Category Archives: Pachelbel

Pachelbel Canon with Groove

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Martan explains how to develop four-part harmony and open voicings by playing the Pachelbel Canon with a Groove. This utilizes Band-in-a-box. It’s fun. Try it.

Related files:

Section 8: Pachelbel Canon Project

Pachelbel Exercise Melody and Single Bass Note 8-1

Pachelbel Exercise Continuous Melody and Single Bass Note 8-2

Pachelbel Exercise Random Melody 8-3

Pachelbel Exercise Open Voicings 8-4

Pachelbel Exercise Open Voicings w/Melody 8-5

Pachelbel Exercise Open Voicings w/Melody Continued 8-6

Email Martan with your suggestions, questions and reactions. martan@jazzskillsforpiano.com

Pachelbel Exercise Melody and Single Bass Note 8-1

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Pachelbel Exercise Melody & Single Bass Note 8-1

[features_box_yellow width=”75%” + border=”2px”]Level:  Intermediate

Study the Pachelbel Exercise Melody & Single Bass Note after studying the Pachelbel Introduction.[/features_box_yellow]

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Let’s take the chords of Pachelbel and use them to make melody.  Remember – the chords are C-G-Am-Em-F-C-F-G.  Start with C – going to G.  When you make melody from one chord to another – think in “pick-ups”.  Decide when in the measure you are going to start your pick-up.  For instance, if you start on the and of three – you will have a four-note pick-up to the G triad.  So, start on a chord-tone in C (C-E-G) and end on a chord-tone in G (G-B-D).  Ask yourself:  “How many ways can I move from C to G?”  Once you have done this move from G to Am . . . and do this from chord to chord through the tune.

Once this is accomplished – play a five-note lead-in (starting on beat 3).  Then, play a six-note lead-in (starting on the and of 2).  Then, a seven-note lead-in (starting on beat 2).  Finally – play spontaneously through the Pachelbel Canon.  Play in all keys.

PachMel1aPachMel1b

[membership_download_item_pdf link=”http://jsfp.s3.amazonaws.com/PachMel1a.pdf” + target=”_self”]Pachelbel Exercise Melody & Single Bass Note Page 1[/membership_download_item_pdf]

[membership_download_item_pdf link=”http://jsfp.s3.amazonaws.com/PachMel1b.pdf” + target=”_self”]Pachelbel Exercise Melody & Single Bass Note Page 2[/membership_download_item_pdf]

[features_box_blue width=”75%” + border=”2px”]Personal Evaluation

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  • I have played many ways of creating melody with a four-note pick-up from C to G.
  • Then a five-note pick-up, six-note pick-up and seven-note pick-up.
  • Play from chord to chord.
  • Play spontaneously through the Pachelbel Canon.
  • Play in all keys.
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Pachelbel Exercise Open Voicings w/Melody 8-5

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Pachelbel Exercise Open Voicings w/Melody 8-5

[features_box_yellow width=”75%” + border=”2px”]Level:  Intermediate

Study the Pachelbel Exercise Open Voicings with Melody after studying the Pachelbel Exercise Random Melody Exercise.[/features_box_yellow]

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Now . . . let’s take one open voicing and move to another open voicing . . . for the purpose of creating a pick-up melody.  For instance, take a voicing in C and play a melody which ends on G open voicing.   Ask yourself:  “How many ways can I create different open voicings and different melodic paths from C to G.  Of course, start your pick-ups on different beats.

Then put on a metronome and choose one rhythmic patter to play through the entire Pachelbel Canon.  Then, play many different open voicings and melodic rhythmic patterns through the Pachelbel Canon.  Count out loud.  Do this in all keys.

PachOVwMel

[membership_download_item_pdf link=”http://jsfp.s3.amazonaws.com/PachOVwMel.pdf” + target=”_self”]Pachelbel Exercise Open Voicings w/Melody[/membership_download_item_pdf]

[features_box_blue width=”75%” + border=”2px”]Personal Evaluation

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  • I can play from C to G using different open voicings and different melodic pick-ups.  Then, I can continue this through the Pachelbel Canon.
  • I can play with a metronome through the Pachelbel Canon using different open voicings and different melodic rhythms.
  • I can do the above in all keys.
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Pachelbel Exercise Open Voicings 8-4

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Pachelbel Exercise Open Voicings 8-4

[features_box_yellow width=”75%” + border=”2px”]Level:  Intermediate

Study the Pachelbel Exercise Open Voicings after studying the Pachelbel Exercise Random Melody Exercise.[/features_box_yellow]

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Create a four-part “Open Voicing” by taking a three-note triad and duplicating one of the notes.  The only note that we don’t want to double is the third.  Doubling the third sounds a little “heavy”.  So . . . take each chord in Pachelbel and slowly play lots and lots of four-note voicings for that chord.   Remember, play the right-hand first (with two notes) and do NOT double the third when playing two notes in the left-hand.  Once you have mastered playing the C Major Triad . . . move to G . . . and through the Pachelbel Canon.

Then play with a metronome.  First play two quarter-note voicings for each chord.  Then play four quarter-note voicings for each chord.

Then play in all keys.

PachRandomBouncing2

[membership_download_item_pdf link=”http://jsfp.s3.amazonaws.com/PachRandomBouncing2.pdf” + target=”_self”]Pachelbel Random Bouncing Open Voicings[/membership_download_item_pdf]

[features_box_blue width=”75%” + border=”2px”]Personal Evaluation

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  • I can play four-note Open Voicings on each chord slowly, all over the piano (without doubling the third).
  • I can play two quarter note voicings per chord through the Pachelbel Canon using a metronome.
  • I can play four quarter note voicings per chord through the Pachelbel Canon using a metronome.
  • I can play the above in all keys (take your time).
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Pachelbel Exercise Random Melody 8-3

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Pachelbel Exercise Random Melody 8-3

[features_box_yellow width=”75%” + border=”2px”]Level:  Intermediate

Study the Pachelbel Exercise Random Melody after studying the Pachelbel Exercise Continuous Melody & Single Bass.[/features_box_yellow]

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Play through the Pachelbel Canon using random starting points and random note time values.  Remember, you can use Quarter Notes, Eighth Notes, Quarter-note Triplets and Eighth-note Triplets (also sixteenths).   Put on a metronome (try Quarter-note to 70).  Count out loud – so that you know precisely when you are starting the pick-up lick.  Make sure that you end on the first beat of the next measure.  You can also land on “suspensions” (more on that later).

[features_box_blue width=”75%” + border=”2px”]Personal Evaluation

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  • I can easily play the Pachelbel Exercise Random Melody Exercise in all keys (this will take a lot of work).
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Pachelbel Exercise Continuous Melody and Single Bass Note 8-2

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Pachelbel Exercise Continuous Melody & Single Bass Note 8-2

[features_box_yellow width=”75%” + border=”2px”]Level:  Intermediate

Study the Pachelbel Exercise Continuous Melody & Single Bass after studying the Pachelbel Exercise Melody & Single Bass Note.[/features_box_yellow]

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Here again is the “Continuous Melody Exercise” . . . this time, playing through the chord changes of the Pachelbel Canon.  In this exercise you play continuously . . . first using Quarter Notes . . . then Eighth Notes . . . then Quarter-note Triplets . . . and Eighth-note Triplets.  To do this – start (at least mentally) on the second note and end your thinking on the first note of the next measure.  This forces a forward, continuous movement through the changes.  Of course, it is recommended that you use a metronome . . . first, slowly and then pick up the tempo.  Play in all keys.

PachMel-ContMelAPachMel-ContMelB

[membership_download_item_pdf link=”http://jsfp.s3.amazonaws.com/PachMel-ContMelA.pdf” + target=”_self”]Pachelbel Exercise Continuous Melody & Single Bass Note Page 1[/membership_download_item_pdf]

[membership_download_item_pdf link=”http://jsfp.s3.amazonaws.com/PachMel-ContMelB.pdf” + target=”_self”]Pachelbel Exercise Continuous Melody & Single Bass Note Page 2[/membership_download_item_pdf]

[features_box_blue width=”75%” + border=”2px”]Personal Evaluation

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  • I can easily and effortlessly play the Pachelbel bass note and Continuous Melody in all keys.
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Section 8: Pachelbel Canon Project

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Pachelbel Canon Project Introduction

[features_box_yellow width=”75%” + border=”2px”]Level:  Intermediate

Study the Pachelbel Canon Project after studying the Question & Answer Exercises.[/features_box_yellow]

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Now that you are thoroughly familiar with Open Voicings . . . and “Making Up Your Own Progression” and Question and Answer, let’s begin to utilize your skills by developing the familiar Pachelbel Canon.  The Pachelbel Canon is created over a set chord progression, much the same as learning any tune.

The first skill to develop is to be able to play the progression in any key.  I recommend learning the left hand bass notes first.  Think of the progression in Roman Numerals.  They are I, V, VIm, IIIm, IV, I, IV V.  (Notice that the VI and III are both in minor.) Play this bass line in all keys calling out the Roman Numerals.PachbasslinePachbassmel

 

[membership_download_item_pdf link=”http://jsfp.s3.amazonaws.com/Pachbassline.pdf” + target=”_self”]Pachelbel bass line[/membership_download_item_pdf]

[membership_download_item_pdf link=”http://jsfp.s3.amazonaws.com/Pachbass&mel.pdf” + target=”_self”]Pachelbel bass line with melody[/membership_download_item_pdf]

[features_box_blue width=”75%” + border=”2px”]Personal Evaluation

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  • I can easily play the Pachelbel bass line in all keys.
  • I can easily play the Pachelbel bass line and melody in all keys.
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