Hi John,

With reference to your recent post 'Keybaord & My Music Gifts':- All the points raised were of course, very valid. And it's true, that many 'ear' players who do not need a single note of written music to be able to sit down and play whatever they wish, possibly express and 'emote' their playing more than the average 'reader'- amateur or semi-pro.

But, I felt that the debate missed out on one very important aspect of all playing. namely:- The use of 'chords'. - This aspect of playing can make or destroy the playing. The chords used by the player to play any song, are absolutey vital, as to how the playing sounds. Change the chords, and you change the piece. Many good players do not sound as good as they should, because they fall short in their application of chords. Example - many 3 chord songs could actually be expressed with the playing of at least 15 chords instead of 3. And in doing so, make the piece more interesting, stimulating, and more musically challenging.

It therefore follows, that the application of chords by the player, the chords he/she choses to use, form a major part of how the playing will sound. Whilst it might be true to say, that the average listener, has no conception of 'chord-work', the fact remains, that their enjoyment of a song may very well be based upon the interpretation of chords used by the player.

If you were to give a rendering of '3 Blind Mice' all accompanied by minor chords, it would undoubtedly sound somewhat dreary. But give the same piece chorded accompaniment of majors-sevenths-9ths-augmented and diminshed, might well mean that those listeners who disliked the 'minor' version, would love the alternative version.

Therefore, in my humble opinion, the chords used by the player to accompany any song etc, is the most vital factor applied to the playing. - So, bring back chord-work I say. ! Chords 'MAKETH' the music. Exactly as per Rachmaninov and all his classical companions. - Cheers,

Colin.