Physical Piano Keys:

 White keys = natural notes

 Black keys = # or ♭
 Natural notes start with C, then D, E, F, G, A, and B

Steps:

 Root = first note (lowest) in a given chord

 1 step = 2 piano keys from root (including black keys)
 ½ step = 1 piano key from root (including black keys)

Chords:

 Triads (3 notes):
o Major:
 Root + Major 3rd + Perfect 5th (1st step + 2 steps + 3 ½ steps)
o Minor:
 Root + Minor 3rd + Perfect 5th (1st step + 1 ½ steps + 3 ½ steps)
o Diminished 5th:
 The 5th step (3rd note in triad) is diminished by ½ step
o Augmented 5th (rarely used):
 The 5th step (3rd note in triad) is raised by ½ step
o Rule: The notes can only at most be a major 3rd (2 steps) apart and at least an minor 3rd
(1 ½ steps) apart.
 Following this rule, some chords, (either major or minor) cannot be played in
diminished or augmented 5th.
 Seventh Chords:

Keys:

 Major Key:
o 7 notes (4-3)
 First 3 notes: 1 step apart from each other
 Last 4 notes:
 Starts in ½ step from the first 3 notes
 1 step apart from each other
 Minor Key:
o 7 notes (2-3-2)
 First 2 notes: 1 step apart from each other
 Middle 3 notes:
 Starts in ½ step from the first 2 notes
  1 step apart from each other
 Last 2 notes:
 Starts in ½ step from the middle 3 notes
 1 step apart from each other
 Rule: All notes in a chord must fit within the key.
o Following this rule, only certain chords (either major, minor or diminished) can be
played in a given key.
 To simplify, for Major Key:
 Note 1, 4 and 5 are Major Chords
 Note 7 is a Diminished Chord
 The rest (note 2, 3 and 6) are Minor Chords
 And for Minor Key:
 Note 1, 4 and 5 are Minor Chords
 Note 2 is a Diminished Chord
 The rest (note 3, 6 and 7) are Major Chords

Chord Inversions:

 Usage: For smoother and better sounding progressions between different chords. Regular
chords are substituted with inverted chords.
 Degrees of Inversion:
o 1st inversion:
 The root note in a chord is transferred to the next octave
 In effect, the 2nd note is in the bottom; the root note is in the top
o 2 inversion:
nd

 The root note and 2nd note is transferred to the next octave
 In effect, the 3rd note is in the bottom; the 2nd note is in the top
o 3rd inversion:
 The root note, 2nd note, and 3rd note is transferred to the next octave
 In effect, the 4th note is in the bottom; the 3rd note is in the top
 Not applicable in Triads because they only have three notes