Make CCM Sound like Gospel | Piano Tutorial

[@deskesh]

I was looking for a gospel tutorial that is 1) not too basic; 2) not a 'you don't have to know how it works -- just memorize these 3 chords'; 3) not a show off video wrongly titled as a 'tutorial'. And finally I found this video. Thank you for your patient explanation. I hope this gospelification of CCMs turn into a series.

[@diontmusic]

Thanks for watching! I might have to look into making gospel remakes a video series 👀

[@kellyalvey7627]

FOUR YEARS of music school, and I have never understood that these were all just borrowed chords moving to the the next chord in the progression. You made it all so simple!

[@diontmusic]

@@kellyalvey7627 😀😀 Love to hear it

[@PianoDude78]

Really? There's just secondary dominants, those are usually taught in theory. I learned them, but NEVER like this 🤯 it's always great when you can expand your musical knowledge.

[@LeytonCurran]

This video was not only a practical teaching but also extremely inspiring!! I had heard the term “borrowed chords” but underestimated them until this video!

[@diontmusic]

@LeytonCurran Let's go! I'm glad you were able to pull at least one nugget from this video. Keep at it!

[@weiminglee5959]

hello how to purchase your course

[@diontmusic]

@@weiminglee5959 links are in the video description

[@weiminglee5959]

@@diontmusic any pop music lesson?

[@RandyKowlessar]

Amazing - I would love a spotify playlist of you playing CCM songs as gospel versions. It's so beautiful!

[@serranokeys]

bro, I got a giddy smile on my face at 2:20 when I heard those chord...love it!

[@diontmusic]

@@serranokeys 😂

[@horacegeorge1754]

Just beautifully done man! As a drummer (who appreciates all instruments) & also grew up playing in the predominantly black church playing gospel music it was my foundation. As time progressed I eventually made my way into the ccm sector. Playing that for a number of years was highly fulfilling but I always always craved the blending of both. I hear so so much beautiful harmonies & possibilities in the two worlds.

[@diontmusic]

@@horacegeorge1754 right on. Thanks for watching!

[@PatrickJohnsonGuitar]

I play guitar but the music theory behind this is truth so ut helps me be a better musician. Thank you so much!

[@nate558]

This video is clutch man, we play a lot of simple CCM for our kids choir and I've been looking to add some flavor to it!

[@janelleapplequist3027]

Thank you so much for this video!! I'm a completely self taught worship keys player and I have felt like I hit a wall in my learning about a year ago. This is giving me some really exciting news concepts and ideas to learn to implement into my playing and I super excited to get started!!

[@diontmusic]

@janelleapplequist3027 glad you found it useful!

[@jemsar2]

Love it bro. Brilliant. I used to play bass at a couple of inner city churches. Moving around the fretboard is great because of all the flats in Gospel. In most of the Spanish speaking churches (and my current one) I can’t get them to play in flat keys, if I begged them to. We’re always missing opportunities to modulate into other keys. But this tutorial outlines the need to enrich our knowledge base. 😊

[@ikewashere]

Top tier vid bro! Trying to step out of my CCM comfort zone and get comfortable with playing the gospel & R&B style that I love hearing so much

[@AwesomeMan2696]

Please keep up the videos, you explain theory really well and practically. I've known standard music theory for a while but whenever we'd get into the more gospel stuff the theory behind it would confuse me. You explain it well and I've been playing (thus watching youtube videos explaining gospel approaches for YEARS) and you stick out on how you teach as a teacher. I say that all that to say you have a gifting in your teaching and explaining things, keep it up!! Appreciated the text on the screen as well also explaining everything.

[@avitolourenco]

This video is super crisp, would help a ton if we go a few in C for begineers who have not explored all keys yet.

[@Curtismusicaljourney]

The way you explain borrowed chords, secondary dominants, and how to apply them to music is so simple and effortless. Thank you for making it easy to understand and for sharing your skills. I really appreciate your teaching!

[@diontmusic]

Thanks for watching. I'm glad it was easy to understand!

[@TonyNguyenFR]

Bro. I got so much value out of this. I am going to show this to my worship team! Thank you so much!

[@parkermmyers]

Hey Dion, this was an incredible lesson - I've searched before for a sort of 'intro to gospel" lesson and never found something that met me where I was at. This was a perfect blend of simplicity and depth and I would love to see more! In particular, I think this could be a fun series - taking CCM songs that are basic and well-known, and adding color and complexity. Thanks for sharing your knowledge and helping me grow!

[@diontmusic]

Hey, thanks for watching! I'm glad you were able to pull something useful out of this video. Keep at it!

[@habiba2670]

Hey @parkermmyers, this is exactly how I feel 🔥. Dion's video made the entry into gospel SOUND AND THEORY so clear after having searched youtube for quite a while. Thank you so much for your clarity and generosity Dion Todman ! 😁🙏 I could get everything you were talking about and play easily, while knowing what I was doing 😄

[@AwesomeMan2696]

I just left a comment before readin this saying almost the exact same thing, please keep it up your teaching style is well needed in this space!

[@pianoatthirty]

I'm following along with my guitar right now and have to say this is outstanding. There's a reason this video already has almost 30k views - you are explaining something here that most advanced musicians never take the time to explain clearly - namely how, why and when one can use subsitutionary harmony. If it's explained it's always in a dry academic sense. What you're doing - breaking it down with a single song and showing us your process and particular voicings is just above and beyond. Thank you! Keep it up!

[@diontmusic]

@@pianoatthirty Thanks for your feedback! I'm glad the info was consumable. I try to make concepts as elementary as possible. It's easier to accomplish with some more than others.

[@em777-14God]

I've known how to use secondary dominants for quite some time now but never have I thought of using it in any song.. blew my mind brother. GOD Bless you.

[@diontmusic]

Glad you found it useful! Be blessed

[@marisamary7]

minor 2-5-1s might be my fav. they add such a great flavour. I practiced them in all 12 keys and in different inversions

[@destinypaez8197]

I’m doing that in gratitude this Sunday and it definitely makes all the difference

[@emily_sarah]

You broke this down in such a way I can understand. Sooo grateful!! Thank you 🙏🏽

[@diontmusic]

@@emily_sarah glad it could help you! Thanks for watching 😀

[@Oneandonlyagust]

I’ve known about secondary dominants, but never even thought about borrower 251. Legend

[@jerryjcn]

You're a great teacher!

[@JamieGraceProductions]

This is awesome

[@diontmusic]

@@JamieGraceProductions Thanks for watching!

[@Jaredkfjones]

Love this video. Thank you teacher!

[@Peztastic]

As long as you show your work it sounds like you can just put any chord you want. This is the 4 of the 2 of the secondary dominant of the next town over. Sounds great man! Love finding this channel!

[@InterestingStories1510]

kindly keep making more videos on gospel piano/keyboard play style...this was very informative and i wanna learn more and im sure there are many who want to as well...great work keep it up:)

[@jerielc709]

Love this🔥also want to make clear that CCM is simple for a reason😁in my worship team it's always a point of contention to keep things simple or gospel-ify songs. it's all about discernment and knowing your team❤️

[@benjamincrosby4350]

What's the reason why ccm some are simple?

[@jerielc709]

@@benjamincrosby4350 i'd say the biggest is so that musicians/churches of all experiences can play and sing them. it's for the same reason pop music is often considered simple - so that it's easy to pick up for everyone. you never want your worship team to be playing super interesting/complex parts too often or else they risk stealing attention that should go to God, pastor, etc. the beauty of simple songs is that, as we see in the video, it leaves plenty of room for people to experiment and add color if they desire. otherwise, it's perfectly serviceable as is

[@courtneylloydgrear]

I'd venture to suggest that "simple" is suggestive or relative. I dont think, personally, that anything pertaining to gospel is complicated or hard to perform. But that, for most people, may have much to do with upbringing and environment. Gospel is not the opposite of simple because for many people, gospel is simple....when you're trained in it, involved in it, and love it.

[@JeffreySaelee]

⁠​⁠@@courtneylloydgrear I think CCM is on average much simpler music-theory-wise and execution-wise than Gospel. A decent gospel musician would have no difficulty playing CCM, but it’d be much different the other way around. It all takes training and practice, but I think Gospel takes a lot more to get to an equivalent level. It’s definitely true that growing up with one makes it easier. I really enjoy gospel and have been lucky enough to play on a fair few Gospel sets at my university, so I wish I’d grown up around it so it’d come more naturally. Your music is fire, by the way!

[@christondre]

@@jerielc709this is the common cop out for lack of excellence and misuse of volunteers in churches. I don’t believe it’s biblical.

[@PeterDSinghJr]

This is dope! That second pass had so much lovely tension that I had thug tears welling up lol but I’d probably move to bass note from the 1 to the 7 on “me” to create kind of a vi of 2 before resolving to the vi

[@CherishedSapphires]

This was so encouraging! My brain plays the gospel version, but my hands play the CCM version, on a good day. Not being able to bridge the gap has always felt really frustrating, but this breakdown was super helpful, and makes me want to get back on the keys 🙌🏿

[@diontmusic]

Yessss. Do it! I'm glad you could pull something useful from this video

[@filiokrisoprass]

love it !! thank you for sharing this. truly can learn more from this video about gospel chord!! 💙

[@toddfooshee]

Thanks for walking through this so methodically. Sounds awesome and super inspiring, especially due to my growing distaste of a lot of CCM musicality.

[@annalysac435]

This was so helpful! I loved learning about borrowed chords in school but I didn't connect them with all the great harmonies in gospel. So excited to try this!

[@diontmusic]

Do it! 🎹 😀

[@123Ir0nman]

I need more of these videos! I love learning all the tools to reharmonizing in this style! So far all I knew was the 7 3 6 progression

[@hannahandwadeaaron]

We need more of this in our churches!

[@ravenhenderson6561]

This is a great video. I like how you kept repeating what you were doing. It was very helpful. Thank you for teaching this. Looking forward to more videos.

[@tylerdellaria1930]

Subscribing for the amazing lighting!

[@diontmusic]

💡

[@NathanielMacArthur-o9k]

Very cool walkthrough. As I am coming from a more European classical and sacred music background with a rudimentary interest in other schemes, this video clarified how to integrate some common forms ("borrowed chords") with uniquely Gospel-y patterns. I especially liked the G#°7 resolving into the root in the repeated segment.

[@austinwalker19]

This is the clearest explanation of borrowed chords that I've found online. Thanks for this!

[@chazinko]

Excellent concept and ideas - thank you!

[@destinypaez8197]

Great lesson !

[@maximerobin170]

Thanks a lot for this that's so gorgeous 🙏

[@truce11]

The algorithm brought me here. Impressive quality bide production and the substance was so well done and informative. I'd watch more gospel-ized contemp worship covers w/ breakdowns in thinking

[@jjared.m]

So so helpful! Thanks!!

[@jyh1299]

Oh wow this is beautiful! Thank you!! I've always wanted to learn gospel style but couldn't really find out how to. You're video helps a lot :)

[@dustinsosebee]

Such a great and helpful video!!

[@ReallyAwesomeGaming]

Fantastic lesson my friend, please keep up the good work!

[@ChonuPianos]

Thanks boss 🙇🙏

[@baloothedrummer]

this is great, thank you man

[@SeraphsWitness]

Bro this is very helpful to me as a worship leader. Trying to inject a little more life into the diatonic stuff we always do.

[@peeckle1657]

AWESOME BROTHER, YOUR CONTENT IS VERY UNIQUE… THANK YOU FOR MAKING CONTENT FOR US CHURCH PLAYERS! SUBBED ! Love form India 🇮🇳❤️

[@marcelavargas7824]

This was insanely helpful!! Keep them coming!

[@ka1abushkin]

I just love the irony of how you instantly made it sound like ORIGINAL hillsong... 😂 (like, Darlene Zschech era)

[@anthonyleonor8804]

well done sir

[@AnnorCode]

This was insightful!

[@ForeverEmilyH]

Amazing!!

[@makemoremstakes]

This is perfect subscribed

[@maris6843]

Yes! So beautiful.

[@DavidEstioco]

So glad you came up on my discover page. Subbed immediately.

[@bartanestin]

Don't let them know our secrets lol - Great Video Dion

[@diontmusic]

@@bartanestin 😂😂

[@ReallyDru]

Very good u got a new subscriber Suggestion: Would love for you to do some of these tutorials in C as it’s easier at least for me to move what I learn into other keys

[@josephestes7076]

Yup, that's a subscribe. Great playing.

[@diontmusic]

@@josephestes7076 thanks for watching!

[@ketorulos76]

tnks bro!! ARG 🇦🇷

[@ndivhuwotshiredo2704]

Hi from South Africa Love your videos!!! May you please gospelify 'Hallelujah' by Leonard Cohen.

[@KharamelSueno]

Phenomenal lesson

[@Jazzandoval]

Heeeeey muchas gracias por los tutoriales están increíbles!! Saludos desde Ciudad de México ❤

[@sylvesterjohns7968]

Thank you Dion. You are very knowledgeable when it comes to understanding music theory. Do you have a degree in music? If you do, does the school that you attended offer a master’s in music. Thank you for sharing your knowledge with us. God bless.

[@peeckle1657]

Please Make more CCM/Gospel concept videos 🙏🙌

[@shodapad07]

Beautiful. Thank you for teaching and sharing ❤

[@ForwardGroovement]

So good 🎉

[@gurumonkey]

Super clear. This is definitely the kind of education I was interested in. I went to your website to learn a bit more...do you have preview or intro videos for your courses? I'd like to know a little more about what kind of stuff I might learn in the "church runs" course.

[@diontmusic]

Hey, thanks for watching! The church runs course mainly teaches the theory and execution of gospel style runs and "shout" moments. Here's a glimpse of one of the lessons: instagram.com/reel/CrnonzksT4P/?igsh=MWRwbTh4c3Brd2lhMg==

[@davidkpadehyea269]

Please drop these instrumentals!!!! Us college students need this playing while we study, hahah. In all seriousness, please make a full playlist of these instruments specifically a CCM gospelify playlist

[@izaquexx]

Wow, I live in Brazil and your video is very good (my English is not good)

[@semagandalauben1458]

Thanks for keeping it simple Love from Uganda 🇺🇬🇺🇬

[@James13234]

Great explanations man!

[@MoonKhine]

hey Dion! please tell us how long you took to be this good and how consistently you practiced! Tips about how to improve would be great too! Been blessed by your video keep it up 😇

[@diontmusic]

@MoonKhine hey, thanks for watching. I started playing when I was 6 and didn't really get comfortable until I was around 9-10 (with a teacher). For an adult, it may take less time than that, but the most important thing is consistent, good quality practice. You're only going to improve what you practice. Rather than explaining here, I may need to do a video on the subject instead! In general, practice playing chords and their variations, scales/arpeggios, leaps, rhythm, and dynamics.

[@therealisrael5149]

can we please get a full versions of this woud love to sing this in church

[@veronica.armstrong]

2:27 sheesh🙌🏾

[@marshal-d-123]

I saw the title of the video and was like "Gospel music?? In the boring-vanilla-sounding-4-chord-changing CCM??? Dude, count me in!" Lol in all seriousness, I just think that CCM is lacking so much musicianship that could be used for glorifying God more in church, but instead many modern churches settle for mediocre-sounding music, so as a musician, something like this video is such a breath of fresh air to me. Just my opinion tho, not saying it's bad if anyone likes that kind of music.

[@beenahkoh6549]

Good teaching

[@courtneysmith5412]

Gorgeous tutorial! So glad I found you, man! You have a subscriber in me. Btw, what piano sound/keybord/vst are you using, it’s so rich, full & beautiful. Thanks in advanced. Cheers…

[@diontmusic]

@@courtneysmith5412 Thanks for watching! The VST is Noire Piano from Native Instruments.

[@theaaronimal]

This is great!!

[@jesseletkeman642]

Not a Piano player at all, but this is fascinating

[@KreationAvenueTV]

Love this! Dion, what kind of camera are you using in this video?

[@diontmusic]

@@KreationAvenueTV canon eos m50

[@mrr2135]

game changer

[@dappereheldedson5376]

Thanks❤

[@williamsichone8591]

BeaUtiful ...

[@Justdrawingit]

The likes were at 666 had to give it 667 LOL😂

[@cherish7149]

This is me lol

[@harryhayfron-benjamin4189]

😂

[@asysr28]

Man that G#/F# builds so much tension

[@makemusichere]

Love it!

[@noahjohnamen]

good stuff!

[@StonesiferDrew]

Noticed that you didn’t talk about how the melody fit into your reharm, but obviously that’s critical! Are you hearing these harmonies in your head before finding them? Or is it an analytical “we’re going to 6 with a little bit of time so let’s do a ii V I”? Like how often are you trying stuff and don’t like how it sounds?

[@samueltaylor2757]

This is amazing work! I will say that to my ear the G#/F# sounds like an unanswered question if you play it for the whole bar. Any suggestions on what you could fill beats three and four with?

[@paulleible5568]

Easy subscribe nice video

[@asysr28]

I've always loved Gospel piano just don't know how to play it. But that 5th doesn't always sound good before you go to chords..I like using it when I play how great is our God like C, Am, F, G..I add C, E, Am, C, F , G..it adds a little flavor but I love those borrowed 2, 5, 1 sounds good.

[@PTHerbalAlpha]

Subbed!!!

[@isaac2260]

Thank you so much I will use this …. In a normal key lol

[@de33iene]

Amazing! Would you mind write them down?

[@knormalday708]

Dope. It’s always refreshing to know there are other people out there who think in a similar way as myself. Keep educating bro. It’s time to get away from this 1 4 5 6 because God is worthy of so much more!

[@abhishekdaniel126]

Sir , Can you teach us how to solo in piano ..in a slow and clarified way

[@ZionGuitarist]

Shocking that CCM is not doing their chord inversions. Less hand movements and better voice leading are benefits being left on the table

[@eyesoulyou2086]

They do , I play both is just more about the only use of major and minor triads