Noodle Challenge Day 23
Steal Away
“It’s better to take what does not belong to you than to let it lie around neglected.”
Noodle Info
Good friend and colleague Paul Myatt was so excited about the Noodle Challenge that he began training before it began!
He posted this lovely “noodle” on his Facebook page.
I liked it.
Whenever I hear something I like, I steal it...I steal away to the piano and try to duplicate it at the piano.
What happens is that it’s never the same as the original. Things get twisted in my head and fingers. I land on a different chord and go in that direction instead.
What began as Paul’s suddenly becomes some of his and some of mine.
When I “steal” from others, I identify the particulars that caught my attention. Paul begins his melody on the 7th scale degree (C# in the key of D.)
Beginning a melody on the 7th pulls on the heartstrings.
Speaking of heartstrings, one of my favorite additions to any of my noodles is the Minor IV chord. Subdominant chords are usually major in a major key. I have a huge crush on turning four chords to minor.
Psst…get out your recording app!
Your Challenge
Familiarize yourself with the chord progression below. It’s only part of the noodle pattern.
Watch the video and determine what you like—what you will swipe.
Begin your melody on the 7th scale degree and see where it leads you.
Change the G chord to G minor (add a Bb) for a tear-jerker addition to your noodle.
OR...make up a fresh noodle using the chord progression below.
EXTRAS:
Analyze the additional chords I use in the video and noodle with them.
Choose a different chord progression and create a melody that begins on the 7th scale degree.
