ADICTUMM Let's be this ebook. Be sure to watch the correlating video while you play the exercises from Note: In this course we will not be explaining musical theory in depth, yet we will be going directly to playing chords, rhythm training, accompaniment, and making music. Basic Concepts ‘Annote is a sound that has a determined pitch; on the keyboard a note is one single key that is played. A chord is a group of notes that are played together. There are different types of chords such as major chords, minor chords and many more. Its easy to find notes on the keyboard; we can always identify the C note which is found to the left of the two black keys that are together. From there, going to the right, the notes of the white keys are: WN The distance from one C note to the following C note is known as an octave. A standard size piano has a total of 7 octaves; a typical electronic keyboard can have 4, 5, 6, or more octaves. An octave can also be measured by starting at any note until you reach the next note with the same name but in a higher or lower pitch. The distance from one key (or note) to the next is called a half step or semitone. ADICTUMMADICTUMM ‘A.whole tone (one tone) is the distance between every two keys on the keyboard, including the black keys. Half Step or Semi-tone ‘Whole Tone Chromatic Scale: The chromatic scale includes all of the notes in an octave. C.C#D D# EF F# G GH AAHB ‘The black keys can be called either sharp or flat, the name depends on which scale or chord is being played. ‘A sharp raises the pitch of a note by one semi-tone. A flat lowers the pitch of a note by one semi-tone. C# (C sharp) is the same note as Db (D flat) AQ D# is the same note as Eb Fi#tis the same note as Gb G# is the same note as Ab At is the same note as ADICTUMMADICTUMM ‘As we said before, a chord is a group of notes. The most basic chords contain 3 notes and are called triads. Major and minor chords are examples of triads. ‘A chord can have various positions on the keyboard and the best way to practice them is by knowing how to form its inversions (or positions). Inversions are different positions in a chord, for example: the C chord contains the notes C, E and G. The root position is the first position to play this chord with the order being C, E, G from left to right. Cc Ea The first inversion of this chord would be E, G, C and the second inversion would be G, Ge. Ifa chord has 4 notes then it would have 3 inversions, besides its root position. The best, and most beneficial way of learning to play the keyboard is practicing different inversions of chords all the time; this is very essential and fundamental. In the exercises of this method, will see many inversions of chords. As you are watching the videos of the exercises (once you are comfortable with the exercise) you ADICTUMMADICTUMM should practice it with different inversions of the chords. Try to deduce as many inversions as possible. ‘We will also be practicing many exercises based on chord progressions. A chord progression is a group of chords that are played in a specific order, Each chord in the progression generally is played for the same amount of time. Songs are typically organized in chord progressions. The chords within a chord progression are divided up in bars. Each bar generally has the same amount of beats in it, Usually a bar contains 4 beats (or counts) and is played in a specific rhythm. In modern music notation we use chord progressions for reading music and playing songs. ‘An example of thi the following chord progression: Chord Progression ee |C|Am|F/GI]| Bar ‘We start by playing the C chord and counting 1 & 2 & 3 & 4, then by playing Am and counting 1 & 2 & 3 & 4, then playing F and counting 1 & 2 & 3 & 4, and finally by playing Gand counting 1&2&3 & 4. ADICTUMMADICTUMM The fingers on both hands are numbered and are displayed in the image below: ia Note: The graphics that appear on the top right of the video display the chords for the right hand. ADICTUMM