Zebra Keys Lessons Section http://www.zebrakeys.com/lessons/ In the lessons section, you will find over 50 lessons that teach you how to play the piano. You can expect to learn how to improvise versions of your favorite tunes and even write your own songs! Lessons are available for difficulty levels from beginner to advance. If you have recently ventured into the world of piano playing, take a closer look through the preparation section, which is dedicated to helping you get started on basic piano playing concepts. If you are not a beginner, you will find that Zebra Keys teaches understanding of more complex piano concepts such as music theory. All of the lessons are accompanied by Flash animations, so a Flash 5 Player or higher is required to view certain parts. Remember to check back often for new lessons! Enjoy! Copyright 2006 Zebra Keys en-us webmaster@zebrakeys.com http://www.zebrakeys.com/images/zebrakeys_logo.gif ZebraKeys.com http://www.zebrakeys.com/lessons/ Preparation Beginner Intermediate Advance 1440 Lesson 7 - London Bridge is Falling Down http://www.zebrakeys.com/lessons/beginner/learnsongs/?id=7 I. Index
1.  Introduction
2.  Step 1: Playing the Right Hand Melody
3.  Step 2: Playing the Left Hand Chords
4.  Step 3: Playing Both Hands Together
5.  Conclusion


II. Content


1. Introduction
In this lesson you will play "London Bridge is Falling Down". You are going to follow these three steps:
  • Step 1: You will play the right hand melody line.
  • Step 2: You will play the left hand chords.
  • Step 3: You will play the right hand melody and left hand chords together.

2. Step 1: Playing the Right Hand Melody
Below is an animation of the right hand melody for "London Bridge is Falling Down". Go ahead and try to play this with your right hand.


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]]> Learn Songs Beginner Lessons http://www.zebrakeys.com/lessons/beginner/learnsongs/?id=7 Lesson 8 - Twinkle Twinkle Little Star http://www.zebrakeys.com/lessons/beginner/learnsongs/?id=8 I. Index
1.  Introduction
2.  Step 1: Playing the Right Hand Melody
3.  Step 2: Playing the Left Hand Chords
4.  Step 3: Playing Both Hands Together
5.  Conclusion


II. Content


1. Introduction
In this lesson you will play "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star". You are going to follow these three steps:
  • Step 1: You will play the right hand melody line.
  • Step 2: You will play the left hand chords.
  • Step 3: You will play the right hand melody and left hand chords together.

2. Step 1: Playing the Right Hand Melody
Below is an animation of the right hand melody for "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star". Go ahead and try to play this with your right hand.


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]]> Learn Songs Beginner Lessons http://www.zebrakeys.com/lessons/beginner/learnsongs/?id=8 Lesson 9 - Playing the Major Chord http://www.zebrakeys.com/lessons/beginner/chords/?id=9 I. Index
1.  Introduction
2.  Playing the Major Chord
3.  Major Chord in All 12 Keys
4.  Conclusion


II. Content


1. Introduction
In this lesson, you will learn about major chords. Major chords are basically three notes that are played together or nearly together. You can recognize a major chord when you hear it because it sounds happy. Major chords can be used to play literally 1000's of songs ranging from classical tunes to today's most popular hits.


2. Playing the Major Chord
Let's take a look at the major chord starting on C. This is also called the C major chord. In the animation below, the notes of the C major chord are first played separately, then together.


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]]> Chords Beginner Lessons http://www.zebrakeys.com/lessons/beginner/chords/?id=9 Lesson 10 - Three Primary Chords http://www.zebrakeys.com/lessons/beginner/chords/?id=10 I. Index
1.  Introduction
2.  Playing the I, IV, V Chords in the Key of C Major
3.  How Does the I, IV, V Chords Apply to Playing and Writing Songs
4.  Finding the I, IV, V Chords in All 12 Keys
5.  Conclusion


II. Content


1. Introduction
In this lesson, you will learn about three chords that can be used to play literally 1000's of songs. These three chords are sometimes called the "primary chords", or the "I, IV, V chords".


2. Playing the I, IV, V Chords in the Key of C Major
Every key has its own set of I, IV, V chords. Below is an illustration of a major scale in the key of C.


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]]> Chords Beginner Lessons http://www.zebrakeys.com/lessons/beginner/chords/?id=10 Lesson 11 - 12 Bar Blues Chord Progression http://www.zebrakeys.com/lessons/beginner/chords/?id=11 I. Index
1.  Introduction
2.  Explanation of the 12 Bar Blues Chord Progression
3.  Playing the 12 Bar Blues Chord Progression in the Key of C
4.  Playing the 12 Bar Blues Chord Progression in All 12 Keys
5.  Conclusion


II. Content


1. Introduction
In this lesson, you will learn about the chords used in the 12 bar blues chord progression. When you see a group of blues musicians play together, everyone magically seems to know what to play. This is because they are following the format of the 12 bar blues chord progression. The blues have been used as a basis for many types of music such as pop and rock.


2. Explanation of the 12 Bar Blues Chord Progression
Let's explain what the 12 bar blues chord progression refers to. 12 bar refers to the number of measures used in playing the blues. If you remember, another name for measures is bars. So in the blues, musicians just repeat these 12 measures or bars of music over and over again. Chord progression refers to the order in which chords are used in these 12 bars. In blues, the three primary chords are used. Below is the chord progression for the 12 bar blues.

1st four measures, or bars: I, I, I, I

2nd four measures, or bars: IV, IV, IV, IV

Last four measures, or bars: V, V, V, V


3. Playing the 12 Bar Blues Chord Progression in the Key of C
Let's take a look at the chord progression for the 12 bar blues chord progression in the key of C.

1st four measures, or bars: C, C, C, C

2nd four measures, or bars: F, F, F, F

Last four measures, or bars: G, G, G, G

Below is an animation of the chords used in the 12 bar blues chord progression in the key of C.


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]]> Chords Beginner Lessons http://www.zebrakeys.com/lessons/beginner/chords/?id=11 Lesson 12 - 12 Keys of Music http://www.zebrakeys.com/lessons/beginner/musictheory/?id=12 I. Index
1.  Introduction
2.  12 Possible Keys in Music
3.  How to Tell What Key a Particular Song is In
4.  Examples of Songs Played in Different Keys
5.  The 12 Keys of Music
6.  Conclusion


II. Content


1. Introduction
In music, the key identifies the tonal center or home base of a song. This tonal center or home base is a note that the whole song revolves around. Every note in the song wants to gravitate towards the home base note. For example, if a song is in the key of C, then every note in the song gravitates towards C. If a song is in the key of F, then every note would gravitate towards F.


2. 12 Possible Keys in Music
There are 12 possible keys any particular song can be played in. This is because of the 12 notes on the piano keyboard, A, A#/Bb, B, C, C#/Db, E, F, F#/Gb, G, G#, Ab, A, A#/Bb, and B. A song can be played so that any one of these twelve notes will be the tonal center or home base.


3. How to Tell What Key a Particular Song is In
There are several ways to tell what key a particular song is in. Let's take a look at three things that can help you determine the key of a song.
  • Key Signatures
  • What Melody Note a Song Ends On
  • What Chord a Song Ends On

Key Signatures

Key signatures can provide a clue as to what key a piece of music is written in. Key signatures tell you what sharps or flats will appear in a song. Key signatures appear directly after the clef signs. The number of sharps or flats in the key signature can give you a clue as to what key a song is in. For example, if a song has no sharps or flats in the key signature, the song may be in the key of C. If a song has one sharp in the key signature, it may be in the key of G. If a song has one flat in the key signature, it may be in the key of F. Below is a chart of key signatures and what key it may correspond to.


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]]> Music Theory Beginner Lessons http://www.zebrakeys.com/lessons/beginner/musictheory/?id=12