Learning chords on the piano is not difficult, but we can use different techniques and different ways of thinking. In this lesson I propose a simple and effective system for learning and remembering chords on the piano, we’ll call this system the photo negative technique. We will also see how to perform chord arpeggios and…Continue readingPiano chords, learn chords with a photo negative
Tag: music theory
How does music notation work? What are the five lines of which it is composed? In this lesson we will look at how the staff works and in particular how it is used to write down one of the main qualities of sound: pitch.Continue readingSound pitch and notation, how the staff works
What is a musical scale? Anyone playing an instrument is accustomed to practicing with scales, but the concept of a scale has much broader implications than just technique. In this lesson, we look at scales of five to eight sounds in general, in particular the major, minor and pentatonic scales.Continue readingMajor scale, pentatonic scale and other scales, what a musical scale is
In the Lydian Chromatic Concept of Tonal Organization (1953) George Russell makes the Lydian scale the centre of the tonal system, instead of the traditional major scale. His system was a great inspiration to a whole generation of jazz musicians, who used it to try to expand the language of their improvisations. Let’s see how…Continue readingGeorge Russell and the Lydian Chromatic Concept
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Simple and compound time
What is the difference between simple and compound time? Often the beginner student is misled by the term “simple time” and thinks it is a synonym for “easy time”. This is why any tempo that is unusual and difficult can be misclassified as compound time.Continue readingSimple and compound time
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Chord symbols, how to read them
In this lesson, you will learn how to read chord symbols. In many theory books and online tutorials you will find charts that help you read chord symbols, but if you understand how chord symbols work, you will find it much easier to learn how to play chords. We will therefore see how the different…Continue readingChord symbols, how to read them
What are seventh chords? What are they used for? How can they be studied? In this lesson, we will try to answer these questions. In particular, we will look at what the harmonization of the major scale is, in order to discover the origin of chords.Continue readingSeventh chords and harmonization of the major scale