The following videos will help you identify the notes on the piano.

This quick video on youtube shows the difference between sharps and flats:

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What is a Triad? A triad is a chord constructed with 3 notes. When in root position (the root note is on the bottom) each note is a third away from the last (if intervals are new to you check out the intervals tutorial). Triads are a basic chord structure and the basis of how other types of chords are constructed.

How do you form a Major triad? Hopefully you've read about major scales already; if not go check them out, triads will make much more sense. To create a major triad simply stack the 1st, 3rd, and 5th notes of a major scale on top of each other.

Let's take the C major scale: C - D - E - F - G - A - B

Take the 1st, 3rd, and 5th scale degrees out: C - D - E - F - G - A - B

The C major triad would be C - D - E.

In order to form a major scale, you must first know the difference between a Whole Step and a Half Step. You can figure out scales in any key by knowing the interval ‘formula’ for the type of scale you’re looking for. For clarity, lets say W=whole step and H=half step.

A half step is the smallest interval there is and, on a piano, will be just one key away from the starting note. A whole step is made of two half steps so it will be two keys away from the starting note. Be sure to include the black keys when counting steps. For example, the distance between the consecutive white piano keys E and F, and B and C, equals a half step, whereas the distance between the remaining white keys (G-A, A-B, C-D, D-E, F-G) is a whole step. That's because the piano is designed around the C scale.

Major scale formula:

W - W - H - W - W - W - H

View our Beginner's Course in 'Finding the Tonic'

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By learning ACTUAL songs you are gaining the abilities listed in this section in a faster way that is more intuitive and motivating.  Focus on learning songs and you will begin learning many of the items in the list.  All songs in this section will have MIDI Files and are in the site.

Songs to Learn:

1. Amazing Grace
2. Here I Am to Worship/How Great is Our God
3. Every Praise in C (notes can be in root position, focus on rhythm.)

Feel free to check out this section if you are able to play the MAJOR scale in Every Key. Do NOT move to playing triads until you have mastered this. Here are the notes to each key. Play them over and over. One at a time, slowly until you've memorized them.

Start with the Sharps

C Major:

Notes: C, D, E, F, G, A, B, C

D Major:

Notes: D, E, F#, G, A, B, C#, D

G Major:

Notes: G, A, B, C, D, E, F#, G

E Major:

Notes: E, F#, G#, A, B, C#, D#, E

A Major:

Notes: A, B, C#, D, E, F#, G#, A

B major:

Notes: B, C#, D#, E, F#, G#, A#, B

Then memorize your Flats:

F Major:

Notes: F, G, A, Bb, C, D, E, F

A#/Bb Major:

Notes: Bb, C, D, Eb, F, G, A, Bb

D#/Eb Major:

Notes: Eb, F, G, Ab, Bb, C, D, Eb

G#/Ab Major:

Notes: Ab, Bb, C, Db, Eb, F, G, Ab

C#/Db Major:

Notes: Db, Eb, F, Gb, Ab, Bb, C, Db

F#/Gb Major:

Notes: Gb, Ab, Bb, Cb, Db, Eb, F, Gb

(Cb is the same key as B, we call this an enharmonic spelling.) Notice the enharmonic spelling for the keys A#/Bb Major, D#/Eb Major, G#/Ab Major, C#/Db Major and F#/Gb Major. Once you are able to play all of these keys WITHOUT glancing at the notes then you have mastered all of your diatonic keys. Check the box when complete.

You can find more information on the diatonic scales in the Beginner's Course

See Beginner Course

To download a printable chart which shows the Diatonic Triads in Every Key go here

Printable Scale Charts

Easy R&B Song

Here is a song from Emmanuel Blanco called, For Your Glory by Tasha Cobbs

Here are the Diatonic Triads for the Key of C

The Diatonic Triads for Each Key can be found by visiting the "Essentials Pages" on the site

The following video shows you how to find and use the diatonic triads:

See this video on the use of diatonic triads in C

Learn a Song Live using Triads

• Watch the video above from (0:00-21:15)
• To find the Diatonic Triads in other keys go to the Essentials Page

Play an R&B Song with some Seventh Chords

In these series of videos, you'll learn to play Drop 2 diatonic chords, along with an exercise to help you implement them.  First video will be a tutorial on how to do these exercises, followed by videos of the drop 2 chords in every key.

Drop 2 Tutorial:

Key of C Major:

Key of Db Major:

Key of D Major:

Key of Eb Major:

Key of E Major:

Key of F Major:

Key of Gb Major:

Key of G Major:

Key of Ab Major:

Key of A Major:

Key of Bb Major:

Key of B Major:

In this tutorial you'll learn how to form a 6/9 chord in root position and also as a rootless voicing.  Click the link below and select tab 7 (Using rootless 6/9 voicings to approach the 1).

6/9 Chord Voicings

In this video Sean gives an example on how to form a Dominant 13th(b9) chord. Be sure to learn this chord and it's voicing in every key.

Start video at 8:03 or select tab #3

Dominant 13(b9)

In this video Sean is showing you how to form a Dominant #9#5 chord, which was demonstrated in the Kevin Bond "The Promise" video breakdown.

In this video Sean is showing you how to form a Dominant b9b5 Chord, which is was demonstrated in the Kevon Bond "The Promise" video breakdown.

In this video Sean explains how to form and use a Dominant (#9b5) chord.  Be sure to play this in all keys.

Start video at 27:31 or select tab #8

Dominant #9b5 Chord

In the video below, you'll learn what the Dominant 7(b9) chord is, and how to apply this chord in your playing. Remember to practice this chord in every key, so that it will become muscle memory.

Start at the 4:45 mark

Quick Tip for Dominant 7(b9)

In the video below, you'll learn what the Dominant 7(#9) chord is, and how to apply this chord in your playing. Remember to practice this chord in every key, so that it will become muscle memory.

Quick Tip for Dominant 7(#9)

In this video, you'll learn how to form and apply the Dominant 13(no 5) chord.

Start video at 39:07 or select tab #9

Dominant (13 no 5) Chord

Learning the following songs will help you develop your skills in this area:

Lydian Dominant Concept
Diminished Scale Concept
Major Scale Concepts (including Lydian)
Minor Scale Concepts (including Dorian-based ideas)
Locrian-based concepts (including movements based on nat 2 and nat 6 scales)

Practical Uses of the Half-Diminished Chord- aka Min7b5   Approaching the min7b5 from its 5 

Practical Uses of the Half-Diminished Chord- aka Min7b5   Approaching the min7b5 from its 5 

Learning the following songs will help you develop your skills in this area: