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There's a simple trick for identifying triad inversions? When you see a 4th interval in a chord, the top note is often the root — that's the name of your triad. In this example, A-D-F reveals itself as a D minor triad once you apply this rule. Save this for your next practice session!
At least we know some things, AI would never be able to do. View this whole rap here: https://app.hoffmanacademy.com/lessons/piano/andante-b-section-right-hand/video/
If the circle of fifths confused you, this is another way to look at it. Go down a fifth, add a flat, and retain all previous flats.
C = 0 flats
F = 1 flat
Bb = 2 flats
Eb = 3 flats
and so on! Notice how F is a fifth down from C, and Bb a perfect fifth down from F. The pattern is the same as sharps, but the other direction.
Go to our profile to see our video on sharps!
If the Circle of Fifths felt confusing to you, this might help you look at it a different way.
Sharps are added one by one in intervals of fifths, going up by C.
C = 0 sharps
G = 1 sharp
D = 2 sharps
A = 3 sharps
and so on! Notice how C-G-D-A are all one fifth above the previous? The sharp you add is also one fifth apart.
For part 2, we'll explore how we add flats. Follow to see it!
A lot of piano students memorize things one note at a time. Instead, try chunking.
For E-flat: 3 keys, first one black, then 4 keys, first two black. That's it: 3, then 4. Say it out loud, even.
Try this trick on your own if you haven't yet! Follow for more tips!
Do you have a piano book?
We are training the brain as much as we are training the fingers. Music is a unique form of expression because it happens at a steady pace in real time. Therefore, we must train our brains and fingers to perform something slightly complex at a steady rate in real time.
In an era of sporadic dopamine hits from social media, it is one of the healthiest practices for our minds. Download our simplified Hanon exercises, start slow, and see how you progress.
Download with the link:
https://www.hoffmanacademy.com/store/sheet-music/hanon-exercises-1-10-simplified
A common question: why don't we just call it F? In a scale, we only use each letter once, if we can. This is an F # major scale, and therefore, we want to specify that it's E #, because we've raised the E, just like we've "raised" every other note in the scale, including F!
In sheet music as well, it depends on where the note came from. We may call it E # if it would normally be E, but the composer decided to raise the note to lead into F # perhaps. It can often be debated, but it is ultimately the composer's choice, and we live with it!
It's not as hard as you think! Can be as simple a speaking a mantra out loud as you play: "together, right, left..." and so on.
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One trick to remember the ledger line notes in both Treble and Bass clef: the three lines above and below the staff spell ACE from bottom to top. Watch the video for the visualization!