MODULE 1: Your First Chords
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INTRODUCTION
0.1 What Will I Need?
0.2 Understanding/Demystifying the Keyboard
0.3 Placing Fingers on Keys
BONUS: Downloadable Keyboard Cheat Sheet -
CHAPTER 1: FIRST POSITION
1.1 The First Position Chord
1.2 Naming First Position Chords
1.3 Adding the Left Hand
1.4 "Root"
1.5 Technique Tip: Keep Your Fingers on the Keys
1.6 Simple Rhythms
1.7 Adding the Pedal
1.Q Quick Summary of Chapter 1
BONUS Play-along Song: Frere Jacques -
CHAPTER 2: SECOND POSITION
2.1 The Second Position Chord
2.2 Where's the Root? + Adding the Left Hand
2.3 Switching Between the C-chord and G-chord
2.4 Small Movements
2.5 New Rhythm Patterns
2.6 Technique Tip: Get Ready!
2.7 More Fun with Rhythm Patterns
2.8 Switching Chords with the Pedal
2.9 Technique Tip: Get Ready Earlier!
2.10 What Can I Play with Two Chords?
2.11 What Can I Play with One Chord?
2.12 Starting to Write Your Own Songs
2.Q Quick Summary of Chapter 2
BONUS Play-along Song: Hush Little Baby -
CHAPTER 3: THIRD POSITION
3.1 The Root Position Chord
3.2 Where's the Root? + Adding the Left Hand
3.3 Switching Among Three Chords
3.4 Anchor Fingers and Anchor Notes
3.5 Beginner Rhythm Patterns and Chord Progressions
3.6 Intermediate Rhythm Patterns and Chord Progressions
3.7 Advanced Rhythm Patterns and Chord Progressions
3.8 Measures / Bars, Barlines and Beats
3.Q Quick Summary of Chapter 3
BONUS Play-along Song: The Mad Hatters -
CHAPTER 4: WHAT CAN I DO WITH 3 CHORDS?
4.1 Happy Birthday
4.2 Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star
4.3 Technique Tip: Keeping Your Fingers Strong
4.4 The Blues
4.5 The Blues: Advanced Rhythm Patterns and Techniques
4.6 Early Rock & Roll (1950s-60s)
4.7 Common Rock and Pop Chord Progressions
4.8 Core Song #1: Silent Night
4.9 Chord Groups
BONUS Play-along Song: The Blues
BONUS Play-along Song: Silent Night
MODULE 2: Playing with Basic Chords
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CHAPTER 5: CHORD GROUP 2
5.1 C-chord in Root Position
5.2 What Exactly is a C-chord?
5.3 G-chord in First Position
5.4 What Exactly is a G-chord?
5.5 F-chord in Second Position
5.6 What Exactly is an F-chord?
5.7 The "Sweet Spot" for Playing Chords
5.8 Core Song #2: Kumbaya
5.9 Reading Lyric/Chord Sheets
5.10 Chord Group 1 vs Chord Group 2
5.Q Quick Summary of Chapter 5
BONUS Play-along Song: Kumbaya -
CHAPTER 6: CHORD GROUP 3
6.1 C-chord in Second Position
6.2 G-chord in Root Position
6.3 F-chord in First Position
6.4 Chord Note Names (3rds + 5ths)
6.5 Core Song #3: Amazing Grace
6.6 Comparing All 3 Chord Groups
6.Q Quick Summary of Chapter 6
BONUS Play-along Song: Amazing Grace -
CHAPTER 7: INTRODUCING A-MINOR CHORDS
7.1 Root Position A-minor Chord
7.2 Major and Minor Chords
7.3 Broken Chords - New Right-hand Style
7.4 First Position A-minor Chord
7.5 Second Position A-minor Chord
7.6 Song Components and Chord Progressions
7.7 Common Chord Progressions: C | Am | F | G |
7.8 Common Chord Progressions: C | G | Am | F |
7.9 Common Chord Progressions: Am | F | C | G |
7.10 Special Case: Heart and Soul
7.Q Quick Summary of Chapter 7
BONUS Play-along Song: C-G-Am-F Chord Progression -
CHAPTER 8: SLASH CHORDS + BASS NOTE MOVEMENT
8.1 Understanding Slash Chords
8.2 Common Chord Progression: Descending Bass Line
8.3 When to Use Slash Chords
8.4 Amazing Grace with Slash Chords
8.5 Passing Notes
8.6 Let's Play: Kilgary Mountain (Whiskey in the Jar)
8.Q Quick Summary of Chapter 8
BONUS Play-along Song: 1950s Swing Rhythm
BONUS Play-along Song: Amazing Grace (with Slash Chords)
BONUS Play-along Song: Kilgary Mountain (Whiskey in the Jar) -
CHAPTER 9: MORE MINOR CHORDS + DIMINISHED CHORD
9.1 The D-minor Chord
9.2 D-minor Chord Fingering
9.3 Let's Play: Carrickfergus
9.4 The E-minor Chord
9.5 Technique Tip: Move Your Body Position
9.6 "Turnaround" Jazz Chord Progression
9.7 Let's Play: Kumbaya with Added Minor Chords
9.8 Let's Play: Wild Mountain Thyme
9.9 The Diminished Chord
9.Q Quick Summary of Chapter 9
BONUS Play-along Song: Carrickfergus
BONUS Play-along Song: Kumbaya with Added Minor Chords
BONUS Play-along Song: Wild Mountain Thyme -
CHAPTER 10: PLAYING THE BLACK NOTES
10.1 Naming the Black Notes
10.2 Major Chords vs. Minor Chords - Root Position
10.3 Major Chords vs. Minor Chords - Other Positions
10.4 Technique Tip: Playing Chords with Black Notes
10.5 Let's Play: Jingle Bells
10.6 Let's Play: We Wish You a Merry Christmas
10.7 A Nice Ending for 1950s Rock & Roll
10.8 The Special Case of B
10.9 Let's Play: O Holy Night
10.10 The Flat Chords
10.11 The Sharp Chords
10.Q Quick Summary of Chapter 10
BONUS Play-along Song: Jingle Bells
BONUS Play-along Song: We Wish You a Merry Christmas
BONUS Play-along Song: O Holy Night
BONUS: Chord Chart -
CHAPTER 11: PLAYING IN DIFFERENT KEYS
11.1 Let's Play: Happy Birthday in the Key of G
11.2 Let's Play: Happy Birthday in the Key of F
11.3 Why Change the Key of a Song?
11.4 Transposition Cheat Sheet
11.5 Let's Play: Kumbaya in the Key of G
11.6 "Frequently-Used" Black Notes
11.7 Let's Play: Silent Night in the Key of Eb
11.8 Let's Play: Kumbaya in the Key of Eb
11.9 Let's Play: Amazing Grace in the Key of G
11.10 Where Do I Go From Here?
MODULE 3: How Music Works
(+ Advanced Chords)
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CHAPTER 12: HOW KEYS WORK
12.1 Core Song #4: Pachelbel's Canon
12.2 The C-Major Scale
12.3 Major Scales in Other Keys
12.4 Why We Need Frequently-Used Black Notes
12.5 The Transposing Shortcut
12.6 Pachelbel's Canon Using Chord Numbers
12.7 Pachelbel's Canon in D
12.8 Explain Later: Why We Won't Be Practicing Scales
12.9 Optional - How to Play "White Note" Major Scales
12.10 Optional - How to Play "Black Note" Major Scales
12.11 Explain Later: Why Do We Have C-flat Notes?
12.Q Quick Summary of Chapter 12
BONUS Play-along Song: Pachelbel's Canon in C
BONUS Play-along Song: Pachelbel's Canon in D -
CHAPTER 13: MOVING BEYOND CHORD GROUPS
13.1 Choosing Chords in Any Key: The Three-Step System
13.2 Chord Inversions for Pachelbel's Canon in D
13.3 Explain Later: The Benefits of the 3-Step System
13.4 New Song: Blues in Bb
13.5 New Song: Run, Run Rudy
13.6 New Song: Cockles and Mussels
13.7 Explain Later: How to Describe Chords
13.Q Quick Summary of Chapter 13
BONUS Play-along Song: Blues in Bb
BONUS Play-along Song: Run, Run Rudy
BONUS Play-along Song: Cockles and Mussels -
CHAPTER 14: 4-NOTE CHORDS
14.1 Introduction to 4-Note Chords
14.2 Major and Minor 4-Note Chords
14.3 The Importance of Root Position
14.4 Getting to Know Scales Through Chords
14.5 Major-Seven (Maj7) Chords
14.6 "Cheat" Chords - Leaving Out the Root
14.7 Seven-Chords (7)
14.8 Song: Adding 7-Chords to the Blues
14.9 Song: Amazing Grace with Added 7-Chords
14.10 Minor-7 and Major-Minor 7 Chords
14.11 New Song: Play Misty for Me
14.Q Quick Summary of Chapter 14
BONUS Play-along Song: The Blues (with 7-chords)
BONUS Play-along Song: Amazing Grace (with 7-chords)
BONUS Play-along Song: Play Misty for Me -
CHAPTER 15: HOW CHORDS WORK IN A KEY
15.1 Most Common Chords in a Key
15.2 Roles of the Primary Chords (I, IV, V)
15.3 Core Song #5: Auld Lang Syne
15.4 The Secondary Chords (ii, iii, vi)
15.5 Auld Lang Syne with Chord Substitutions
15.6 How Do 7th-Chords Fit In?
15.7 Dominant 7 (V7) Chords
15.8 The ii-V7 Move
15.9 The Circle of 4ths
15.10 Core Song #6: Ain't Misbehavin'
15.Q Quick Summary of Chapter 15
BONUS Play-along Song: Auld Lang Syne (with Chord Substitutions)
BONUS Play-along Song: Ain't Misbehavin' -
CHAPTER 16: MORE CHORDS YOU SHOULD KNOW
16.1 6-Chords and Minor 6-Chords
16.2 Sus Chords
16.3 Suspended Endings Using Slash Chords
16.4 Extending Major 7 Chords: Maj9
16.5 Extending Dominant 7 Chords: 9ths, 11ths, 13ths
16.6 Ain't Misbehavin' with 7th and 9th Chords
16.7 Diminished 7 and Half-Diminished 7 Chords
16.8 How to Think About Rock/Pop/Folk/Country Music vs. Jazz
16.9 Add 9, 6/9, and Augmented Chords
16.10 New Song: The Piper
16.Q Quick Summary of Chapter 16
BONUS Play-along Song: Ain't Misbehavin' (with 7ths and 9ths)
BONUS Play-along Song: The Piper -
CHAPTER 17: PLAYING IN MINOR KEYS
17.1 Introduction to Minor Keys
17.2 Minor Keys: The Classical Approach
17.3 Minor Scales
17.4 New Song: Greensleaves
17.5 Minor Keys: Modern Approach
17.6 Minor Keys: Jazz Approach
17.Q Quick Summary of Chapter 17
BONUS Play-along Song: Greensleaves -
CHAPTER 18: DOING MORE WITH YOUR LEFT HAND
18.1 Playing Octaves
18.2 Play-along Song: G-D-Em-C
18.3 Adding the 5th
18.4 Play-along Song: Dm-Bb-F-C
18.5 Left-Hand Arpeggios
18.6 Play-along Song: FMaj7-Dm7-Gm7-C7
18.7 Walking Bass
18.8 Stride Piano Playing
18.Q Quick Summary of Chapter 18
BONUS Play-along Song: The Entertainer -
CHAPTER 19: THE RIGHT HAND: MOVING BEYOND RHYTHM PATTERNS
19.1 Changing Inversions / Octaves / Fingering
19.2 Improvised Broken / Split Chords
19.3 Adding Notes from Outside the Chord
19.4 Auld Lang Syne with Added Notes
19.5 Musical Clichés You Should Know
19.6 Amazing Grace - Gospel Version
19.7 Playing Faster Songs - Beginners
19.8 Playing Faster Songs - Intermediate
19.9 Playing Faster Songs - Advanced
19.10 Top Note Melody
19.11 Freedom of Musical Choce -
CHAPTER 20: IMPROVISATION AND ARRANGING
20.1 Getting Ready to Improvise
20.2 Improvisation - Adding to an Existing Melody
20.3 Improvisation - No Given Melody (Part 1)
20.4 Improvisation - No Given Melody (Part 2)
20.5 How Melodies Relate to Chords
20.6 Beginner Arranging
20.7 Intermediate Arranging
20.8 Advanced Arranging
20.9 Pitfalls to Avoid in Arranging
20.10 Improvising in Modern Style (no given chords or melody)
20.11 Improvising in Jazz Style