Prototype for Chords 101

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Chords 101 Prototype Preview

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Shannon Gunn Fall 2014

CHORDS 101 - COPYRIGHT SHANNON GUNN

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CHORDS 101 - COPYRIGHT SHANNON GUNN

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Chords 101 Prototype Preview

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Summary The purpose of this course is to develop a training program in chords and theory for Woodbridge Senior High School Music Technology students. This training program will be designed to provide hands-on training in the performance of piano chords, their use in popular music, and their functionality in songwriting. Each module is designed to teach a new chord and a new theory concept. There are mini-assessments at the end of each module to check for understanding of harmony as it pertains to popular music. The goal of this course is to teach students not only how to play chords, but how to create their own chord progressions for songwriting.

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Table of Contents

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Click here for Video Tutorials

Module 1: Layout of the keyboard, C, D, E, F, and G, Octaves Module 2: Review of Module 1, C Major Scale, A and B Module 3: C Chord Module 4: G Chord

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Piano Chords

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Module 1: Keyboard Orientation Objective: By the end of this module, you should understand the layout of the keyboard, be able to identify all the notes on the keyboard from C to G, be able to find middle C, place your hand in middle C position, play three tunes in middle C position with your right hand, and understand octaves.

Click here for video tutorial.

The piano keyboard is made up of 88 keys that are organized into a pattern of sets of two and three black keys.

The notes are low on the left and they get higher as you go to the right.

LOWER

HIGHER

Step 1: Play all the sets of two black keys from low to high and then back down to low again.

Step 2: Play all the sets of three black keys from low to high and then back down to low again. Notice that each set sounds the same but gets higher as you go to the right.

Step 3: The note called C is located to the left of the two black keys. Play all the Cs from low to high and then back down to low again. The distance from one C note to the next one up (a total of 12 keys) is called an octave.

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Step 4: Each finger has a number. The thumb is always number 1, (in both the left and right hands), and the pointy is always number 2, middle finger is number 3, ring finger is number 4, and pinky is number five. Play all the C notes again with your number 1 finger (thumb) in your right hand.

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Step 5: Now find Middle C. Middle C is the C note located in the middle of the keyboard. Play it with your number 1 finger (thumb) in your right hand.

Step 6: Now place your number 2 finger (pointy) on the next note. This is called D. Step 7: Now place your number 3 finger (middle finger) on the next note. This is called E. Step 8: Now place your number 4 finger (ring finger) on the next note. This is called F. Step 9: Now place your number 5 finger (pinky finger) on the next note. This is called G. Step 10: Play C, D, E, F, G up and down with your right hand until you can play each note with a nice loud tone by itself. Try to keep your fingers close to the keys as you play.

Step 11: Play a simple tune, such as Mary Had a Little Lamb, with your right hand on the keyboard.

Theory concept: The distance from one note to the next of the same letter name is called an octave.

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Mary Had a Little Lamb EDCDEEE

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DDD EGG

EDCDEEE

DDEDC

Ode to Joy (challenge tune) EEFGGFEDCCDEEDD

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EEFGGFEDCCDEDCC

Jingle Bells EEE

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EEE

EGCDE

FFFFFEEEGGFDC

Step 12: Now its time to learn to identify the notes without having to always count up from C. You can identify each note based on its location as it relates to the black keys. Now, identify all the D notes on the piano. D is located in between the sets of two black keys. Find the lowest set of two black keys, and then play all the D notes from low to high and then back down to low again with your number 2 finger (pointy). Notice they all sound the same but get higher as you go to the right.

Step 13: E is located to the right of two black keys. Find the lowest set of two black keys and play all the E notes from low to high and back down to low again with your number 3 finger (middle finger.)

Step 14: F is located to the left of three black keys. Find the lowest set of three black keys and play all the F notes from low to high and back down to low again with your number 4 finger (ring finger.)

Step 15: G is located in between the bottom two of the three black keys. Play all the G notes from low to high and back down to low again with your number 5 finger (pinky.)

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Click here for Module 1 video. Or simply scan the QR code to the right.

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Name___________________ Date _____ Period _____

Grade ______/5 = _____ %

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Module 1 Review: Keyboard layout, finger numbers, octaves 1. Write the name of each note on each note on the keyboard below. Write only C, D, E, F, and G. Identify the low / high parts of the keyboard.

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Circle one: Low/High

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Low/High

2. The distance from one letter name to the next letter name up or down is called an _______________.

3. How many notes are in between C to C counting the bottom C and the top C? _____ (this is why it is called an octave) 4. Write the number of each finger right above each finger/thumb on the hands below. Keep in mind left and right.

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5. What’s the easy way to remember finger numbers? Thumbs are always ______.

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Module 2: C Major Scale Objective: By the end of this module, you should be able to play the C major scale, and identify any note on the piano including C, D, E, F, G, A, and B. Step 1: Review the following: •

Review finger numbers of your right and left hand (thumbs are always 1!)

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Play all the sets of 2 black keys from low to high to low with your number 2 and 3 fingers

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Play all the sets of 3 black keys from low to high to low with your number 2 and 3 and 4 fingers

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Play all the Cs, which is located to the left of two black keys, from low to high to low

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Play all the Ds, which is located in between two black keys, from low to high to low

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Play all the Es, which is located to the right of two black keys, from low to high to low

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Play all the Fs, which is located to the left of three black keys, from low to high to low

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Play all the Gs, which is located in between the bottom two notes of the three black keys, from low to high to low

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Find Middle C

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Place your right thumb on middle C and the rest of your fingers on D, E, F, and G

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Play up and down on C, D, E, F, and G with your fingers staying close to their assigned keys

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Play Mary Had a Little Lamb, Ode to Joy, and Jingle Bells (page 4)

Step 2: Now you will learn the other two notes of the piano keyboard. A is located to the right of G, and is found in between the top two of the sets of three black keys. Play all the A notes on the keyboard from low to high back down to low again.

Step 3: Now you will learn the B note. B is located to the right of three black keys. Play all the B notes from low to high back down to low again.

Step 4: Now you will learn the C major scale. The C major scale is a sequence of notes that follows a certain pattern. A scale is a sequence of notes, the fact that it is identified as “major” indicates it has a certain pattern. The definition of “major” will be explained later. The C major scale is C D E F G A B C. It contains the eight white notes from C to C. When you play from C to C, you are playing the C major scale for one octave. If you kept going to the next C, you would be playing two octaves. Play the notes in sequence of the C major scale with your number two finger (pinky).

Going up: C D E F G A B C Going down: C B A G F E D C Step 5: There are proper fingerings for the C major scale that typically, every piano player must learn. The correct fingering for the C major scale is: 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 4 3 2 1 3 2 1. You have to learn the thumb over and under technique to do this.

Click here for Module 2 video.

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Name___________________ Date _____ Period _____

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Grade ______/5 = _____ %

Module 2 Review: C major scale 1. Write the C major scale for one octave on the keyboard below. Don’t forget the bottom and top C.

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2. Now, write the proper finger number of each note below each letter name on the keyboard above. For instance, letter C is number 1, letter D is number 2, etc.

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3. Perform your C major scale for Mrs. Gunn going up and down. Try to use the proper fingering.

Mrs. Gunn will not listen to the C major scale until you have completed the number 1 and 2 above. ______/8

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4. What is the third note of the C major scale? ____ (counting the bottom C)

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5. What is the fifth note of the C major scale? ____ (counting the bottom C)

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Note: You might ask, why do we need to learn the C major scale? Answer: because chords are built off of scales.

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Module 3: C Chord Objective: By the end of this module, you should be able to play the C chord in any octave across the range of the piano, and should understand that the C major chord is built off the 1st, 3rd, and 5th note of the C major scale.

You will also become familiar with the roman numeral number system for scale tones.

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Step 1: Review the concepts from the previous two classes, including: •

Finger numbers

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Be able to play C, D, E, F, G, and A notes across the keyboard from low to high to low in octaves with a specified finger number

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Be able to play the C major scale starting in Middle C

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Review Mary Had a Little Lamb, Ode to Joy, and Jingle Bells (page 4)

Step 2: Before you learn the new concept for today, you need to become familiar with steps and skips. Steps are when two notes are right next to each other, such as C to D. A Skip is when you have one white note in between. For instance, from C to E is a skip. As a class, play up one step from D. Play down one step from A. Now play up one skip from E. Play down one skip from D. Step 3: Now place your right hand in Middle C position. Play up and down the notes several times, and review the tunes listed above (page 4)

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Step 4: Press down your thumb, middle finger, and pinky at the same time on C, E, and G. This is called the C Chord. Notice that the C chord consists of two skips. The C note, which is the bottom note, is called the Root of the chord. The root of the chord is the lowest note of the chord when the chord is in root position. Root position is the position of the chord when it is stacked in skips. The C chord is built off the 1st, 3rd, and 5th note of the C major scale.

ROOT

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Step 5: Each scale has certain numbers for each note. In the C major scale, the C note is number 1, D note is number 2, E note is number 3, F note is number 4, G note is number 5, A note is number 6, and B note is number 7. We use Roman Numerals to describe the number associated with each note in the scale.

Ours: 1 Upper case: I Lower case: i

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2 II ii

3 III iii

Roman Numeral System 4 5 6 7 8 IV V VI VII VIII iv v vi vii viii

Roman Numeral System for the C Major Scale

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Some notes are upper case and some are lower case. C, F, and G all have upper case roman numerals and are known as the I, IV, and V notes of the C major scale. The C Chord is known as the I Chord of the C major scale because it is built off the 1st note of the C major scale.

Step 6: Incorporate your left hand by placing your left thumb on the C below middle C. Play the C chord in your right hand while you play the C note in the left hand.

Step 7: Add your pinky on the octave below your thumb in your left hand. Play the C note in octaves in the left hand at the same time as the C Chord in your right hand.

Step 8: Play the C Chord up and down the piano starting on the lowest C note. Whenever you play a three note chord, it is called a Triad.

Click here for the video for Module 3.

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Name___________________ Date _____ Period _____

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Grade ______/8 = _____ %

Module 3 Review: C chord, Roman numerals 1. Write the letter names for all of the C major chords that are possible on the keyboard below.

You should be able to find five.

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2. Write the proper right hand finger number underneath one of the C Chords above.

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3. The lowest note of a chord in root position is called the _________.

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4. Notes that are right next to each other have the distance of a __________.

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5. Notes that have one in between have the distance of a ___________.

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6. The C Chord is built off the _____, ______, _____ notes of the scale.

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7. Label each note of the C major scale with its correct roman numeral, including the proper upper or lower case.

C - _____ D - _____ E - _____ F - _____ G - _____ A - _____ B - _____ C - _____ 8. What is another name for a three-note chord? ___________

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Module 4: G Chord Objective: By the end of this module, you should be able to play the C and G chord in sequence, and should understand that the C chord is called the I chord and the G chord is called the V chord because they are built off the 1st and 5th notes of the C major scale.

Step 1: Review the concepts from the previous two classes, including: •

Tunes

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C Major Scale

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C Chord (including left hand)

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Roman numeral system for the C major scale

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Steps, skips, root, triad

Step 2: Find middle C. Count up to the fifth note of the C scale and label G as the V note. Now place your right hand thumb on G, skip a note, middle finger on B, skip a note, and pinky on D. This is called the G major chord.

Step 3: Place your left thumb on G below middle C. Play this at the same time as the G chord in the right hand.

Step 4: Place your left pinky on the G below your left thumb. Play your left hand pinky and thumb on G in octaves while you play the G chord in the right hand.

Step 5: Place your right hand thumb on middle C and play the C chord.

Step 6: Go back and forth between the C chord and the G chord in your right hand.

Step 7: Place your left hand thumb on G below middle C, and left hand pinky on C below middle C. Step 8: Try to incorporate your left hand while going back and forth with your right hand between the C chord and the G chord.

Step 9: The C Chord and G Chord are two Primary Chords for the C major scale. The C Major Scale is the basis of the Key of C, which is basically all the white keys. The C Chord is called the I Chord because it is built off the first note of the C major scale, and the G Chord is called the V Chord because it is built off the fifth note of the C Major scale.

Why do you need to know this? Well, because once you learn the primary chords for the key of C, you can transfer those concepts to any other key on the piano. There are twelve versions of each of the concepts learned above, one for each note of the piano.

Step 10: Play along with Nirvana’s Molly’s Lips. This is fast, so practice going back and forth from C to G first!

Nirvana - Molly's Lips G / / C / / G / / C / / / - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f76GsOBxUg0 Click here for video for Module 4.

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Name___________________ Date _____ Period _____

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Grade ______/5 = _____ %

Module 4 Review: G chord, primary chords, Key of C

1. Write the letter names for all of the G major chords that are possible on the keyboard below.

You should be able to find four.

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2. Write the proper right hand finger number underneath one of the G Chords above.

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3. Two of the primary chord in the key of C are the ______ chord and the ______ chord.

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4. The C major scale is the basis of the Key of ______ major.

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5. In the key of C, the C chord is called the ____ chord (use roman numeral with proper capitalization) and the G chord is called the ____ chord (use roman numeral with proper capitalization).

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