Learning tools for beginners - the notes, chords and eartraining

by maggiekedves Sun Mar 09, 2008 7:03 am

Hi All,

As I already mentioned before I only started to learn the piano few weeks ago. I am a very thorough person if I start to do something I like to do it properly.
I do know how it feels lacking the knowledge so I decided I would like to share some information with all of you. I hope it is going to be helpful and nevertheless you are going to enjoy these programs.
Right now my most beloved one is Finale Notepad (free-version) because I can copy any kind of sheet music in it and it play it for me in the right speed and rhythm.

List of resources for learning Music Theory

http://www.dolmetsch.com/musictheory1.htm
It is not a very decorative site but oh my it has greatly extended stuff. Besides the fundamental knowledge there is a lot of interesting historical knowledge how music developped through the years. It has 44 lessons with TONS of information.

http://www.musictheory.net/
I really like this site, it give only little information on one page but it has a nice simple graphics and very systematic structure. What I really love about it is the additional trainers and utilities.
Trainers for notes, keys, keyboard,guitar,ears. In utilities chord calculator, staff paper generator and a matrix generator which looks way difficult for me but Im sure there are people who appreciate it.
Oh and by the way you can download the Offline Edition of the site!!!

http://www.pianonanny.com/start.html
Lessons for starters, intermediates and advanced students, short easy-to-understand lessons.

http://musictheory.halifax.ns.ca/lessons.html
Here is a Canadian site just to please the Canadian community Smile

It has a lot of info but I dont like that too much selfadvertisement on the pages.
http://www.tonalcentre.org/index.html
key concepts of tonality; including chords, scales, cadences, and modulation. Most of the musical examples are illustrated with a midi file
http://tabnabber.com/piano_chords.asp
Site for chords, with midis

List of FREE learning software (You might as well can have some fun while u r learning)

http://www.jaydemusica.com/download.php
Flying notes for several level, first only 1 but then several more is coming attached. Great to improve sightreading.

http://familygames.com/freelane.html
NoteCard - note training software, a very simple note teaching program

http://www.gnu.org/software/solfege/
GNU solfege is a great eartraining program with several layers. There is a practice part and a test part. You need to achieve 90 % to pass the test. ( I knew because I failed with 60% Rolling Eyes

)

http://o.gortais.free.fr/
All That Chords is works as a free program but you can register for few dollars too ( I dont know how much difference it makes)
All the chords(triads to the thirteens) chord or ascending or descending soundsample.
Possible to analyze chords, you puch any key and it tell you which chords are involved(considering you played an existing one...) Smile

Bilingual EN/FR

http://www.musicmasterworks.com/midi_video_game_sheet_music.html

Note Attack if you like action. In case you dont get the note right it blows up, I tried it for only five notes so far and I missed some sharps not knowing how to enter them when I stopped the game to check it out I got the following comment on my score: You have attained the level of Tone Deaf affraid

http://www.nch.com.au/twelvekeys/index.html
Theoritically this is an awesome program and you can use it free as long as you want until you register... I just couldnt quite figure it out what is it good for... I would appreciate if someone could tell me cyclops

Thats all for now Have fun sunny

Maggie

p.s.
If all of those would not satisfy you, good luck on finding others.

by Admin Andrew Sun Mar 09, 2008 8:47 am

WHOA! This is going to be helpful for so many people! THANK YOU SO MUCH MAGGIE! Very Happy

by Admin Andrew Sun Mar 09, 2008 8:49 am

I'm going to make this a sticky because I think it will be very helpful to people!

by Jordan Sun Mar 09, 2008 4:47 pm

Thanks a lot for contributing Maggie! This will definitely be a useful post for the people who are starting out! Very Happy

by maggiekedves Sun Mar 09, 2008 8:57 pm

Thanks for making it sticky ( now at least I know what is that Smile

)
It is my pleasure to help you educate people - we are on the same crusade right? Wink

by maggiekedves Mon Mar 17, 2008 6:57 am

Musical Dictionary

http://www.music.vt.edu/musicdictionary/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_musical_terminology

http://ninagilbert.googlepages.com/British.html
American vs British musical terms

http://www.classical.dj/musical_terms.html

Pretty extended classical musical terms

Music theory

http://www.teoria.com/tutorials/index.htm
A tutorial with flash animations and sounds, I enjoyed their examples.
http://www.musictheoryexamples.com

This is something for more advanced players. It is about Tonal Music Theory with soundfiles and sheets.

by maggiekedves Wed Mar 26, 2008 2:44 am

I found a good cheatsheet for sightreading

scales - Learning tools for beginners - the notes, chords and eartraining Cheatsheet

by Phobik2000 Thu Mar 27, 2008 6:52 am

Really nice, i mite make it my desktop when i'm playing What a Face

by maggiekedves Thu Mar 27, 2008 7:47 am

phobik2000 wrote:Really nice, i mite make it my desktop when i'm playing

Good idea... I have actually a different page I printed and I keep it on the piano sheet holder...

I should show that too... here it is

scales - Learning tools for beginners - the notes, chords and eartraining Scalekeyboard

scales - Learning tools for beginners - the notes, chords and eartraining Scalekeyboard

On the original picture more is visible... the forum shows only a narrower preview of the picture. I have it in big resolution too if you would like to print it out.

by JuliaC Sat Mar 29, 2008 6:56 pm

very helpful topic maggie albino

and for those who speak spanish too (I hope I'm not the only one or this post will be useless xD) and would like to have some music theory in their language here I give you some links:
Curso completo de teoría de la música
Lecciones de piano en MailMax
Teoría musical con ejercicios

by maggiekedves Sun Mar 30, 2008 3:06 am

JuliaC wrote:very helpful topic maggie
and for those who speak spanish too (I hope I'm not the only one or this post will be useless xD) and would like to have some music theory in their language here I give you some links:
Curso completo de teoría de la música
Lecciones de piano en MailMax
Teoría musical con ejercicios

Good idea,... actually I just started to learn some Spanish as useful language around here... maybe I will check out the page... see how much I can understand Very Happy

Thanks for the links

by Jordan Sun Mar 30, 2008 10:22 pm

Maggie, if you find any other sources on the net, just keep posting them here. This is an informative thread.

by Casyopea Thu Apr 10, 2008 9:45 pm

eMusicTheory is another good one, check it out!

http://www.emusictheory.com/

See also the free theory drills section, it's very good:

http://www.emusictheory.com/practice.html

by Admin Andrew Fri Apr 11, 2008 2:52 am

I love it! i played around with it for awhile ^_^ although everything was alittle to easy for me... Sad

still awesome though!

by Casyopea Fri Apr 11, 2008 10:48 pm

...

... this is me learning theory ... hehehe!

by maggiekedves Tue Apr 22, 2008 4:05 pm

I found a good page for learning scales and arpeggios

http://www.jeffreychappell.com/scales.htm

He has some notes on practicing too

http://www.jeffreychappell.com/practicing.htm

And finally the use of pedals

http://www.jeffreychappell.com/pedaling.htm

Sorry from those who doesnt like to read Smile

they are mostly texts

by maggiekedves Tue Apr 22, 2008 4:13 pm

Here is a cute clip for scales and arpeggios and piano version.

by Casyopea Tue Apr 22, 2008 4:28 pm

That's cute! LOL

... and I quote:

"If you're faithful to your daily practicing you will find your progress is encouraging..." [end of quote]

The voice of my conscience is a kitty with a pink ribbon!!! cat

Here's another ear training tool you may find useful (a little tough for me though...):

http://www.iwasdoingallright.com/tools/v2_22/ear_training.aspx

by maggiekedves Tue Apr 22, 2008 4:57 pm

How do you start learning a song by ear or playing from a fake book

As you probably know the fake books only contain the melody line and some mysterious letters on the top of the bars (chords).

Well even though I know now what they mean I am still learning this approch.

I got some advice from people who already know how to play well...
Lets make simple steps toward the complete song

First step
Analyze the melody so you would know the notes.

Second step
Trying to find a harmonizing chord for the melody. ( every note can take its key meaning if u push G in melody than you can add a G chord of some kind) There are some additional things like whether you like to play tonic or dominant chords with it .
( Tonic is the first note, dominant is the fifth note on the same scale. The best to choose 1 chord per bar and the presented notes will decide which kind tonic or dominant sounds good with it. If there is dominant presented no question dominant will be good every other cases the tonic is fine)

Third Step when u r getting pro Smile

Now that you figured out what is the melody and tried to harmonize it according to the presented notes here is the improvization fun time.

You can alter your chosen chords, using first or second inversion. ( they are the same notes in a chord just different order for example in C major the chord is C E G,( root position) so the first inversion is E G C and second inversion is G C E.

Altering the chords give your the different feel depends on what kind of music you play ( classical, country, blues etc.)

Fourth step
Practice, practice, practice

I hope that was helpful.
( For chord dictionary help check out the previous posts for links.)

by maggiekedves Tue Apr 22, 2008 5:40 pm

I was thinking as I posted the previous note maybe I should give more information about how to HARMONIZE a melody.
This is what a pro says about the topic.

Harmonizing means to create a chord accompaniment for it.
Since the I, IV & V chords contain all the notes of the major
scale, many melodies in a major key can be harmonized with just these
three chords.

To harmonize a melody with chords, there are 7 basic triad (3 note)
chords one can use in a major key: I major, ii minor, iii minor, IV
major, V major, vi minor, and vii diminished. In the key of C, these
chords would be:

C major = C-E-G
D minor = D-F-A
E minor = E-G-B
F major = F-A-C
G major = G-B-D
A minor = A-C-E
B diminished= B-D-F

Lets see a different version
Melody note - Harmonizing chord (inversion) harmonizing chord spelled out

C - C major (1st inversion) E-G-C

D - D minor (1st inversion) or Gmaj (root) Dmin: F-A-D or Gmaj: G-B-D

E - C major (2nd inversion) G-C-E

F - F major (1st inversion) A-C-F

G - C major (root) C-E-G

A - F major (2nd inversion) C-F-A

B - G major (2nd inversion) D-G-B

C - C major (1st inversion) E-G-C

To determine the chords to be used, analyze the melody notes. Refer
to the following chart to see which chord is generally used with each
melody note of a major scale. When more than one chord can be chosen,
your EAR should always be the final guide.

When melody note is: Simply play this chord:

C E + G + C (played all at the same time)
D F + A + D
E G + C + E
F A + C + F
G C + E + G
A C + F + A
B D + G + B
C E + G + C

Example: Mary had a little lamb

E D C D E E E (Ma-ry had a lit-tle lamb)

G+C+E (Ma)
F+A+D (ry)
E+G+C (had)
F+A+D (a)
G+C+E (lit)
G+C+E (tle)
G+C+E (lamb)

Notice that the original melody note is still on top! The song
still sounds like "Mary had a little lamb", the melody is still
obvious, but with the addition of full-sounding harmony!

Use this same harmonization scale technique in every key. The chord notes can also be used to harmonize a choir.

Well hope makes it a little more easier.

by maggiekedves Tue Apr 22, 2008 5:53 pm

Some more advice...

General rules to harmonize the melody with the right hand

* The melody has to be the top note of the chord

* You have to play the chord with the other fingers of the hand under the melody

* You have to use the notes of the chord that is under the melody

* If the melody is a note of the chord, you have to play a simple inversion of the chord

* If the melody is not a note of the chord (that is the fourth,
the sixth or the ninth one) the preceding note is omitted (for example,
if the melodic note is the sixth one it is better to omit the fifth
one, if there is the fourth note omit the third one....)

* I suggest not to repeat the same note (two thirds, two fifths) in the chord.

* You can omit the fifth if it has not altered (diminished fifth, augmented fifth)

* It is better you harmonize more notes of the melody you can.

* It is not necessary to harmonize every single note of the melody
(even if it would be more beautiful). Above all on fast songs the
harmonization is difficult

* In fast songs harmonize at least one note of a new chord.

by maggiekedves Tue Apr 22, 2008 6:01 pm

Chords are a big part of the music and there are many of them...

Everyone can pick which one they like though... so you dont necessary need to know all of them.
Try it on the piano which fits better for your hands.
I found a basic reference for 12 basic chords it is only 2 pages... maybe worth to print it out. Plus another file to teach a little more about chords

How_to_Read_a_Chord_Chart.pdf

Chords_12_Keys_Chart.pdf

by maggiekedves Tue Apr 22, 2008 7:49 pm

Some more about chords
How to group the chords so you would remember them easier

4 GROUPS OF KEYS:

Group 1 Keys (all white): C, F, G

Group 2 Keys (white w/ black in the middle): D, E, A

Group 3 Keys (black w/ white in middle): Db, Eb, and Ab

Group 4 Keys (unusual group): Gb (all black), Bb (black, 2 white), and B (white, 2 black)

by maggiekedves Sun May 18, 2008 8:11 am

New findings for Songwriters...

An extended music theory with chords, progression maps and other great graphics on the page which can help to memorize scales and other infos.

http://mugglinw.ipower.com/chordmaps/index.htm

One of my favorite graphics are in Part 9 Circle of Fifth lesson.

by maggiekedves Sun May 18, 2008 10:10 am

Alright one of most useful thing to know in the world of music is the circle of fifths.

Here it is Clockwise: C - G - D - A - E - B - Gb/F#
Here it is Counter Clockwise: C - F - Bb - Eb - Ab - Db/C# - Gb/F#

Major scales are made up of this order of steps:
- whole, whole, half, whole, whole, whole, half.

An example would be the C major scale: C, D, E, F, G, A, B.
Another example would be the Eb major scale: Eb, F, G, Ab, Bb, C, D.

If you analyze both scales, you will realize that they are both made up of that order of steps,
w,w,h,w,w,w,h.

-- However, a very easy way to remember these scales to the core is by using the circle of fifths.

By memorizing the circle of fifths, we will know exactly how many sharps (#) or flats (b) each major scale
contains. Every time we go up (clockwise) the circle of fifths, we add a sharp to the scale, and every time
we go down (counter clockwise) the circle of fifths, we add a flat to the scale.
With that information, now we only need to memorize which sharps and flats to add to each scale.

Let's go up (clockwise) through the circle of fifths until we reach C#, which should give us 7 sharps.

C (No Sharps) C, D, E, F, G, A, B.

G (1 Sharp) G, A, B, C, D, E, F#.

D (2 Sharps) D, E, F#, G, A, B, C#.

A (3 Sharps) A, B, C#, D, E, F#, G#.

E (4 Sharps) E, F#, G#, A, B, C#, D#.

B (5 Sharps) B, C#, D#, E, F#, G#, A#.

F# (6 Sharps) F#, G#, A#, B, C#, D#, E#.

C# (7 Sharps) C#, D#, E#, F#, G#, A#, B#.

Ok, now let's down (counter clockwise) the circle of fifths until we reach Cb, or (B), which will give us 7 flats.

C (No Flats) C, D, E, F, G, A, B.

F (1 Flat) F, G, A, Bb, C, D, E.

Bb (2 Flats) Bb, C, D, Eb, F, G, A.

Eb (3 Flats) Eb, F, G, Ab, Bb, C, D.

Ab (4 Flats) Ab, Bb, C, Db, Eb, F, G.

Db (5 Flats) Db, Eb, F, Gb, Ab, Bb, C.

Gb (6 Flats) Gb, Ab, Bb, Cb, Db, Eb, F.

Cb (7 Flats) Cb, Db, Eb, Fb, Gb, Ab, Bb.

That's all our major scales in all 12 keys!

The sharps are added to each scale in this order:
- F#, C#, G#, D#, A#, E#, B#.

The flats are added to each scale in this order:
- Bb, Eb, Ab, Db, Gb, Cb, Fb.

I post one of my favorite circle of fifth picture which contains the actual sharps and flats... hopefully it help everyone to memorize better.

Great lesson about the topic is http://www.circle-of-fifths.net/learn.html

A fun tool for figuring out the notes involved: http://randscullard.com/CircleOfFifths/

Have fun sunny

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Scales and Arpeggios :)))

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