A valued guest from Spirit Teahouse contacted me over Facebook as she needed some urgent assistance. Here’s the song she would like to play
Susan figured out the melody on her own (which is the RIGHT thing to do! It’s very satisfying when you get it!). She just needed more clues on the left hand parts. If you are in the same position as Susan, I hope the following conversation will help you. All the best wishes from Susan and I. ^_^
—– Our chat on Wed, 4/28/10 1:17 PM —–
Susan (12:33 PM): amazing grace
Seren (12:33 PM): ok. for the first lyrics: amazing grace how sweet the sound
Seren (12:34 PM): what are the numbers you play?
Seren (12:34 PM): is it 51 313 21 65?
Susan (12:34 PM): yes!
Susan (12:34 PM): =)
Seren (12:36 PM): A(ma)zing grace
Seren (12:37 PM): (left hand) 15123
Seren (12:37 PM): How (sweet)161 the (sound)151
Seren (12:38 PM): ok for this two sentences…
Seren (12:38 PM): at the part where I place (bracket) is where your left hand comes in. the numbers are the notes you play.
Seren (12:38 PM): try this two sentences first. does it make sense?
Susan (12:38 PM): ooo, ok2, I got it
Susan (12:39 PM): =)
Seren (12:40 PM): That (saved)63613 a wretch like (me)5125^
Susan (12:40 PM): =)
Seren (12:41 PM): I (once)15123 was lost, but (now)161 I’m (found)151
Seren (12:41 PM): Was (blind)636, but (now)525 I (see)15123Seren (12:42 PM): ok the part where I put ^ is 上滑音。Do you know what is that? Susan (12:43 PM): shang…yi?? Seren (12:43 PM): shang hua ying Seren (12:43 PM): means that you use your second finger and pull upwards accross the strings? Susan (12:45 PM): does it mean play the string from downward(string #1) to upward(string #21)? Seren (12:46 PM): ya i guess that would be it! Susan (12:46 PM): ok Seren (12:47 PM): actually the most upward string (the highest string) is string #1, and the lowest is string #21 XD Seren (12:47 PM): hehehehehe Susan (12:47 PM): hahaha Susan (12:47 PM): upsss Seren (12:47 PM): ok, now we know, where i say 21to1 means glide up Seren (12:48 PM): when i say 1to21 it means glide down. =) Susan (12:48 PM): ok Susan (12:48 PM): copy that Seren (12:49 PM): ok now that i’ve given you the basic melody (because the stanzas repeat themselves), do you also want the bridge (my chains are gone that part?) Susan (12:49 PM): yeeeeeesssss Seren (12:50 PM): do you know how to play the melody (right hand)? Susan (12:52 PM): yes Seren (12:52 PM): ok, so you dont need right hand, you just need left hand? Susan (12:52 PM): yes Susan (12:52 PM): =) Susan (12:53 PM): because I think it will too troublesome for you if I ask for both hands, so I practise the right hand first yesterday. Seren (1:01 PM): My chains are (gone)63613
I’ve been set (free)15135
My God, my (Savior)6361 has ransomed (me)5252[21to1]
And like a flood *[1to21]2 His mercy (reigns)31356
Unending love *55, Amazing (grace)15123,15123 Seren (1:02 PM): ok, you look at the above, you understand when I say [21to1] rightt? Susan (1:02 PM): yes. Seren (1:02 PM): ok look at “And like a flood” Susan (1:02 PM): from lowest to highest Susan (1:02 PM): right? Seren (1:03 PM): yah lowest to highest, but doesn’t mean you have to play everything, you can shorten it.
Susan (1:03 PM): ooo, ok
Seren (1:03 PM): ok anyway, i typed [1to21]2, do you know what that means?
Susan (1:04 PM): 1 to 21 = highest to lowest?
Seren (1:04 PM): It means that you glide all the way down and pluck a 2 at the end of it. can?
Susan (1:04 PM): oooo
Susan (1:04 PM): 2=re?
Seren (1:04 PM): ya
Susan (1:04 PM): ooo
Susan (1:04 PM): ok2
Seren (1:04 PM): so you understand [1to21]2 now?
Susan (1:05 PM): from highest to lowest, then pluck on re
Seren (1:06 PM): ok, last but not least, I want you to see that at “Like a flood” and “Unending Love” I put a *?
Susan (1:06 PM): yes?
Seren (1:07 PM): It is because instead of playing the left hand on a (bracketed word), you are playing after the word instead. On the blank when no words are sung.
Seren (1:07 PM): can?
Susan (1:08 PM): so, play them after the melody?
Seren (1:09 PM): ya, because there’s no word, I put a *. That’s where your left hand comes in. Ok?
Susan (1:09 PM): ooo, ok2
Seren (1:09 PM): Susan I got a favor to ask
Susan (1:09 PM): yes?
Seren (1:10 PM): A thought just went through my mind… is it ok that I publish our convo on my blog, so that Other people can learn and also ask questions about the song？
Seren (1:10 PM): We can help other people. 
Susan (1:11 PM): hahha
Susan (1:11 PM): ok2
Susan (1:11 PM): that’s fine with me
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To Be Continued.
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