Lesson Goal: To internalize a variety of Major Triad Piano Patterns commonly used in all kinds of music… by ear, intellect, eye, and muscle…
Table of Contents
Study & Practice Tips…
- Never play these major triad piano patterns mindlessly and mechanically. Always aspire to play them musically.
- Your goal is not to merely memorize these patterns but to internalize them using all four musical intelligences: ears, intellect, eyes, and muscles.
- Every time you practice something, you are programming your brain. So always play accurately.
- Practice with a Click Track or a Rhythm Track. Doing so will give you immediate feedback on any rhythmic misconceptions or places where your timing gets sloppy.
- Record Yourself. Always. Listen to the playback immediately. And ask yourself: Is that what you intended to play?”
- If anything feels tense or awkward, stop immediately and experiment with alternative fingerings or choreography.
- Play these major triad piano patterns in all other keys you expect to play in. By the way, once you see the patterns (which is guaranteed if you know your scales and chords) finding the notes in other keys will be a piece of cake!
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Basic Block Major Triad Piano Pattern
Basic Block, C Major
One very simple, but musical way to establish the key center, tonality, and meter is the following Major Triad Piano Pattern (in the key of C Major): chord root in the left hand, block chord voicing in the right hand, played on all four beats in 4/4 time…
Frank’s rendition @ 132 beats per minute…
Don’t underestimate the challenge of playing even this simple pattern musically… with fluid technique and natural rhythm. (Success is 100% guaranteed if you diligently follow the Study & Practice Habits above!)
Basic Block, All Keys
Using your knowledge of scales and chords, play this basic block pattern in all major keys…
[If there’s enough interest, Frank will produce a downloadable score and MP3 play along tracks for the above.]
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“Oom-Pah, Oom-Pah”
“Oom-Pah, Oom-Pah”, C Major
A bread and butter major triad piano pattern that establishes a strong 4/4 rhythm in a major tonality…
Frank’s rendition @ 150 beats per minute…
“Oom-Pah, Oom-Pah”, All Keys
Using your knowledge of scales and chords, play the “Oom-Pah, Oom-Pah” pattern in all major keys…
[If there’s enough interest, Frank will produce a downloadable score and MP3 play along tracks for the above.]
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Alberti Bass
Alberti Bass, C Major
A classical way to outline the harmony in a 1-5-3-5 broken chord pattern while keeping the time flowing in relentless 1/8th notes…
Frank’s rendition @ 112 beats per minute…
Alberti Bass, All Keys
Using your knowledge of scales and chords, play the Alberti Bass in all major keys…
[If there’s enough interest, Frank will produce a downloadable score and MP3 play along tracks for the above.]
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Inversions
Inversions, C Major
Chord Inversions are a great way to start turning static chords into melodies… Here’s one possible rendition…
Frank’s rendition @ 100 beats per minute…
Inversions, All Keys
Using your knowledge of scales and chords, play hits major triad inversions pattern in all keys…
[If there’s enough interest, Frank will produce a downloadable score and MP3 play along tracks for the above.]
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Waltz
Waltz, C Major
The waltz pattern is all about three-ness in an oom-pah-pah, oom-pah-pah pattern…
Frank’s rendition @ 152 beats per minute…
Waltz, All Keys
Using your knowledge of scales and chords, play this Major Triad Waltz pattern in all keys…
[If there’s enough interest, Frank will produce a downloadable score and MP3 play along tracks for the above.]
back to… Table of Contents
Four-Part Harmony
Four-Part Harmony, C Major
Note the openness of this major triad chord voicing. Think of the four voices (top to bottom) as soprano, alto, tenor, and bass… just like a choir…
Frank’s rendition @ 96 beats per minute…
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Four-Part Harmony, All Keys
Using your knowledge of scales and chords, play this four-part harmony pattern in all major keys…
[If there’s enough interest, Frank will produce a downloadable score and MP3 play along tracks for the above.]
Two-Handed Triplet Arpeggios
Two-Handed Triplet Arpeggios, C Major
A great way to spread lots of major harmony across four octaves…
Frank’s renditions @ 66 beats per minute…
First, without sustain pedal…
Second, with sustain pedal…
Two-Handed Triplet Arpeggios, All Keys
Using your knowledge of scales and chords, play this two-handed triplet arpeggio pattern in all keys…
[If there’s enough interest, Frank will produce a downloadable score and MP3 play along tracks for the above.]
back to… Table of Contents
“1-5-10” Left Hand
“1-5-10” Left Hand, C Major
A nice way to outline the harmony and keep the time flowing in 3/4 time–great for accompanying ballads and hymns…
Frank’s rendition @ 76 beats per minute…
Regarding the Fingering: Frank prefers to use his middle finger on the g, but try using your index finger and see which feels more musical for you, both mentally and physically.
“1-5-10” Left Hand, All Keys
Using your knowledge of scales and chords, play the “1-5-10” left hand in all major keys…
[If there’s enough interest, Frank will produce a downloadable score and MP3 play along tracks for the above.]
back to… Table of Contents
Triplet Arpeggio (2 Octaves)
Triplet Arpeggio (2 Octaves), C Major
Frank’s rendition @ 90 beats per minute…
(Playing this with the sustain pedal isn’t cheating)
Triplet Arpeggio (2 Octaves), All Keys
Using your knowledge of scales and chords, play this triplet arpeggio in all major keys…
[If there’s enough interest, Frank will produce a downloadable score and MP3 play along tracks for the above.]
back to… Table of Contents
“1-5-8-10” Left Hand
“1-5-8-10” Left Hand, C Major
A nice way to outline the major harmony and keep the time flowing in triplets in 2/4 time–great for accompanying ballads and hymns…
Frank’s rendition @ 60 beats per minute…
“1-5-8-10” Left Hand, All Keys
Using your knowledge of scales and chords, play this 1-5-8-10 left hand in all major keys…
[If there’s enough interest, Frank will produce a downloadable score and MP3 play along tracks for the above.]
back to… Table of Contents
Stride Left Hand
Stride Left Hand, C Major
Try to capture the feeling of a bass playing on 1 and 3 and a guitar or banjo playing on 2 and 4…
Frank’s rendition @ 116 beats per minute…
Stride Left Hand, All Keys
Using your knowledge of scales and chords, play stride left hand patterns for all major triads, making sure to voice the chord in the middle register if the piano…
[If there’s enough interest, Frank will produce a downloadable score and MP3 play along tracks for the above.]
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learn more… Music Composition
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