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Home Music Theory Music Theory – 4 Ways To Change a Song

Music Theory – 4 Ways To Change a Song

February 11, 2015 By admin 3 Comments

Music Theory is very useful because knowing it not only makes you a more competent musician, it helps you understand how to make great song arrangements. We’re running a special on our Reading Music and Music Theory Courses.

I made you this short video lesson on how to change a song 4 different ways. There are hundreds of ways to play any song. Try out this one, ‘Away in a Manger’, and let me know what you think.

I recently uploaded a post around the song ‘Heavenly Father.’ That actually has several other examples of changing the arrangement of a song and making it your own. It has three verses and each is unique.

There were requests for the specific arrangement in the video, so I made a guitar lesson around it…. Heavenly Father Guitar lesson.

An easy way to vary a song is by changing the right-hand patterns. There are many different strumming and finger-picking patterns that you can use. You can also change the chords. I don’t get into the many varieties of chord substitutions, but do change the chords all to 9 chords.

You can hear it in the last version of ‘Away in a Manger.’ Using 9s is a quick and easy way to add interest to your songs. Besides changing the color of a specific chord, there are also other types of chord substitutions.

You can look at a chord chart to see how to hold down these types of chords, but it’s actually the best to understand how they are formed so you don’t have to always have a chord chart with you.

As music majors in college, we were required to take music theory classes. I’m grateful for the education I had and hope to share it with you.

Wishing you a lifetime filled with beautiful music!

Learn About Our Music Theory Course

Learn Many More Ideas On Song Arrangement Plus Music Theory Click here to access learn about the Music Theory Course

Filed Under: Music Theory, Song Arrangements

Comments

  1. Tim Stevens says

    May 11, 2015 at 12:27 am

    This is something I always wanted to do. I would love to try your music theory course. I pray it will help me.

    Reply
  2. Frank says

    January 7, 2017 at 9:45 pm

    I always enjoy different voicing for chords. Adding 9th, 6 etc. Open voicing are always interesting also. Thanks for the lesson.

    Frank

    Reply
    • admin says

      January 9, 2017 at 4:49 am

      Thanks for your comment Frank. Adding 9ths and other chords does make the song richer. Glad you enjoyed the post. 🙂

      Reply

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