Anointed Musicians.org

God bless

i was just wondering; at my church I'm the pianist and our style is merengue, which i have no problem playing, i know some tricks and i'm pretty comfortable playing. It's just that since we don't have musicians besides me, I mean, there's someone who knows very bit how to play drums but hes able to keep up with the beat somewhat. When I play merengue, it feels so empty, and since the drummer can't do alot, it just sounds bad. So I was wondering if maybe i would replace my left hand for the base it would sound decent, but I don't know the pattern/logic for it. Can anyone tell me what it is, or give me tips? I'd really appreciate it.

MrSmith at 11:15PM on Jan 19, 2010

God bless

i was just wondering; at my church I'm the pianist and our style is merengue, which i have no problem playing, i know some tricks and i'm pretty comfortable playing. It's just that since we don't have musicians besides me, I mean, there's someone who knows very bit how to play drums but hes able to keep up with the beat somewhat. When I play merengue, it feels so empty, and since the drummer can't do alot, it just sounds bad. So I was wondering if maybe i would replace my left hand for the base it would sound decent, but I don't know the pattern/logic for it. Can anyone tell me what it is, or give me tips? I'd really appreciate it.

Hello Mr. Smith

That is one good question. Hopefully i can answer it.

Well, first of all sorry to hear that. 

Merengue is unique in its style and on the bass there is something that you can do to improve it. 

If you are playing on Am for example. 

The bass for Am would be: A  D  A and back and forth. Make sure that you are not playing this bass on the left hand with an offbeat cause we all know Merengue has a normal beat not an offbeat like salsa does. 

I wish i could make a video to show you what im talking about but right now i dont have the resources. 

One tip though. Tell your drummer to start playing the normal corito style. The one that sounds like "regue". I hope you know what i mean.

God bless you and let me know if there something here that you didnt understood. 

Latinpianist at 07:49PM on Jan 20, 2010

MrSmith at 11:15PM on Jan 19, 2010

God bless

i was just wondering; at my church I'm the pianist and our style is merengue, which i have no problem playing, i know some tricks and i'm pretty comfortable playing. It's just that since we don't have musicians besides me, I mean, there's someone who knows very bit how to play drums but hes able to keep up with the beat somewhat. When I play merengue, it feels so empty, and since the drummer can't do alot, it just sounds bad. So I was wondering if maybe i would replace my left hand for the base it would sound decent, but I don't know the pattern/logic for it. Can anyone tell me what it is, or give me tips? I'd really appreciate it.

Hello Mr. Smith

That is one good question. Hopefully i can answer it.

Well, first of all sorry to hear that. 

Merengue is unique in its style and on the bass there is something that you can do to improve it. 

If you are playing on Am for example. 

The bass for Am would be: A  D  A and back and forth. Make sure that you are not playing this bass on the left hand with an offbeat cause we all know Merengue has a normal beat not an offbeat like salsa does. 

I wish i could make a video to show you what im talking about but right now i dont have the resources. 

One tip though. Tell your drummer to start playing the normal corito style. The one that sounds like "regue". I hope you know what i mean.

God bless you and let me know if there something here that you didnt understood. 

Thanks latinpianist...

Latinpianist at 07:49PM on Jan 20, 2010

MrSmith at 11:15PM on Jan 19, 2010

God bless

i was just wondering; at my church I'm the pianist and our style is merengue, which i have no problem playing, i know some tricks and i'm pretty comfortable playing. It's just that since we don't have musicians besides me, I mean, there's someone who knows very bit how to play drums but hes able to keep up with the beat somewhat. When I play merengue, it feels so empty, and since the drummer can't do alot, it just sounds bad. So I was wondering if maybe i would replace my left hand for the base it would sound decent, but I don't know the pattern/logic for it. Can anyone tell me what it is, or give me tips? I'd really appreciate it.

Hello Mr. Smith

That is one good question. Hopefully i can answer it.

Well, first of all sorry to hear that. 

Merengue is unique in its style and on the bass there is something that you can do to improve it. 

If you are playing on Am for example. 

The bass for Am would be: A  D  A and back and forth. Make sure that you are not playing this bass on the left hand with an offbeat cause we all know Merengue has a normal beat not an offbeat like salsa does. 

I wish i could make a video to show you what im talking about but right now i dont have the resources. 

One tip though. Tell your drummer to start playing the normal corito style. The one that sounds like "regue". I hope you know what i mean.

God bless you and let me know if there something here that you didnt understood. 

i don't have my piano with me at the moment, so i can't try it; but i tried it on my Ipod touch where theres a piano application

the A D A... do you go up an octave or you back to the original A after you hit D? i'm not quite catching the beat

wouldn't there be a youtube video demonstrating what you mean?