Keyboarding

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Piano Chord Structure

In class recently, we have been practicing playing the I, IV, V, and V7 chords on the keyboards. One way to make learning new songs on the piano easier is to learn the pattern of these chords well enough that they become automatic. Although you may not have a piano or keyboard at home to practice with, we can work on our music reading skills. I'm hoping that we can not only read the notes on the staff, but also know them by symbol (C, F, G, or I, IV, V, etc.).



Let's review the key of C Major.
C Major has no sharps or flats so it is at the top of the "Circle of Fifths" (Image at bottom of page). In other words, we don't use any of the black keys on the piano to play the scale (Do, Re, Mi, Fa, Sol, La, Ti, Do).

I, IV, I, V, V7, I- in C Major

I= C

Bass Clef Chords - C MajorImage titled Add Piano Chords to any Melody Step 1
IV= F
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V= G
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V7= G7
Still looking for good image.

Chord Inversions-
Why do we use chord inversions?
If we played all chords in Root Position (the root is on the bottom), we would be jumping our hand all over the keyboard. This would require too much use of our eyes to make sure we land on the correct keys. When we rearrange the organization of the notes of the chords, the keys are closer to where our hand starts, therefore, creating less movement throughout the chord changes.
Root Position-
First, we need to know that the Root of the chord is simply the letter of the name of the chord. For example, in a C major chord, the Root is C; in an F major chord, the Root is F; in an A-flat minor chord, the Root is A-flat.
Then, the Root is on the bottom of the chord with the third above that, and the fifth above that. This creates what could be described as a music snowman because the three circles sit on top of each other.
Line- line- lineImage result for root position chord imagesor space- space- space Image result for D major chord bass clef images

First and Second Inversions-
Image result for root position chord images
When we take the Root of the chord and move it up one octave, we create the First Inversion. This leaves the third of the chord on the bottom. Notice on the staff, we see one note on top with two notes together on the bottom. This is how we visually recognize a First Inversion chord.

Then, when we take the third of the chord (currently on the bottom) and move it up an octave as well, we create the Second Inversion. This leaves the fifth of the chord on the bottom. Notice, now, on the staff, we see two notes together on top with one note alone on the bottom. This is how we visually recognize a Second Inversion chord.
C major chord, piano
This is what that looks like on the piano.

Fingering-
Since my goal is to have you play a melody with your right hand with a left hand chordal accompaniment, I am giving you the fingerings for the left hand.

Root Position- 5 3 1
First Inversion- 5 3 1 (the thumb is stretched to the right one key)
Second Inversion- 5 2 1 (the thumb is stretched to the right one key)

Chord Progressions-
Here is an example of the I, IV, V, I chord progression.
Image result for C major bass clef
Notice that the (I) C chord is in Root Position, the (IV) F chord is in Second Inversion, and the (V) G chord is in First Inversion.



Image result for F Major chord second inversion on the bass clef