This book teaches chordal playing instead of scale playing. Chordal playing keeps more to the notes which make whichever chord is being played.
With two chords, G and Dm played with the first inversion, any scale can be played on a keyboard. Here is how to do it.
This drawing names all the notes on a staff, A to G.
The next drawing shows how the fingers can play the notes of a scale. It shows the numbers 1 to 4 of the fingers used to play two chords, G and Dm.
Notice that chord Dm crosses over to G after the third note.
Play the scale for the key of G by putting the thumb over note G and the other fingers over A, B, C D and E. That is a close fingering position. Play the scale of G.
Play the scale of D minor by putting the thumb over note D and the other fingers over E, F, G, A and B.
Play the scale for another key by starting with the thumb on the tonic note, the first note of that scale.
Practising scales helps to learn what each note sounds like, its pitch. Scales are good for instruments like saxophones, clarinets, violins and harps, which play one note at a time.
Notes played in most popular music belong to major or minor keys, both of which are called diatonic scales. Practise only major and minor scales while you learn from these two books.
Play the scale of C major pictured below. Start with thumb on note D and form the D position. Play note C then D with the thumb, finger 1. When you reach note G, cross over to the G postion. When you come back down the scale and reach note G again, cross back over to D position again.
