1)Keyboard Layout:
A Piano keyboard diagram is shown and explained below. Octaves are the notes that you hear as being 'the same' in order to be higher or lower in actual pitch. A sharp (#) is mentioned to the black key to the right of white and flat (b) is mentioned to the black key to the left of white.
2)Major Scales and Minor Scales:
The Major Scales or Ionian Scales is one of the commonly used scales in western music. Let's learn how to play a major scale on piano or keyboard using a simple formula.
The Formula is Whole - Whole - Half - Whole - Whole - Whole - Half
'Whole' stands for a whole step, and 'Half' stand for a half step. Take the Key of C scale.
1)The first note is the C note
2)A whole step means from C takes us to D note
3)Another whole step means that takes us to E note
4)A half step means that takes us to F note
5)One whole step means that higher to G note
6)Another whole step means that higher to A note
7)Another whole step means that takes us to B note
8)And finally, a half step means that higher than B is C note
There are three types of minor scales. A natural minor scale, also known as A eolian scale. It has the same notes as its relative major scale, but is built starting from the sixth note of the relative major scale. The natural minor scale can be thought of as a major scale with 3rd 6th and 7th notes lower by one half step. Let's learn how to form a minor scale on piano using a simple formula.
The Formula is Whole - Half - Whole - Whole - Half - Whole - Whole
Take the C major scale as an example.
1)The first note is the C note
2)A whole step means from C takes us to D note
3)A half step means that takes us to D# note
4)A whole step means from D# note takes us to F note
5)One whole step means the higher is G note
6)A half step means that takes us to G# note
7)A whole step means that takes us to A# note
8)And finally, another whole step means that higher than B is C note
Therefore, the major scale of C is C, D, E, F, G, A, B, C and the minor scale of C is C, D, D#, F, G, G#, A#, C.
All other scales are similar to this formula.
3)Major Chords and Minor Chords:
A Chord is three or more notes that combine harmoniously. A series of chords is called the progression of chord(chord progression). A Chord is three or four notes played together. There are three note chords (triads), four note chords and five note chords. A common triad is commonly written only by the name of the root of the chord.
For example C, including the notes C- E- G
Formula is 1st, 3rd and 5th note from C major scales. These are the chord's that are formed using the 1st,3rd, and 5th notes of the major scale.
C - D - E - F- G - A - B - C
1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 8
The common version of minor is commonly written with the name followed by 'm'. A minor triad can also be described as a minor triad interval with a major third interval on top.
For example C, including the notes C - D# - G
C - D - D# - F- G - G# - A# - C
1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 8
4)Relative Chords:
In music, relative keys are the major and minor scales that have the same key signatures. A combination of major and minor scales sharing the same key signature are said to be in a relative relationship. Every key also has a group of chords that sound good together. These chords are said to be relative chords.
In relative major chords, each note of the major scale has a chord that is the same letter as that note. The 1st, 4th, and 5th notes are the main major relative chords. The 2nd, 3rd and 6th notes are the accidental minor chords. The seldom used 7th note is accidental diminished.
In relative minor chords, each note of the minor scale has a chord that is the same letter as that note. The 1st, 6th, and 7th notes are the main relative chords. The 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th are the accidental chords.
5)Chord Inversion:
Chord inversion is to invert a chord that we need to play the same notes but shift the fingering positions. Chord inversion will be useful for playing songs with chords in vamping (accompanying).
For example,
C Major Chord = C + E + G
1st Inversion = E + G + C
2nd Inversion = G + C + E
We can use this concept to invert any chord you play on the piano / keyboard
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