Learn Piano Scales, Chords, Progressions

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2011-04-29T17:06:00.000-07:00

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Extra Chord Forming Guide

2009-12-09T04:02:00.000-08:00

Forming Chords
Type of Chord	Chord Structure
Major Triad	1st (root) + 3rd + 5th notes of a major scale
Minor Triad	1st (root) + 3rd + 5th notes of a minor scale
Diminished Triads	1st (root) + flatted 3rd (b3) + flatted 5th (b5) notes of a major scale
Augmented Triads	1st (root) + 3rd + sharped 5th (#5th) notes of a major scale.
Major 7th Chord	1st (root) + 3rd + 5th + 7th notes of a major scale
Minor 7th Chord	1st (root) + flatted 3rd (b3) + 5th + flatted 7th (b7) notes (derived from a major scale)
Dominant 7th Chord	1st (root) + 3rd + 5th + flatted 7th (b7) notes of a major scale
Sixth Chord	1st (root) + 3rd + 5th + 6th notes of a major or minor scale.
Dominant 9th Chord	add a ninth to a dominant 7th chord (1st + 3rd + 5th + flatted 7th + 9th)
Major 9th Chord	add a ninth to a major 7th chord (1st + 3rd + 5th + 7th + 9th)
Minor 9th Chord	add a ninth to a minor 7th chord (1st + 3rd + 5th + flatted 7th + 9th)
sus2 Chord	1st (root) + 2nd + 5th notes of either a major or minor scale
sus4 Chord	1st (root) + 4th + 5th notes of either a major or minor scale

Correct Way To Name Scales & Chords

2009-12-09T03:43:00.000-08:00

When naming a scale one must take notice that every letter must be used as it relates to the piano. The note name come from the first 7 letters of the alphabet (A thru G) and are all used in every scale. depending on the starting note and name, the others are depicted accordingly.

Major Scale Formula is W - W - H - W - W - W- H
Minor Scale Formula is W - H - W - W - H - W - W
(W=Whole Step , H=Half Step)

Example: C Major Scale = C - D - E - F - G - A - B - C
Example: A Major Scale = A - B - C# - D - E - F# - G# - A
Example: F# Major Scale = F# - G# - A# - B - C# - D# - E# - F#

Same Concept applies to Minor Scales as well.
Example C Minor Scale = C - D - Eb - F - G - Ab - Bb - C
Example Eb Minor Scale = Eb - F - Gb - Ab - Bb - Cb - Db - Eb
Example B Minor Scale = B - C# - D - E - F# - G - A - B

Having looked at the rule above an A Major chord is correctly spelled A-C#-E. If a person says A-Db-E, they are talking about the same thing and this is a shortcut used by musicians all of the time but the CORRECT way to dictate an A Major Chord is A-C#-E.

I hope that this clears up how to speak in regards to scales and dictating the correct note names in chords. There are a few note names that seemed funny like E# or Cb but when following the rule they are correctly used so that each scale uses all of the first seven letters of the alphabet.

Chord Formulas and Symbols

2009-11-13T05:03:00.000-08:00

Here is a good list of chords that I play all of the time. It is handy in knowing this when playing Lead Sheets or the Fake-Book Chords. Notice the symbol next to the letter which tells you what type of chord.

Major : 1 3 5 : Example (C)
Minor: 1 b3 5 : Example (Cm)
Diminished : 1 b3 b5 : Example (Cdim)
Augmented: 1 3 #5 : Example (Caug or C+)
Major 7th: 1 3 5 7 : Example (Cmaj7)
Dominant 7th : 1 3 5 b7 : Example (C7)
Minor 7th: 1 b3 5 b7 : Example (Cm7)
6th: 1 3 5 6 : Example (C6)
9th: 1 2 3 5 : Example (C9)

Extra Note >> b = flat and # = sharp

I also like to use suspensions where I will play the second tone or the 4th tone and then move that note to the 3rd tone to round out the chord. I interchange those all of the time to give the song more color and a different sound. This keeps me from playing the same song the same way. Changing up the chord and inverting it works well also.

Key of Bb

2009-11-10T06:08:00.000-08:00

The key of Bb (B flat) has 2 flats

Bb+ C + D + Eb + F + G + A + Bb

W – W – H – W – W – W – H
W = whole step * H = half step

Key of Ab

2009-11-10T06:07:00.001-08:00

The key of Ab (A flat) has 4 flats

Ab + Bb + C + Db + Eb + F + G + Ab

W – W – H – W – W – W – H
W = whole step * H = half step

Key of F#

2009-11-10T06:06:00.000-08:00

The key of F# (F sharp) has 6 sharps

F# + G# + A# + B + C# + D# + E# + F#

W – W – H – W – W – W – H
W = whole step * H = half step

Key of Eb

2009-11-10T06:04:00.001-08:00

The key of Eb (E flat) has 3 flats

Eb + F + G + Ab + Bb + C + D + Eb

W – W – H – W – W – W – H
W = whole step * H = half step

Key of C#

2009-11-10T06:02:00.000-08:00

The key of C# (C sharp) has 7 sharps

C# + D# + E# + F# + G# + A# + B# + C#

W – W – H – W – W – W – H
W = whole step * H = half step

Key of B

2009-11-10T06:01:00.000-08:00

The key of B has 5 sharps

B + C# + D# + E + F# + G# + A# + B

W – W – H – W – W – W – H
W = whole step * H = half step

Key of A

2009-11-10T06:00:00.000-08:00

The key of A has 3 sharps

A + B + C# + D + E + F# + G# + A

W – W – H – W – W – W – H
W = whole step * H = half step

Key of G

2009-11-10T05:53:00.000-08:00

The key of G has 1 sharp

G + A + B + C + D + E + F# + G

W – W – H – W – W – W – H
W = whole step * H = half step

Key of F

2009-11-10T05:50:00.000-08:00

The key of F has 1 flat

F + G + A + Bb + C + D + E + F

W – W – H – W – W – W – H
W = whole step * H = half step

Key of E

2009-11-10T05:48:00.000-08:00

The key of E has 4 sharps

E + F# + G# + A + B + C# + D# + E

W – W – H – W – W – W – H
W = whole step * H = half step

Key of D

2009-11-10T05:39:00.000-08:00

The key of D has 2 sharps

D + E + F# + G + A + B + C# + D

W – W – H – W – W – W – H
W = whole step * H = half step

Key of C

2009-11-10T05:30:00.000-08:00

The key of C has no flats or sharps

C – D – E – F – G – A – B – C

W – W – H – W – W – W – H
W = whole step * H = half step