See the circle of fifths chart for details. In other words, you learn your new keys in this order: C major, then F major, then Bb major, then Eb major (rather than in half steps like we did in the first method). But by doing it this way, you’re actually understanding how music works rather than just moving everything up a half step (which can work too, obviously).Ħ) Feel free to follow the circle of fifths pattern going counter-clockwise while learning your progressions in new keys. Of course, this requires that you also know your scales as numbers. You can learn them by following the lessons on this page.ĥ) Lastly, you just go to your new major key and apply the formula: 1major – 5major – 6minor – 4major. The chords stay the same.Ĥ) So now, before this can work like magic, you need to make sure that you know all your major and minor chords. Numbers help you to play in ALL keys.Īll I did was replace the letters, not the chord type. C is the first tone of the scale, G is the 5th tone of the scale, A is the 6th tone of the scale, and F is the 4th tone of the scale.ģ) Write your progression out using numbers instead of letters. Take the scale and put a number under each tone.Ģ) Figure out which numbers go with the chords you’re using in the progression It’s the universal language.ġ) Convert the major key into numbers. Using numbers can really allow us to see what’s going on without confining us to one particular key. Let’s look at this C major chord progression again. The other way is to really understand “what’s going on,” as Marvin Gaye would say. Later on, you’ll use the sharp names of the black keys when playing in minor keys): (For my more experienced players, obviously you’ll replace these simple major and minor chords with more intricate ones but the process and rules for memorization will apply to you as well.)Īt the end of the day, you’ll end up with 12 pages of chords, all written out in their respective keys.ĥ) Go in this order and use the “flat names” for the black keys (trust me, it will be much easier. Others may have to refer back to the notebook a few times to warm up the memory. If you think writing helps you to remember, “doing” takes memorization to a whole new level.įor some, all it will take is writing and playing it a few times and you’ll remember the chords forever. If you’ve separated the major keys by tabs, even better so you can flip back very quickly when you need it.Ĥ) The key is to not only write them down (because it’s true, if you write something, you’ll remember it a lot more than just reading it)… but you also want to play it in the new key about 10 times. But don’t forget to write these chords down in your notebook under the appropriate major key. G+B+D (G major) becomes Ab+C+Eb (Ab major)Ī+C+E (A minor) becomes Bb+Db+F (Bb minor)į+A+C (F major) becomes Gb+Bb+Db (Gb major)ģ) Basically, you take this approach all the way up the piano. So again, C+E+G (C major) becomes Db+F+Ab (Db major) But Db major is much more common than C# so I went with Db.) Had I said “C#”, these chords would be C# major to G# major to A# minor to F# major… which looks just like the C major progression but with sharps. (Now, I chose to go to the key of Db rather than C#. So the “C major” chord becomes “Db major” And because you’re moving everything equally, the chord names stay the same. So a half step up from C is Db.Ģ) Literally, you just move EVERY finger you have held down up a note. Remember that half steps are from key to key with no keys in between. (Again, this is in the key of “C major”).ġ) First, we’re going to move this chord progression up a half step. (Oops, before I present the steps, let’s lay out our basic chord progression)…Ĭ major – G major – A minor – F major (repeat) Now, take the chord progression you just learned in one key, let’s say “C major,” and get to work with these steps below… Better yet, get a folder, 12 tabs, and label them according to the major keys. Just take out a notebook and reserve a few pages for each major key. Ok, so you have four chords that you picked up online and you want to learn them in the other 11 keys. So the shortcut vs the long road (that’s worth the trip). The other way is more involved, but will help your understanding of music a lot better. One way, I learned about 16 years ago and still use at times. So this isn’t going to be easy but if you’re committed, you can learn to play in ALL 12 keys… not just one.
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