Master Neo Soul Piano Chords and Progressions

When a Major triad combines with a Major 7th, the notation is Cmaj7 (capital 'M' for Major 7th). When a Major triad combines with a Minor 7th, the notation is C7 (called Dominant 7th chord). A Dominant 7th chord is constructed by adding a Minor 7th interval to a Major triad (C-E-G-Bb). This creates a chord with a Major 3rd and a Minor 7th, which is very common in jazz and pop music. When a Minor triad combines with a Minor 7th, the notation is Cm7 (lowercase 'm' for both). When a Diminished triad combines with a Minor 7th, the notation is Cdim7. A Half-Diminished 7th chord is constructed by adding a Minor 7th interval to a Diminished triad (C-Eb-Gb-Bb), notated as Cm7b5 or C7b5.

To build triads from a scale, take every other note (1-3-5). Major triads use: Root + 2 + 1/2. Minor triads use: Root + 1/2 + 2. For C major: C-E-G (major), D-F-A (minor), E-G-B (minor), F-A-C (major), G-B-D (major), A-C-E (minor), B-D-F (diminished). Seventh chords add tension: Major seventh (1-3-5-7), Minor seventh (1-Flat3-5-Flat7), Dominant seventh (1-3-5-Flat7), Half-diminished seventh (1-Flat3-Flat5-Flat7). The dominant chord (5th degree) creates tension that resolves to the tonic.

A Dominant 7th chord (Major Minor 7th) is constructed by stacking thirds: a Major 3rd (root to 3rd), a Perfect 5th (root to 5th), and a Minor 7th (root to 7th). The notes are 1-3-5-b7. For example, G Dominant 7th consists of G-B-D-F. The chord can be understood as a Major triad (1-3-5) plus a Minor 7th interval. Dominant 7th chords can be constructed by starting with a Major triad and adding a Minor 3rd above the 5th to create the 7th. The intervals are Major 3rd, Perfect 5th, and Minor 7th.

A major 7th chord has four notes: 1, 3, 5, and 7 from the major scale. A minor 7th chord has root, flat 3, 5, and flat 7. A dominant 7th chord has root, 3, 5, and flat 7 (similar to minor 7th but with a major third). All these chords relate to the major scale, with the key differences being whether the third and seventh are natural or flattened. Practice with a drum machine at comfortable speeds, gradually increasing tempo.

The four basic chord types use specific formulas: Major (1-3-5), Minor (1-b3-5), Diminished (1-b3-b5), and Augmented (1-3-#5). In any major key, the diatonic progression follows: I, IV, V are major chords; ii, iii, vi are minor chords; vii is diminished. For C major: C major (I), D minor (ii), E minor (iii), F major (IV), G major (V), A minor (vi), B diminished (vii). The blues progression uses only I, IV, V (C, F, G in C blues).

The II-V-I progression (two-five-one) is the most common chord progression in Western music. In C major: Dm7 (II) wants to go to G7 (V), and G7 wants to go to C major (I). This creates tension and resolution that listeners expect. Bach uses this progression multiple times throughout the Prelude, demonstrating how a single harmonic pattern can create an entire musical section.

ii-V-I progressions are fundamental to jazz harmony, consisting of three chords: the ii minor 7, V dominant 7, and I major 7. In C major, this is Dm7 - G7 - Cmaj7. Understanding comes from harmonizing the major scale with seventh chords, where lowercase numerals indicate minor chords and uppercase indicate major/dominant. Voice leading connects chord tones between progressions by moving to the nearest available tone, creating smooth melodic lines. This foundational knowledge enables musicians to understand chord relationships and navigate jazz harmony effectively.

The ii-V-I progression (e.g., Dm7-G7-Cmaj7) is a fundamental harmonic sequence in jazz. It creates a strong sense of movement and resolution, serving as a cornerstone of jazz harmony and improvisation.

Diatonic harmony provides systematic rules for how chords function within a key. In the key of C, there are three major chords (C, F, G) and three minor chords (D, E, A). The circle of fifths (moving left) and circle of fourths (moving right) arrange chords so each adjacent pair is a perfect fifth or fourth apart. To find major chords in any key, identify the tonic and 'lean to the left and right' on the circle. The dominant chord (chord five) is the next most important after the tonic, while the subdominant (chord four) holds equal significance. These relationships form the grammatical structure of Western tonal music.

This comprehensive lesson covers the essential fundamentals of keyboard playing. Begin by positioning your right hand with thumb on middle C and fingers on D, E, F, G, keeping fingers slightly bent and wrists relaxed but elevated. Practice playing single notes (C, D, E) using only the respective fingers while keeping other fingers still, avoiding awkward finger positions. Use the car pedal analogy (C as clutch, D as accelerator) to coordinate finger movements. Progress to playing F and G with ring and little fingers. Finally, practice smooth finger transitions between keys, walking fingers from one key to the next while maintaining even, slow playing. These foundational skills develop finger independence and control essential for all keyboard playing.

Keyboard technique rests on four fundamental pillars: (1) Natural Hand Position - hand rests naturally with fingers curved, wrist parallel to keys, elbow at 90 degrees, shoulders relaxed; (2) Closed Hand Position - fingers curl inward while maintaining key contact, creating slightly more difficulty; (3) Open Hand Position - fingers spread apart to play chords, requiring finger independence; (4) Jumping Technique - reaching for notes requiring the hand to leap between positions. Each position develops different aspects of finger independence and control, forming the foundation for all keyboard playing.

This comprehensive lesson covers essential keyboard technique fundamentals. The instructor emphasizes that proper finger positioning from the beginning prevents bad habits that are difficult to correct later. The lesson demonstrates how to play C major chord using fingers 1-3-5 (do-mi-sol) and explains why hiding fingers inside the hand is incorrect. Students learn to position all five fingers ready for use. The instructor then shows how to transition smoothly from C major to G major inverted (si-re-sol) using fingers 1-2-5, demonstrating that chord changes should involve minimal finger movement when notes are in close proximity. This foundational knowledge establishes the importance of ergonomic finger placement and efficient chord transitions.

Finger independence is a fundamental technique for keyboard playing, allowing each finger to move independently of others. The instructor demonstrates exercises that develop finger independence, showing how to practice moving individual fingers while keeping others stationary. This technique is essential for playing complex pieces and developing overall dexterity. The instructor emphasizes that finger independence requires dedicated practice.

This segment covers essential keyboard playing techniques including note transitions between keys (fa sostenido to re, then to mi menor), slide techniques (desliz) starting with do sostenido, octave playing using two keys simultaneously, and chord formation. The instructor demonstrates how to move between musical keys smoothly, execute slide effects for connected sounds, and play octaves for resonant tones. Key concepts include proper finger positioning, maintaining chord shapes during transitions, and creating smooth musical flow through deliberate note connections.