Gabriel Piano Studio
  • 2022-23 FALL-SPRING
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BASIC THEORY ELEMENTS TO USE WITH STUDENTS

Some theory concepts or review:
Key signatures.

THE ORDER OF SHARPS:
No sharps: C Major or its relative A minor
F# - C# - G# - D# - A# - E# - B#
How to find the key of the piece or the associated scale:
1 sharp: F# = G Major (or its relative E minor)
2 sharps: F#+C# = D Major (relative B minor)
3 sharps: F#+C#+G# = A Major (relative F# minor)
4 sharps: F#+C#+G#+D# = E Major (relative C# minor)
5 sharps: F#+C#+G#+D#+A# = B Major (relative G# minor)
​
THE ORDER OF FLATS:
No flats: C Major or its relative A minor

Bb - Eb - Ab - Db - Gb - Cb - Fb
​How to find the key of the piece or the associated scale:
​1 flat: Bb = F Major (or relative D minor)
2 flats: Bb+Eb = Bb Major (relative G minor)
3 flats: Bb+Eb+Ab = Eb Major (relative C minor)
4 flats: Bb+Eb+Ab+Db = Ab Major (relative F minor)
5 flats: Bb+Eb+Ab+Db+Gb = Db Major (relative Bb minor)
How do you know if the key signature is the Major or the relative minor:
  1. Look at the final chord of the piece.  What chord is it?
  2. Looking at the same chord, which is the lowest note played on the bass (LH lowest note)
Example 1
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Example 1b
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Example 2a
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Example 2b
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Example 3
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Example 4
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Introduction to intervals

Take as reference the C Major scale.  Every interval in the C Major scale is either "Major" of "Perfect".
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Before reviewing about the minor, augmented and diminished, you will practice Major and Perfect intervals from any key of the piano. Here is a visual keyboard to practice calculating intervals:
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  • 2022-23 FALL-SPRING
  • VIDEO TUTORIALS