Piano music theory

Understanding Major and Minor Scales and Modes

2026-01-19T09:29:15+00:00

The music that we learn or listen to is usually built on a specific scale or key. Normally it will be in a major or a minor key. Most beginner students will be familiar with the major scale and also the minor scale. In the western culture our ears are naturally tuned to the major scale sound or the well known Do-Re-Me-Fa system or Tonic solfa system, as it's called. This was popularised by the song called ‘Doe a dear a female dear’ from the classic movie ‘The Sound of Music’. The major scale has a set series of wholetones and [...]

Understanding Major and Minor Scales and Modes2026-01-19T09:29:15+00:00

Understanding Chord Notation: A Practical Guide for Musicians

2025-08-08T10:02:50+01:00

In the world of music, chord notation serves as a universal shorthand, enabling musicians to communicate rich harmonic ideas quickly and efficiently. Rather than writing out every note on the stave, chord notation uses symbols to indicate entire groups of notes that form chords. Whether you are strumming an acoustic guitar, comping chords on a jazz piano, or arranging music for an ensemble, this compact language empowers you to move fluently through harmonic progressions, providing a powerful framework for performance and improvisation alike. My own experience, spanning more than a decade of teaching, performing, and arranging, has shown how vital chord [...]

Understanding Chord Notation: A Practical Guide for Musicians2025-08-08T10:02:50+01:00

The Circle of Fifths and How to Use It in Your Piano Practise

2025-05-13T16:31:22+01:00

The Circle of Fifths is one of the most powerful tools in music theory, and when applied to piano practise, it can sharpen your skills, deepen your understanding of music, and make learning pieces a much simpler and faster process. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced player, mastering the Circle of Fifths can transform your practise sessions from routine to revolutionary. Below I will explain what the Circle of Fifths is, and exactly how you can use it to level up your piano playing. What Is the Circle of Fifths? The Circle of Fifths is a diagram showing the relationships [...]

The Circle of Fifths and How to Use It in Your Piano Practise2025-05-13T16:31:22+01:00
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