Piano Guidance
Piano Guidance
Photo: Angela Roma
The main reason that this key isn't used frequently is because it is enharmonically equivalent to the key of B, which only has 5 sharps instead of 7 flats, and is therefore easier for many instruments to play.
Here's a guide to the blue notes in the key of C. C major scale: C, D, E, F, G, A, B. C blues scale: C, E-flat, F, F-sharp, G, B-flat. C major plus...
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Em is the first beginning guitar chord you should learn. It's one of the most basic guitar chords not only because it's easy, but because it's used...
Read More »To expand, enharmonic equivalence is an invention of convenience. Musical intervals are just frequency ratios, and ratios with smaller numbers sound more consonant. For example, the octave is 2:1, and the perfect fifth is 3:2, the two simplest. Compounding ratios by stacking intervals serves to create more notes. However, since no nonzero power of 3/2 can ever equal a power of 2 (prime factorization), that means you can always create new notes by adding on fifths and correcting the octave - the number of pitch classes is infinite. To have something usable requires one of two things: restricting usage to some level of sharps and flats, or deliberately tuning the fifth wrong so that the cycle of fifths closes. Thus the art of temperament, or tuning theory. results in Pythagorean tuning, where the keyboard would have (say) Eb, but D# literally does not exist. You cannot play the fifth G#-D#, and attempting to use G#-Eb, a diminished sixth, sounds horrible (also known as a wolf fifth, representing 192:125 or worse). results in equal temperament (or 12EDO, equal divisions of the octave), where each fifth is slightly out of tune by about 1/50 of a semitone. In exchange, there are only 12 equivalent notes in an octave, and most intervals are tolerable. Combinations are possible, leading to meantone and other temperaments. Twelve fifths is very close to seven octaves (hence 12EDO), off by the difference between B# and C, a tiny ratio known as the Pythagorean comma - which is discarded in Western music theory. Thus the origin of enharmonic equivalence: B# is represented by the same pitch as C, because we can't be bothered to care about the difference, not because they are musically equal. In short, when modulating in tonal harmony, using equivalence is absolutely improper and summarily barred, whatever the savings in notation. To wit, modulating from Db major to Db minor would be I->i, but to go to C# minor is from I->bbii, a transition that nobody uses. A quick example I can think of is Bach's Fugue in C# major, BWV842/2 (WTC I). For whatever reason he chose to use 7 sharps instead of Db, and so in bar 19 he writes a full scale in iii melodic: E#-Fx-G#-A#-B#-Cx-Dx-B#-E#. Yes, the imitable key of E# minor. That said, since equivalence is used, there isn't too much point in starting a piece with more than 7 sharps or flats. Modulation extends the range up to about 10 sharps or flats, but that's basically the limit.
Most people who want to learn piano to play for their own enjoyment can get great results within three to five years of study and practice....
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Any student is able to learn to play piano by ear, all it takes is a lot of practice and several different exercises and techniques to train your...
Read More »If you'd like to learn piano along with other members of your family on one subscription, Simply Piano is a perfect fit. Your subscription includes 5 profiles with full access to all of our courses, songs, and practice options for you and your family to learn and play the songs you each love!
If you'd like to learn piano along with other members of your family on one subscription, Simply Piano is a perfect fit. Multiple profiles allow up to five family members to create full-access profiles and track their individual progress all on one account. Each family member will have full access to all of our courses, songs, and practice options and can move at their own pace. Make sure to select the Family Plan subscription option while you're subscribing, which includes full access to 5 premium profiles.
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Dorian is the most commonly used of the jazz modes over minor chords. So, it's highly recommended that you get great at playing it. You can use...
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Pianoforall is one of the most popular online piano courses online and has helped over 450,000 students around the world achieve their dream of playing beautiful piano for over a decade.
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