| One of the greatest thrills a pianist can have is to | | | | intervals of 3 and the quality of the chord (major |
| be able to sit at the piano and just play; without | | | | or minor) is determined by the scale. |
| music and without thought. Unfortunately many | | | | That means just like our C major chord which is |
| pianists never learn to do this. They are closely | | | | C E and G (notes chosen from the major scale), |
| tied to their music because that's not only what's | | | | our F major chord would be F A and C, where A |
| comfortable for them that's the way they | | | | and C are notes from the C major scale. We |
| learned. | | | | wouldn't use for example Ab or C# because they |
| However, what if I were to tell you that in as | | | | do not come from the C major scale. Likewise |
| little as ten piano lessons you could be playing | | | | for a G major chord, G B and D, the note B and |
| your favorite melodies without music and also be | | | | D come also from the C major scale. |
| able to improvise as well? Would that be | | | | The number of the chord is important as well. |
| something you'd be interested in? Take a | | | | Since our C major chord is built on the first note |
| moment and picture you sitting at the piano at a | | | | of the scale we call this one (1). The F major |
| party and just playing. How does it feel? Great, | | | | chord is four (4) because it is built on the 4th |
| that's what you need to feel if you're going to do | | | | note of the C major scale. And, the G major |
| what it takes to learn properly. | | | | chord is five (5) because it's the 5th note of the |
| Let's get started. In our first piano lesson, you | | | | C major scale. |
| must understand how music is structured in order | | | | Coincidentally, the chords C, F and G or 1, 4 and 5 |
| to be able to improvise. Most western music is | | | | are what most classical and popular music is |
| based on what we call tertian harmony, which | | | | based upon. The vast majority of songs use the |
| simply means chord structures that are based on | | | | chord progression 4, 5 to 1 which is the most |
| intervals of three. For example a C major chord is | | | | common chord progression there is. |
| made up of the notes C E and G. Each of these | | | | Understanding the 4, 5, 1 chord progression is |
| notes is spaced a third away from the next. | | | | essential to understating how to improvise. |
| So, assuming that all chords are based on tertian | | | | Knowing that 4 is followed usually by 5 and then |
| harmony, then next thing you need to know is | | | | resolving to 1 is of high importance if you wish to |
| where do the notes we choose for our chords | | | | be able to play your favorite music without using |
| come from? Well, they come directly out of a | | | | sheet music. |
| major or minor scale. For example; let's take a C | | | | In our next piano lesson we'll discuss how to |
| major scale which is C D E F G A B and back to | | | | substitute richer chords for the 4, 5, 1 progression |
| C. When we build chords on top of each of the | | | | and how to choose our melody notes so as to |
| notes of a major scale we would build them in | | | | create and improvisational theme. |