazz, blues, and contemporary styles too."

"I'm using these concepts to play pop songs as well, not just gospel."

"Great foundation that translates well to other musical genres."

Demonstrations are easy to see and follow along.

"The overhead camera view and the lighted keys make it so easy to see exactly what notes are being played."

"High-definition videos are great for following the fingering and hand positions."

"Visuals are top-notch, really helping to reinforce the concepts being taught."

Breakdown of complex chords and progressions is clear.

"The way seventh chords and their voicings are explained is incredibly clear and easy to grasp."

"Understanding chord options for notes, both inside and outside the scale, was made simple."

"The popular chord progressions section breaks down common movements in a very understandable way."

Teaches playing without sheet music using chords.

"This course is excellent! It completely demystifies playing by ear using chords."

"I finally feel like I can sit down and figure out songs using the chord concepts taught here."

"Playing gospel music without needing sheet music is now possible thanks to these lessons."

Reviewers wished for more exercises or song examples.

"The concepts are great, but I wish there were more songs or exercises to practice them with."

"Could use more guided practice sessions or assignments."

"Adding more musical examples to apply the theory would be very beneficial."

The course pace may feel quick for some learners.

"Sometimes the pace feels a bit fast, requiring frequent pausing and rewatching sections."

"I consider myself intermediate, but I struggled to keep up with some of the lectures."

"Might be challenging if you don't have solid basic knowledge before starting."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in The Ultimate Gospel Piano Course | Intermediate to Advanced with these activities:

Review Basic Music Theory

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Solidify your understanding of fundamental music theory concepts like scales, chords, and key signatures. This will provide a stronger foundation for understanding the more advanced concepts covered in the course.

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Review major and minor scales and their construction.
Practice identifying intervals by ear.
Review basic chord types (major, minor, dominant).

Chord Voicing Exercises

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Practice different seventh chord voicings in all keys. This will improve your finger dexterity and your ability to quickly apply different voicings in real-time playing.

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Choose a seventh chord type (e.g., dominant 7th).
Practice playing the chord in different inversions.
Repeat the exercise in all 12 keys.

Review 'The Jazz Piano Book' by Mark Levine

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Explore jazz piano techniques to broaden your harmonic vocabulary. This will add depth and sophistication to your gospel piano playing.

View For all musicians, jazz piano voicings on Amazon

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Read the sections on chord voicings and substitutions.
Practice applying the techniques to gospel progressions.
Experiment with different voicings in your playing.

Three other activities

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Compose a Short Gospel Chord Progression

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Compose a short gospel chord progression using the chord options and progressions learned in the course. This will help you internalize the concepts and develop your own musical voice.

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Select a key and time signature.
Choose a few chords from the course material.
Arrange the chords into a progression.
Record yourself playing the progression.

Review 'Gospel Chops' by Darrian Ford

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Study gospel-specific piano techniques and licks. This will enhance your ability to play authentic gospel piano music.

View Putting Knowledge to Work on Amazon

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Study the different gospel piano licks and patterns.
Practice incorporating the licks into your playing.
Analyze the harmonic structure of the licks.

Transcribe a Gospel Piano Solo

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Transcribe a gospel piano solo from a recording. This will improve your ear training and your understanding of gospel piano techniques.

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Choose a gospel piano solo to transcribe.
Listen to the solo and notate the chords and melody.
Analyze the harmonic structure of the solo.
Practice playing the solo.

Career center

Learners who complete The Ultimate Gospel Piano Course | Intermediate to Advanced will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Music Minister

A music minister leads music in a religious setting, and this course directly aligns with the skills needed for this role. This course focuses on gospel and contemporary music, which are often used in ministry settings. The course's instruction on chord progressions, seventh chords and playing by ear can all enhance the music minister's ability to lead congregational singing or a choir. The course's material is a great fit for a music minister in a church or worship setting.

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Keyboardist

A keyboardist performs music using keyboard instruments, and this course is a great resource for learning musical theory and technique pertinent to keyboard performance. The course focuses on intermediate to advanced piano skills, and it delves into chord voicings, progressions, and playing by ear, which can help a keyboardist to expand their repertoire. The specific focus on gospel and contemporary music makes this course very useful for keyboardists within those genres.

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Church Musician

A church musician works with music in religious services. This course is a great fit for someone wanting to become a Church musician due to its focus on gospel and contemporary styles. The course's teachings on popular chord progressions and chord voicings in these styles can assist a church musician in enhancing their musicality when leading congregational singing. The training in playing by ear may prove very useful for a church musicians who leads music for worship, and the study of seventh chords, and their extensions, can add depth to their playing.

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Pianist

A pianist performs music on the piano, and this course may help develop the skills needed to play gospel and contemporary music. This course focuses on an intermediate to advanced level, which can help a pianist expand their repertoire and versatility. The lessons on seventh chords, chord options, and popular chord progressions directly contribute to a pianist's ability to play complex songs. Specifically, the course teaches how to play by ear, a valuable skill for any pianist looking to play a wide range of music without relying on sheet music.

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Worship Leader

A worship leader guides music during religious services. This course is well-suited for a worship leader who wants to improve their piano playing skills. The course emphasizes playing gospel and contemporary music, which are common styles in worship settings. By learning seventh chords and popular chord progressions, a worship leader can play with more depth and variety. The ability to play by ear, which this course stresses, may help a worship leader adapt to different musical settings and lead congregational singing more effectively.

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Music Arranger

A music arranger adapts existing musical compositions for specific instruments or ensembles. This course may be a great fit as it provides a foundational understanding of harmony, melodic intervals, and chord voicings, which are essential for music arrangement. Knowledge of seventh chords and chord progressions, as taught in this course, allows an arranger to create richer and more complex arrangements. Specifically, this course's focus on gospel and contemporary music would aid an arranger in this genre, making it an excellent resource.

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Accompanist

An accompanist plays a musical instrument, typically the piano, to support a soloist or group. This course may benefit those looking to become an accompanist, particularly in gospel or contemporary settings. The course's progression from basic to advanced concepts in chords and voicings may help an accompanist learn to play a variety of musical styles. The ability to play by ear, which this course emphasizes, is critical for an accompanist who must quickly learn and adapt to the needs of a performer. The material on chord options, various progressions, and open slash chords can assist an accompanist in enhancing their musicality and versatility.

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Session Musician

A session musician is a skilled instrumentalist who performs in recording studios and live performances. This course may be helpful for session musicians who want to improve their piano skills for a variety of musical styles. The course covers essential topics like seventh chords, chord voicings and progressions. The ability to understand and create chord progressions by ear, as taught in this course, is a valuable skill that can enhance the session musician’s versatility. This course may allow a session musician to approach different kinds of music.

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Music Teacher

A music teacher instructs students in musical techniques. This course may prove valuable for music teachers, particularly those focusing on piano or contemporary music. The course’s structure, moving from basic concepts to advanced techniques, provides a learning framework applicable to teaching methods. The emphasis on playing by ear and understanding chord theory can give a teacher the means to show students how to develop their skills. The course's focus on gospel and contemporary music will further expand a music teacher’s range of instruction.

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Musical Director

A musical director oversees the musical aspects of a performance or production. This course may be a valuable tool for an aspiring musical director, especially when considering musical direction for gospel or contemporary music. The course covers topics like chord voicing, harmonic and melodic intervals, and popular chord progressions; this can give a musical director a foundation in musical arrangement. Additionally, the ability to play by ear, taught in this course, can aid a musical director to convey their musical vision to performers.

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Songwriter

A songwriter creates original musical compositions, and this course may contribute to a songwriter's understanding of music theory. This course’s content on intervals, seventh chords, and chord progressions can provide a songwriter with more advanced tools to create compelling songs within the gospel and contemporary genres. The course's emphasis on playing by ear may help a songwriter become more creative and develop melodies and harmonies. This course can also help a songwriter learn how to structure songs through a study of progressions.

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Choir Director

A choir director leads and directs a choir, and this course may be useful for those looking to lead a gospel or contemporary choir. The course's concepts related to harmony, melodic intervals, and chord progressions can help a choir director in the arrangement of vocals and accompaniment. This course's teaching on playing by ear can also help a choir director with the musicality required to direct a choir. In all, this course may allow a choir director to be more creative.

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Private Music Instructor

A private music instructor teaches music lessons to individual students. This course may provide a foundational knowledge of intermediate to advanced piano techniques, which can give a private music instructor a strong command of playing skills. The course delves into music theory, chord progressions, and playing by ear, which can help a private music instructor teach these skills to their students. This course's focus on gospel and contemporary music may allow a private music instructor to expand their teaching repertoire.

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Band Leader

A band leader directs the musical performance of a band or ensemble, and this course may be helpful, especially if the band is focused in the genre of gospel or contemporary. This course's focus on chord progressions and voicings can help a band leader arrange music and guide their band effectively. The course's focus on playing by ear may further assist a band leader in quickly identifying and working on musical ideas with the band, facilitating rehearsals and live performances.

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Music Supervisor

A music supervisor selects music for films, television, or other media. This course may be helpful for those seeking to become a music supervisor. A music supervisor will need a practical understanding of harmony and music styles, and this course's teaching on chord voicings, progressions, and the gospel and contemporary genres can provide the foundation for that. The ability to play by ear as taught in this course can further refine the music supervisor's ability to recognize a good opportunity for music placement.

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Intermediate to Advanced

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What's inside

Learning objectives

Syllabus

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Reviews summary

Play gospel piano by ear

Activities

Career center

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