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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 & Voicings
  • Groove
  • Lead Sheets
  • Scales
  • Songs

Featured Reviews

View PWJ member reviews of this course!

Simply great fun
As blues is one of my favourite style, I found that one as a pure enjoyment.
Keep working!
It remains funny, but i am feel myself improving!
Fun and explained well.
The chords are well explained well, including the dominant 7th chords. There are opportunities to improve by changing the rhythm occasionally. The side step by a semitone sounds great but is a challenge to play and will need some practice
Very exited with this course
I have learned a lot of techniques that I want to apply in my daily playing.
Fun Course on D Major Scale
I enjoyed the cool 12 bar blues tune while learning the D major scale. My favorite part was when Yannick showed how to spice up the accompaniment using dominant 7th chords and sidestepping. I'm looking forward to taking some of the blues courses here in the future.

Course Lessons

1
Key of D Major – Lesson 1
19:18

D Major Scale, Both Hands

2
Key of D Major – Lesson 2
17:37

4 Common Chord Progressions

3
Key of D Major – Lesson 3
25:28

Sunrise Blues, Melody & Lead Sheet, Left Hand Patterns

4
Key of D Major – Lesson 4
23:23

Inversions, Primary Chord Progression, Sunrise Blues Application

5
Key of D Major – Lesson 5
10:40

Performance with Backing Track

Featured Reviews

View PWJ member reviews of this course!

Simply great fun
As blues is one of my favourite style, I found that one as a pure enjoyment.
Keep working!
It remains funny, but i am feel myself improving!
Fun and explained well.
The chords are well explained well, including the dominant 7th chords. There are opportunities to improve by changing the rhythm occasionally. The side step by a semitone sounds great but is a challenge to play and will need some practice
Very exited with this course
I have learned a lot of techniques that I want to apply in my daily playing.
Fun Course on D Major Scale
I enjoyed the cool 12 bar blues tune while learning the D major scale. My favorite part was when Yannick showed how to spice up the accompaniment using dominant 7th chords and sidestepping. I'm looking forward to taking some of the blues courses here in the future.
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