free musical instructional materials

For Beginners

If you are a beginner, here are my thoughts on what to teach first and how to approach your development: The very first steps for a beginner.

Sound like a Jazz pianist in 5 minutes! -- shortcut for beginners.

simple chords

One early lesson for a beginner is to get familiar with simple chords (triads). It can be fun to see how these Major and minor triads can work together.

• "Ye Me Le"
• "Rock 'n Roll Woman" - written by Stephen Stills (and David Crosby), appeared on the Buffalo Springfield's second LP.
• "Scarborough Fair" is a simple folk song, with a simple melody and simple chord changes. It is also modal -- that is, it has as modal harmonic structure. Paul Simon (& Garfunkel) had a hit in the 1960s and, based upon that hit, Sergio Mendes made a modal-Jazzy arrangement for Brasil '66.

Chord Connections

For each individual popular song:

• "Eight Miles High" - The Byrds
• "Light My Fire" by The Doors

• other songs use a i to IV and VI chord progression -- including "She's Not There" by the Zombies (Rod Argent) ; "Go To Her" by The Jefferson Airplane ; and, "Incense and Peppermints" by Strawberry Alarm Clock.
• "Long Time Gone" by C.S.N.
• ii, V, I: is featured in "Fool on the Hill" by Paul McCartney , "How Can I Be Sure?" (Rascals).
• "Ponteio" by Edu Lobo
• "Pataphysical Introduction" -- nice simple chords for piano by Robert Wyatt (and similar to some of the chord changes in "Arrastao" by Edu Lobo).
• Stephen Stills piano music in the key of 'C' Major -- "49 Bye-Byes" and "Four Days Gone."
• "Morning Glory" by Tim Buckley - and covered by Fairport Convention, too.
• "Time Will Show the Wiser" by Emitt Rhodes
• similar: "Madman Running through the Fields" by Dantalian's Chariot (bandleader: Zoot Money) + (co-written with guitarist Andy Summers)
• Try these simple chord sequences (progressions) on the piano.
• "Watch Her Ride" by Paul Kantner of the Jefferson Airplane
• "Aldeia de Ogum" by Joyce Silveira Moreno - (Also see my Flat.io profile).
• "Backwards" (M. Ratledge) :     a min.7 , g min.7 , A-flat Maj.7 , c min. add9 ,       e min.9, d min. 9 : ||
• "Move On Up" by Curtis Mayfield
• Arzachel (song: "Garden of Earthly Delights") -- future members of Egg, including Steve Hillage on guitar -- originally known as Uriel.
• * modal jazz *
• "96 Tears" by "Question-Mark" and the Mysterians -- famous mid-1960s Garage Rocker. It's easy and fun to play.
• related is : "Azrael" by Keith Emerson (and Lee Jackson, of The Nice), which starts in G Major, as well.

Modal Jazz

• Start with ("Milestones", or:) "So What?" from Kind of Blue, Miles Davis and Gil Evans (and Bill Evans), 1959. Also, "Impressions" by John Coltrane.
• "Santiago" by Dedalus (Italian Jazz-Rock from 1973 or so). A lot like classic Soft Machine music, but with impeccable musicianship.
• Sergio Samba"

Musical notation

I placed some relatively simple scores and bits of arrangement on Flat.io

... which includes a rough distillation (harmonic reduction / sketch) of "Sergio Samba"

MuseScore offers a similar platform. Intuitive Music's profile on MuseScore.com.

SoulPicnicLauraNyro_chords-in-D.mscz MuseScore notation file of chords to "Soul Picnic" by Laura Nyro - starting in the key of 'D' (Major). The Fifth Dimension recorded their hit version a whole-step higher -- in the key of 'E' (Major) ; and Laura's own version is a half-step (in-turn) above that: in 'F' (Major).

Musical Construction goes beyond two hands on a piano keyboard. This is for thinking about and developing the broader scope of music (ensemble, counterpoint, composition)

I am studying and examining and dissecting the musical construction of compositions by Frank Zappa, and Kerry Minnear (of Gentle Giant). I would also like to dig into and learn (transcribe) "Half Asleep / Half Awake" (composed by John Greaves, bassist of Henry Cow).

I have made transcriptions of the music of The Soft Machine. Their keyboard player, Mike Ratledge, wrote a number of truly special compositions that make use of unusual time signatures (metres), in addition to modal Jazz harmony. search 'Ratledge' on NoteFlight.com to find those scores that I transcribed by-ear.

Is that an Augmented 7th chord? The harmonic context is B-flat dorian mode. I tried notating it using different enharmonic equivalent (#s and flats) , and on different staves with different clefs (including the "C" tenor/alto clef).

Above, I listed the chord changes to "Backwards" by Mike Ratledge, in the original key that the Soft Machine played it. However, if that same chord series/sequence/cycle is transposed down (lower) one Major-3rd , the starting chord is on 'F',

The bass player, Hugh Hopper, also wrote some compositions in a similar vein: "12/8 Theme" and "Kings and Queens."

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