Music Basics

A musical scale is a group of notes arranged in a specific pattern of steps (or distance between each note) to make a set of tones grouped into what musicians refer to as a key signature. The key...

Our system of notes and keys has seven different note names, designated with the letters A through G. A C major scale is C-D-E-F-G-A-B-C. The only way to get any other major scale is to change one...

Augmented chords are not difficult to play on the keyboard or piano. In fact, they are easy to play. Just follow the simple steps below.

If you have deep feelings about a subject then writing about it should be quite easy. Remember every chord in the world has already been played so keep it simple because you can't possibly...

You don't need to be born with perfect pitch to hear music notes. Learning to hear notes and recognize the names of those notes takes time and practice. It may be that you never develop perfect...

I have been playing bass for several years now primarily sticking to rock and alternative genres but sometimes I like to get into a little funk or jazz. Many bassists, and I am guilty of this as...

Learning how to play the chords EM and DM on the piano is very easy if you have a person who is at all knowledgeable about the piano on hand to show you where the chords are. Learning how to play...

Playing the c scale is one of the basic things you learn when first playing a keyboard. Because the c scale is the first and the easiest scale to know on the keyboard. This is one of the only...

There is a difference between playing the guitar for vocal backup and playing lead guitar, which I my cover in a future article. When you wish to provide the background musical rhythm from a...

Nearly everyone knows that music with no sharps or flats is in the key of C if it is major. But many people need to learn how to find the key in music in sharps. Every key signature represents...

Chords are the building blocks of music, but there are hundreds of possible chord combinations available. One look at a chord dictionary for piano and organ can be overwhelming. You might think it...

Guitarists like you and me enjoy strumming along with our major and minor chords. But if we'd like to build our chord pile, 7ths are the place to start. Let's do this...

Learning to make chords on the piano is one of the fundamental skills needed to play piano well. Knowing how to play chords will allow you to be able to read chord charts and play just about any...

Some of the greatest guitarists of all time have played left-handed, including Jimi Hendrix, Kurt Cobain and Paul McCartney. And they all began the same way that right-handed players do: by...

To construct chords on a piano, you'll need a basic understanding of piano keys and music theory. The white keys are regular notes, and the black keys can be used as sharps or flats, depending on...

Mastering scales and chords on a keyboard instrument gives you a greater understanding of musical theory and harmony, and gives you a great advantage in achieving technical prowess. Scales and...

"Three's Company", "Three's a crowd", "A natural number can be divided by three if the sum of its digits is divisible by three." Yup, three is even the number of...

There are several methods available to learn how to play the piano, and how to approach learning chords. This is one method that will help get you started.

The piano is one of the most common instruments played. In order to begin to understand, it is essential to know basic theory, such as chords.

This is the second in my series of articles on chord construction. Here, I've outlined the basics of the minor chords.

This is part of a series of articles I've written on chord construction. Each "family" of related chords shares common traits you can learn to make it easy to remember them. It's...

The major scale is created by applying a simple formula of whole steps and half steps to the chromatic scale (see my related article). The sound produced is a very pleasing and familiar one that...

The B Lydian mode is the fourth mode of D flat major, and it is a major scale that contains a nice sharp 4 and a kind of floating sound. Find out how to use the Lydian mode to solo over B major...

The B Mixolydian mode scale comes out of E major, and it starts on the fifth note of the B major scale. Learn about the flat 7 included in this jazz scale with help from a jazz composer in this...

The B Dorian mode is the second mode of the B major scale, so it has to start a step above the A major scale. Discover how the Dorian mode is used with minor chords with help from a jazz composer...

Music keys, also known as key signatures, are noted at the beginning of a piece of music. The keys are written directly after the treble or bass clef sign and are used to designate sharp and flat...

Do you find yourself stumped when it comes to guitar scales? Read on to learn what they are, how to construct them, and why you need them. No matter what type of music you play, scales play an...

I have used the Nashville Number System for many years in Nashville in the studio and working with artists in concert situations. Music theory can be very complicated and overwhelming, especially...

Every musical key on a harp has a major and a minor version assigned to it that either brightens or darkens the tone respectfully. Learn the difference between the major and minor keys on a harp...

Playing a D major scale on the saxophone is done by playing the octave key. Play this musical scale by listening to the tips from an experienced musician in this free video.

Playing a C major scale on the saxophone is done by playing the low C to start which takes large lung capacity. Play this musical scale by listening to the tips from an experienced musician in...

Playing a G major scale on the saxophone is done by playing the scale with both hands. Play this musical scale by listening to the tips from an experienced musician in this free video.

Playing an F major scale on the saxophone is done by playing the octave key. Play this musical scale by listening to the tips from an experienced musician in this free video.

Guitar scales can be played on several strings or one string by walking down the neck the whole way. Play a major guitar scale on a single string using tips from an experienced musician in this...

Guitar scales can be played on several strings or one string by walking down the neck the whole way. Play a major guitar scale on all six strings using tips from an experienced musician in this...

A major scale can be played in several places on a guitar fret board by simply playing the intervals in the order of whole, whole, half, whole, whole, whole, half. Form a major scale in any key...

A major scale can be played in several places on a guitar fret board by simply playing the intervals in the order of whole, whole, half, whole, whole, whole, half. Form a major scale in any key...

A major scale takes on several different shapes on a guitar and can be played in several places on a guitar fret board by simply playing the intervals in the order of whole, whole, half, whole,...

A major scale takes on several different shapes on a guitar and can be played in several places on a guitar fret board by simply playing the intervals in the order of whole, whole, half, whole,...

when playing the saxophone pentatonic scale of A, play a low C to embellish the scale. Play a major pentatonic scale in the key of A on the saxophone with lessons from a music teacher in this free...

Thirds play a significant role in the saxophone pentatonic scale of E. Play a major pentatonic scale in the key of E on the saxophone with lessons from a music teacher in this free video on...

The saxophone pentatonic scale of B requires complex fingering for the pinkie. Play a major pentatonic scale in the key of B on the saxophone with lessons from a music teacher in this free video...

Saxophone players can achieve a darker tonality by shifting from major to minor pentatonic scales. Play a major-to-minor pentatonic scale inversion on the saxophone with lessons from a music...

When playing the saxophone, try to use all four fingers in the pentatonic scale of F sharp. Play a major pentatonic scale in the key of F sharp on the saxophone with lessons from a music teacher...

The low and high notes of the saxophone pentatonic scale of B flat grab the attention of listeners. Play a major pentatonic scale in the key of B flat on the saxophone with lessons from a music...

The saxophone pentatonic scale of E flat can be played a number of different ways. Play a major pentatonic scale in the key of E flat on the saxophone with lessons from a music teacher in this...

The saxophone pentatonic scale of A flat includes a grace note to the major third. Play a major pentatonic scale in the key of A flat on the saxophone with lessons from a music teacher in this...

In saxophone playing, major pentatonic scales are a vast resource for melodies. Play major pentatonic scales in melody on the saxophone with lessons from a music teacher in this free video on...

Major pentatonic saxophone scales all have minor key equivalents that can be used for blues scales. Play major pentatonic blues scales on the saxophone with lessons from a music teacher in this...