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Key of D Major – Sunrise Blues

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Instructor
Jonny May
Course
Beginner
02:02:40

When you play a song in D major, it helps to know which notes and chords belong to the key, and this course teaches you exactly that. You’ll start with the D major scale in each hand, learning the fingering, how to cross your fingers over and under smoothly, and practice strategies for playing it evenly and quickly. Then you’ll expand it across every octave, so by the end you can play the D major scale all the way up and down the keyboard with both hands.

Next, you’ll learn the chords that come from the D major scale and play them in both hands. Then you’ll learn four of the most common chord progressions (chord patterns), so when you start playing real songs, you’ll recognize them right away. To bring it all together, you’ll learn a fun bluesy tune that uses the notes and chords from the course, along with the shuffle, a bouncy rhythm that makes the blues feel great.

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

Course Objectives
  • Play the D major scale in both hands across all octaves of the keyboard
  • Use effective fingering strategies for crossing over and under smoothly and quickly
  • Learn the diatonic chords in D major in both hands, plus four of the most common chord progressions
  • Play an original blues tune and learn the shuffle rhythm
  • 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!

Liked the bluesy chords
I found some of the two hand rhythms a challenge but go there in the end! Each of these Beginners Courses develop my playing abilities a little bit more!
Amazing blues
I loved the rhythm and the melody. I can play for hours
Extra learning andfuno
Love the extra tips and lessons not on pdf! Really enjoying practicing side step
Most challenging yet, and a lot fun.
Sunrise Blues with an adaptive walking bass was quite challenging. It tested my patience and my stubbornness to slow things down. A lot of fun. Glad I stuck it out.
D Major Fun
It was fun relearning the D scale. I also enjoyed the review of Diatonic chords and the simple chord progressions. Learning the inversions and applying them immediately was great! I loved the accompaniment groove 2, adding the 7th. Learning how this is done was fantastic. Thanks Jonny and Yannick for adding so much energy and fun to this course!!

Course Lessons

1
Key of D Major – Lesson 1
19:18

D Major Scale, Both Hands

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2
Key of D Major – Lesson 2
17:37

4 Common Chord Progressions

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3
Key of D Major – Lesson 3
25:28

Sunrise Blues, Melody & Lead Sheet, Left Hand Patterns

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4
Key of D Major – Lesson 4
23:23

Inversions, Primary Chord Progression, Sunrise Blues Application

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5
Key of D Major – Lesson 5
10:40

Performance with Backing Track

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6
Key of D Major – Lesson 6
26:14

Accompaniment

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Featured Reviews

View PWJ member reviews of this course!

Liked the bluesy chords
I found some of the two hand rhythms a challenge but go there in the end! Each of these Beginners Courses develop my playing abilities a little bit more!
Amazing blues
I loved the rhythm and the melody. I can play for hours
Extra learning andfuno
Love the extra tips and lessons not on pdf! Really enjoying practicing side step
Most challenging yet, and a lot fun.
Sunrise Blues with an adaptive walking bass was quite challenging. It tested my patience and my stubbornness to slow things down. A lot of fun. Glad I stuck it out.
D Major Fun
It was fun relearning the D scale. I also enjoyed the review of Diatonic chords and the simple chord progressions. Learning the inversions and applying them immediately was great! I loved the accompaniment groove 2, adding the 7th. Learning how this is done was fantastic. Thanks Jonny and Yannick for adding so much energy and fun to this course!!
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