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Instructor
Jonny May
Course
Beginner
02:04:27

A major has a bright, open sound that’s perfect for rock and roll, country and pop. If you want to play songs or improvise in A major, this course gives you everything you need. You’ll start with the A major scale in each hand, learning the fingering and practice strategies for playing it smoothly, then expand it across multiple octaves in both hands.

Next, you’ll learn the chords that come from the A major scale, with the correct fingering for each chord and different ways to practice them so they feel natural under your hands. Then you’ll learn the most common chord progressions (chord patterns) in A major, the building blocks of countless songs. To bring it all together, you’ll learn Doing the PWJ Rock, a fun original rock and roll tune that puts everything from the course into action.

Once you’re comfortable, you’ll use inversions to make your chord changes sound smoother and apply them to Doing the PWJ Rock. Then you’ll play it along with a bass and drums backing track, so it feels like you’re in a classic rock and roll band. Finally, you’ll learn simple ways to play chords for someone else to sing or play along to.

Course Objectives
  • Play the A major scale in both hands across multiple octaves
  • Use practice strategies to play the scale smoothly and accurately
  • Learn the diatonic chords in A major with the correct fingering and practice methods
  • Learn the most common chord progressions in A major and play Doing the PWJ Rock, an original rock and roll tune
  • Apply inversions, perform with a full backing track and accompany other musicians
Learning Focus
  • Chords & Voicings
  • Groove
  • Lead Sheets
  • Scales
  • Songs

Featured Reviews

View PWJ member reviews of this course!

Backing Track with Organ Accompaniment Makes for Super Fun Blues Lesson!
This course includes a backing track with organ, which makes it sound really bluesy! The 12-bar blues is also a great format for the beginning level, because it can be internalized pretty easily. Great course!
A Major
Really enjoyed this course, love the "4 on the Floor" and rock beat. I was able to memorize it
Challenging!
Wow much harder… longer…. But it was the most fun🤪. Loved this melody the most!
Consistent Approach
Love that this consistent approach gives me the feeling I'm getting all the building blocks and not missing anything AND I feel prepared for the next layer of musicianship
Key of A
Again, I’ve learned a lot even though I played piano for many years. Thank you. Another good course.

Course Lessons

1
Key of A Major – Lesson 1
19:23

A Major Scale, Hands Separate & Together, 2 Octaves

2
Key of A Major – Lesson 2
18:54

Diatonic Chords, 4 Common Chord Progressions

3
Key of A Major – Lesson 3
33:06

A Major Song “Doin’ the PWJ Rock”, Melody, Chords, & Shuffle

4
Key of A Major – Lesson 4
22:42

Inversions, Primary Chord Progression, PWJ Rock Application

5
Key of A Major – Lesson 5
12:48

Performance with Backing Track

Featured Reviews

View PWJ member reviews of this course!

Backing Track with Organ Accompaniment Makes for Super Fun Blues Lesson!
This course includes a backing track with organ, which makes it sound really bluesy! The 12-bar blues is also a great format for the beginning level, because it can be internalized pretty easily. Great course!
A Major
Really enjoyed this course, love the "4 on the Floor" and rock beat. I was able to memorize it
Challenging!
Wow much harder… longer…. But it was the most fun🤪. Loved this melody the most!
Consistent Approach
Love that this consistent approach gives me the feeling I'm getting all the building blocks and not missing anything AND I feel prepared for the next layer of musicianship
Key of A
Again, I’ve learned a lot even though I played piano for many years. Thank you. Another good course.
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Explore the bright, cheerful key of G major, one of the most popular keys in music. You'll learn to play its scale smoothly up and down the keyboard and finish with a sweet original lullaby.

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