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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!

Gran ritmo.
Dominar el ritmo ha sido duro al principio y muy satisfactorio al final de la lección.
Major Fun
I really liked the accompaniment section of this one. Learning different rhythms and mixing them up yet using chords I had gotten use to. I like the structure a lot because I can get it up to speed in a relatively short amount of time. I am enjoying this a lot !!! Thank You.
Great fun and challenging
Really enjoyed this and the extension into chords like the diminished
I’m sounding jazzy!!
Very enjoyable and satisfying!! I want more!!
Informative
I liked the fact that I was introduced to new chords from the different scales in the minor key. I'm just wondering why the 2 and 6 don't have 2 chords each. D minor from the 2 chord as well as D diminished and Ab minor as well as Ab major on the 6 chord

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!

Gran ritmo.
Dominar el ritmo ha sido duro al principio y muy satisfactorio al final de la lección.
Major Fun
I really liked the accompaniment section of this one. Learning different rhythms and mixing them up yet using chords I had gotten use to. I like the structure a lot because I can get it up to speed in a relatively short amount of time. I am enjoying this a lot !!! Thank You.
Great fun and challenging
Really enjoyed this and the extension into chords like the diminished
I’m sounding jazzy!!
Very enjoyable and satisfying!! I want more!!
Informative
I liked the fact that I was introduced to new chords from the different scales in the minor key. I'm just wondering why the 2 and 6 don't have 2 chords each. D minor from the 2 chord as well as D diminished and Ab minor as well as Ab major on the 6 chord
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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