Piano lesson note (01/14/06)

Key transitions:

You can almost always find ways to transition from one key to another. If there is a common chord in the two keys, then find ways to progress from the tonic of the 1st key to the common chord, then move to the tonic of the 2nd key. Another two common schemes are:

1. Move from the tonic of the 1st key directly to the dominant (major 5th) of the 2nd key
2. Move from the tonic of the 1st major key to the minor 4th and then to the 2nd major key

Classical music, especially Chopin/Schubert/Schumann’s pieces, uses a lot of chord transitions. For example, Schubert’s music uses a lot of 3rd, e.g. 1-3-6

It is common to find transition between the major and the relative minor, e.g. between C major and A minor.

Chord transition allows the piece to extend in length and builds body.