How to identify melody notes.

[Arnak]

Hi Folks,

I wonder if anyone has any ideas on how to determine what melody notes and chord improvs are used in a keyboard video.

For example, a YouTube video of Spanis Eyes played on the Tyros.

I have the sheet music but the additional improvisations happen too quickly for me to identify the notes used, also the view is not from overhead but slightly to the side.

Does anyone know of any way to identify the notes played perhaps a piece of software that would do the trick?

I have tried Chordify but that appears to list the left-hand chords, not the melody.

So if anyone has any ideas I would be most grateful.

Martin

[panos]

Hi Martin,
there is a function on Youtube (on settings) to slow down the video to 0.75 speed
where you can still hear clearly the notes at a reduced tempo,
or sometimes at 0.5 speed (half the speed) may also help.

I don't know any reliable program that can undedify all the notes from a song.

[Arnak]

Hi Panos,

Thanks for that tip I'll give it a try.

Martin

[hammer]

Arnak,
Generally the additional notes in a melody are based on the chords played in the song - ie the chord progression of the song.  Knowing music theory is very helpful when attempting to improvise.

Deane

[Mikk]

Have you seen this tutorial?


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VR500I-dA5U

[mikf]

Software ?? - Just use your ears Martin. That is what music is about.
Mike

[Arnak]

Hi Folks,

Thanks for the info.

No, I hadn't seen the piano tutorial so that was very useful!

I have started to learn music theory and have begun to understand about using chord inversions.

As for using my ears... I do try but to get to a state where I am happy with my improvisations is a long way off.

Especially when you see and hear good players as it makes my attempts sound poor to my ears.

I will press on and hope I'll get there one day.

Martin

[pjd]

Hi Martin --

Just adding to Deane's comment...

The chords determine the underlying scale, i.e., the notes which are most likely to be used in the melody. That should at least get you into the right neighborhood.

Sheet music or lead sheets are guides. When I'm playing, I don't always look at the individual notes. I read each bar (or two) like a sentence and it tells me what tones (notes) make up the melodic phrase. At the same time, I'm singing the melody in my head. Somehow, all of this translates to the hand gestures needed to play what I'm hearing in my head.

Lead sheets are usually just an approximation. Feel free to "play around" the melody and improvisation will quickly follow. Please don't be afraid to make "mistakes." With practice, the scale notes will feel natural under your hands.

Hope this helps! Keep havin' fun -- pj

[DerekA]

Depending on which model you have ..you can Use the Aux In to record the audio from YouTube into a wav file on your keyboard, then use the audio player to play that wav file back at a reduced speed. This might make it easier to play along and pick out the notes, since you're not having to go back and forward to another device.

[mikf]

None of us were born being able to improvise, we develop it by doing it - trial and error, listening to others,  copying and imitating. Start simple with little link sequences, small melody changes and fills. You will eventually start to hear appropriate little phrases in your head to play. Like everything in life some people get better than others, but I believe everyone can learn to do it to some level.
Mike

[Mikk]

Software ?? - Just use your ears Martin. That is what music is about.
Mike

My brother-in-law was taught by nuns theory of classical music and practical on piano for 16 years from the age of 4 years. now If you give him any sheet music he can play it perfectly.  And after playing it about three times he will remember it without the music as long as you give him the title.


N.B.
He is completely deaf and hearing aids don't work for him.

[mikf]

Mikk - That is terrific that he can achieve this, but deaf musicians are a pretty special case. For the rest of us, and when talking about improvising, its important to hear the little phrases in your head. You can develop this by practice, by hearing what others do or as you gain experience, it can happen in the moment. I would say that over time most people who are goos at this have little libraries of riffs and phrases in their sub conscious that they work around and build on in real time.
I think its pretty much impossible to improvise without having some ability to play by ear, unless you have the very rare ability to hear things accurately in your head without actually hearing them with your ears - like Beethoven. Oscar Peterson used to teach his students to hum their improvisation as they play it. I think that is because its actually hard to hum stuff that doesn't fit into the structure, whereas if you just play notes, they might or might not.
Mike

[Arnak]

Hi Folks,

Thanks again for all the input.

I do find it easier since that tip for slowing down a YouTube video, at least it gives me a good starting point.

I guess I am just being impatient with my playing when I hear such good players.

The answer is of course practice, practice, practice and I'll get there in the end....

Martin