Piano Chords and Patterns Group Lesson

Can you spot the pattern?

Musical styles from around the world often have repeating chord and scale patterns that make them distinct. Most famous pieces include repeating musical ideas including repeating rhythms, chords and melodic sequences.

The Secret to Beethoven's Fifth

Recognizing patterns in the music not only helps you to sightread new music more easily but it also can help you improvise new melodies and pieces that mimic the same style of familiar songs.

Spain  

For example, many Spanish style pieces include this simple repeating walkdown chord progression.  It's easiest for me to think of the chords and how they relate to C major/a minor. Remember the G# when you play the E Major chord!

Listen to this sample Spanish Dance from Piano Pronto 2 to hear the Andalusian cadence. 

Explore more Spanish Music Characteristics on Leila Viss's Get Inspired Episode Musica Espanola or create your own Spanish composition using Chrissy Ricker's Free Spanish Style Composing Worksheet.

European Classic Dance

Minuet Pattern

Minuet sections often end with this arpeggio-like drop. How many times can you hear it in the following examples?

Minuet in G 116 from AMB

Minuet in F by Mozart

Minuet in C by Mozart K6

Add this minuet pattern to the last measure of your own Mozart Minuet Composition (Chrissy Ricker's Free Mozart Minuet Composition Worksheet).

Canon in D Famous Chords

Canon in D Chord Progression Songs

Intro - 1:00

Listen to Selected Examples 1:30 Hometown 1:52 Streets of London Memories 2:20

Learn About Variations - Sub Chords 3:03

Intriguing Sequences 6:24

United States

The famous Heart and Soul Chord progressions can be used to improvise in many different music styles.

American Blues

In this example by Forrest Kinney Heart and Soul chords are blended with a Bluesy scale pattern.

Pattern Improvisation Composition Assignment

Pattern Improv/Composition Free Printable Assignment Sheet - Latin, Blues, Canon, Minuet etc.

World Music Tour Scale Patterns Free Printable - Arabia, Egypt, Japan, Ireland, etc.

Related Posts

Check out these Get Inspired Episodes by Leila Viss to explore music from many different countries.

Episode 22 = Passport to Music #1-10: music from ten countries and/or cultures.

Episode 23 = Passport to Music #11-20: music from ten countries and/or cultures.

Episode 24 = Passport to Music #21-30: music from ten countries and/or cultures.