Piano Lesson on Rhythm by Roger Bennett – a Discussion

August 18th, 2010 by blakeycrowe

Roger Bennett, now deceased, was the pianist for The Cathedrals Quartet. Roger gives a piano lesson on rhythm. The Cathedrals used four singers, a piano player, and a bass player.

If the piano is the only instrument, then the pianist can play anything he wants with his left hand. This might include an octave chord octave chord pattern or a left hand walking bass. However, with the bass guitar, the piano player has to stay off of the bass notes and just play chords in the left hand or there will be a conflict with the bass guitar.

Roger uses Scott Fowler, the bass player for the group, to assist him in this piano lesson on rhythm. Scott plays on beats one and three and Roger plays left hand chords on beats two and four. This is difficult to do without practice so you may want to begin by not playing anything in the right hand until you get proficient at playing this piano rhythm.

Roger also discusses playing in the hole. The hole is spots where the group is not singing words. Roger shows some piano licks that he uses to play in the holes. Roger says that playing in the hole is playing piano licks where they should be played.

The song used in the piano lesson on rhythm is “Wedding Music”. Listen to “Wedding Music” by The Cathedrals. You can hear Roger’s piano licks better when the bass singer George Younce is singing.

I hope that you enjoyed this piano lesson on rhythm by Roger Bennett. Spend some time on this and improve your piano accompanying skills.

Please let us know your thoughts on this piano lesson on rhythm. Did you have any problems playing this on the piano? Do you have any suggestions or did you have some additional ideas to share with other gospel pianists.

Would someone write the notes for some of the piano licks used in this lesson and share with us? Thanks!

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