Son - Basic Piano

Basic Piano - 40 exercises - 72 Chord positions - 9 different accompaniment rhythms - 11 basic lessons - Audio CD (available thru internet connection) About this Method The following method is a careful compilation of concepts and basic techniques to learn how to play instruments. Complete series include 3 levels for the piano player and other instruments. This method will guide the student to understand the most important concepts of music applied to their area of study or instrument. The e-book transcription includes minimal modification to the original method, so the same tools that has been successfully applied to hundreds of students in our classes will be available around the world. About A Una Voz A Una Voz is a non profit organization, we believe in music as a powerful tool to transmit new values for a modern society. For further information visit www.aunavoz.net

Content - Previous concepts - 1.

Basic fingering - 2. Eighth notes - 3. Accidental notes - 4. Major scales - 5. Major chords - 6. Minor chords - 7.

Chord progressions - 8. Rhythm patterns - 9. Left hand patterns - 10. Syncopated rhythms - 11. Accompaniment Examples Previous Concepts This first part covers the basics you need to know about the piano or keyboard, and some very important musical notation concepts.

Musical sounds (notes) are 7 A, B, C, D, E, F, G
The common string of these notes usually beginning with C: C, D, E, F, G, A, B is called natural scale. The piano keyboard is composed by several octaves, they are named this way because once reached the eighth key, notes start repeating. The piano keyboard is composed by several octaves, they are named this way because once reached the eighth key, notes start repeating.

Octaves in the piano are easy to identify once you recognize the pattern of white and black keys. The following diagram shows an octave and its notes, all octaves have the same composition.

To represent notes on the staff we use two different staves, the upper one is for the right hand and is identified with the G-Clef. The lower one is for the left hand and is identified with the F-Clef. Central C belongs to the central octave on the keyboard. To define the length of sounds in music, we use the following notes: Whole, Half, Quarter, Eighth and Sixteenth. To define the length of sounds in music, we use the following notes: Whole, Half, Quarter, Eighth and Sixteenth.

They are represented by the following symbols, and also are their respective equal length rests. Usually time is set according to the length of certain note, commonly the quarter. Then all the other notes are related to it, so the half note is the double length of the quarter, and the eighth note is the half length of the quarter. You can easily see this relative values on the next picture. A Metronome is used to measure speed, usually the quarter note is set from 40 to 200 beats per minute (bpm).

Bars are segments of time corresponding to a specific number of beats.

Commonly used are 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9 and 12 beats bars. Depending on how many beats the bar is composed you must count in your head, perfectly regular and uniform. Lets say you have a 4 beats bar, then you must count up to 4 and the start again. 1, 2, 3, 4, 1, 2, 3 Bars are indicated by a vertical line (bar line): The time signature is the number you see above. Its a rational number in which the numerator (the number above) indicates the beats, and the denominator (the number below) indicates that the time is set according to the quarter note. Lesson 1- Fingering
This first lesson is about some basic concepts regarding to the execution of the piano and its fingering.

For the piano study we will number fingers this way: Thumb = 1
Index = 2
Middle = 3
Ring = 4
Pinky = 5

A good posture and hand placement is important to play confortable and allow a better execution. Keys must be played with the fingertips. Imaging youre holding ball with your hand fingertips touching the other hand ones. Fingers are curved. Now slowly separate both hands and place them over the piano keys maintaining the posture. It should be enough space under the hand to let the thumb freely swing below the other fingers.

Exercise 1 - Track 01 For this exercise we will use both hands. For the F-Clef (Left hand) we will cover notes from F to B. For the G-Clef we will cover notes from C to G. Fingering is also expressed within the staff as well as the time signature. Remember, always keep counting the beats in your head, or use a metronome, which is even better. Exercise 2 Track 02 This exercise is for the right hand. Exercise 2 Track 02 This exercise is for the right hand.

Use the same position than the exercise before. Exercise 3 - Track 03 Now an equivalent exercise for the left hand. Exercise 4 - Track 04 In this exercise we combine left and right hand. Keep the same position and fingering.

Lesson 2 - Eighths So far we have use quarter notes mostly, lets move on to eighth notes. Since an eighth note is half a quarter, now we have to play two notes per beat: The following exercises are meant to develop independence in both hands, thats why we will use alternatively quarters and eights on each hand.

To lower the difficulty try to practice each hand separately, then, when ready play with both hands. Exercise 5 - Track 05 Exercise 6 - Track 06

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