The piano tutor

11/03/2026

09/03/2026

88 keys. 88 days into the year. One instrument we all love. 🎹✨

This month, we’re counting down to World Piano Day! Celebrated on the 88th day of the year to match the keys on a full-sized piano, it’s the ultimate moment to honour the craftsmanship, the music, and the community that brings it all to life.

Throughout March, we’ll be celebrating all things Piano.

20/02/2026

On this day, 19th February, in 1981 the brilliant 2 Tone movement invaded not only the nation’s venues, charts, TV & radio, but also the nation’s cinemas as the awesome Dance Craze 2 tone concert movie received its world premiere! The Dance Craze movie was filmed & directed by Joe Massof in 1980 & was made up of scorching live footage of The Specials, Madness, The Beat, The Selecter, The Bodysnatchers & Bad Manners on tour across the UK. The film captured perfectly the sweaty intensity of live music at its brilliant best. The footage really made you feel like you were right there actually at the gigs you were watching on the screen, both onstage & dancing in the packed venues. No other live music film has done that better before or since!

11/02/2026

06/02/2026

Another good music session at HFT on Monday this week with the residents!

19/01/2026

Franz Liszt with his pupil, Bernhard Stavenhagen. London, April, 1886

22/10/2025

Chord Type

Chord Types are the different kinds of chords you can build from notes — each with its own sound, emotion, and purpose in music. 🎶

Let’s break it down simply 👇

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🎹 What a Chord Is

A chord is when three or more notes are played together.
Each chord type is formed by changing the intervals (distance between notes).

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🔹 Basic Chord Types

Chord Type Formula (from root) Example (C chord) Sound/Emotion

Major 1 – 3 – 5 C – E – G Happy, bright, stable
Minor 1 – ♭3 – 5 C – E♭ – G Sad, emotional, soft
Diminished 1 – ♭3 – ♭5 C – E♭ – G♭ Tense, unstable, suspenseful
Augmented 1 – 3 – ♯5 C – E – G♯ Dreamy, mysterious, floating
Sus2 1 – 2 – 5 C – D – G Open, airy, unresolved
Sus4 1 – 4 – 5 C – F – G Tense, expectant, waiting to resolve

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🎶 Extended Chords (for richer harmony)

Chord Type Formula Example Sound/Emotion

Major 7 (Maj7) 1 – 3 – 5 – 7 C – E – G – B Smooth, jazzy, calm
Minor 7 (m7) 1 – ♭3 – 5 – ♭7 C – E♭ – G – B♭ Soulful, moody
Dominant 7 (7) 1 – 3 – 5 – ♭7 C – E – G – B♭ Strong, bluesy tension
Half-Diminished (m7♭5) 1 – ♭3 – ♭5 – ♭7 C – E♭ – G♭ – B♭ Jazzy, mysterious
Diminished 7 (°7) 1 – ♭3 – ♭5 – ♭♭7 C – E♭ – G♭ – A Very tense, cinematic

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💡 Quick Tip

Every chord type changes the emotion of the same root note:

> C major = bright 😊
C minor = sad 😢
C7 = strong & bluesy 🎸
Cmaj7 = smooth & jazzy 🎷

14/10/2025

One of my pupils are offering a second hand piano for sale. Please contact me for details

10/10/2025

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Really Easy Piano Ed Sheeran Book, Ed Sheeran, Used; Good Book at the best online prices at eBay UK! Free delivery for many products!

09/10/2025

One of the great books I have for sale on eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Dip In 50 Graded Piano Solos Pf-Various at the best online prices at eBay UK! Free delivery for many products!