GETTING TO KNOW THE KEYBOARD

See how there are two black keys then three black keys - then two again – then three and so on

IMPORTANT! The tiny black arrow in the keyboard diagrams always

indicates MIDDLE C

C|----------------------------|
12 notes

Each pattern contains the SAME 12 notes but at higher or lower pitches.

THE WHITE KEYS

A, B, C, D, E, F and G repeated at different pitches

It is important that you are able (eventually) to name ALL the white notes

C F C F C F C F C
THE BLACK KEYS

C# D# F# G# A#
or
Db Eb Gb Ab Bb

C D E F G A B

number your fingers like this

The CHORDS

Use your right hand - THUMB - MIDDLE FINGER - SMALL FINGER

The Chord C

C E G

REMEMBER play all three notes TOGETHER - AT THE SAME TIME

The Chord Am (A minor)

A C E

The Chord F

F A C

The Chord G

G B D
A familiar tune using four VERY simple chords

a very familiar chord sequence using 4 simple chords

The 4 chords are C, A minor (written Am), F and G

Bar system

1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4
| C | Am | F | G |

These chords are in what is known as ‘ROOT’ position,

with the THUMB on the note that gives the chord its name – the ROOT
note.

Don’t give up if playing these chords hurts your hands. That’s normal for a
beginner and won’t last forever.

And make sure you USE your 1st, 3rd and 5th fingers

LET’S MAKE IT MORE INTERESTING BY

ADDING SOME NOTES IN THE LEFT HAND

RHYTHM 1 - Left note / Right chord
The left hand notes are the SAME note as the first note of the ‘matching’ right
hand chord but played an octave LOWER (8 notes to the left)

play LEFT HAND

then RIGHT HAND

play LEFT HAND

then RIGHT HAND

play LEFT HAND

then RIGHT HAND

play LEFT HAND