Author Archives: songtive

How to Use Compatible Chords and Scales to Expand Your Musical Ideas

Posted on March 30, 2024 by songtive

As musicians, songwriters, or producers, we are always seeking new ways to enhance our compositions. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned composer, understanding the relationship between chords and scales is essential for adding depth and richness to your music. This is where exploring compatible chords and scales becomes a game-changer.

In this guide, we’ll explore how to unlock the potential of compatible chords and scales using the Piano Companion app. We’ll walk you through the process of discovering new chord combinations and scales, helping you to expand your musical ideas and find new creative directions.

Why Chord and Scale Compatibility Matters

Understanding chord-scale compatibility can dramatically change how you approach songwriting. By knowing which chords are compatible with certain scales, you can create smoother transitions, richer harmonies, and more dynamic chord progressions that resonate with listeners.

For instance, have you ever hit a creative wall when composing a chord progression or melody? Maybe you’re working with a particular scale, and you’re unsure of which chords will work best with it. Or perhaps you’ve built a chord progression, but it sounds too repetitive or predictable. This is where using an app like Piano Companion can be invaluable. The app helps you explore compatible chords for any scale (or compatible scales for any chord) quickly, allowing you to discover new progressions and melodies.

Exploring Chord Progressions with Piano Companion

Let’s dive into how Piano Companion can help you explore and use compatible chords in your next project.

Step 1: Open the app and select a scale you’re working with. If you’re unsure which scale to use, try starting with something familiar like C Major or A Minor.
Step 2: In the app, you’ll see a list of compatible chords for that scale. These are chords that will sound harmonious when played in the context of that scale. For instance, in the C Major scale, compatible chords include C Major, D Minor, E Minor, F Major, G Major, A Minor, and B Diminished.
Step 3: From here, you can start experimenting with different chord progressions by selecting chords from this list. As you explore these compatible chords, you’ll begin to see how they work together to form a cohesive musical idea.

This step-by-step approach makes it easy for even a beginner to start experimenting with chord progressions. More advanced musicians will appreciate how Piano Companion can help them uncover new progressions and ideas that may not have been immediately obvious.

Experimenting with Compatible Scales

Once you’ve established your chord progression, the next step is to explore compatible scales. In many cases, sticking to a single scale can make your music feel limited or repetitive. However, exploring compatible scales opens up new melodic possibilities and gives your music more complexity.

Here’s how you can experiment with compatible scales in Piano Companion:

Step 1: After creating a chord progression, select one of the chords and explore the list of compatible scales for that chord. For example, if you’re working with an A Minor chord, you might find compatible scales such as A Minor Pentatonic, A Dorian, or E Phrygian.
Step 2: Try playing the progression in these scales. Notice how the mood and tone of the progression change depending on the scale. This opens up new creative directions for your melody or solo, especially if you’re trying to create a specific mood or emotion in your composition.
Step 3: Use the app’s playback feature to listen to how the progression sounds in different scales. The ability to hear the progression in real time can inspire you to find new melodic ideas or harmonic textures that fit your song’s overall feel.

This process is especially useful for improvisation and jazz musicians, as it encourages a deep exploration of harmonic and melodic possibilities.

Enhancing Your Compositions with Relative and Common Chords

One of the best features of Piano Companion is its ability to suggest relative chords and common chords that complement your progression.

Relative chords are those that share the same notes but have a different tonal center. For example, in the key of C Major, the relative minor is A Minor. These chords often blend seamlessly into each other, making them perfect for creating smooth, natural transitions within your progressions.

Common chords, on the other hand, are those that appear frequently within a particular scale or key. These chords are familiar to the ear and can be used to ground your composition while allowing for exploration of other less common chords.

By exploring both relative and common chords using Piano Companion, you’ll find new ways to structure your chord progressions, allowing you to create more interesting and compelling compositions.

Customizing Your Musical Ideas

Another powerful feature of Piano Companion is the ability to create and save custom chords and scales. This is particularly useful if you’re experimenting with unconventional or complex musical ideas that may not fit neatly into traditional scales or chord structures.

Once you’ve found the perfect set of compatible chords and scales, you can save them in your personal User Library for easy access later. This not only helps streamline your workflow but also allows you to build a personal library of unique progressions and musical ideas.

Conclusion: Expand Your Creativity

Exploring compatible chords and scales is a fantastic way to breathe new life into your compositions. Whether you’re looking to create smoother transitions, add harmonic richness, or simply experiment with new musical ideas, understanding these relationships will help you take your music to the next level.

With the help of Piano Companion, you can easily explore these possibilities and apply them directly to your songwriting, teaching, or practice sessions. From beginners to advanced musicians, the app offers the tools you need to discover new chord progressions, scales, and musical directions.

So why wait? Download Piano Companion today and start expanding your musical ideas with compatible chords and scales.

Enhance Your Compositions with Relative and Common Chords

Posted on by songtive

As a songwriter or music producer, you’re always looking for ways to add emotional depth and seamless transitions to your music. Whether you’re composing for the first time or polishing up an existing track, finding the right chords to convey emotion and mood is crucial. The Piano Companion app is a powerful tool designed to help musicians at any level achieve just that.

One of the most impactful ways to elevate your compositions is by understanding and using relative and common chords. These types of chords can make your chord progressions sound smoother, more cohesive, and emotionally resonant. In this blog, I’ll walk you through how to use the Chord Progression Builder in Piano Companion to harness the power of relative and common chords in your songwriting and production.

What Are Relative Chords?

Let’s start by breaking down what relative chords are. In music theory, a relative chord refers to a chord that shares the same key signature as another chord but provides a different tonal center. For example, the relative minor of a major chord shares all the same notes but starts on the sixth degree of the scale. In the key of C Major, the relative minor is A minor (Am).

Relative chords are essential in songwriting because they create movement and tension without straying too far from the harmonic home base. Think of them as your go-to tool for subtle but effective transitions that keep the listener engaged. And when you’re composing using Piano Companion, the app instantly suggests these relative chords for you, making the composition process much smoother.

How Relative Chords Create Emotional Transitions

Imagine you’re writing a song in the key of C major. You start with a basic C major chord, but after a few bars, you want to introduce a new emotional layer without dramatically changing the key. This is where you would naturally turn to A minor, the relative minor chord.

In many popular songs, this subtle shift can evoke a more introspective or melancholic feeling. Using Piano Companion’s Chord Progression Builder, you can quickly explore all possible relative chords for the key you’re working in. All you need to do is choose your base chord, and the app suggests the related chords, giving you plenty of options to experiment with.

What Are Common Chords?

Next, let’s talk about common chords. A common chord is a chord that acts as a bridge between two keys, making it incredibly useful when you want to modulate from one key to another without sounding abrupt. When moving between two keys, you can use a chord that is common to both to smooth the transition.

This is particularly useful in songwriting or music production when you want to introduce a key change but don’t want it to feel jarring. With Piano Companion, finding these common chords is a breeze, helping you maintain harmonic coherence throughout your composition.

Common Chords for Key Modulation

Let’s say you’re composing in the key of C major but want to transition smoothly into G major. Both C major and G major share the chord D minor (Dm), so you could use this as a common chord to guide your progression from one key to the next. A seamless modulation like this can add surprise and dynamic contrast to your composition while maintaining a sense of flow.

The Chord Progression Builder in Piano Companion makes this process even more intuitive by showing you which chords work as bridges between keys. This allows you to experiment with key changes that sound natural and effortless.

Using the Chord Progression Builder in Piano Companion

By now, you’re probably wondering how you can apply these relative and common chords in your own compositions. The good news is, Piano Companion simplifies this process. The Chord Progression Builder is a feature designed to help songwriters, producers, and musicians create smooth transitions and emotionally engaging progressions using relative and common chords.

Step-by-Step: Creating a Progression with Relative and Common Chords

Select Your Key: Start by choosing your desired key in the Chord Progression Builder. For this example, let’s use C major.
Choose Your Base Chord: After selecting the key, pick your starting chord—let’s say C major.
Explore Relative Chords: Now that your base chord is set, use the suggestions in the app to explore relative chords, like A minor. Play around with how these minor chords add a different mood to your progression.
Use Common Chords for Modulation: If you want to change keys, the app will also suggest common chords that can be used to modulate. For instance, transitioning from C major to G major could involve using the D minor chord as a bridge.
Fine-Tune Your Progression: Experiment with these suggestions until you find a chord sequence that feels right. You can also adjust the tempo and rhythm of the progression to match the emotional tone of your piece.

With these simple steps, you’ll be able to create compelling chord progressions that flow smoothly from one emotional landscape to another. This is particularly helpful for producers and songwriters who want to create tracks that keep the listener engaged from start to finish.

Why Relative and Common Chords Matter in Modern Songwriting

So why focus on relative and common chords? The answer lies in their ability to enhance the emotional journey of your music. These chords are the unsung heroes behind many hit songs, subtly guiding listeners through different emotional states without them even realizing it.

For example, listen to some of your favorite songs, and you’ll likely notice that many of them transition smoothly from major to minor, or from one key to another, using these exact principles. By incorporating relative and common chords into your songwriting, you’re building a toolbox of techniques that will make your compositions feel more polished and professional.

Examples of Songs Using Relative and Common Chords

To give you an idea of how powerful these chords can be, let’s look at a few examples from popular music:

“Let It Be” by The Beatles: This song uses the relative minor (A minor) in the key of C major to create a sense of resolution and calm.
“Someone Like You” by Adele: The progression here modulates between different keys using common chords, creating the dynamic emotional shifts that make the song so impactful.
“Hallelujah” by Leonard Cohen: This song features a beautifully crafted progression that leverages relative minor chords to create a haunting yet uplifting feel.

In each of these examples, the songwriters have used relative and common chords to build an emotional arc that resonates deeply with listeners. And with Piano Companion, you have the same tools at your fingertips to do the same in your music.

Conclusion: Unlock Your Full Creative Potential

As a songwriter or producer, the ability to move seamlessly between chords and keys is a game-changer. Relative and common chords provide the building blocks for creating emotional depth and fluidity in your compositions, allowing you to guide your listeners on a captivating musical journey.

Whether you’re just starting out or are a seasoned pro, Piano Companion is the perfect tool to help you explore these possibilities. With features like the Chord Progression Builder, you’ll have everything you need to craft smoother transitions, experiment with modulations, and create emotionally resonant music. Ready to take your songwriting to the next level? Try Piano Companion today!

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The Best Piano Chord Progressions for Christmas Songs

Posted on December 23, 2023 by songtive

As the festive season approaches, there’s nothing quite like the warm, nostalgic sounds of holiday piano music filling the air. Whether you’re a seasoned musician or a beginner just starting to explore the world of piano, Christmas songs offer an excellent opportunity to experiment with beautiful, timeless Christmas chord progressions that resonate with everyone.

But how do you find the perfect festive chord progressions to give your music that magical holiday touch? Whether you’re composing your own Christmas tunes or recreating the classics, understanding the piano scales for Christmas songs can make a big difference in how your music sounds and feels.

This is where the Piano Companion app comes in. It’s an invaluable tool for songwriters, producers, and musicians who want to create or play festive music. With its robust chord progression builder and reverse chord lookup features, it helps you find the right chords and scales for any holiday song. If you’re unsure of how to make your Christmas piano music stand out, this app will help guide you.

Why Christmas Songs Resonate So Deeply

Christmas music has a unique ability to evoke emotion. A big reason for this is the use of specific Christmas chord progressions that create a sense of warmth and joy. Many of the most popular holiday songs incorporate simple yet powerful progressions that are easy to play and instantly recognizable.

For example, classics like “Silent Night” or “Jingle Bells” are built on foundational chord progressions that anyone can learn. These familiar patterns allow musicians to connect deeply with the listener, invoking feelings of nostalgia and holiday cheer. This is why mastering the art of festive chord progressions can elevate your holiday music and make it truly memorable.

Essential Chord Progressions for Christmas Songs

Let’s dive into some common Christmas chord progressions that are used in holiday music. These progressions are versatile and can be used to create a variety of festive piano arrangements. By practicing these progressions and experimenting with them using the Piano Companion app, you can master the art of holiday piano music.

1. The I-IV-V Progression

The I-IV-V progression is one of the most common progressions in music, and it’s widely used in Christmas songs. This progression involves the first (I), fourth (IV), and fifth (V) chords of the scale. For example, in the key of C Major, the progression would be:

C Major (I)
F Major (IV)
G Major (V)

Many holiday classics like “Jingle Bells” are based on this simple yet powerful progression. Its upbeat and familiar sound makes it perfect for festive music. Try using the Piano Companion app to experiment with this progression in different keys and find the right feel for your music.

2. The I-V-vi-IV Progression

This is one of the most popular chord progressions in contemporary music and works well for modern holiday songs. The progression is:

C Major (I)
G Major (V)
A Minor (vi)
F Major (IV)

This progression gives a more emotional and reflective tone, perfect for songs like “All I Want for Christmas Is You.” The minor chord (vi) adds a sense of longing or wistfulness, which is often found in more modern holiday music. Use the Piano Companion app to easily find compatible chords for any scale you choose, ensuring your progression flows smoothly.

3. The vi-IV-I-V Progression

Similar to the I-V-vi-IV, this progression starts on the vi chord, creating an instant emotional pull. It’s frequently used in holiday ballads and more reflective Christmas songs. In the key of C Major, it looks like this:

A Minor (vi)
F Major (IV)
C Major (I)
G Major (V)

It’s a great progression for slower, more introspective holiday songs. Tracks like “Last Christmas” by Wham! use variations of this progression. You can experiment with this using the Piano Companion app to practice Christmas chord progressions and find the right mood for your music.

4. The I-vi-ii-V Progression

Another classic progression that’s common in both jazz and holiday music, the I-vi-ii-V progression provides a smooth, jazzy feel to your holiday piano music. In the key of C Major, it would look like this:

C Major (I)
A Minor (vi)
D Minor (ii)
G Major (V)

This progression is used in Christmas songs that have a swing or jazz feel, like “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.” It has a warm, inviting sound, perfect for cozy holiday evenings. With the Piano Companion app, you can explore variations of this progression and experiment with new scales and chords to make it your own.

Adding Your Own Festive Spin

Once you’ve mastered these progressions, you can start to play around with different scales and add your personal flair to holiday music. This is where the Piano Companion app shines. It allows you to experiment with piano scales for Christmas songs and create custom chord progressions that give your compositions a unique sound.

For example, try incorporating a minor scale to give your Christmas song a more reflective or melancholic tone, or use a blues scale for a jazzy holiday track. The Piano Companion app lets you easily explore these options and even create custom scales and chords to suit your music.

Tips for Practicing Christmas Piano Music

Here are a few tips to help you get the most out of your practice sessions when learning Christmas chord progressions and holiday music:

Start slow: Begin by playing each chord progression at a slow tempo. Focus on getting the transitions between chords smooth and natural before increasing the speed.
Practice with a metronome: Use a metronome to stay in time as you play through the progressions. This is especially helpful if you plan to perform the songs.
Use the Piano Companion app: The app will not only help you find the right chords and scales, but you can also practice listening to how they sound. You can play the chords in a loop or arpeggiated to get a feel for them.
Experiment with dynamics: Add variation in your playing by experimenting with dynamics. Play some chords softly and others more powerfully to create contrast and emotion in your music.

Bringing It All Together

The beauty of Christmas chord progressions lies in their simplicity and emotional impact. With a little practice and experimentation, you can master the art of holiday piano music and create timeless pieces that capture the spirit of the season.

Whether you’re playing for family gatherings, recording your own Christmas music, or simply enjoying the process of learning, the Piano Companion app is your perfect companion for exploring new musical possibilities. Dive into the world of festive chord progressions and make this holiday season your most musical one yet!

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Mastering Songwriting with Piano Companion: How to Build Chord Progressions Effortlessly

Posted on November 30, 2023 by songtive

As a songwriter, finding the right chord progression can often feel like striking gold. Whether you’re working on a new track or refining an old idea, chord progressions are the backbone of any song. In this guide, we will show you how to use the powerful Piano Companion Chord Progression Builder to craft captivating chord sequences that make your music truly stand out.

Why Chord Progressions Matter in Songwriting

Chord progressions are essential to setting the mood and tone of your song. A well-chosen chord sequence can invoke emotions, create tension, and drive the overall flow of the composition. Understanding the theory behind these progressions is where Piano Companion becomes an indispensable tool for songwriters.

Step 1: Getting Started with Piano Companion’s Chord Progression Builder

The Chord Progression Builder in Piano Companion allows you to effortlessly create and experiment with different progressions. To begin, open the app and navigate to the Chord Progression Builder.

Once you’re in the builder, select your key. If you’re not sure which key to start with, try using the Circle of Fifths feature in Piano Companion to identify which key matches the mood you want to convey in your song.

Step 2: Experiment with Common Chord Patterns

Songwriters often rely on popular chord patterns that have stood the test of time. For example, the I-IV-V progression is a classic that has been used across multiple genres. Using Piano Companion, you can easily explore and customize common progressions like:

I-IV-V (Major Key)
ii-V-I (Jazz Standard)
vi-IV-I-V (Pop Progression)
I-V-vi-IV (Pop/Rock Progression)

Each of these chord progressions brings a unique flavor to your songwriting. By experimenting with these within the app, you can find what best fits your musical vision.

Step 3: Add Your Personal Touch

The magic of songwriting happens when you add your unique twist to traditional progressions. Piano Companion allows you to modify any chord progression by adding relative chords, substituting chords, or even using custom scales.

Want to add tension before resolving your progression? Try experimenting with diminished or augmented chords. Or if you’re aiming for something more melancholic, swap a major chord with a minor one to create a moody feel.

Step 4: Use the Playback Feature to Hear Your Progressions

As you build your progression, use the playback feature in Piano Companion to listen to how it sounds. This feature is particularly helpful for songwriters who want to hear the progression played either in a loop or arpeggiated mode.

You can experiment by adding different instruments in your DAW later, but this initial listen-through helps you ensure that your progression flows well before you move on to more complex arrangement tasks.

Step 5: Save and Reuse Your Progressions

Once you’ve created a progression you love, you can save it to your library for future projects. Piano Companion makes it easy to revisit and refine previous progressions, which is great when you’re stuck in a creative block and need inspiration from past work.

Conclusion

Crafting chord progressions doesn’t have to be intimidating or time-consuming. With the help of Piano Companion, you can streamline the process, experiment with new sounds, and add personal flair to your music. Whether you’re a seasoned songwriter or just starting out, using this powerful tool will open up new creative possibilities for your compositions.

Ready to master your chord progressions? Try Piano Companion today!

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The Most Common Cadences Every Producer Should Know

Posted on November 1, 2023 by songtive

Music is built on patterns and resolutions, and cadences are at the heart of these resolutions. Whether you’re a budding songwriter or an established producer, understanding cadences is essential to making your compositions flow naturally and creating emotional impact. In this post, we’ll dive deep into the most common cadences every producer should know, how they can elevate your tracks, and how tools like Piano Companion can help you master them.

What is a Cadence in Music?

In music theory, a cadence is a sequence of chords that concludes a phrase, section, or piece of music. It can be compared to punctuation in a sentence — sometimes it offers finality (like a period), and other times it leaves things open-ended (like a comma or question mark). The type of cadence you choose can drastically affect the emotional feel of your music.

For a music producer, understanding cadences means having more control over how a song feels at crucial moments. Whether you’re aiming for a conclusive ending or a tense transition, knowing your cadences will enable you to produce tracks that feel polished and intentional.

Why Cadences Matter to Producers

As a producer, you already know that creating effective chord progressions is a huge part of producing a great track. But without the right cadence to wrap up or transition a musical phrase, even the best chord progression can fall flat. The cadence is where the resolution happens. It’s the final brushstroke that gives a phrase its meaning.

To help you get started, let’s explore the most common cadences used in music, and how you can practice and integrate them into your tracks using the Piano Companion app.

1. Perfect Cadence (Authentic Cadence)

The perfect cadence, also known as the authentic cadence, is the most conclusive and satisfying of all cadences. It occurs when the dominant chord (V) resolves to the tonic chord (I). This cadence gives a sense of finality and is commonly used at the end of a piece or section to signal a definitive conclusion.

Why Producers Should Use It: If you’re looking to end a section or track on a high, resolved note, the perfect cadence is your go-to. It provides that clear, undeniable closure that listeners love.

How to Practice in Piano Companion: Using the Piano Companion app’s chord progression builder, try building chord sequences that end with a V-I progression in different keys. The app can play back the progression in loop mode so you can internalize the sound of the perfect cadence in various contexts.

2. Plagal Cadence

The plagal cadence occurs when the subdominant chord (IV) resolves to the tonic chord (I). This cadence is often referred to as the “Amen” cadence because it is frequently used at the end of hymns. While it doesn’t have the same level of finality as the perfect cadence, it still offers a sense of resolution but with a softer, less forceful sound.

Why Producers Should Use It: The plagal cadence is great for creating a sense of conclusion without the dramatic effect of a perfect cadence. If you’re working on a track that needs to wind down gently, this is the cadence to use.

How to Practice in Piano Companion: Set up a IV-I progression using the Piano Companion’s chord library. Experiment with different inversions to see how it affects the feel of the cadence. The reverse mode in the app can help you explore various ways to voice these chords using your MIDI keyboard.

3. Imperfect Cadence (Half Cadence)

The imperfect cadence, also called the half cadence, is an unfinished-sounding cadence that ends on the dominant chord (V). It leaves the listener expecting more and is often used in the middle of a phrase or section to create tension and anticipation.

Why Producers Should Use It: If you want to keep your listener on edge, the imperfect cadence is perfect for adding suspense. It’s great for building tension before launching into the next part of your track.

How to Practice in Piano Companion: Use the Piano Companion to explore V chords in different scales and practice resolving into them. The chord progression builder allows you to construct longer sequences that end with an imperfect cadence, helping you understand how to use this tension-building tool effectively.

4. Deceptive Cadence

The deceptive cadence occurs when the dominant chord (V) resolves to a chord other than the tonic, typically the submediant chord (vi in a major key). This cadence surprises the listener because it subverts the expectation of a resolution back to the tonic chord.

Why Producers Should Use It: The deceptive cadence is a powerful tool for keeping your listeners on their toes. If you want to avoid predictability and add an element of surprise to your chord progressions, this is the cadence to use.

How to Practice in Piano Companion: Build a deceptive cadence by resolving a V chord to a vi chord in the Piano Companion app. Use the arpeggio feature to hear how this cadence sounds broken up and then as a full chord.

5. Phrygian Cadence

The Phrygian cadence is a type of half cadence that occurs in minor keys. It happens when the subdominant chord (iv) resolves to the dominant chord (V). This cadence is commonly used in classical and Spanish music, giving it an exotic, unresolved feel.

Why Producers Should Use It: If you’re producing tracks with darker or more complex emotional tones, the Phrygian cadence can add a unique flair to your music. It offers a sense of tension and an air of mystery.

How to Practice in Piano Companion: In the Piano Companion app, practice resolving from the iv to the V chord in minor scales. Experiment with different keys using the Circle of Fifths feature to see how this cadence feels across the board.

How to Incorporate Cadences in Your Productions

Now that you have a solid understanding of the most common cadences, how do you go about using them effectively in your music? Here are a few tips:

Experiment with Progressions: Don’t limit yourself to just one type of cadence in a track. Mix and match cadences within different sections of your song to create dynamic shifts.
Use Cadences for Transitions: Cadences are great for transitioning between verses, choruses, and bridges. They can smooth over changes in mood and key.
Loop and Practice: Use the Piano Companion’s loop function to practice cadences in various keys and progressions. Hearing them repeatedly will help you internalize the sound and use them more effectively in your tracks.

Conclusion: Elevate Your Music with Cadences

Cadences are a crucial element of music theory that every producer should know. Whether you’re aiming for resolution or tension, cadences give your music the structure and emotional impact it needs to resonate with listeners. With the help of tools like the <

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Top 5 Patriotic Chord Progressions to Try This 4th of July with Piano Companion

Posted on July 4, 2023 by songtive

The 4th of July is a time for celebration, reflection, and music that captures the spirit of independence. Whether you’re a pianist, a songwriter, or a producer looking to infuse some patriotic flair into your music, Piano Companion can help you create unforgettable chord progressions that resonate with the American spirit. In this post, we’ll explore five patriotic chord progressions that are perfect for your 4th of July piano music.

Why Patriotic Music and Chord Progressions Matter

Music has always played a significant role in defining historical moments, and Independence Day is no exception. From military marches to modern anthems, the right chord progression can evoke a strong sense of pride and unity. Patriotic chord progressions tend to be uplifting, bold, and sometimes nostalgic, making them perfect for commemorating the birth of a nation. If you’re ready to compose your own piece or arrange a classic tune for the 4th of July, Piano Companion is the perfect tool to explore and experiment with these musical ideas.

1. The Classic I-IV-V Progression

You can’t get more iconic than the I-IV-V chord progression. This progression is the foundation of countless songs and creates a sense of resolution and completeness. In a patriotic context, this chord progression can take on a majestic and heroic feel, perfect for 4th of July piano music.

In the key of C Major, the I-IV-V progression would be: C – F – G. It’s simple, but incredibly effective. You can find this progression in many patriotic songs such as “The Star-Spangled Banner” or “America the Beautiful.”

Here’s how you can create this progression using Piano Companion. With the app’s Chord Progression Builder, simply select C Major, then choose the IV (F) and V (G) chords. You can listen to the progression in either a loop or arpeggiated form to decide what works best for your composition.

Why It Works:

The I-IV-V progression is all about strength and unity, making it ideal for patriotic themes. It’s easy to play, and even beginners can use this progression to create inspiring piano music. For songwriters and producers, this progression is a go-to for creating a bold and memorable melody.

2. The I-V-vi-IV Progression (Heartfelt Patriotism)

If you want to evoke a more emotional, heartfelt feeling in your 4th of July piano music, the I-V-vi-IV progression is a great option. This progression is popular in pop and rock music, and it brings a mix of resolution and tension, which can feel both uplifting and emotional.

In the key of G Major, this progression would be: G – D – Em – C. This combination gives you a bit of that heroic vibe from the I-V, with the added emotion of the vi chord (Em in this case).

Using Piano Companion, you can easily build this progression in the Chord Progression Builder. Select G Major as the key, and then choose the V (D), vi (Em), and IV (C) chords. The app’s playback feature allows you to experiment with different voicings and rhythms.

Why It Works:

This progression is a favorite for evoking deep emotional responses. It’s used in some of the most memorable songs in pop culture, and for 4th of July music, it can help to create a sense of personal reflection and heartfelt patriotism.

3. The vi-IV-I-V Progression (Anthemic and Uplifting)

The vi-IV-I-V progression is another classic that has been featured in many anthems. This progression starts with the minor vi chord, giving it an introspective and emotional quality before resolving into a major, uplifting sound. It’s perfect for creating 4th of July piano music that feels both personal and grand.

In the key of A Major, the vi-IV-I-V progression would be: F#m – D – A – E. The progression moves through the minor and major chords in a way that feels epic and uplifting—perfect for a patriotic anthem.

With Piano Companion, you can create this chord progression effortlessly. Use the Chord Progression Builder to select A Major, and then build the vi (F#m), IV (D), I (A), and V (E) chords. You can adjust the rhythm and tempo within the app to match the mood you’re aiming for.

Why It Works:

The vi-IV-I-V progression is anthemic in nature, making it ideal for songs meant to inspire pride and unity. Its emotional rise and fall mirrors the journey of struggle and triumph, much like the American Revolution itself.

4. The ii-V-I Progression (Classic and Jazzy)

For a more sophisticated, jazzy take on patriotic music, consider the ii-V-I progression. This progression is a staple in jazz and can add a bit of complexity to your 4th of July piano music while still feeling rooted in tradition.

In the key of F Major, the ii-V-I progression would be: Gm – C – F. This progression creates a smooth, satisfying resolution, and its flexibility allows you to add your own improvisational flair.

Using Piano Companion, you can easily explore this progression in any key. Start with the ii (Gm), then move to the V (C), and finally resolve on the I (F). The app also allows you to experiment with different scales and modes to add some variety to your chord voicings.

Why It Works:

The ii-V-I progression is both classic and timeless. It’s been used in countless jazz standards and has a smooth, elegant quality. For Independence Day, this progression can give your music a sense of class while maintaining the emotional weight of patriotic music.

5. The I-vi-IV-V Progression (Timeless and Versatile)

The I-vi-IV-V progression is one of the most versatile progressions in all of music. It has been used in everything from classical to pop music, and it gives a timeless feel to any song. This progression can work well for your 4th of July piano music because of its balance of major and minor chords, creating a nostalgic yet forward-moving sound.

In the key of C Major, the I-vi-IV-V progression would be: C – Am – F – G. This progression is easy to play, and with the right rhythm and dynamics, it can sound grand and majestic.

With Piano Companion, building this progression is a breeze. Select C Major in the Chord Progression Builder, then choose the vi (Am), IV (F), and V (G) chords. You can also use the app’s reverse mode to find alternative chord suggestions to add some variation.

Why It Works:

The I-vi-IV-V progression is timeless and familiar, which makes it great for creating singable, memorable melodies. It has been featured in many patriotic songs and can easily be adapted to fit any style, from classical piano to modern pop arrangements.

Tips for Experimenting with Chord Progressions in Piano Companion

One of the most powerful features of Piano Companion is its flexibility. As you experiment with different chord progressions, keep the following tips in mind:

Use the Reverse Mode: If you have a melody in mind but aren’t sure what chords to use, you can use the reverse mode to find compatible chords by entering the notes you’re playing.
Explore Different Keys: Don’t be afraid to transpose your chord progressions into different keys. The app makes it easy to hear how a progression sounds in different tonalities, which can help you find the perfect fit for your piece.
Practice with Arpeggios: Instead of playing block chords, try practicing your chord progressions in arpeggio form. This will help you discover new rhythmic and melodic possibilities.
Build Custom Chord Libraries: Save your favorite chord progressions into custom libraries within the app. This is especially useful if you’re composing multiple songs or arrangements for 4th of July events.

Final Thoughts

This 4th of July, let your music capture the essence of patriotism by experimenting with these chord progressions. Whether you’re creating a new composition or arranging a classic tune, Piano Companion is your ultimate tool for building inspiring, patriotic chord progressions. With its intuitive design, flexible features, and extensive chord and scale library, you’ll be able to craft music that truly celebrates the spirit of Independence Day.

Ready to get started? Download Piano Companion today and explore the endless possibilities of music creation.

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Exploring Piano Chords in Detail: A Complete Guide for Students and Teachers

Posted on April 30, 2022 by songtive

As a musician, whether you’re just starting out or an experienced teacher, understanding piano chords is fundamental to your musical journey. Chords serve as the backbone of most music, providing harmony, structure, and emotion to songs. But with so many chords out there—major, minor, diminished, augmented—where do you even start?

This is where Piano Companion comes in. It’s a versatile music theory tool that helps songwriters, producers, teachers, and students unlock the mystery of chords. It’s like having a piano chord and scale dictionary in your pocket, complete with powerful features such as user libraries, reverse mode, and a chord progression builder. In this post, we’ll take you on a journey through the world of piano chords using Piano Companion, showing you how to explore, practice, and apply these chords in your music.

What Are Piano Chords?

In simple terms, a piano chord is a group of notes played together to create harmony. Most commonly, chords consist of three or more notes. A basic chord is made up of a root note, a third, and a fifth. But as you dive deeper into music theory, you’ll encounter more complex chords like seventh chords, ninth chords, and extended chords. Each chord has its own unique flavor and can dramatically alter the mood of a piece of music.

In Piano Companion, you can easily explore a wide range of chords, from simple triads to complex jazz chords. The app visually represents chords on a grand staff, showing you not only the notes but also the fingering for both hands, intervals, and degrees. Whether you’re a student learning piano chords for the first time or a teacher looking for a practical way to explain them, this tool is a game-changer.

Exploring Basic Piano Chords with Piano Companion

Let’s start with the basics. A major chord is built from a root note, a major third, and a perfect fifth. A minor chord has a root note, a minor third, and a perfect fifth. With Piano Companion, identifying and understanding these chords becomes a breeze.

Open the app and select the chord dictionary. Input your root note (e.g., C), and you’ll instantly see all the available chords, starting with the simple C Major chord.
The app displays the chord on the staff, showing you the notes: C, E, and G. You’ll also see the proper fingering for both hands.
You can hear how the chord sounds by playing it back in a loop or arpeggiated form. This auditory feedback helps solidify your understanding of how major chords should sound.

For teachers, this is a fantastic way to explain the relationship between notes in a chord. You can visually show students how the intervals create the structure of the chord, making it easier for them to grasp these concepts.

Unlocking More Complex Piano Chords

Once you’ve got the basics down, it’s time to explore more complex chords. Seventh chords, for example, are essential for creating richer harmonies. These include major seventh, minor seventh, dominant seventh, and diminished seventh chords.

With Piano Companion, finding and practicing these chords is incredibly simple:

Choose a chord type, such as “dominant seventh,” and the app will display all the relevant notes, intervals, and fingering.
You can practice these chords in various inversions, which is crucial for both composers and performers who want to add variety to their music.
Don’t forget to try playing the chord in different keys, a feature that Piano Companion makes effortless. It helps you see the patterns that are universal across all chords and scales.

For students, understanding complex chords like seventh or ninth chords is a major milestone. By using the app to explore different chord voicings and inversions, you gain a deeper appreciation for the harmonic possibilities in music. For teachers, this makes explaining advanced concepts much easier, as you can demonstrate these chords visually and aurally.

Building Chord Progressions

One of the most powerful features of Piano Companion is its Chord Progression Builder. As you progress in your understanding of chords, learning how to put them together in sequences is key to composing music. Whether you’re writing pop songs, jazz pieces, or classical compositions, chord progressions are essential to establishing the mood and direction of your music.

With the Chord Progression Builder, you can:

Experiment with different common progressions like I-IV-V or ii-V-I.
Use relative chords to switch keys within a song, creating dynamic and interesting harmonies.
Listen to how different progressions sound by playing them back in real-time, helping you to determine what works best for your composition.

This feature is incredibly useful for teachers as well. You can show your students the relationship between chords and scales, helping them understand why certain progressions work and how to experiment with their own musical ideas.

Creating and Using Custom Piano Chords

One of the standout features of Piano Companion is the ability to create custom chords and scales. This is perfect for advanced students, songwriters, and producers looking to push the boundaries of traditional music theory.

Here’s how to do it:

Select the “Custom Chords” option from the main menu.
Input your chosen notes, intervals, and voicings to create a unique chord.
Save this chord to your library and incorporate it into your compositions or use it in the Chord Progression Builder.

Whether you’re exploring jazz harmonies, atonal music, or just want to create something new, this feature allows you to go beyond the limits of standard chords. For teachers, this is a great way to encourage creativity in students, showing them that music theory is not set in stone but is a framework for exploration.

Practicing Piano Chords and Scales Together

Another benefit of using Piano Companion is the ability to practice both chords and scales side by side. By understanding how chords are built from scales, you gain a more holistic view of music theory.

Here’s how to practice effectively:

Select a scale (e.g., C Major) and explore the compatible chords associated with it.
Use the app to practice the scale’s fingerings, either in block chords or arpeggiated form.
Explore how these chords fit within common chord progressions, and experiment with creating your own progressions based on the scale.

For students, practicing chords and scales together reinforces the connection between the two, making it easier to apply theory in real-life playing situations. For teachers, this is a fantastic tool for explaining these relationships to your students.

Conclusion

Piano chords form the foundation of so much music, and understanding how to use them is key to becoming a well-rounded musician. Whether you’re

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How Piano Teachers Can Leverage Piano Companion for Student Success

Posted on June 30, 2021 by songtive

As a piano teacher, finding the right tools to supplement your lessons can be challenging. While traditional methods of teaching music theory and piano practice are invaluable, using technology can enhance the learning experience for your students. One such tool that I’ve found incredibly effective is Piano Companion, a flexible and powerful music theory app that helps piano teachers improve student success.

With Piano Companion, teaching chords, scales, and music theory becomes not only easier but also more engaging. As piano teachers, we’re always looking for new ways to keep our students motivated, and incorporating technology in the form of piano teaching tools is a game-changer. In this post, I’ll walk you through how you can leverage this app to enhance your piano lessons and ensure that your students are getting the most out of their practice time.

Why Piano Teachers Should Embrace Technology

Let’s face it: the way students learn is evolving. While many traditional methods of teaching remain essential, students today are more tech-savvy than ever. They’re used to interacting with apps and technology in nearly every aspect of their lives. So why not bring that familiarity into your piano lessons? Incorporating technology into your lessons doesn’t mean you’re abandoning proven teaching methods—it simply means you’re providing students with additional tools to enhance their learning experience.

Enter Piano Companion, a comprehensive music theory app for teachers that covers everything from piano chords and scales to chord progressions and the circle of fifths. It allows students to explore and understand music theory in an interactive way, all while supplementing what they learn in class. This app isn’t just for students, either. It’s also a valuable resource for teachers, providing you with the tools to create more engaging and effective lessons.

What Is Piano Companion?

Before diving into how you can use it in your lessons, let’s take a quick look at what Piano Companion actually is. The app is essentially a piano chord and scale dictionary, but it’s so much more than that. It’s designed to be a versatile tool for songwriters, producers, teachers, and students. The app allows users to search for chords, scales, and chord progressions using a variety of methods, including external MIDI keyboards, key identification, and custom scale creation.

What makes this app stand out for piano teachers is its ability to display chord and scale notes on the grand staff, show relative scales, intervals, and even suggest compatible chords and scales for any given note or key. Whether your students are beginners or advanced pianists, Piano Companion offers something for everyone, making it an indispensable part of your piano teaching toolkit.

How Piano Companion Enhances Music Theory Learning

One of the biggest challenges in teaching music theory is making it engaging. The concepts of chords, scales, intervals, and progressions can feel abstract, especially for younger students. Piano Companion for students changes that by transforming these concepts into interactive lessons.

1. Exploring Piano Chords in Depth

When you introduce piano chords to your students, explaining the structure of triads, sevenths, and inversions can be overwhelming. With Piano Companion, your students can explore piano chords by inputting any note they want to learn more about. The app displays the chord on a grand staff, shows the fingering for both hands, and plays the chord in either a loop or arpeggiated form, so students can hear what it should sound like.

This visual and auditory feedback can be incredibly helpful, especially for visual learners. Instead of memorizing chord charts, students can now see the relationship between notes and how different inversions of the same chord can sound completely different.

2. Practicing Scales Across Keys and Clefs

Scales are fundamental to piano practice, but they can often feel monotonous for students. However, practicing scales becomes much more dynamic when using Piano Companion. The app allows students to practice scales in various keys and clefs, helping them understand the relationships between scales and how they’re constructed. Plus, the app shows fingerings and degrees for both hands, making it easier for students to remember correct finger placement.

Additionally, teachers can use the scale practice feature as part of their lessons. You can assign specific scales for students to practice at home, and during your next lesson, you can review their progress using the app’s playback feature.

3. Understanding the Circle of Fifths

Teaching the circle of fifths can be one of the more challenging aspects of music theory. However, it’s also one of the most important, as it’s essential for understanding key signatures, modulations, and chord relationships. Piano Companion makes this easier by providing an interactive circle of fifths tool that visually explains how different keys relate to each other.

This feature allows your students to explore different keys and their relative minors, giving them a better understanding of how key changes work in practice. By experimenting with the circle of fifths, students can gain a deeper grasp of music theory concepts that might otherwise feel abstract or disconnected from their playing.

Leveraging Piano Companion for Lesson Planning

As a teacher, you want to ensure that every lesson is well-structured and provides maximum value for your students. With Piano Companion, you can easily integrate music theory exercises into your lessons without needing to create additional worksheets or assignments. Here’s how you can use the app to streamline your lesson planning:

1. Create Custom Chord and Scale Libraries

One of the most useful features of Piano Companion is its ability to create custom chord and scale libraries. You can personalize these libraries for each of your students, adding the specific chords, scales, and progressions they’re working on. This way, every student has a library tailored to their current skill level, making practice more efficient and relevant.

For example, if one of your students is working on jazz improvisation, you can create a custom library filled with jazz chords and scales that they can reference during practice. Alternatively, for beginners, you can set up a library of major and minor triads, giving them a solid foundation to build on.

2. Assign Chord Progressions for Composition Practice

Encouraging students to experiment with composition is one of the best ways to help them understand music theory on a deeper level. With Piano Companion, you can easily assign specific chord progressions for your students to practice and even create their own compositions. The app’s chord progression builder allows students to experiment with relative chords and common progressions, giving them the creative freedom to explore new sounds and ideas.

This is particularly useful for older or more advanced students who are interested in songwriting. Instead of sticking to basic progressions, they can use the app to experiment with more complex progressions and see how they relate to different keys and scales.

3. Use Reverse Mode to Challenge Students

If you’re looking for a way to challenge your students and reinforce their understanding of chords and scales, the app’s reverse mode is perfect. In reverse mode, students can input specific notes or keys, and the app will show them which chord or scale corresponds to those notes. This can be a fun and interactive way to test their knowledge during lessons.

For instance, you can give your students a specific set of notes and ask them to identify which chords or scales they belong to. They can use the reverse mode to confirm their answers, helping them to learn more effectively through trial and error.

Bringing It All Together

Incorporating Piano Companion into your lessons doesn’t replace your role as a teacher; rather, it enhances it. By using the app’s various features, you can give your students the tools they need to understand music theory in a way that’s interactive and engaging. From learning chords and scales to practicing progressions and exploring the circle of fifths, this music theory app for teachers is a valuable resource that can supplement and reinforce the lessons you already teach.

Ultimately, Piano Companion helps bridge the gap between theory and practice, making it easier for your students to grasp complex musical concepts and apply them to their playing. Whether your students are just starting out or are more advanced, integrating this app into your lessons can help them achieve greater success at the piano.

So, if you haven’t already, I highly recommend giving Piano Companion a try in your next lesson. It might just be the missing piece that helps your students reach new heights in their musical journey!

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Mode Mixture

Posted on September 28, 2020 by songtive

The process of mode mixture involves borrowing of chords from the parallel minor key in the major mode. These borrowed chords are essentially those which contain the scale degrees that are different between two parallel major and minor keys, namely, the b3, b6, and b7 degrees. When combining this scale degrees with some of the native chords of the major scale we get the resulting chords of bVI, iiº, iv and viiº7.

The bVI chord is a major triad on the b6 scale degree. For example: in the key of C major, this chord would be A flat major. Its main usage is as a replacement chord for the major mode native vi chord, especially on deceptive cadences. It can also be used as a subdominant chord leading to degree V.

The iv chord is a minor triad over scale degree 4, changing the normatively major IV degree into its minor counterpart. For example: in the key of D major, this chord would be G minor. It is essentially used exactly in the same ways as a normal IV chord. As a subdominant chord in cadences, in the second inversion as a contrapuntal neighbor chord, and as a good pivot chord for modulations (this will be expanded upon later).

The iiº and ii half-diminished seventh chords are chords based on a diminished triad over scale degree 2. For example: in C major, these chords would be D diminished triad and D half-diminished seventh. The main use for these chords is essentially that of being subdominant leading to V or Vii. It is very usual to find them in the first inversion due to the fact that in this position the bass note is scale degree 4, the main subdominant note.

The Viiº7 chord is a fully diminished seventh chord over scale degree 7. For example: in the key of A major, a G#º7 chords. This structure owes its origin to mode mixture since it turns the otherwise half-diminished seventh chord over scale degree 7 into a fully diminished chord by adding the b6 scale degree. Due to its symmetric nature, this diminished seventh chord can appear in any inversion and has multiple uses. Among these are, as a contrapuntal chord joining two chords by smooth voice leading; as a dominant chord leading to I and last but not least, as an ideal chord for modulation (this idea will be expanded later).

Another common type of mixture chord is the bII, also referred to as the Neapolitan chord. This chord is essentially derived from the mixture with the Phrygian mode which has a naturally occurring scale degree b2. At its core, the Neapolitan chord is a major triad occurring on the b2 scale degree.

The Neapolitan chord is usually found in minor keys and in the first inversion. This close association with the minor mode can be attributed to its keener relationship to the sound collections found in these types of keys, essentially, the b6 scale degree which is native to the minor mode and is the fifth of the bII Neapolitan chord. The first inversion usage is better explained from a functional point of view. Fundamentally speaking, when the Neapolitan chord is in the first inversion, the bass note is scale degree 4, which is the main representative for the subdominant function. This fact leads to the strong pre-dominant function that the bII chord exhibits but with the special color that the b2 scale degree adds.

As you may have already noticed, most of these chords are members of the subdominant function. This fact is one of the main factors for the great usefulness that mixture chords display to produce modulations to foreign keys. Usually, for pivot chords, the best choices are subdominant chords since these are the least defined in terms of tonal resolution. While the dominant has an enormous amount of pulling towards the tonic, and the tonic has stability, the subdominant is less characteristic of any particular key and is, therefore, more susceptible to being reinterpreted in other keys.

When using mode mixture, the tonal spectrum broadens and the flat side of the circle of fifths becomes closer than before. For example, in the key of C major (no accidentals), the iv chord opens up possible modulatory space to go to flat keys like E flat major (3 flats), where it is ii; or A flat major (4 flats), where it is vi; or even D flat major (5 flats), where it is iii. Furthermore, by using the viiº7 chord the tonal space broadens even more since due to its symmetrical structure this chord can be used as the viiº7 chord in the keys of C and Cm, Eb and Ebm, Gb and F#m, and last but not least, A and Am. All of these keys are foreign to the original C major, a possibility that was nonexistent when using purely diatonic triads from the major scale.

To conclude, mode mixture is an enormously useful tool for composition and elaboration of simple chord progressions. They can add color to otherwise plain chords, they can be useful to modulate to very distant keys and they can even be utilized to exploit the rhetorical duality between major and minor tonality. By using these new chords, the tonal spectrum is broadened, and the possibilities are unlimited.

Feel free to check out our Piano Companion for iOS, Android, macOS. Additionally, if you want to learn notes, chords, the theory then you can check ChordIQ for iOS, Android.

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What’s the deal with the Circle of Fifths?

Posted on August 21, 2020 by songtive

The circle of fifths is a visual tool that demonstrates the geometric relationships between the twelve distinct pitches used in western music culture. These pitches can also be classified as members of the chromatic scale.

A circle is an amazing tool to teach and to conceptualize musical ideas that would otherwise be terribly complicated. Before delving into the deeper truths about music that the circle keeps, let’s familiarize ourselves with its inner workings.

First of all, at its core, the circle of fifths is just that. A circle. In the same way, as an analogic clock does with numbers that represent time, the circle of fifths possesses 12 equally distributed pitches ordered by the interval of the perfect fifth, thus cycling through the twelve distinct pitches of the chromatic scale in twelve steps. Each of these notes carries a lot of information within it. Not only do they represent a particular note in the projection of fifths, but they represent different keys.

A musical key is essentially a definite system of relationships between musical sounds that dwells around a particular key center which is always represented by a single note, in a similar way to how the solar system works, with several different planets orbiting around the sun. Every key possesses a unique key signature which, as the name indicates, is its own individual or signature collection of notes. For example, C major contains no accidentals or altered notes, meaning it contains the seven distinct syllables used to name pitches or the total content of the diatonic system, C D E F G A B, thus its key signature contains no sharps or flats, putting on the top part of the circle. Every time we move up or down (clockwise or counterclockwise respectively) the circle, we change the tonal or key center to a new tonic and thus change the key signature. By going up, we add sharps, by going down, flats. Furthermore, each successive fifth adds a single sharp or flat to the previous collection, meaning that the first note to either side of C will contain either one sharp or one flat, the second, two, and so on.

The circle of fifths is also a great resource to explain some of the properties that arise between key centers. Namely the two main relationships, that of relative and parallel keys.

The relative relationship arises between two keys of opposite mode that share the same collection of sounds but poses a different key center or tonic. For example, C major and A minor. To represent this relationship in the circle we produce a second smaller one within the first one.

Parallel keys are those who share the same key center or tonic but poses different collections, for example, C major and C minor. This relationship has a distance of three accidentals and it is represented by using the same color.

Last but definitively not least, the circle of fifths is by far, the best method to picture the distance between keys. These distances refer to the total amount of common tones between two given key centers. The larger the number of fifths that separate two given key centers, the less common notes between them. Yet, when we cycle through the circle in any direction, we eventually return to the original key center, therefore, there must be a turning point somewhere along the circle, a point of furthest detachment from the original key in which the least possible amount of notes are shared. Curiously enough, that point seems to be the exact opposite side of the circle, the bottom key, F# major or its enharmonic equivalent G flat major, a pair of tritone-related keys which have six sharps and flats respectively. Nevertheless, since there are only twelve distinct pitches and each key should have seven, there is no way to have more than 5 different pitches between any two given keys, this is due to the enharmonic principle which declares the idea that musical sounds with a distinct name can sound the same due to the nature of sharps and flats and how they alter the seven basic syllables. For example, the equivalency between C# and D flat, or between E# and F. Therefore, although C# major has seven sharps in its key signature and C major has none, two of the notes in C# major (E# and B#) are enharmonically equivalent to some notes in C major (F and C respectively). Furthermore, both C# major (7 sharps) and C flat major (7 flats) can be simplified to key signatures which are enharmonically equivalent that contains fewer accidentals, namely, D flat major and B major, both containing five accidentals respectively.

In summary, the circle of fifths is a central pedagogical resource for music education. It can be extremely useful to understand the tonal distance between different sections of a piece, to figure out the key signature, and even to learn a thing or two about the enharmonic principle. Yet, it is not limited to the instruction of harmony and basic theory, but it can serve as a starting point for deeper and more complex dwellings into the wonderful and mysterious set of properties and characteristics of the tonal system.

If you are looking for an interactive Circle of Fifths, feel free to check out our Piano Companion for iOS, Android, macOS. Additionally, if you want to learn notes, chords, theory then you can check ChordIQ for iOS, Android.

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