The Musical Quest for Fancy Chords and the Case of the Corny Pianist

Once upon a time, in a world devoid of cat videos and YouTube tutorials, I found myself desperately seeking the secrets of the best-sounding chord progressions. I believed that my musical journey hinged on building an impressive arsenal of chords in my metaphorical bag o' tricks.

Ah, those were the days when personal connections with great musicians were worth their weight in gold. If you weren't lucky enough to know a virtuoso who was willing to share their wisdom, your chances of witnessing their "good stuff" were as slim as a pencil lead. And if you thought piano lessons were a viable option, well, forget about it. In my case, no one was about to pay for my lessons because our budget had a different plan in mind.

Picture this: you stand behind a keyboard player or organist, eager to soak in their musical prowess. But what happens? They slyly cover up their right hand or start playing the most basic of tunes. It was like they had an unwritten code to protect their musical secrets. These were the days before everyone became a walking HD camera; all we had were our eyes and ears to capture the magic.

My frustration grew as I yearned to master those elusive nice sounding chords. In the culture I grew up in, the musicians who commanded the most respect were the ones who could effortlessly produce complex chords and progressions. Being a basic, stable player was the equivalent of being labeled "corny" — a fate worse than playing the kazoo at a symphony orchestra.

Sadly, the pursuit of fluff to impress others often trumped the fundamental skills of musicianship. Musicians played for other musicians, caught in a never-ending cycle of one-upmanship. This phenomenon still persists, especially among church musicians, where pride often takes center stage alongside the piano.

But here's the thing: if you focus solely on being fancy without building a solid foundation, you're essentially constructing your own glass ceiling. You hinder your own growth, like a bonsai tree trapped in a tiny pot. Your development as a musician becomes as unhealthy as a child raised solely on sweets, soda, and cake — delicious in the moment, but detrimental in the long run.

Now, don't misunderstand me. Chocolate every once in a while is fantastic. But it's the basic stuff, like fruits and veggies in our musical diet, that nourishes our true strength and encourages genuine growth. So, let's put down our ego-driven desire for fanciness and focus on cultivating a solid musical foundation that will allow us to flourish and reach new heights.

Remember, my fellow musicians, it's not just about playing the right chords, but playing them with heart and soul. And if all else fails, there's always YouTube to teach us how to play "Wonderwall" for the umpteenth time. Cheers to musical growth, both sweet and foundational!