FRANK BEE S LEARN AND MASTER PIANO METHOD

FRANK BEE S LEARN AND MASTER PIANO METHOD FOR GROUP OR INDIVIDUAL INSTRUCTION...by Frank Baffour Frank PUBLICATION CO., INC 1 P a g e

FRANK S LEARN AND MASTER PIANO METHOD Copy right c 2018 edition ISBN 9789988278588 All Right Reserved No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, Electronic or mechanical, including photocopy. Contact the author. Designed by Frank Bee4 Tel: 0243179226 Frank music CO. INC Copyright by Frank music co., Inc 2 P a g e

Preface When I told friends and colleagues that I have decided to write a piano textbook, most of them had the same response: why? Most of the Ghanaian piano players are very talented and skillful in piano playing but falls short in one thing, and that s transferring the knowledge they have gained in music (piano) into a book for it to serve as a resource guide to up- coming pianists. As any student of music may attest to, piano learning is challenging especially when you do not have the right material and coach to get you started. Due to the interest s people have had in music in recent years arising from watching and listening to Live worships shows, church bands plays, Jazz groups, reality shows and the like, this compelled me to take that advantage to make this textbook to serve as instructional guide to students and piano learners. It became necessary for me to write this textbook due to lack of Piano Textbook in the market which has made it very challenging to learn to play the piano/ keyboard. This textbook uses chords and charts in its instruction rather than musical notes and this makes learning to play piano very easy. This is a teach yourself piano textbook that can be use with little or no coaching. In this piano textbook you will learn to play the piano in all keys, practice exercises, learn the basics of the blues scales, suspended chords, augmented chords, seventh chords, minor and major scales, etc. 3 P a g e

TABLE OF CONTENTS Preface About the author Chapter 1 Understanding the basics of piano methods...8-10 Piano fingering Basic keyboard and the chromatic scale Musical symbols and terms Chapter 2 Understanding the key of C major. 11-15 C major scale and chords Fingering and exercises Chord progressions Chapter 3 The key of C sharp major....16-18 Learning the C sharp (#) major scale Fingering exercises Using chord progressions in the key of C major Chapter 4 Exploring the key of D major....19-22 Playing the D major scale Fingering exercises Chords in D major Chord progressions in D major Chapter 5 Understanding and playing in the key of D#/Eb major.. 23-25 D sharp major scale Chords in D sharp major 4 P a g e

fingering exercises Chord progressions in D major Chapter 6 Learning to play in the key E major.26-28 Learning the E major scale Fingering exercises Exploring the chord families in E major Chord progressions in E major Chapter 7 The key of F major..29-31 Playing the F major scale Chord families in F major Fingering exercises Chord progressions in F major Chapter 8 Exploring key of F sharp (#)/ G flat(b) major. 32-34 Learning to play the F# major scale Chords in the key of F# major Fingering exercises Playing chord progressions in key F# major Chapter 9 Learning to play in the key of G major..35-37 The G major scale Fingering exercises Chords in G major Chord progressions in the key of G major Chapter 10 The key of G sharp major..38-40 Playing the G# major scale Fingering exercises for left and right hand Chord families in the key G# major 5 P a g e

Chord progressions in G# major Chapter 11 The key of A major...41-43 Learning to play in key of A major Fingering exercises Chords in the key of A major Chord progressions in the key of A major Chapter 12 Learning to play in the key of Bb major 44-46 Playing the B flat major scale Fingering exercises for both left and right hands Chord families in the key of B flat major Chord progressions in B flat major Chapter 13 Learning to play in the key of B major..47-48 Playing the B major scale Scale degrees in B major Chord families in the key of B major Chord progressions in B major Chapter 14 The 24 basic major and minor chords chart...49 Chapter 15 - Understanding the circle of fourths/fifths.50 Chapter 16 - Learning chord inversions.....51-52 Chapter 17 Exploring the various minor scales.... 53-57 Minor scales Pentatonic scales Chapter 18 - Understanding major seventh chords... 58-59 6 P a g e

Chapter 19 Learning suspended chords. 60-61 Chapter 20 - Understanding diminished chords.. 62-63 Chapter 21 - Fundamentals of piano blues......64-66 Chapter 22 Creating an atmosphere for worship.....67 Chapter 23 Practice tips.68 Chapter 24 - Chorded songs for practice... 69-77 7 P a g e

CHAPTER 1 UNDERSTANDING THE BASICS OF PIANO METHODS A piano is a musical instrument made up of black and white keys which when pressed down produces a musical sound. The black keys are grouped into groups of two and three. Key C starts right before the group of two black keys and key F starts just before the group of three black keys. Piano fingering Fingering in piano or music is the correct use of the fingers when playing a piece of music. Failure to use the correct fingering for a piece of music can cause difficulties in your playing. Finger names as used in music In music both the right and left hand have the same finger names and numbers. 1. Thumb 2. Index finger 3. Middle finger 4. Ring finger 5. Pinky Left and right hand finger names Piano Fingering (Finger Numbers) 8 P a g e

Basic keyboard and the chromatic scale The chromatic scale involves all the 12 keys on the piano. It is a musical scale with twelve pitches, each a semitone above or below another. The chromatic scale is arguably one of the easiest scales to understand, particularly on piano. This is because you simply go from one key to the other without skipping any. For instance, let s say you start on the note C. The C chromatic scale would consist of the notes, C, C#/Db, D, D#/Eb, E, F, F#/Gb, G, G#/Ab, A, A#/Bb, B. How about the fingering for this scale? What fingers go on what keys? Let s find out. Only three fingers are used to play the scale. They are the thumb (1st finger), index finger (2nd finger) and middle finger (third finger). The chromatic scale displayed in key C Chromatic scale piano fingering for right hand Starting on the note, C, going up the scale, the fingering for the right hand is 1313 123 1313 12. Starting on the note C, going down the scale, the fingering for the right hand is simply reversed. Descending, the fingering is 21 3131 321 3131. Chromatic scale piano fingering for left hand After you have mastered the right hand fairly well, you can move to the left hand. Starting on C, the fingering for the left hand is 1313 213 1313 21, ascending. To go down the scale, you simply reverse the order of numbers. The same fingers play the same keys. So descending, the fingering is 12 3131 312 3131. Musical symbols and terms Sharp (#) The sharp sign raises a note by a half step Flat (b) The flat sign reduces a note by a half step Scale degree In music, a Scale degree refers to the position of a particular note on a scale. Chord progression - In music, a chord progression is the way in which chords are put together to form a series of chord changes. Octave - A tone or note that is eight steps above or below another note or tone. 9 P a g e

Inversion In music, inversion is the rearrangement of the top-to-bottom elements in an interval, a chord or a melody. Interval - In music, an interval is the difference between two pitches/ notes. 10 P a g e

CHAPTER 2 UNDERSTANDING THE KEY OF C MAJOR A scale is the tonal basis of music. It is a set of tones from which you can build melodies and harmonies. There are several scales used in music but we will focus on the major and minor scales for now. The major scale is constructed with this formula. W s represent whole steps and H s represent half steps. Here is the scale formula for the major scale: W - W - H - W - W - W - H Using this formula, say we wanted to figure out the C major scale. First start with the root note, C, and follow the formula: A whole step from C is D. A whole step from D is E. A half step from E is F. A whole step from F is G. A whole step from G is A. A whole step from A is B. A half step from B is C, back to the top. So, the C major scale ends up looking like this: C D E F G A B C W W H W W W H C major scale with its fingering C D E F G A B C -Octave 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 -Scale degree Do re mi fa sol la ti Do - Tonic 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 - Fingering (RH) 5 4 3 2 1 3 2 1 - Fingering (LH) 11 P a g e

Notes: C, D, E, F, G, A, B, C Fingerings (Left hand): 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, 3, 2, 1 Fingerings (Right hand): 1, 2, 3, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 How to play the C major scale In order to play the C major scale effectively, the following fingering should be used. The C major scale can be played in ascending order or descending order pattern. Ascending order pattern for the C major scale (Right hand) When playing the C major scale, the following fingering should be followed. Use fingers 1 2 3 to play the first three keys or notes of the scale (C D E) and then cross the thumb under the palm and then use fingers 1 2 3 4 5 to play F G A B C to complete the scale. In practice C D E F G A B C - Scale 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 Fingering Descending order pattern for the C major scale (Right hand) When playing the C major scale in a descending order pattern, the following fingering below the scale should also be used or observed. Use fingers 5 4 3 2 1 to play C D E F G and then use fingers 3 2 1 to play E D C to complete the scale. In practice C B A G F E D C Scale 5 4 3 2 1 3 2 1 Fingering 12 P a g e

Exercises for the C major scale Exercise 1 Right hand C D E F G Fingering - 1 2 3 4 5 Left hand C D E F G Fingering - 5 4 3 2 1 Exercise 2 Right hand - G F E D C Fingering - 5 4 3 2 1 Left hand - C D E F G Fingering - 5 4 3 2 1 Exercise 3 Right hand A G F E D Fingering - 1 2 3 4 5 Left hand - D E F G A Fingering - 5 4 3 2 1 C major scale for the left hand (Ascending order pattern) When playing the C major scale with the left hand, use fingers 5-4- 3-2- 1 to play the first five keys of the scale (C D E F G), and then use fingers 3-2- 1 to play (A B C) to complete the scale. Ascending order pattern for the left hand (In practice) C D E F G A B C - Scale 5 4 3 2 1 3 2 1 Fingering 13 P a g e

Descending order pattern for the left hand (In practice) C B A G F E D C 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 - Fingering C MAJOR CHORDS (Triad) The C major triad is built from the C major scale. A major triad is a chord of three tones or notes consisting of a root with its third and fifth constituting the harmonic basis of tonal music, or a major triad is a group of three tones been played at the same time. Now that we know the notes of the C major scale, let s learn the triad chords in this scale/key and their notes. THE C MAJOR TRIAD AND THEIR NAMES CHORD NAME ROOT 1 ST INV 2 ND INV CHORD DEGREE C major chord C E G E G C G C E (1) - Root/ Tonic D minor chord D F A F A D A D F (2) Super tonic E minor chord E G B G B E B E G (3) Mediant F major chord F A C A C F C F A (4) Subdominant G major chord G B D B D G D G B (5) Dominant A minor chord A C E C E A E A C (6) Submediant B diminished B D F D F B F B D (7) Leading tone C major chord C E G E G C G C E (8) Octave Exercises for the C major chords Play the chords in arpeggio (playing notes one at a time) with the right hand while the left hand plays the root note only at the same time. Progressions on the C major chord Exercise 1 1 5 6 3 4 1 4 5 Progression Cmaj Gmaj Amin Emin Fmaj Cmaj Fmaj Gmaj Chords 14 P a g e

Exercise 2 6 2 4 5 - Progression Amin D minor F major G major -Chords Exercise 3 3 4 5 6 2 5 1 - Scale degree Emin Fmaj Gmaj Amin Dmin Gmaj Cmaj -Chords 15 P a g e

CHAPTER 3 THE KEY OF C#/Db MAJOR In this lesson, we are going to learn how to play the C sharp major scale. This scale consists of the pitches C, D, F, F, G, A, and B /C. Its key signature has 7 sharps. The relative minor of C sharp major is A sharp minor. C sharp is the enharmonic equivalent of Db. D flat major scale makes use of the same keys on the piano and sounds the same as the C# major scale. The difference is the names of the notes. The notes of the D flat major scale are Db, Eb, F, Gb, Ab, Bb, C, Db. The notes of this scale are: C# D# E# F# G# A# - B#/C C# - Scale 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Scale degree d r m f s l t d Tonic Fingering for the C#/Db major scale In order to play the C#/Db major scale effectively, the following fingering should be used. The scale can be played with both the left and right hand. C# major scale (Right hand) When playing the C#/Db major scale the right hand, the following fingering should be followed. Use fingers 2 3 to play the first two keys or notes of the scale (C# D#) and then cross the thumb under the palm and then use fingers 1 2 3 4 to play F, F#, G#, A# and then cross the thumb under the palm again to play B# and C# with fingers 1 and 2 to complete the scale. In practice C# D# F F# G# A# B# C# - Scale 2 3 1 2 3 4 1 2 Fingering 16 P a g e

C# major scale (Left hand) When playing the C#/Db major scale with the left hand, the following fingering should be followed. Use fingers 3 2 1 to play the first three keys or notes of the scale C# D# F and then cross the ring finger above the thumb and then use fingers 4 3 2 1 to play F# G# A# C and then cross the middle finger above the thumb again to play C# with fingers 1 and 2 to complete the scale. In practice C# D# F F# G# A# B# C# - Scale 3 2 1 4 3 2 1 3 Fingering Exercises for the C# major scale Exercise 1 Right hand F# C# D# F# C# D# F# Fingering - 4 1 2 4 1 2 4 Left hand - D# C# F# D# C# F# D# Fingering - 2 1 4 2 1 4 2 Exercise 2 Right hand C# D# F F# G# Fingering - 1 2 3 4 5 Left hand - G# F# F D C# Fingering - 5 4 3 2 1 17 P a g e

C#/Db MAJOR CHORDS (Triad) The C# major triad is built from the C# major scale. As explained earlier, a major triad is a chord of three tones or notes consisting of a root with its third and fifth constituting the harmonic basis of tonal music. THE C#/Db MAJOR TRIAD AND THEIR NAMES CHORD NAME ROOT 1 ST INV 2 ND INV CHORD DEGREE C# major chord C# F G# F G# C# G# C# F (1) - Root/ Tonic Eb minor chord Eb F# A# F# A# Eb A# Eb F# (2) Super tonic F minor chord F G# C G# C F C F G# (3) Mediant F# major chord F# A# C# A# C# F# C# F# A# (4) Subdominant G# major chord G# C Eb C Eb G# Eb G# C (5) Dominant Bb minor chord Bb C# F C# F Bb F Bb C# (6) Submediant C diminished C Eb F# Eb F# C F# C Eb (7) Leading tone C# major chord C# F G# F G# C# G# C# F (8) Octave Exercises for the C# major chords Play the C# major chords from the root to the octave in arpeggio (playing notes one at a time) with the right hand whiles the left hand plays the root notes of the chords. Progressions on the C major chord Exercise 1 1 5 6 3 4 1 4 5 Scale degree C#maj G#maj Bbmin Fmin F#maj C#maj F#maj G#maj Chords Exercise 2 6 2 4 5 - Scale degree Bb min Eb min F# major G# major -Chords Exercise 3 3 4 5 6 2 5 1 - Scale degree F min F#maj G#maj Bbmin Ebmin G#maj C#maj - Chords 18 P a g e

CHAPTER 4 EXPLORING THE KEY OF D MAJOR D major (or the key of D) is a major scale based on D, consisting of the pitches D, E, F, G, A, B, and C. Its key signature consists of two sharps. D E F# G A B C# D -Octave 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 -Scale degree Do re mi fa sol la ti Do -Tonic 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 -Fingering (Rh) 5 4 3 2 1 3 2 1 -Fingering (Lh) Notes: D, E, F#, G, A, B, C#, D Fingerings (Left hand): 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, 3, 2, 1 Fingerings (Right hand): 1, 2, 3, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 Fingering for playing the D major scale In order to play the D major scale effectively, the following fingering should be used. Playing the D major scale with the Right hand When playing the D major scale, the following fingering should be followed. Use fingers 1 2 3 to play the first three keys or notes of the scale D E F# and then cross the thumb under the palm and then use fingers 1 2 3 4 5 to play G A B C# D to complete the scale. 19 P a g e

Playing the D major scale with the Left hand When playing the D major scale with the left hand, the following fingering should be followed. Use fingers 5 4 2 3 1 to play the first three keys or notes of the scale D E F# G A and then cross the middle finger (3 rd finger) above the thumb and then use fingers 3 2 1 to play B C# D to complete the scale. 20 P a g e

I surrender all 8. Come Now Is The Time To Worship (Brian Doerkson)- Key D Chorus: D Dsus D Come, now is the time to wor--ship A Em G Come, now is the time to give your heart D Dsus D Come, just as you are to wor ship A Em G Come, just as you are before your God D Come Verse: G D One day every tongue will confess You are God G D One day every knee will bow G Bm Still the greatest treasure remains for those G Asus A Who gladly choose you now 9. God will make a way Key G G D God will make a way C G When there seems to be no way. C G Em He works in ways, we cannot see, C D He will make a way for me. G D He will be my guide, C G Hold me closely to His side. C G Em With love and strength, for each new day, C D 73 P a g e

He will make a way, C G He will make a way. 10. I Will Enter His gates (He has made me glad)- Key D D G D Bm I will enter His gates with thanksgiving in my heart D G A7 I will enter His courts with praise D G F#m Bm I will say this is the day that the Lord has made Em A D I will rejoice for He has made me glad Ch: D G He has made me glad D Bm He has made me glad Em A D G D I will rejoice for He has made me glad D7 G He has made me glad F#m Bm He has made me glad Em A D I will rejoice for He has made me glad. 11. Lord I Lift Your Name On High (Rick Founds)-Key G 74 P a g e G C D CDG Lord I lift your name on high C D CDG Lord I love to sing your praises C D CDG I'm so glad your in my life C D CDG I'm so glad you came to save us C D You came from heaven to earth C G

To show the way C D From the earth to the cross C G My debt to pay C D From the cross to the grave Bm C From the grave to the sky D G Lord I lift your name on high 12. You Are My All in All (Dennis Jernigan)- Key G G D Em You are my strength when I am weak G C You are the treasure that I seek G D G D You are my all in all G D Em Seeking You as a precious jewel G C Lord to give up, I'd be a fool G D G D You are my all in all G D Em G C G D G D Jesus, Lamb of God, worthy is Your name G D Em G C G D C G Jesus, Lamb of God, worthy is Your name G D Em Taking my sin, my cross, my shame G C Rising again, I bless Your name G D G D You are my all in all G D Em When I fall down, You pick me up G C When I am dry, You fill my cup G D G D You are my all in all 75 P a g e

13. In His Time (Hymn)- Key D D A D Bm In His time, in His time, G Em A A7 He makes all things beauti-ful in His time. G A Lord, please show me every day, F#m Bm As you're teaching me Your way, Em C A That You do just what You say, D In Your time. D A A Bm In Your time, in Your time, G Em A You make all things beauti-ful in Your time. G A Lord, my life to You I bring, F#m Bm May each song I have to sing Em C A Be to You a lovely thing, A In Your time. 76 P a g e

14. As the Deer (Martin Nystrom)- Key D D F#m Bm As the deer panteth for the water G A D So my soul longeth after Thee D F#m Bm You alone are my heart's desire G A D And I long to worship Thee Bm G D You alone are my strength, my shield G Em7 F# To You alone may my spirit yield D F#m Bm You alone are my heart's desire G A D And I long to worship Thee 77 P a g e

About the author Frank Baffour is the full time music director of Central Baptist Church, Manhyia Extension, Kumasi. He currently supervises the musical activities of the church. He is the former music teacher at Morning Glory Montessori Child Development Centre, a leading private school in Accra, Ghana. He is also the former volunteered Music director at Calvary Baptist Church, Accra, Nungua and also the former music director of Baptist student s campus choir at Kumasi Polytechnic. Frank Baffour has been doing music for about fifteen (15) years now as a vocalist, singing and mastering in Piano. Frank Baffour had his musical theory knowledge as a pianist and organist from one American woman Miss Carolyn Houts former head of music at the Ghana Baptist Theological Seminary. He received three (3) years of musical theory instruction under her teacher. Frank Baffour now plays piano, organ, bass guitar and acoustic guitar. He has played piano for several groups of which some are Baptist Student s Campus Choir (KTU), Vessels of Honor, Disciples Singers all of Central Baptist Church (Kumasi), Calvary Baptist church choir (Nungua), The ministers, Morning Glory Montessori School Choir (Accra), etc. He also holds Postgraduate Diploma in International Finance Management and HND in Purchasing and Supply. Born in Kumasi, Ghana, Frank Baffour is married with one daughter age 1 year. 78 P a g e

FOR DETAILS ON THIS LESSONS ESPECIALLY ON OTHER KEYS AND THEIR EXERCISES GET THE FULL BOOK BY CONTACT: +233243179226 or 0243179226