PRACTICAL CHORDS and HARMONY
. . .a Player's Guide. . .


Chords and Harmony, a Players Guide --- (If the following sounds you, this Guide is the road-map you need to get on track!)

You have played the piano . . . practiced scales, chords, harmony and cadences. But, did your passion for music and your instrument make all the blood, sweat and tears “worth it”?

... or...

Maybe you’re a successful, serious musician now and it all makes sense,

... you actually GOT IT!

. . . but maybe some years ago you casually played for a while, stumbled through the chords and harmony - and then stopped; maybe you were overwhelmed and confused by it all. All the theoretical stuff – it can do that to you. . .

... “what the heck does this have to do with the songs I want to play?”...

You practiced and slaved to learn exercise A, but what you REALLY WANTED TO PLAY (but could never understand) was exercise B and C.

...after all, they 're basically the same progression
...AREN'T THEY??


alternate-chords


Examples A, B & C above are basically the same traditional progression:

I - IV - I - V7 -I

But the substitute chords in each example give a distinct, unique sound to each:

  • A is your basic "piano lesson" cadence (chord progression)
  • B sounds tense, more dissonant
  • C sounds peaceful, more serene

The goal of this Practical Chords and Harmony guide is to help to get you back on track... the objective is to understand chord progressions, chord extensions and chord symbols.

FOLLOW THE LINKS IN THE MENUS ABOVE.  You'll get some basic, logical material and soon be playing alternate versions of basic chord patterns and backgrounds; before you know it, those old cadence exercises will start to make sense. . .

and . . . SOUND GOOD. . .

. . . you are really GETTING IT!

Remember, you are never too young. . .

Ralph-Reese-Piano

Or, too old!

Ralph-Organ

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Piano Enthusiasts
Piano Enthusiasts has various resources, venues, directories and websites for piano enthusiasts
musical steps
musical steps - the make up of all scales, chords and music...
Ear Training - Auralia Software
Ear Training - some of the best self-teaching software on the market... an easy way to use your computer for ear training
proper hand position
proper hand position and finger position is essential when playing the piano. It is demonstrated here....
Intervals
intervals - C major - unison, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th & octave
scales
Scales: a look at the different scales that are the basis of most music anywhere in the world.
Key Signatures
Key Signatures - major keys with sharps and flats
Circle of Fifths
Circle of Fifths and key signatures
Chords and Triads
Chords and triads - structure and quality
primary chords, chord progressions, I-IV-V7-I chords
primary chords, standard chord progressions - the primary chords I-IV-V7-I
piano chord voicing
piano chord voicing: close position, open position chords for piano
gospel chord voicing
gospel chord voicing, gospel chords, hear and play
secondary chords, chord progressions, vii-iii-vi-ii chords
secondary chords, standard chord progressions - the secondary chords vii-iii-vi-ii
Secondary Dominants
Secondary Dominants - secondary chords, dominant 7th, dominant chords
12 Bar Blues
12 bar blues: sturcture and variations
Blues Improvisation
Blues Improvisation: taking the blues scale apart and making "licks" that work with a 12 bar blues pattern...
Turnarounds
Turnarounds: structure, function and examples
Piano Sheet Music
piano sheet music books and collections from various publishers
piano accessories
piano accessories, grand piano accessories: lamps, benches, metronomes, keyboards
Piano Adventures
Piano Adventures is the ideal method to use for playing, understanding and enjoying the piano...
Business Builder
Complete business builder package, from idea to income.
Chords and Harmony Blog
The Chords and Harmony BLOG keeps you up-to-date with site changes. It introduces you to intervals, scales, key signatures, chords and chord progressions...
subscribe
Subscribe to Website - get Get tips and ideas about substitute chords, chord progressions and harmonic movement.
about me
about me: experience and site philosophy

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