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Instructor
Jonny May
Course
Beginner
01:46:47

C minor is the key of Beethoven’s famous Fifth Symphony, with its stormy opening notes, but it also sounds great in jazz. This course covers all the essentials of C minor, and since it’s closely related to Eb major, many of the notes will feel familiar. You’ll learn the C minor scale plus two variations that give minor music its unique flavor, with the fingering for each hand and strategies for playing them smoothly and building speed.

Next, you’ll learn the 10 chords you’ll see most often in C minor and four of the most common chord progressions (chord patterns) in this key. Then you’ll bring it all together with Long Ago, a fun, jazzy original swing tune that shows off a cooler, more relaxed side of C minor.

Once you’re comfortable, you’ll use inversions to make your chord changes sound smoother and apply them to Long Ago. Then you’ll play it along with a bass and drums backing track, so it feels like you’re playing in a jazz club. Finally, you’ll learn simple ways to play chords for someone else to sing or play along to.

Course Objectives
  • Play C natural, harmonic and melodic minor in both hands with the correct fingering
  • Use practice strategies to play your scales smoothly and build speed
  • Learn the 10 most common chords and four of the most common chord progressions in C minor
  • Play Long Ago, an original jazz swing tune
  • Apply inversions, perform with a full backing track and accompany other musicians
Learning Focus
  • Chords
  • Groove
  • Lead Sheets
  • Scales
  • Songs

Featured Reviews

View PWJ member reviews of this course!

C Minor Scale course
Fun trying to create different rhythms and slight change in melody. I like to go back and review the common chord progressions and play a little bit of a melody with the right hand. I'm fumbling around but it's fun to experiment.
Driving the point home with each scale
Repetition of the process, scale, chords, progressions, tune and revisiting inversions locks in the ability to apply all to making music
Key of E flat
Again, a great course. I played piano for many years and learned something new again. Thank you.
Each lesson presents new challenges!
I learned a lot in this one!
Good course
I learned a lot.

Course Lessons

1
Key of C Minor – Lesson 1
19:54

Natural, Harmonic, & Melodic Minor

2
Key of C Minor – Lesson 2
26:14

4 Common Chord Progressions

3
Key of C Minor – Lesson 3
22:06

“Long Ago,” Melody, Chords, Swing Style

4
Key of C Minor – Lesson 4
18:06

Inversions, Primary Chord Progression, Long Ago Application

5
Key of C Minor – Lesson 5
9:33

Performance with Backing Track

Featured Reviews

View PWJ member reviews of this course!

C Minor Scale course
Fun trying to create different rhythms and slight change in melody. I like to go back and review the common chord progressions and play a little bit of a melody with the right hand. I'm fumbling around but it's fun to experiment.
Driving the point home with each scale
Repetition of the process, scale, chords, progressions, tune and revisiting inversions locks in the ability to apply all to making music
Key of E flat
Again, a great course. I played piano for many years and learned something new again. Thank you.
Each lesson presents new challenges!
I learned a lot in this one!
Good course
I learned a lot.
Related Courses

Get your groove on with the funky, bluesy side of G minor. You'll learn the scales and chords that make this key tick, then play and improvise over Flunkalicious, a funky blues original.

Master the key of C from scales to chords to progressions, then play a beautiful performance piece that brings it all together. It's a thorough, rewarding look at the most important key for every beginning pianist.

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