(Cool) Tool - For Finding Lyrics... and more!

Here is great tool for finding the lyrics to virtually any tune... But it's MUCH MORE than that... so hang on a bit. It's at the bottom of the page. Just type the title of the song you want the lyrics to in the last (bottom) field an click 'go'. You'll get a choice to view the lyric, and list of various artists that performed it.

Why am I posting a lyrics tool here? What does it have to do with learning or improving your playing? The answer is in the following question: Why do so many students learning to play an instrument find themselves frustrated by their own playing - their own sound - their own performance? They know the chords and melody to a tune well , there's no hesitation when playing it; but something is "just not right", in their own words.

One of the reasons is that they have no clue as to what the lyrics are and may not have heard it performed many times, or, not payed much attention to it when they HAVE heard it performed. In other words, they have not yet learned to listen to and be aware of what is called 'phrasing'. Being familiar with lyrics will have a beneficial effect on your playing.

This is important; so keep reading to hear audio instruction & demonstrations of what I'm talking about.

Have you ever listened to a speaker giving a lecture that you enjoyed? What made that so? Was the information so interesting that you just loved listening to him/her? Or, (think about this) was it that they were exciting in their presentation? I'll bet they paused after certain sentences, they most likely raised and lowered the volume of their speaking, they sped up and slowed down (changed the pace) at various times? The CREATED INTEREST. In musical terms....... they phrased beautifully.

What if they spoke for an hour in a monotone voice at the same speed and volume without taking a breath until necessary? How fascinating would the information they're speaking of be? It wouldn't be... because you'd be sound asleep in minutes. Well, many students of music play that same way.
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What makes the great singers great? It's definitely not just 'a great voice'. Most people tend use that term generically. What really moves people, making them 'love' his or her voice is the way they use it; how they tell a story. They tell it with feeling, creating an emotional response in the listener. Look at Frank Sinatra for example. Did he have a GREAT voice in the traditional sense? Some would say yes, others would say his VOICE, was really... 'not a great one', "but I love the way he sang".

He had a special ability that had millions of worshipers follow him like he was a God. He knew how to tell a story (phrase). I've heard musicians throughout the years say things like, "nobody can phrase like Frank"! Many musicians made listening to him part of their training - as well as other singers like Ella Fitzgerald and Mel Torme. Many an up and coming jazz player would be happy to do on their instruments what these singers could do with their voices. (meaning improvisational and expression wise) I'm sure that if any of the aforementioned sang in a monotone voice with not much emotion, they would have not reached the heights they have.

Now, I know I'm showing a bit of my age and preferences with these analogies, but this is just as true for all the great contemporary artists alike. This is only one aspect as to what makes a better player. An important one. There are others elements; but I'm focusing on this, now, for the lesson of ..... 'paying attention to lyrics' for better expression in our playing.

And here's the best part. One does not have to be virtuoso or have years
of playing to be interesting and listenable to others—just as a singer does
not need a "Great Voice". Just functional technical skills are enough, IF, our
playing has good phrasing.

Let me give you some simple explanations and examples at an intermediate playing level. We'll use the songs 'My Funny Valentine, and 'When I Fall In Love'. Here's a sound files. The left hand is simple, just playing a broken basic triad pattern. (we'll learn these very soon). First: My Funny Valentine.

Now let's see how this works with 'When I Fall In Love'

So, do some lyric listening (or a lot) and you'll see over time how you will begin to play a bit more expressively. And remember; make it fun.

“Silence is the fabric upon which the notes are woven.”

~Lawrence Duncan