Learning an Instrument

Do you like the look of these Wind Instruments?

If you want to learn an instrument, you can do it by:

1. taking lessons with a teacher in your area for a personalised service.

2. learning yourself:

~ from a tutor book

Learn to play music with Sheet Music Plus's great selection of teach yourself books and DVDs.

~ you tube - to hear the sounds you may want

~ online service eg some piano / keyboard options are

- Rocket Piano: Click Here

- PianoForAll: Click Here

- Learn to Play Electronic Keyboards: Click Here

For more information on LEARNING THE PIANO Click Here

When you learn an instrument you go through the process of learning musical notation to help in your venture. Let us take a look at one of these ~ the Key Signature to give you an idea of what to expect.

Key Signature

A key signature is the sign to tell you which key the piece of music is in . It is situated between the clef sign and the time signature.The sign is written as varying numbers of flats ( b ) or sharps ( # ) ranging from 0 to 7.

The example below has two sharps, indicating that the piece of music could be in the key of D MAJOR or b minor. ( see key signature chart below )

When you first learn music, the key signature of the pieces usually start with no sharps or flats and move on to 1 and then 2 sharps or flats and so on as you gain experience.

There are 12 major and 12 minor scales. Each major scale has a minor scale which is relative to it, that is, they both have the same key signature.

Key Signature Chart

MAJOR Scales

number---flats---sharps

0--------------C---------C

1---------------F---------G

2--------------Bb-------D

3--------------Eb-------A

4--------------Ab-------E

5--------------Db*------B!

6--------------Gb--@---F#

7--------------Cb!-------C#*

Minor Scales

number---flats---sharps

0---------------a--------a

1---------------d--------e

2---------------g--------b

3---------------c--------f#

4---------------f--------c#

5--------------Bb^-----g#~

6--------------eb--@--d#

7--------------ab~-----a#^

Take a look at 5 6 7

The scales with 6 sharps or flats have the same notes as indicated by @, for each of the majors and minors.

The scales in 5 and 7 have the same notes for the pairs as indicated by * ! ( Majors) and ^ ~ (minors)

Take a look at the pieces of music and work out the key of the piece. Hint , you have to click on the music page to get 3 pieces of music.

Did you get C major for the piece with no sharps or flats and Eb major for the other 2 pieces with 3 flats?

For further information on learning a musical instrument Look Here.