How to Play Keyboard - Tutorial 20 - The Magic Minor 7th

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In Tutorial 20 of the FREE How to Play Keyboard Series, you will discover a new note and expand your knowledge of left hand chords to include dominant and minor 7th chords.

The full tutorial is here. 
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​Interactive eBook 2 that contains the sheet music for this song is here.

The Song:
Danny Boy - A touching old Irish tune

The Skills:
In this song we expand our knowledge of LH chords to include dominant 7th and minor 7th chords.

Pop Song Demos:
Coming soon:
Return to Sender
Ruby, Don’t Take Your Love to Town 
Surfin’ USA

The Sheet Music:
In this tune we have D7, G7 and C7 chord symbols for the left hand indicating that we need to play dominant 7th chords. These chords include the minor 7th note which is found one tone, or 2 semitones or 2 half steps below the main or tonic chord note. So for a G7 chord the minor 7th is the F, D7 the minor 7th is C and for C7 the minor 7th is the Bb.

There is also a minor 7th chord in this song where we need to locate the minor 7th in the same way and add it to our minor chord. 

The following are the style and settings choices that I used in the video demonstration. As always, let your own creativity be your guide and develop an interpretation of this song that feels right for you.

Style: Old Folk Tune

Keyboard Settings:
Accompaniment: Slow Swing (055)
Tone/Instruments: Tenor Saxophone (152)
Tempo: 90

Arrangement:
Keyboard Intro: 4 bars
Verse 1: as written
Verse 2: as written with accompaniment variation
Ending: repeat last phrase and slow down

The story so far:
You can now add dominant 7th and minor 7th chords to the list of features that could be included in sheet music when you are looking for your own music or songs to play.

Remember your own music could also include the following from previous songs that we have learned:
Time signatures: 3/3, 4/4
Note range: B below middle C to upper E
Key: C major – no sharps or flats
Additional notation: ties, sharps, flats, repeat dots
Left hand chords: C F G C7 D7 G7 Am7  

Popular Songs:
I have located some lead sheets in the fake book that I am using as a reference for this course that are suitable for the skill level that we have developed so far.

Return to Sender (1962) – Otis Blackwell, Winfield Scott made famous by Elvis
Ruby, Don’t Take Your Love to Town (1966) – Mel Tillis made famous by Kenny Rogers
Surfin’ USA (1958) – Chuck Berry made famous by the Beach Boys

Perhaps these are songs that you would like to add to your repertoire?

Learning to play piano/keyboard is fast, easy and fun so it's never too late to realise your dream of being able to play your favourite music. 

Learn more about the How to Play Piano/Keyboard FREE courses here.
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OK – I’ve done my playing – now over to you.
Happy playing, from Joanne