You should also be aware that when you have natural notes (notes without sharps or flats) it’s parallel lettered key will represent those same notes as being sharp or flat and vice versa. Here’s its parallel lettered key of G flat Major:Īgain, you have the same lettered notes in each key. I’m referring to 2 parallel keys of music that are both Major. Be aware, I’m not talking about a parallel minor key where one is Major and the other is minor.
Every Major key of music has a parallel key with an identical lettered note sequence. Just look at the note letters only.ĭo I have to point out that each lettered note sequence is identical? I’m sure you noticed it. Now let’s look at the key of C sharp Major. Let’s take the simplest example of a Major key of Music: the key of C Major So here is a very interesting observation: If you completely ignore sharps and flats (just for the moment), there’s actually only 6 Major keys of music instead of 12.
And as far as keyboard playing is concerned, they will land on the black Keys. Sharps and flats are referred to as accidentals in music. Or, they have one or more sharps in them. With the exception of the key of C Major, all other Major keys of music have one or more flats in them. The key of F Major starts on F and proceeds. For example, the key of C Major starts on C and proceeds up from there. The only difference between them is that they don’t all appear in the same sequence. Learn them and you have endless possibilities for chords and voicings.įirst, realize that every major key of music contains the first 7 letters of the alphabet. And in case you’re not aware of it, keys of music (or scales) are the raw materials for chords. So I want to show you a visual way to learn all 12 major keys of music on the piano. I prefer the term “key of music” simply because the word scale implies hours pointless study and boredom.īut whatever you decide to call them, it will make your life a lot easier to know them very well. But most of these notes are often the same ones of the key. You can however, be playing in a key of music and play notes that are of a different scale without actually changing the key you’re in. Playing the notes of a given scale implies that you’re also playing that of the same key. For example, if I’m playing a song with the tonal center of C, that’s the key of music that I’m playing in. This is also known as the tonic which is the key of music that it’s named after. If I’m playing a piece of music, whether It’s a song or just improvising a random chord progression, the notes and chords that I’m playing are going to have a tonal center. The short answer is that they’re one in the same. Well, which one is it, Key’s or Scales? I’ve been often asked what the difference is between the two. This article about visually learning all 12 major keys on the piano is no exception. I believe that any concept about playing the piano can be taught visually. I want to share with you a visual way to learn all 12 major keys of music on the piano.