Music Lessons - Introduction to Piano Keyboard
Lesson 6
Welcome to lesson six. This lesson's presentation is bass lines, notation to read and play right hand and left hand together, contrary motion exercises in Middle C position, transposing on manuscript paper, how to measure intervals, chromatic scale, arpeggios, theory work, and course review.
The names of the five lines in the bass staff from the lowest line are G B D F A. To help learn these lines, say ALOUD 'G', whisper 'A', say ALOUD 'B', whisper 'C', say ALOUD 'D',whisper 'E', say ALOUD 'F', whisper 'G', and say ALOUD 'A'.
JIBBIDY F and ACE may help also, for learning the bass lines. Just leave off the last two letters CE.
I like to also have sayings for landmark notes, such as bottom line G, middle line D, and top line A. Play these five line notes with any finger in the left hand, and say the letter name as you play each note.
Notation To Read and Play Right Hand and Left Hand Together
Exercise 1
The names of the five lines in the bass staff from the lowest line are G B D F A. To help learn these lines, say ALOUD 'G', whisper 'A', say ALOUD 'B', whisper 'C', say ALOUD 'D',whisper 'E', say ALOUD 'F', whisper 'G', and say ALOUD 'A'.
JIBBIDY F and ACE may help also, for learning the bass lines. Just leave off the last two letters CE.
I like to also have sayings for landmark notes, such as bottom line G, middle line D, and top line A. Play these five line notes with any finger in the left hand, and say the letter name as you play each note.
Notation To Read and Play Right Hand and Left Hand Together
Exercise 1
Practise the above exercise hands separately, however before you do it, work out which key (scale) the exercise is in, and play the scale first as per instruction a little further down in this paragraph.Scan along the notes played by each hand, checking to see the lowest and highest note to be played in each hand. Plan your fingering. Insert a finger number under the first note in each hand.For the left hand, insert the finger number in the space under the bottom line of the bass staff.Check the key signature to see which notes have to be played as sharps. With a sharp key signature, the key note (first note of the scale, also called the tonic for a major key, is a half a tone higher than the last sharp in the key signature on the right. It's a good idea to play the scale first in the right hand, then one octave lower in the left hand. In the above key signature the last sharp on the right is D sharp, so the key note for a major scale is E. We are only dealing with major scales at present; minor scales will come in the intermediate or advanced series. Play the scale of E major one octave ascending and descending in the right hand, and one octave lower in the left hand ascending and descending.
When you are satisfied you can play each part hands separately, try playing both hands together. Read from the lowest note in the bass upwards, thus scanning vertically and horizontally reading by interval and taking note of the contours in each hand.
Listen to the exercise
When you are satisfied you can play each part hands separately, try playing both hands together. Read from the lowest note in the bass upwards, thus scanning vertically and horizontally reading by interval and taking note of the contours in each hand.
Listen to the exercise
Practise the above exercise similarly to exercise 1.
Listen to the exercise
Exercise 3
Listen to the exercise
Exercise 3
Also practise the above exercise.
Listen to the exercise.
Exercise 4
Listen to the exercise.
Exercise 4
Here's another exercise to practise.
Listen to the exercise.
Contrary Motion Exercises in Middle C Position
Contrary Motion Exercise 1The following two contrary motion exercises are an extension of the contrary motion exercises in lesson 5. Place both thumbs on Middle C and use the following fingering for each hand playing together: 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 5, and play back to Middle C.
Listen to the exercise.
Below are the notes you should have played. This exercise covered all the notes in the grand staff plus the space note (G) above the treble staff, and the space note (F) below the bass staff.
Contrary Motion Exercise 2
Listen to the exercise.
Contrary Motion Exercises in Middle C Position
Contrary Motion Exercise 1The following two contrary motion exercises are an extension of the contrary motion exercises in lesson 5. Place both thumbs on Middle C and use the following fingering for each hand playing together: 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 5, and play back to Middle C.
Listen to the exercise.
Below are the notes you should have played. This exercise covered all the notes in the grand staff plus the space note (G) above the treble staff, and the space note (F) below the bass staff.
Contrary Motion Exercise 2
Place both thumbs on Middle C and use the following fingering for each hand playing together: 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5, and play back to Middle C.
Listen to the exercise.
Below are the notes you should have played, this being the scale of C Major Contrary Motion 2 octaves.
Listen to the exercise.
Below are the notes you should have played, this being the scale of C Major Contrary Motion 2 octaves.
Transposing on Manuscript Paper
If you were to transpose exercise 1 to the key of C major, this is the procedure:
If you were to transpose exercise 1 to the key of C major, this is the procedure:
1. Work out the key of the given piece. To do this look at the key signature. Four sharps F, C, G, D.The last sharp to the right is D sharp so the key is E (the major key note is half a tone higher than the last sharp to the right) therefore the key of the given piece is E major.
2. Write out each note of the scale of E major.
E, F sharp, G sharp, A, B, C sharp, D sharp, E.
3. Write the scale degree numbers under each note.
E, F sharp, G sharp, A, B, C sharp, D sharp, E.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
4. Write the new key of C major above.
C D E F G A B C
E, F sharp, G sharp, A, B, C sharp, D sharp, E.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
2. Write out each note of the scale of E major.
E, F sharp, G sharp, A, B, C sharp, D sharp, E.
3. Write the scale degree numbers under each note.
E, F sharp, G sharp, A, B, C sharp, D sharp, E.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
4. Write the new key of C major above.
C D E F G A B C
E, F sharp, G sharp, A, B, C sharp, D sharp, E.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
The above gives only the first note of the new key in the treble, and I have also included the first note of the new key in the bass. It is very important to get the first note correct, otherwise everything will be incorrect. am leaving this for you to work out and complete.
If we were writing it down in to C major proceed as follows:
(a) Put new key signature, no sharps or flats.
The first note in the treble is E.
Therefore the new note will be C. I have included this note in the treble staff above. Note that I have also included the first note 'C' in the key of C major in the bass. It may be preferable to put in the bass notes after having completed the treble notes.
Insert the rest of the notes by following the contours. Music goes up, down, or same. Be certain that you have the correct intervals. In this exercise the treble part only has steps. The bass part has skips and between the last two notes is a double skip.
How To Measure Intervals
Steps: line to the next space, or space to the next line. (seconds)
Skips: line to the next line, or space to the next space. (thirds)
If we were writing it down in to C major proceed as follows:
(a) Put new key signature, no sharps or flats.
The first note in the treble is E.
Therefore the new note will be C. I have included this note in the treble staff above. Note that I have also included the first note 'C' in the key of C major in the bass. It may be preferable to put in the bass notes after having completed the treble notes.
Insert the rest of the notes by following the contours. Music goes up, down, or same. Be certain that you have the correct intervals. In this exercise the treble part only has steps. The bass part has skips and between the last two notes is a double skip.
How To Measure Intervals
Steps: line to the next space, or space to the next line. (seconds)
Skips: line to the next line, or space to the next space. (thirds)
The interval numbers also are the same numbers as the scale degree numbers, the only difference being, that when we are discussing an interval (the distance between two notes) we say 'second' not 'two', and 'third' not 'three', and 'fourth' not 'four' and so on.
Reading by interval, plus knowing the notes, and a knowledge of scales, all go hand in hand to good sight reading of music.
Chromatic Scale
Reading by interval, plus knowing the notes, and a knowledge of scales, all go hand in hand to good sight reading of music.
Chromatic Scale
Play the chromatic scale right hand, beginning on Middle E, ascending and descending for one octave. The fingering is 1 2 3 1 3 1 3 1 2 3 1 3 1 then go back.
Listen to the exercise.
How did you go? Play the same scale one octave lower using your left hand. The fingering is 2 1 3 1 3 1 3 2 1 3 1 3 1 then go back.
Listen to the exercise.
Arpeggios
Play the arpeggio of E Major right hand, starting on middle E, ascending and descending for one octave. The fingering is 1 2 3 5 then go back. You will be using extensions between fingers that are playing.
How did you go? Play the same scale one octave lower using your left hand. The fingering is 2 1 3 1 3 1 3 2 1 3 1 3 1 then go back.
Listen to the exercise.
Arpeggios
Play the arpeggio of E Major right hand, starting on middle E, ascending and descending for one octave. The fingering is 1 2 3 5 then go back. You will be using extensions between fingers that are playing.
Listen to the exercise.
Play the arpeggio of E Major left hand, starting one octave lower, ascending and descending for one octave. The fingering is 5 3 2 1 then go back. You will be using extensions between fingers that are playing.
Play the arpeggio of E Major left hand, starting one octave lower, ascending and descending for one octave. The fingering is 5 3 2 1 then go back. You will be using extensions between fingers that are playing.
Listen to the exercise.
Play the arpeggio of E Major right hand for two octaves. The fingering is 1 2 3 1 2 3 5 then go back.
Play the arpeggio of E Major right hand for two octaves. The fingering is 1 2 3 1 2 3 5 then go back.
Listen to the exercise.
Play the arpeggio of E Major left hand for two octaves. The fingering is 5 3 2 1 3 2 1 then go back.
Play the arpeggio of E Major left hand for two octaves. The fingering is 5 3 2 1 3 2 1 then go back.
Listen to the exercise.
Practise the following arpeggios;
A Major one octave ascending and descending right hand 1 2 3 5
Right hand to start on the A below Middle C.
Practise the following arpeggios;
A Major one octave ascending and descending right hand 1 2 3 5
Right hand to start on the A below Middle C.
A Major one octave ascending and descending left hand 5 3 2 1
One octave lower than the right hand.
One octave lower than the right hand.
Listen to the exercise.
D Major one octave ascending and descending right hand 1 2 3 5
D Major one octave ascending and descending right hand 1 2 3 5
D Major one octave ascending and descending left hand 5 3 2 1
Listen to the exercise.
G Major one octave ascending and descending right hand 1 2 3 5
Right hand to start on the G below Middle C.
G Major one octave ascending and descending right hand 1 2 3 5
Right hand to start on the G below Middle C.
G Major one octave ascending and descending left hand 5 4 2 1
One octave lower than the right hand.
One octave lower than the right hand.
Listen to the exercise.
C Major one octave ascending and descending right hand 1 2 3 5
C Major one octave ascending and descending right hand 1 2 3 5
C Major one octave ascending and descending left hand 5 4 2 1
Listen to the exercise.
F Major one octave ascending and descending right hand 1 2 3 5
F Major one octave ascending and descending right hand 1 2 3 5
F Major one octave ascending and descending left hand 5 4 2 1
Listen to the exercise.
Can you tell me something you may have noticed about these six arpeggios?
Theory Work
In your manuscript book, draw the grand staff, and in crotchets write the following words once in the treble, and once in the bass.
G A G
B E D
C A B B A G E
F A D
After you have written these words, play each note with any finger of your right hand for treble notes, in the correct place on the keyboard; and also play the notes in the bass staff with any finger of your left hand, in the correct place on the keyboard.
Review - Lessons 1 - 6
In lesson one I emphasized the importance of posture, and understanding the topography of the keyboard, developing gesture, the natural hand position, correct finger actions, and developing a firm touch
Lesson two related to the whole tone scale, notes being placed on lines or in spaces of the staff. Attention was drawn to the importance of playing by feel, not looking at your hands and keeping your eyes on the music book. Some exercises were given in the key of E major. Also a sharp sign was explained, and E G B treble lines and F A treble spaces were introduced.
In lesson three the five lines and four spaces of the treble were presented, creative work using 4th and 5th fingers without reading notes, E major chord right and left hand, some exercises in E major, including one in the bass with left hand, direction in music, steps and skips, reading the contours, contractions, extensions, exercises for the thumb, arpeggio exercise, right hand moving up the keyboard exercise, theory work and aural work.
In lesson four you learned the spaces of the bass staff, exercises in the key of A major in the treble and bass, transposition from the key of E major to A major, A major five finger position, continuation of week three right hand moving up the keyboard exercise, find the scale of E major right hand and left hand one octave lower, A major right hand and one octave then two octaves lower with the left hand. E major scale contrary motion, E major arpeggio hands separately and in contrary motion and in similar motion, blocked chords, similarly in D major and A major. Chromatic exercises with each hand separately, E major exercise with key signature, and theory work.
In lesson five we went further with the week three right hand moving up the keyboard exercise, and finding the scale of D major, G major, structure of the major scale and finding the scale of C major, the C major five finger position, creative work in C major, Middle C, ledger notes, Middle D - treble, contrary motion exercises in Middle C position, reading in D major right hand with key signature, and playing with an accompaniment using the D major chord left hand, notation to read and play right hand separately in the key of E major and with E major chord accompaniment in the left hand. Transposing this exercise to A major with A major chord accompaniment, and to C major with C major chord accompaniment, and to G major with the G major chord accompaniment, creative work in E major, fitting a melody with a given bass, writing your own keyboard, and theory review.
Just a reminder to complete the quiz. Much of this lesson's quiz is based around review work, and the questions are mainly on the keyboard layout, i.e. know your keyboard well, and the grand staff, i.e. know the notes on the lines and spaces of the treble and bass staff well. If you feel you don't understand, learn the first line of each staff well, i.e. first line treble clef E, and first line bass clef G (or bottom line G). Then you can work out the others by carefully proceeding from a line to a space etc. and saying the letter names of the musical alphabet.
Can you tell me something you may have noticed about these six arpeggios?
Theory Work
In your manuscript book, draw the grand staff, and in crotchets write the following words once in the treble, and once in the bass.
G A G
B E D
C A B B A G E
F A D
After you have written these words, play each note with any finger of your right hand for treble notes, in the correct place on the keyboard; and also play the notes in the bass staff with any finger of your left hand, in the correct place on the keyboard.
Review - Lessons 1 - 6
In lesson one I emphasized the importance of posture, and understanding the topography of the keyboard, developing gesture, the natural hand position, correct finger actions, and developing a firm touch
Lesson two related to the whole tone scale, notes being placed on lines or in spaces of the staff. Attention was drawn to the importance of playing by feel, not looking at your hands and keeping your eyes on the music book. Some exercises were given in the key of E major. Also a sharp sign was explained, and E G B treble lines and F A treble spaces were introduced.
In lesson three the five lines and four spaces of the treble were presented, creative work using 4th and 5th fingers without reading notes, E major chord right and left hand, some exercises in E major, including one in the bass with left hand, direction in music, steps and skips, reading the contours, contractions, extensions, exercises for the thumb, arpeggio exercise, right hand moving up the keyboard exercise, theory work and aural work.
In lesson four you learned the spaces of the bass staff, exercises in the key of A major in the treble and bass, transposition from the key of E major to A major, A major five finger position, continuation of week three right hand moving up the keyboard exercise, find the scale of E major right hand and left hand one octave lower, A major right hand and one octave then two octaves lower with the left hand. E major scale contrary motion, E major arpeggio hands separately and in contrary motion and in similar motion, blocked chords, similarly in D major and A major. Chromatic exercises with each hand separately, E major exercise with key signature, and theory work.
In lesson five we went further with the week three right hand moving up the keyboard exercise, and finding the scale of D major, G major, structure of the major scale and finding the scale of C major, the C major five finger position, creative work in C major, Middle C, ledger notes, Middle D - treble, contrary motion exercises in Middle C position, reading in D major right hand with key signature, and playing with an accompaniment using the D major chord left hand, notation to read and play right hand separately in the key of E major and with E major chord accompaniment in the left hand. Transposing this exercise to A major with A major chord accompaniment, and to C major with C major chord accompaniment, and to G major with the G major chord accompaniment, creative work in E major, fitting a melody with a given bass, writing your own keyboard, and theory review.
Just a reminder to complete the quiz. Much of this lesson's quiz is based around review work, and the questions are mainly on the keyboard layout, i.e. know your keyboard well, and the grand staff, i.e. know the notes on the lines and spaces of the treble and bass staff well. If you feel you don't understand, learn the first line of each staff well, i.e. first line treble clef E, and first line bass clef G (or bottom line G). Then you can work out the others by carefully proceeding from a line to a space etc. and saying the letter names of the musical alphabet.
I do hope you have benefited from these lessons so far. I Look forward to seeing you at lesson seven.