Progressive Beginner Piano

by LearnToPlayMusic.com and Gary Turner

Published by LearnToPlayMusic.com
ISBN: 978-982-532-006-7

© 2013 L.T.P. Publishing Pty Ltd
No part of this product can be reproduced in any form without the written consent of the copyright owner.

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INTRODUCTION

Progressive Beginner Piano assumes you have no prior knowledge of music or playing the piano. This book will show you:

How to play over 25 songs, across a range of two octaves.

Major, Minor and Seventh chords.

12 Bar Blues and Turnaround progressions.

This book also features a chord chart section featuring over 50 different chords. After completing this book you will have a solid understanding of the piano and be ready for further study on specific styles of playing, e.g., Rock, Blues, etc. All piano players should know all of the information contained in this book. The best and fastest way to learn is to use this book in conjunction with:

Buying sheet music and song books of your favorite recording artists and learning to play their songs.

Practicing and playing with other musicians. You will be surprised how good a basic piano/drums/bass/guitar combination can sound even when playing easy music.

Learning by listening to your favorite recordings.

Approach to Practice

It is important to have a correct approach to practice. You will benefit more from several short practices (e.g., 15-30 minutes per day) than one or two long sessions per week. This is especially so in the early stages, because of the basic nature of the material being studied.

In a practice session you should divide your time evenly between the study of new material and the revision of past work. It is a common mistake for semi-advanced students to practice only the pieces they can already play well. Although this is more enjoyable, it is not a very satisfactory method of practice. You should also try to correct mistakes and experiment with new ideas. It is the author’s belief that the guidance of an experienced teacher will be an invaluable aid in your progress.

Piano Technique

How to Sit At The Piano

Photo 1

Sit up straight and relaxed. If your piano seat can move up or down, adjust it to a comfortable height, as shown in photo 1.

Hand Shape

Photo 2

Always curve your fingers. This helps keep your fingers at the same level, as shown in photo 2.

Photo 3

When you play the keys on the piano, use the tips of your fingers, and the side of your thumb, as in photo 3.

The Piano Keyboard

Music Notes

There are only seven letters used for notes in music. They are:

These notes are known as the musical alphabet. They are the names of the white keys on the keyboard.

The black keys always appear in groups of two or three. The C note is a white key. It is always on the left hand side of a group of two black keys. Find all the C notes on your piano.

How to Find Middle C

The first note you will learn to play is Middle C. Middle C is the note in the middle of the piano keyboard.

Play middle C with the thumb of your right hand.

Fingering

Each finger has its own number. The thumb of each hand is counted as the first finger and has the number 1.

Where required, the fingering to use will be shown next to the note in the music notation.

How to Read Music

The Staff or Stave

There are five lines used in music notation called the staff or stave. Music notes are written in the spaces and on the lines of the staff.

Treble Clef

This symbol is called a treble clef.

Treble Staff

A staff with a treble clef written on it is called a treble staff.

Bass Clef

This symbol is called a bass clef.

Bass Staff

A staff with a bass clef written on it is called a bass staff.

High notes are written on the treble staff, and are usually played with your right hand. Low notes are written on the bass staff, and are usually played with your left hand.

The Grand Staff

When the treble and bass staves are joined together by a line and a bracket, they are called a grand staff. Piano music is written on the grand staff. Notes written on the treble clef are played on the right hand side of keyboard while notes written on the bass clef are played on the left hand side of the keyboard.

Notes on the Grand Staff

Piano music notes are written in the spaces and on the lines of the grand staff.

To remember the notes on the lines of the treble staff, say Every Good Boy Deserves Fruit

The notes in the spaces of the treble staff spell the word FACE

To remember the notes on the lines of the bass staff, say Good Boys Deserve Fruit Always

To remember the notes in the spaces of the bass staff, say All Cows Eat Grass

The Quarter Note

This is a musical note called a quarter note. A quarter note lasts for one beat.

Music is divided into bars (sometimes called measures) by bar lines. In this example there are two bars of music.

The Four Four Time Signature

The two pairs of numbers after the clefs are called the time signature. This is called the four four time signature. It tells you there are four beats in each bar. There are four quarter notes in a bar of * time.

Note and Rest Values

Here are some other notes commonly found in music notation, along with their corresponding rest values. There are many other types of time signatures, note and rest values used in music that you will learn as you progress.

Using a Metronome

A metronome is a device that plays a continuous beat. It is used to help control your timing so that you do not rush or slow down. The beat is heard as a ticking or beeping sound and the speed can be adjusted. The speed of the beat, which is called the tempo, is measured in beats per minute (BPM).

The accompanying photo shows a mechanical metronome and an electronic metronome.

Music is commonly written with a tempo mark to indicate what speed the piece should be played. For example, 60 BPM is represented as 3 = 60. If learning a piece at the written tempo is difficult, try lowering the BPM of the metronome (slowing it down) until you can play evenly and in time. Then gradually speed up the metronome until you can play it at the correct speed.

LESSON ONE

The Notes Middle C, D and E

Middle C is written just below the treble staff on a short line called a ledger line. See How to Find Middle C to locate middle C on the keyboard.

C Note

Middle C is played with the first finger (thumb) of your right hand.

D Note

The D note is played with the second finger of your right hand.

E Note

The E note is played with the third finger of your right hand.

The Quarter Note

This is a quarter note. It lasts for one beat. There are four quarter notes in one bar of music in * time.

Metronome Symbol

This is the symbol for a metronome. It appears beneath the staff, next to the 'count' numbers, which indicate how to count the time. Large blue numbers represent a count or beat where a note is to be played, while smaller grey numbers are used when notes are either held or not played at all.

1

In the following example there are four bars of music, two bars of middle C (bars 1 and 4), one bar of the D note (bar 2) and one bar of the E note (bar 3). There are four quarter notes in each bar.

The Half Note

This is a half note. It lasts for two beats. There are two half notes in one bar of * time.

The Whole Note

This is a whole note. It lasts for four beats. There is one whole note in one bar of * time.

The larger bold numbers in the count indicate that a note is to be played. The smaller numbers indicate that a note is to be held until the next bold number (note).

2
In the Light of the Moon

This song contains quarter, half and whole notes. Make sure you use the correct fingers and follow the count carefully.

The Notes F and G

F Note

The note F is played with the fourth finger of your right hand.

G Note

The note G is played with the fifth finger of your right hand.

3
Aura Lee

The song Aura Lee contains 8 bars of music in * time. Remember to count as you play, to help you keep time.

Things to Remember

Play the keys with the tips of your fingers.

Keep your fingers curved.

LESSON TWO

Chords

A chord is a group of notes which are played together. Chords are used to accompany the melody of a song. Chords are usually played with the left hand and the melody is played with the right. The first chord you will learn is C major, usually just called the C chord.

The C Major Chord

C

Chord Symbol

The C chord contains three notes - C, E and G. To play the C chord use the first, third and fifth fingers of your left hand, as shown in the C chord diagram. The notes of major chords are shown in red.

Seventh Chords

Another common type of chord is the dominant seventh chord, usually called a seventh chord. A seventh chord is indicated by the number 7 written after the chord name, e.g., G seventh is written as G7.

The G Seventh Chord

G⁷

Chord Symbol

The G7 chord contains a new note - the B next to the C below Middle C. Play the B with the fifth finger of your left hand, and use your first and second fingers to play the G and F notes, as shown in the G7 chord diagram. The notes of seventh chords are shown in green.

Changing Chords

Practice changing between the C and G7 chords. As both these chords contain the same G note, changing between them is quite easy because the thumb stays in the same position. It is important to always use the correct fingering when playing notes and chords.

The Whole Rest

This symbol is a whole rest. It indicates four beats of silence in * time. Small counting numbers are placed under rests.

4

Chord symbols are placed above the staff. There are two chords in bar 3. Each chord receives two beats.

Songs with Chords

Before playing songs with chords, practice each part separately. First practice the melody of the song by itself (right hand part), then practice the chords by themselves (left hand part). Once you have learned both parts, play them together. Practice slowly and evenly, and count as you play. The part containing the chords is called the accompaniment.

5
Ode to Joy

This song is the main theme to Beethoven’s 9th Symphony. It contains all the notes and chords you have learned so far and has two chords in bar 8.

LESSON THREE

The Quarter Rest

This symbol is a quarter rest. It indicates one beat of silence. Do not play any note. Remember that small counting numbers are placed under rests.

6
Good Evening Friends

The F Chord

F

Chord Symbol

The next chord you will learn to play is the F chord. To play the F chord, use the first, second and fifth fingers of your left hand, as shown in the F chord diagram. The F chord introduces the note A below middle C.

When changing between the C and F chords keep your fifth finger in position as this note is common to both chords. When changing between the F and G7 chords keep your second finger in position as this note is common to both chords. Practice changing between C, F and G7.

The Half Rest

This is a half rest. It indicates 2 beats of silence.

The Lead-In

Sometimes a song does not begin on the first beat of a bar. Any notes which come before the first full bar are called lead-in notes (or pick-up notes). When lead-in notes are used, the last bar is also incomplete. The notes in the lead-in and the last bar add up to one full bar.

7
When the Saints Go Marchin’ In

When the Saints Go Marchin’ In is an early Jazz standard made popular by brass bands in New Orleans. The song uses a lead-in and also contains both quarter and half rests. The counting numbers refer to the melody (right hand part). Instead of writing a chord symbol above each bar of music it is common to only write a chord symbol when the chord changes, e.g., the first 6 bars of this song are a C chord.

LESSON FOUR

The Three Four Time Signature

This time signature is called the three four time signature. It indicates that there are three beats in each bar. Three four time is also known as waltz time. There are three quarter notes in one bar of ^ time.

The Dotted Half Note

A dot written after a note extends its value by half. A dot after a half note means that you hold it for three beats. One dotted half note makes one bar of music in ^ time.

8
Austrian Waltz

This song has dotted half notes in the left hand part. Once again, the counting numbers refer to the melody (right hand part). From this point on, all counting numbers will refer to the melody. The left hand part is the accompaniment to the melody.

Legato

The next song contains two curved lines called slurs. A slur indicates that the notes written above (or sometimes below) it, should be played legato. Legato means to play the notes smoothly, so that they sound connected to each other. To play notes legato, keep your finger on the key until you have started to play the next key.

9
Orange Blossom

This song has dotted half notes in both the left hand part and the right hand part. Play the melody legato.

The Tie

A tie is a curved line that connects two notes with the same position on the staff. A tie tells you to play the first note only, and to hold it for the length of both notes.

10

Play the C note and chord and hold them for six beats.

11
Roses From the South

This song was written by Johann Strauss, who wrote some of the most famous waltzes. In the melody, a tie is used between bars 15 and 16 (two E notes), and between bars 31 and 32 (two F notes). The tie is also used for the chords in these bars. Do not confuse the tie with the legato slur introduced earlier in this lesson.

LESSON FIVE

The Notes A, B and C

A Note

B Note

C Note

Notes written above the middle line of a staff usually have their stems going down. Notes written below the middle line of the staff usually have their stems going up. The stem for the B note can go up or down.

The C Major Scale

A major scale is a group of eight notes that gives the familiar sound:

You now know enough notes to play the C major scale. To play the C major scale smoothly you will need to play the F note with your thumb. Do this by moving your thumb underneath your second and third fingers on the way up the scale. On the way down the scale, move your second and third fingers over your thumb. This is called the crossover. The small numbers placed above, below or beside notes on the staves tell you which finger to play each note with. Be sure to use the correct finger.

12

The Octave

An octave is the range of eight notes of a major scale. The first note and the last note of a major scale always have the same name. In the C major scale, the distance from Middle C to the C note above it (or below it ) is one octave (eight notes). All the songs you have studied so far, and the next song use notes from the C major scale. Pay close attention to any fingering numbers near the notes. It is important to use the indicated fingering, as this will make the songs easier to play. Use this same fingering every time you play the songs.

13
La Spagnola

La Spagnola uses notes from the C major scale and uses the thumb under between bars 20 and 21.

The Eighth Note

This is an eighth note. It lasts for half a count. There are eight eighth notes in one bar of * time. When eighth notes are joined together the tails are replaced by one beam.

14
How to Count Eighth Notes

Staccato

A dot placed above or below a note tells you to play it staccato. Staccato means to play a note short and separate from the other notes. To play a note short, lift your finger off the keys as quickly as possible.

15
Shave and a Haircut

There are two eighth notes on the second beat of the first bar of this example. Play the notes and chords in the second bar staccato.

Key of C Major

When a song consists of notes from a particular scale, it is said to be written in the key which has the same name as that scale. For example, if a song contains notes from the C major scale, it is said to be in the key of C major. Nearly all the songs you have studied so far have been in the key of C major.

16
Lavender’s Blue

This well known English folk song is in the key of C major. It uses a crossover in bar 14.

LESSON SIX

The Dotted Quarter Note

A dot written after a quarter note indicates that you should hold the note for one and a half beats. A dotted quarter note is often followed by an eighth note.

17

18
Lullaby

Brahms’ Lullaby is one of the most well known melodies of all time. It is written here in the key of C major and uses dotted quarter notes in bars 1, 3, 9 and 13.

First And Second Endings

The next song contains first and second endings. The first time you play through the song, play the first ending, ( Z ), then go back to the beginning. The second time you play through the song, play the second ending ( X ) instead of the first.

19
Jingle Bells

Jingle Bells is one of the most popular Christmas songs. It contains first and second endings. The first time through, play from the beginning to the end of bar 8. Then play again from the beginning, but this time do not play bars 7 and 8 (the first ending) but play bars 9 and 10 (the second ending).

Minor Chords

There are three main types of chords: major, seventh and minor chords. You have already learned some major chords and one seventh chord. The first minor chord you will learn is the D minor chord. Minor chords are indicated by a small "m" right written after the chord name, for example: Dm.

The D Minor Chord

Dm

Chord Symbol

To play the D minor chord, use the first, third and fifth fingers of your left hand.

The Common Time Signature

This symbol is called common time. It means exactly the same as *.

20
Mussi Den

This song is in the key of C major and contains a Dm chord in bar 13. It also contains two lead-in notes at the beginning of the song.

21
Scarborough Fair

Scarborough Fair is a folk music standard. It contains D minor chords and also introduces the D note above the C note which is one octave higher than middle C. When changing between the Dm and F chords, keep your first finger in position, as it is common to both chords.

LESSON SEVEN

The G Chord

G

Chord Symbol

To play the G chord, use the first, third and fifth fingers of your left hand, as shown in the G chord diagram.

Sharp Signs

This is a sharp sign. When a sharp sign is placed before a note on the staff, it indicates that you play the key immediately to its right. This key may be either black or white.

The D Seventh Chord

D⁷

Chord Symbol

The D7 chord contains an F sharp note which is the black key immediately to the right of the F note (white key) below middle C. This F# note is written on the fourth line of the bass staff. To play the D7 chord, use the first, third and fourth fingers of your left hand as shown in the D7 chord diagram.

22
Hush Little Baby

This popular children’s song makes use of the chords G and D7.

23
Tom Dooley

When playing the melody of this song, be careful to play the correct timing in bars 9, 11, 13 and 15. Practice the timing in these bars separately before playing the complete song.

The Eighth Note Triplet

A triplet is a group of three evenly spaced notes played within 1 beat. Eighth note triplets are indicated by three eighth notes grouped together by a bracket (or a curved line) and the number 3 written either above or below the group. The eighth note triplets are played with a third of a beat each. Accent (play louder) the first note of each triplet group as it will help you keep time.

24
Amazing Grace

Amazing Grace is a Gospel song which contains a lead-in and triplets.

The Note F Sharp

This F# note (above Middle C) is the black key immediately to the right of the F note as shown in the diagram.

This F# note is written in the first space of the treble staff.

25
The William Tell Overture

Most of the melody notes in this song are played staccato as indicated by the dot placed under or over the note. All the chords are played staccato except for the first D7 chord in bar 7.

LESSON EIGHT

Turnaround Progressions

A Turnaround progression is a set pattern of chords that repeats itself. There are hundreds of well known songs based upon these Turnaround progressions. All these songs contain basically the same chords in the same order. A Turnaround may repeat over any number of bars. Usually 2, 4 and 8 bars. However the chord sequence remains the same. Some of the biggest hit records of all time are based upon a turnaround progression. Turnarounds always contain at least one minor chord. The Turnaround below uses a new chord E minor (Em).

The E Minor Chord

Em

Chord Symbol

To play the Em chord use the first, second and fifth fingers of your left hand as shown in the diagram.

26

This progression is a Turnaround in the key of G. It will probably sound familiar to you. To make the left hand part easier to play, use the first, second and fourth fingers to play the C chord in this example.

When changing between G and Em chords, keep your first and fifth fingers in position.

When changing between Em and C chords, keep your first and second fingers in position.

When changing between C and D7 chords, keep your fourth finger in position.

Some songs using the Turnaround Progression

Stand by Me - John Lennon

I Will Always Love You - Whitney Houston

Return to Sender - Elvis Presley

All I Have to do is Dream - Everly Brothers

Tell Me Why - The Beatles

Let's Twist Again - Chubby Checker

Be My Baby - The Ronettes

Blue Moon - Various Artists

The A Minor Chord

Am

Chord Symbol

To play the Am chord use the first, third and fifth fingers of your left hand as shown in the diagram.

27
Minuet

The melody of this song was a number one hit record and was based on a minuet by famous classical composer Bach. It introduces the note B below middle C in Bars 7 and 15.

Broken Chords

Sometimes when you play a chord, instead of playing all three notes together, you play the lowest note of the chord shape (chord fingering), followed by the other two notes of the chord. The following example demonstrates broken chords in ^ time using the chords C, F and G7.

28

29
Lavender’s Blue

Here is a new version of the song you learned in Exercise 16, this time using broken chords in the left hand part. Practice the left hand separately at first if necessary.

30
Morning Has Broken

Morning Has Broken uses all the chords you have learned so far and once again uses broken chords in the left hand part. It also introduces the note A below middle C in bar 17. If you have trouble co-ordinating both hands, practice each hand separately until you are confident playing each part and then combine them.

Broken Chords in * Time

Broken chords work equally well in ^ time and * time. Here are some examples of broken chords in the key of C in * time. Once you are comfortable playing them, try applying broken chord accompaniments to some of the other songs you have learned.

31

32
O Susanna

This traditional folk song is played with a broken chord accompaniment. Take care with the chord change from C to G7 on the third beat of bars 7 and 15.

LESSON NINE

The G Major Scale

In Lesson 5 the C Major scale was introduced. The G major scale starts and ends on the note G, and contains an F# note instead of an F note. Play the following G major scale and notice that it still has the familiar sound Do Re Mi Fa So La Ti Do.

33

The key of C major was discussed in the section on Key of C Major. Songs that are in this key utilize notes from the C major scale. Similarly, songs that are in the key of G major are said to utilize notes from the G major scale. Songs in the key of G will contain F# notes.

Key Signatures

Instead of writing a sharp sign before every F note on the staff, it is easier to write just one sharp sign after each clef. This means that all the F notes on the staff are played as F# , even though there is no sharp sign written before them. This is called a key signature.

The G Major Key Signature

This is the key signature for the key of G major. It has one sharp sign after each clef.

The C Major Key Signature

The C major scale contains no sharps or flats, therefore the key signature for the key of C major contains no sharps or flats.

34
I Yi Yi Yi (Cielito Lindo)

I Yi Yi Yi is in the key of G major. Notice the key signature and play all F notes as F#. This is one of the most well known songs from Mexico. The left hand accompaniment contains chords played staccato in the first part of the song and broken chords in the second half.

Also notice that bar 10 contains a whole rest, which would typically indicate four quarter note rests, but this can also be used for a full bar of rest. As this piece is in 3/4 time, it represents a full-bar rest (in this case, three quarter note rests).

Arpeggios

In Broken Chords you were introduced to the idea of playing the bass note followed by the chord. Another useful way of playing chords is arpeggio style. An arpeggio is a chord played one note at a time. This technique can be applied to any chord and can make the accompaniment to a melody much more interesting. The following example demonstrates the chords C and G7 played as arpeggios in ^ time.

35

Once you are comfortable playing these chords as arpeggios, try adding a melody with the right hand, as shown in example 36. This is a new arrangement of the song you learned in Exercise 8.

36
Austrian Waltz

37
Chopsticks

Chopsticks is one of the most well known pieces of music for piano. If your hand is not big enough to stretch the octave in bar 7 you can play the whole right hand part of the song using two hands. The left hand part consists of arpeggios of the chords C and G7. Practice each hand separately at first if you have trouble co-ordinating the two parts. This song is in the key of C major as indicated by the key signature (i.e., no sharps or flats).

Arpeggios In * Time

Like broken chords, arpeggios work equally well in any time signature. The following examples demonstrate some of the ways arpeggios can be used in * time. These examples are written in the key of G major as indicated by the key signature.

38

39
Banks of the Ohio

This time the arpeggios are played as eighth notes. The pattern of four notes per chord is exactly the same but they are played over two beats instead of four beats. This may seem difficult at first, but remember that these arpeggios are the same chord shapes you already know, played one note at a time. Once again, practice each hand separately at first if necessary.

The Sloop John B

This song is in the key of G major. There is a tie between an eighth note and a quarter note in bar 13. This gives an "off beat" feel called syncopation.

40

41
The Sloop John B

LESSON TEN

Flat Signs

This is a flat sign. When a flat sign is placed before a note on the staff, it means that you play the key immediately to its left. This key may be either black or white. The note B flat (written as Bb) is shown on the staff below.

The Note B Flat

This Bb note (above Middle C) is the black key immediately to the left of the B note, as shown in the diagram.

This Bb note is written on the third line of the treble staff.

12 Bar Blues

12 Bar Blues is a pattern of chords which repeats every 12 bars. There are hundreds of well known songs based on this chord progression, i.e., they contain basically the same chords in the same order. 12 Bar Blues is commonly used in Rock music and is the basis of Blues music.

Songs using the 12 Bar Blues Progression

Original Batman T.V. Theme

Hound Dog - Elvis Presley

Rock Around The Clock - Bill Haley

Roll Over Beethoven - Chuck Berry

Blue Suede Shoes - Elvis Presley

In The Mood - Glen Miller

Shake, Rattle and Roll - Bill Haley

Barbara Ann - The Beach Boys

Johnny B. Goode - Chuck Berry

Dizzy Miss Lizzy - The Beatles

Surfin’ U.S.A. - The Beach Boys

Good Golly Miss Molly - Little Richard

12 Bar Blues in the Key of C Major

The following 12 Bar Blues is in the key of C major, and uses some of the chords you have learned so far. When a song is said to be in the key of C major, it means that the most important chord (and usually the first chord) is the C chord.

42
12 Bar Blues in the Key of C Major

This pattern of chords will probably sound familiar to you.

The Key of F Major

The F major scale starts and ends on the note F, and it contains a Bb note instead of a B note. Play The F major scale below and listen for the Do Re Mi Fa So La Ti Do sound. Songs that are in the key of F major contain notes from the F major scale and hence contain the note Bb.

43

Key Signature of F Major

Instead of writing the flat sign before every B note on the staff, one flat sign can be written after each clef. This means that all B notes on the staff are played as Bb, even though there is no flat sign written before them. This is the key signature for the key of F major. There is one flat sign after each clef.

44
Marianne

Marianne is in the key of F major. The left hand part here is a variation on the eighth note arpeggio style. Instead of playing the arpeggio straight up and down, the pattern alternates between the lowest note and the other two notes of each chord. This style of accompaniment is very popular in Classical music and is called an Alberti bass. Practice the left hand part by itself before combining it with the melody.

The song Molly Malone (also called "Cockles And Mussels") is a well known traditional Irish song and is written below in the key of F major. The left hand part is a variation on the Alberti bass pattern, altered to fit in with ^ time. Once again, practice each hand separately at first if necessary.

You have now learned all three of the basic methods of accompanying melodies: chord style, broken chord style and arpeggio style. The accompaniment you use can make a big difference to how good the overall piece of music sounds. You can often make a simple melody sound great just by giving it an interesting accompaniment. Go back through the book and experiment with various accompaniments to each of the songs. Remember that each accompaniment style is based on the same basic chord shapes.

45
Molly Malone

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Progressive Funk Piano Method

Beginner To Intermediate

Specifically designed for students who wish to play Funk piano, either in a Rock group or solo. Contains important information on creating piano parts, playing in major and minor keys and transposing. The exercises sound great as well as teaching the necessary notes and techniques.

Progressive Rock Piano

Beginner To Advanced

Covers all aspects of Rock Piano playing, featuring the most common Rock chords and progressions. Special emphasis is placed on music theory as it relates to Rock, including Blues scales, chord construction and substitution in the most common Rock keys.

Progressive Piano Chords

Beginner To Advanced

A great reference book for pianists of all levels. Contains a listing of more that 1000 chords arranged chromatically with all inversions, within 36 different chord families. Also contains an extensive body of music theory, ranging from how to read a piano keyboard, to a complete listing of all the major and natural minor scales. Also demonstrates the most common chords in each key, along with sample chord progressions, which you can play along with on the recording.

APPENDIX ONE

Notes on the Keyboard

Easy Chord Substitution

When playing from sheet music and you come across an unfamiliar chord study the following table to find an easier chord to play. This chord will still sound correct. E.g., when you see a Cmaj7 symbol, play a C chord instead. For a Cm6, you can substitute a Cm chord, etc.

APPENDIX TWO

Chord Charts

In this book you are introduced to major, minor and seventh chords. The following chord charts contain many other chords you may find in sheet music. Other important chord types are the minor seventh chord (m7), augmented (+) and diminished (o) chords. These are listed on the following pages. There are many other types of chords e.g., sixth (6), suspended (sus), ninth (9) etc. The following charts show three different positions for each chord:

The root position. This shape has the root note (i.e., the note the chord is named after) as the lowest note of the chord.

The first inversion contains the same notes as the root position but places them in a different order.

The second inversion contains the same notes as the root position but places them in a different order again.

Major Chord Chart

C Major Chord

C

Chord Symbol

C E G

Notes in Chord

C (Root Position)

C (1st Inversion)

C (2nd Inversion)

Db Major Chord

Db

Chord Symbol

Db F Ab

Notes in Chord

Db (Root Position)

Db (1st Inversion)

Db (2nd Inversion)

C# Major Chord

C#

Chord Symbol

C# F G#

Notes in Chord

C# (Root Position)

C#(1st Inversion)

C# (2nd Inversion)

D Major Chord

D

Chord Symbol

D F# A

Notes in Chord

D (Root Position)

D (1st Inversion)

D (2nd Inversion)

Eb Major Chord

Eb

Chord Symbol

Eb G Bb

Notes in Chord

Eb (Root Position)

Eb(1st Inversion)

Eb (2nd Inversion)

E Major Chord

E

Chord Symbol

E G# B

Notes in Chord

E (Root Position)

E (1st Inversion)

E (2nd Inversion)

F Major Chord

F

Chord Symbol

F A C

Notes in Chord

F (Root Position)

F (1st Inversion)

F (2nd Inversion)

F# Major Chord

F#

Chord Symbol

F# A# C#

Notes in Chord

F# (Root Position)

F# (1st Inversion)

F# (2nd Inversion)

Gb Major Chord

Gb

Chord Symbol

Gb Bb Db

Notes in Chord

Gb (Root Position)

Gb (1st Inversion)

Gb (2nd Inversion)

G Major Chord

G

Chord Symbol

G B D

Notes in Chord

G (Root Position)

G (1st Inversion)

G (2nd Inversion)

Ab Major Chord

Ab

Chord Symbol

Ab C Eb

Notes in Chord

Ab (Root Position)

Ab (1st Inversion)

Ab (2nd Inversion)

A Major Chord

A

Chord Symbol

A C# E

Notes in Chord

A (Root Position)

A (1st Inversion)

A (2nd Inversion)

Bb Major Chord

Bb

Chord Symbol

Bb D F

Notes in Chord

Bb (Root Position)

Bb (1st Inversion)

Bb (2nd Inversion)

B Major Chord

B

Chord Symbol

B D# F#

Notes in Chord

B (Root Position)

B (1st Inversion)

B (2nd Inversion)

Minor Chord Chart

C Minor Chord

Cm

Chord Symbol

C Eb G

Notes in Chord

Cm (Root Position)

Cm (1st Inversion)

Cm (2nd Inversion)

C# Minor Chord

C#m

Chord Symbol

C# E G#

Notes in Chord

C#m (Root Position)

C#m (1st Inversion)

C#m (2nd Inversion)

D Minor Chord

Dm

Chord Symbol

D F A

Notes in Chord

Dm (Root Position)

Dm (1st Inversion)

Dm (2nd Inversion)

Eb Minor Chord

Ebm

Chord Symbol

Eb Gb Bb

Notes in Chord

Ebm (Root Position)

Ebm (1st Inversion)

Ebm (2nd Inversion)

E Minor Chord

Em

Chord Symbol

E G B

Notes in Chord

Em (Root Position)

Em (1st Inversion)

Em (2nd Inversion)

F Minor Chord

Fm

Chord Symbol

F Ab C

Notes in Chord

Fm (Root Position)

Fm (1st Inversion)

Fm (2nd Inversion)

F# Minor Chord

F#m

Chord Symbol

F# A C#

Notes in Chord

F#m (Root Position)

F#m (1st Inversion)

F#m (2nd Inversion)

G Minor Chord

Gm

Chord Symbol

G Bb D

Notes in Chord

Gm (Root Position)

Gm (1st Inversion)

Gm (2nd Inversion)

G# Minor Chord

G#m

Chord Symbol

G# B D#

Notes in Chord

G#m (Root Position)

G#m (1st Inversion)

G#m (2nd Inversion)

A Minor Chord

Am

Chord Symbol

A C E

Notes in Chord

Am (Root Position)

Am (1st Inversion)

Am (2nd Inversion)

Bb Minor Chord

Bbm

Chord Symbol

Bb Db F

Notes in Chord

Bbm (Root Position)

Bbm (1st Inversion)

Bbm (2nd Inversion)

B Minor Chord

Bm

Chord Symbol

B D F#

Notes in Chord

Bm (Root Position)

Bm (1st Inversion)

Bm (2nd Inversion)

Seventh Chord Chart

C Seventh Chord

C⁷

Chord Symbol

C E G Bb 

Notes in Chord

C⁷ (Root Position)

C⁷ (1st Inversion)

C⁷ (2nd Inversion)

Db Seventh Chord

Db⁷

Chord Symbol

Db F Ab Cb 

Notes in Chord

Db⁷ (Root Position)

Db⁷ (1st Inversion)

Db⁷ (2nd Inversion)

D Seventh Chord

D⁷

Chord Symbol

D F# A C 

Notes in Chord

D⁷ (Root Position)

D⁷ (1st Inversion)

D⁷ (2nd Inversion)

Eb Seventh Chord

Eb⁷

Chord Symbol

Eb G Bb Db 

Notes in Chord

Eb⁷ (Root Position)

Eb⁷ (1st Inversion)

Eb⁷ (2nd Inversion)

E Seventh Chord

E⁷

Chord Symbol

E G# B D 

Notes in Chord

E⁷ (Root Position)

E⁷ (1st Inversion)

E⁷ (2nd Inversion)

F Seventh Chord

F⁷

Chord Symbol

F A C Eb 

Notes in Chord

F⁷ (Root Position)

F⁷ (1st Inversion)

F⁷ (2nd Inversion)

F# Seventh Chord

F#⁷

Chord Symbol

F# A# C# E 

Notes in Chord

F#⁷ (Root Position)

F#⁷ (1st Inversion)

F#⁷ (2nd Inversion)

Gb Seventh Chord

Gb⁷

Chord Symbol

Gb Bb Db E 

Notes in Chord

Gb⁷ (Root Position)

Gb⁷ (1st Inversion)

Gb⁷ (2nd Inversion)

G Seventh Chord

G⁷

Chord Symbol

G B D F 

Notes in Chord

G⁷ (Root Position)

G⁷ (1st Inversion)

G⁷ (2nd Inversion)

Ab Seventh Chord

Ab⁷

Chord Symbol

Ab C Eb Gb 

Notes in Chord

Ab⁷ (Root Position)

Ab⁷ (1st Inversion)

Ab⁷ (2nd Inversion)

A Seventh Chord

A⁷

Chord Symbol

A C# E G 

Notes in Chord

A⁷ (Root Position)

A⁷ (1st Inversion)

A⁷ (2nd Inversion)

Bb Seventh Chord

Bb⁷

Chord Symbol

Bb D F Ab 

Notes in Chord

Bb⁷ (Root Position)

Bb⁷ (1st Inversion)

Bb⁷ (2nd Inversion)

B Seventh Chord

B⁷

Chord Symbol

B D# F# A 

Notes in Chord

B⁷ (Root Position)

B⁷ (1st Inversion)

B⁷ (2nd Inversion)

Minor Seventh Chord Chart

C Minor Seventh Chord

Cm⁷

Chord Symbol

C Eb G Bb 

Notes in Chord

Cm⁷ (Root Position)

Cm⁷ (1st Inversion)

Cm⁷ (2nd Inversion)

C# Minor Seventh Chord

C#m⁷

Chord Symbol

C# E G# B 

Notes in Chord

C#m⁷ (Root Position)

C#m⁷ (1st Inversion)

C#m⁷ (2nd Inversion)

D Minor Seventh Chord

Dm⁷

Chord Symbol

D F A C 

Notes in Chord

Dm⁷ (Root Position)

Dm⁷ (1st Inversion)

Dm⁷ (2nd Inversion)

Eb Minor Seventh Chord

Ebm⁷

Chord Symbol

Eb Gb Bb Db

Notes in Chord

Ebm⁷ (Root Position)

Ebm⁷ (1st Inversion)

Ebm⁷ (2nd Inversion)

E Minor Seventh Chord

Em⁷

Chord Symbol

E G B D 

Notes in Chord

Em⁷ (Root Position)

Em⁷ (1st Inversion)

Em⁷ (2nd Inversion)

F Minor Seventh Chord

Fm⁷

Chord Symbol

F Ab C Eb 

Notes in Chord

Fm⁷ (Root Position)

Fm⁷ (1st Inversion)

Fm⁷ (2nd Inversion)

F# Minor Seventh Chord

F#m⁷

Chord Symbol

F# A C# E 

Notes in Chord

F#m⁷ (Root Position)

F#m⁷ (1st Inversion)

F#m⁷ (2nd Inversion)

G Minor Seventh Chord

Gm⁷

Chord Symbol

G Bb D F 

Notes in Chord

Gm⁷ (Root Position)

Gm⁷ (1st Inversion)

Gm⁷ (2nd Inversion)

G# Minor Seventh Chord

G#m⁷

Chord Symbol

G# B D# F# 

Notes in Chord

G#m⁷ (Root Position)

G#m⁷ (1st Inversion)

G#m⁷ (2nd Inversion)

A Minor Seventh Chord

Am⁷

Chord Symbol

A C E G 

Notes in Chord

Am⁷ (Root Position)

Am⁷ (1st Inversion)

Am⁷ (2nd Inversion)

Bb Minor Seventh Chord

Bbm⁷

Chord Symbol

Bb Db F Ab 

Notes in Chord

Bbm⁷ (Root Position)

Bbm⁷ (1st Inversion)

Bbm⁷ (2nd Inversion)

B Minor Seventh Chord

Bm⁷

Chord Symbol

B D F# A 

Notes in Chord

Bm⁷ (Root Position)

Bm⁷ (1st Inversion)

Bm⁷ (2nd Inversion)

Augmented Chord Chart

C Augmented Chord

C aug

Chord Symbol

C E G#

Notes in Chord

C# Augmented Chord

C# aug

Chord Symbol

C# F A

Notes in Chord

D Augmented Chord

D aug

Chord Symbol

D F# A#

Notes in Chord

Eb Augmented Chord

Eb aug

Chord Symbol

Eb G B

Notes in Chord

E Augmented Chord

E aug

Chord Symbol

E G# C

Notes in Chord

F Augmented Chord

F aug

Chord Symbol

F A C#

Notes in Chord

F# Augmented Chord

F# aug

Chord Symbol

F# A# D

Notes in Chord

G Augmented Chord

G aug

Chord Symbol

G B D#

Notes in Chord

G# Augmented Chord

G# aug

Chord Symbol

G# C E

Notes in Chord

A Augmented Chord

A aug

Chord Symbol

A C# F

Notes in Chord

Bb Augmented Chord

Bb aug

Chord Symbol

Bb D F#

Notes in Chord

B Augmented Chord

B aug

Chord Symbol

B Eb G

Notes in Chord

Diminished Chord Chart

C Diminished Chord

C dim

Chord Symbol

C Eb Gb

Notes in Chord

C# Diminished Chord

C# dim

Chord Symbol

C# E G

Notes in Chord

D Diminished Chord

D dim

Chord Symbol

D F Ab

Notes in Chord

Eb Diminished Chord

Eb dim

Chord Symbol

Eb Gb A

Notes in Chord

E Diminished Chord

E dim

Chord Symbol

E G Bb

Notes in Chord

F Diminished Chord

F dim

Chord Symbol

F Ab B

Notes in Chord

F# Diminished Chord

F# dim

Chord Symbol

F# A C

Notes in Chord

G Diminished Chord

G dim

Chord Symbol

G Bb Db

Notes in Chord

G# Diminished Chord

G# dim

Chord Symbol

G# B D

Notes in Chord

A Diminished Chord

A dim

Chord Symbol

A C Eb

Notes in Chord

Bb Diminished Chord

Bb dim

Chord Symbol

Bb Db E

Notes in Chord

B Diminished Chord

B dim

Chord Symbol

B D F

Notes in Chord