[1] Major, Minor & Modal Scales

Major scales make up melodies & chords. With the knowing of scales, one can use a simple technique to locate any chord. For example, if I knew that a C Major Scale consisted of eight notes: C - D - E - F - G - A - B - C, and that three of its notes make up a major chord, all I would have to know is which three notes out of the scale make up the chord.

By knowing the formula (or technique of forming a major chord) but not the scales, the formula is still useless. Thus, we stress learning all twelve major scales. Not only will you learn major scales, but natural minor scales along with a countless number of other music fundamentals.

[2] Major, Minor, Dominant, Diminished Chords  ... and Others

Do you know how to form a major chord? A minor chord? Diminished? Augmented? Major or Minor Sixth? Ninth? Eleventh? ... or Thirteenth Chord? As discussed above, chords come from scales! If you know your scales, with one extra step, it is very easy to learn absolutely any chord.

There are various ways of constructing chords. The "Secrets to Playing Piano By Ear" piano course covers several ways of learning chords including lessons on half step, whole step, & interval relationships, scale degree studies on terms like "subtonic," "subdominant," "mediant," and "dominant" scale tones, and lessons on altering chords. You will literally learn how to form over 300 chords and their inversions in virtually minutes. The course covers all of the following chords and topics:

Major Triads: see pgs 55-62.

Minor Triads: see pgs 92-96.

Major Seventh Chords: see pgs 137-141.

Minor Seventh Chords: pgs see 142-146.

Dominant Seventh Chords: see pgs 132-136.

Major Sixth Chords: see pgs 176-178.

Minor Sixth Chords: see pgs 179-181.

Diminished Seventh Chords: see pgs 167-172.

Half Diminished Seventh Chords / Minor Seventh with Lowered 5th Chords: see pgs 173-175 (I know it sounds confusing but you will learn the insider's secrets to dissecting these complex chords into easy-to-remember chords).

Major Ninth Chords: see pgs 194-196.

Minor Ninth Chords: see pgs 197-199.

Dominant Ninth Chords: see pgs 200-202.

Major Eleventh Chords: see pgs 216-217.

Minor Eleventh Chords: see pgs 220-221.

Dominant Eleventh Chords: see pgs 223-225.

Major Thirteenth Chords: see pgs 216-219.

Minor Thirteenth Chords: see pgs 220-222.

Dominant Thirteenth Chords: see pgs 223-225.

.... and tons of altered chords like ...

C7 (-9): see pgs 228-230.

D11 (+9): see pgs 231-232.

Bb13 (-9 +11): see pgs 231-234.

.... and over 20 more combinations! see pg 231.

[3] Music Theory

Are you familiar with the terms Aeolian mode, Phrygian mode, Tonic, and Submediant? How about major thirds, minor thirds, perfect fifths, octaves, unison intervals, minor sixths, major sevenths, and terms like that? These are just a few of the terms, principles, and theories you will learn in the home study piano course. The topics include:

Sight Reading Techniques: see pgs 16-31.

Techniques like "Circle of Fifths": see pgs 32-49.

Scale Degree Principles like Tonic, Supertonic, & Mediant scale names: see pgs 109-117.

Modal Theory such as Dorian, Phrygian, Lydian, Mixolydian ... and the list goes on! see pgs 80-82.

Chord Construction (Example: I Major Triad + ^bVii Major Triad = Dominant Eleventh Chord) ... learn tons of little tricks & secrets: see pgs 193-227.

Ear-Theory Principles & Techniques: see pgs 241-290.

Chord Family Principles ---- Dominant Preparation chords, Secondary Dominant and Diminished Chords: see pgs 115-125.

Harmonic Direction Principles: see pg 115.

Chord Inversions such as root, first, second, and third inversions: see pgs 50-64, 91-14, 131-146, 166-181.

Chord Alteration Principles: see pgs 228-240.

Chord Harmonization Principles: see pgs 241-254.

Upper & Lower Neighboring & passing tones: see pgs 252-254.

Chord Tone Recognition techniques & secrets: see pgs 252-254.

Listening Techniques (once you've learned a song): see pgs 255-290.

[4] Hymns

Our award winning four-step technique will take you through several hymns like “Amazing Grace,” "O Come, Let Us Adore Thee," "Joyful, Joyful, We Adore Thee" and more!

With the scale and chord techniques learned in "The Secrets to Playing Piano By Ear" study course, you will learn how to take the melody of a hymn and create chords to accompany it. This process has been used by thousands of our students with a countless number of hymns, choral arrangements, anthems, and more. The best part about these techniques is that they are universal --- which means that you can use them to play virtually any song you want ...

Step-by-Step Instructions

Sound files to accompany every song (over 300)

Both sight reading and ear training exercises for every hymn

Chord Alteration exercises

Listening techniques

[5] Chord Progressions

Do you know what a “2-5-1” or "3-6-2-5-1" progression is? Or perhaps the famous 12-bar blues chord progression? In this piano course, you will not only learn how to play gospel, blues, and jazz progressions, but how to recognize them in songs. In addition, you will learn the simple techniques to playing these progressions, hymns, and songs in all 12 major keys! ... Enjoy learning:

The famous "2-5-1" Chord Progression: see pgs 114-120, 153-156, 208, and 235-236.

I - IV - I - V - I Chord Progressions: see pgs 66-70.

I - IV - V - IV - I Chord Progressions: see pgs 77-78.

Techniques behind the famous "5-->1" progression: see pgs 68-72.

I --> IV,  I --> V Chord Progressions: see pgs 74-75.

"Circle of Fifths" Chord Exercises: see pg 78.

Major and Minor Chord Progressions: see pgs 105-130.

"6 - 2 - 5 - 1" Chord Progressions: see pgs 121-122 and 157-159.

"3 - 6 - 2 - 5 - 1" Chord Progressions: see pgs 122-123 and 160-162.

"7 - 3 - 6 - 2 - 5 - 1" Chord Progressions: see pgs 124-125, 190-191.

Gospel Chord Progressions ... ranging from "up-tempo praise" chord Progressions to "worship-oriented" chord progressions: see pgs 65-78, 105-130, 147-165, and 182-227.

Various Blues Progressions ... 12-bar, seventh chords, diminished chords ... and others: see pgs 163-165 and 192.

Jazz Chord Progressions ... using dominant ninth, eleventh and thirteenth chords: see pgs 193-240

Study the different types of Root Progressions --- closing, opening, circular and other types of progressions: see pgs 121-122.

Study how chord tones and scale degrees relate to each other [which chord progressions are most likely to be compatible]: see pgs 122-130.

Learn various "turn-around" progressions [used in gospel music]: see pg 213-214.

[6] Secrets Revealed

Not everyone knows these techniques. However, these are simple techniques & principles that anyone can learn and use. They are not complicated and can be learned in a matter of minutes! Learn the key principles to playing by ear and improvisation!