Sing and Play: Exploring Four Note Hand Positions

In this lesson, we will explore four note hand positions with the scale in mind.

Hand Positions

• First Group:
  • Start with the first four notes.
  • Thumb on the root.
  • Move up the scale one note at a time:
    • Thumb on the third
    • Thumb on the fifth
    • Thumb on the sixth

In the left hand, we will add a note to the triad:

• C6 Chord:
  • A major triad with an added sixth.

Demonstration

I'll demonstrate what I'd like you to do on "Sing and Play."

1. Get Familiar with the Sounds:

   • Sing these four note groups in your head:
     • "Doo da doo da."
   • You can sing, hum, whistle, whatever you like.

   It doesn't really matter about the quality of your voice. It's about hearing the notes in your head.

2. Create and Play:

   • Once you've got them in your head, sing a phrase with a different rhythm or maybe change the order of the notes:
     • "Do da doo da" and then play it.

3. Repeat:

   • Do this a few times.
   • Move up to the second hand position, sing those notes:
     • "Do da doo da"
   • Then make up a phrase which you sing first and then play:
     • "Do ra do a dooba doobidoo."

Connection

You're trying to get a connection between:

• What you hear
• What you sing
• What you play

Additional Positions

1. Next Position:

   • "Doo da da do be doo boo doo da."

   You're aiming to find the phrase the first time, but there may be some trial and error.

2. Last Position (Thumb on the 6th):

   • The intonation may be a bit difficult. You might want to play or sing the notes in a different register, like an octave lower.
   • Example: "Do badoo badoo."

   You can also sing nonsense syllables like scat singing:

   • "Doo wa doo wa doobie doobie doobie doo."

Conclusion

Don't worry about the quality of your voice or your intonation. This exercise is about hearing ideas in your head and being able to reproduce them on the keyboard.