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Key of A Minor – Jonny Darko

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Instructor
Jonny May
Course
Beginner
01:36:17

Every major key has a darker partner, and A minor is the partner of C major.

Major keys tend to sound happy and bright, while minor keys sound darker and more emotional. A minor is the perfect first minor key to learn, because like C major, it uses only the white keys. In this course, you’ll learn the A minor scale in each hand, plus two variations that give minor music its unique flavor. You’ll hear how each one sounds a little different.

Next, you’ll learn the chords used most often in A minor and four common chord progressions (chord patterns) you’ll hear in real songs. Then you’ll bring it all together with Jonny Darko, a fun original tune with a playful nod to a certain movie.

Once you’re comfortable, you’ll learn inversions, which are different ways to play the same chord, and use them to make Jonny Darko sound smoother. Then you’ll play it along with a bass and drums backing track, so it feels like you’re playing in a band. Finally, you’ll learn simple ways to play chords for someone else to sing or play along to.

Course Objectives
  • Play the A natural, harmonic and melodic minor scales and understand how they differ
  • Learn the most common chords and four essential chord progressions in A minor
  • Use inversions and smooth voice leading to connect minor chords beautifully
  • Perform Jonny Darko along with a bass and drums backing track
  • Support a singer or instrumentalist with simple, effective accompaniment grooves
Learning Focus
  • Chords
  • Groove
  • Lead Sheets
  • Scales
  • Songs
Featured Reviews

View PWJ member reviews of this course!

This is a great resource for a start
Team PWJ you are doing great.
Difficult for a level 1
It was difficult for a level 1 player, but as soon as you get a hang of it, it is incredible fun and very nice songs.
Fun and challenging!
I'm really enjoying this course
Very interesting chord progression for a beginner lesson
I like playing catchy music out of the gate. These lessons have a nice balance between exercises, theory, and playing songs.
Great material but overwhelming
Was going along great until parts 4, 5, and 6 on new whole new chords and their inversions. I marked it as completed, but I’m still stuck there, plodding along. I’ll eventually get it, but as others said, it's pretty challenging for a beginner.

Course Lessons

1
Key of A Minor – Lesson 1
17:12

Natural, Harmonic, & Melodic Minor Scales

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2
Key of A Minor – Lesson 2
16:02

Common Chord Progressions, 4 Examples

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3
Key of A Minor – Lesson 3
26:04

Jonny Darko, Lead Sheet, Melody, Chords, Patterns

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4
Key of A Minor – Lesson 4
21:00

Inversions

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5
Key of A Minor – Lesson 5
6:34

Performance with Backing Track

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6
Key of A Minor – Lesson 6
9:25

Accompaniment

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Featured Reviews

View PWJ member reviews of this course!

This is a great resource for a start
Team PWJ you are doing great.
Difficult for a level 1
It was difficult for a level 1 player, but as soon as you get a hang of it, it is incredible fun and very nice songs.
Fun and challenging!
I'm really enjoying this course
Very interesting chord progression for a beginner lesson
I like playing catchy music out of the gate. These lessons have a nice balance between exercises, theory, and playing songs.
Great material but overwhelming
Was going along great until parts 4, 5, and 6 on new whole new chords and their inversions. I marked it as completed, but I’m still stuck there, plodding along. I’ll eventually get it, but as others said, it's pretty challenging for a beginner.
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