LearnJazzPiano.com archives: learning tool for the circle of fifths

YourMove -- 04/09/2007, 12:47:27 -- #34444

Good evening, as I had to learn the circle of fifths myself lately I wondered if there are any free learning tools around on the net. I didn't find one and programmed one myself. Please take a look here and tell your students about it, in case you like it :) www.circle-of-fifths.net Suggestions are of course most welcome :) Yours, Jan

spfldpianist -- 04/10/2007, 11:25:58 -- #34444

I always use the "pinky rule" with my little kids.  When the thumb of your right hand is on "C", the pinky is on "G" thus the pinky always can tell you what the next sharp key is.  Also,  the left pinky can by your circle going down or your "Flat pinky".  It works the same way with the relative minors as long as kids know that "A" is the starting point.

YourMove -- 04/10/2007, 14:40:31 -- #34444

Indeed that is a good help :-) I was also pointed to it on the pianoworld forums. I'm a beginner to music theory and to jazz but am learning :) Before creating that website I asked myself what will it be for? There are those sentences to remember the circle. Father Charles Goes Down And Ends Battle etc.... I won't have time to remember that sentence nor to think of my pinky while playing in a band or soloing in front of an audience, or do I? I'm not familiar with the thinking process while playing too, if there is any... Just rambling my thoughts, sorry.

spfldpianist -- 04/10/2007, 19:03:25 -- #34444

The key to spontaneous reaction on the gig is practice to the point where the solo comes as second nature and you don't think about it at all.  Just keep plugging and try a lot of diferent things in diferent keys.  Play ballads up tempo and play up tempo tunes as ballads.  Swing some latin standards and bossa on some swing tunes.  Good luck!

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