Key of Bb Major - PWJ Avenue - Piano With Jonny

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Instructor

Jonny May

Course Type

Course

Skill Level

Beginner

Duration

01:43:58

Bb major is your first key that starts on a black key, and it’s a favorite of jazz musicians, horn players and singers. If you want to play songs or read chord charts in Bb, this course gives you everything you need. You’ll learn the Bb major scale in each hand, practical fingering strategies to make it feel natural, and how to play it up the keyboard across multiple octaves.

Next, you’ll learn the chords that belong to the key of Bb and the most common chord progressions (chord patterns) used in this key. Then comes the fun part: you’ll learn different ways to jam on these chords, so you can make music on your own, without sheet music. To bring it all together, you’ll learn PWJ Avenue, a fun original tune that uses the notes and chords from the course.

Once you’re comfortable, you’ll use inversions to make your chord changes sound smoother and apply them to PWJ Avenue. Then you’ll play the tune 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 Bb major scale in both hands across multiple octaves, using effective fingering strategies
Learn the diatonic chords and the most common chord progressions in Bb major
Explore different ways to jam and improvise on the chords in Bb
Apply inversions and smooth voice leading, then perform PWJ Avenue with a full backing track
Accompany a singer or instrumentalist using three chord grooves

Learning Focus

Chords
Groove
Lead Sheets
Scales
Songs

Featured Reviews

View PWJ member reviews of this course!

Glen Clark verified

Great ideas

The different grooves in the LH

Dragos Nica verified

Fun for first time

It grows slowly to the performance.

Mike DeMenno verified

Love Bb Major

Great progression, scale fingering, and songs.

Shauna Zink verified

Learned so much and getting confidence back

Love the style of learning and applying it musically and learning grooves and accompaniment

Bill Zoellick verified

Wonderful course!

First, I came to love the key of B flat. I have played in G Minor, a good bit, but never in B flat, and really like it. Also, I really enjoyed messing around with the inversions. Second, the song, PW J Ave., is a lot of fun to play. I will continue to work on it until I can get it up to the tempo of the accompanying track. Finally, I really enjoyed the accompaniment lesson. Swing is still a challenge for me and I thought the tips and instruction were really great.

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