KEYBOARD EXERCISE

STUDENT HANDOUT:
INITIAL & GRADE 1
TRINITY
ELECTRONIC
KEYBOARD
2019–2022

Initial
Introducing triads

Play triads on each degree of the C major scale:

Fig. 1 Introducing triads Click to download as MIDI file

w w w
w w
w
& w w w
w w
w w
w w
w w w
w
w w
w w w
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 (1)

Triads as block chords – making sequences

Fig. 2a Triads as block chords (treble clef) Click to download as MIDI file

C G G C

& w w
w
w w
w
w w
w
w w
w

{
? ∑ ∑ ∑ ∑

Fig. 2b Triads as block chords (bass clef) Click to download as MIDI file

C G G C

& ∑ ∑ ∑ ∑

{
? w
w
w
w
w
w w
w
w w
w
w

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You may find it easier to play the G chord next to the C chord like this:
Fig. 2c Triads as block chords (easier to play, treble clef) Click to download as MIDI file

C G* G* C

& w
w
w
w
w w
w w
w
w
w w

{
? ∑ ∑
Fig. 2d Triads as block chords (easier to play, bass clef)
∑ ∑
Click to download as MIDI file

C G* G* C

& ∑ ∑ ∑ ∑

{
? w
w
w w
w
w
w
w
w
* in later grades we will see this written as G/B, as the B is on the bottom
w
w
w

Triads as broken chords – making sequences

Fig. 3 Triads as broken chords Click to download as MIDI file

C G G C
3 ∑ ∑ ∑ ∑
&4 œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ
œ œ

{
? 43 œ œ œ ∑ œ œ
œ ∑ œ œ
œ ∑ œ œ
œ ∑

Improvising with the pentatonic scale

Fig. 4 Improvising with pentatonic scale Click to download as MIDI file

C G G C
4 œ
&4
œ œ œ œ
? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?

{
? 44 w
w
w
w
w
w
w
w
w
w
w
w

The C major pentatonic scale (5 notes) is included in Scales & Chord Knowledge at Initial.

Tip: You may want to get your teacher, or a friend, to play the chords whilst you improvise on top – and then
switch around! Try and finish on the key note (C).

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Improvising with the inverted pentatonic scale

Here you move your RH so your thumb is now on the G. Which do you prefer to improvise with?

Fig. 5 Improvising with inverted pentatonic scale Click to download as MIDI file

œ
C G G C
4 œ œ œ
4
& œ ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?

{
? 44 w
w
w w
w
w
Tip: Why not use a rhythm from one of your pieces?
w
w
w
w
w
w

Grade 1
Keys of G major and D minor

At Initial, we numbered the chords from 1-7. We now introduce the Roman numeral system, with chords
numbered from I to VII. You may like to write in numbers 1-7 if you wish.

G major

Fig. 6a Triads in G major Click to download as MIDI file

w
& w w
w #w
w w
w
w #w
w
w
w
w
w #w
w
w w
w
w
w w w
I ii iii IV V vi vii I

D minor

Fig. 6b Triads in D minor Click to download as MIDI file

w w
& w
w bw
w #w
w
w bw
w
w #w
w
w bw
w
w #w
w w
w
w w
i ii III iv V VI vii i

In accordance with the Trinity Music Theory workbooks, we have now written minor chords with small letters.

Triads as block chords – making sequences

Fig. 7a Triads as block chords (treble clef) Click to download as MIDI file

G D D G

& w
w #w
w
w #w
w
w w
w
w w

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Triads as block chords – making sequences continued...

Fig. 7b Triads as block chords (bass clef) Click to download as MIDI file
G D D G

& ∑ ∑ ∑ ∑

{
? w
w
w
#w
w
w #w
w
w

You may find it easier to play the D chord next to the G chord like this:
w
w
w

Fig. 7c Triads as block chords (easier to play, treble clef) Click to download as MIDI file
G D* D* G

& w
w
w
w
#w
w
w
#w
w
w
w
w
Fig. 7d Triads as block chords (easier to play, bass clef) Click to download as MIDI file
G D* D* G

& ∑ ∑ ∑ ∑

{ w
? w
w w
#w
w
w
#w
w
* in later grades we will see this written as D/F#, as the F# is on the bottom
w
w
w

To get used to these new keys, try playing the chord sequences, here with broken chords.

Triads as broken chords – making sequences

G major, in 4-time
Fig. 8 Triads as broken chords: G major Click to download as MIDI file

#
G D D G

& ∑ œœ˙ ∑ œœ
˙ ∑ œœ
˙ ∑ œœ˙

{
?# œ œ
˙

And D minor, in 3-time

∑ œœ
˙
∑ œœ
˙
∑ œœ
˙
∑

Fig. 9 Triads as broken chords: D minor Click to download as MIDI file

3
Dm A A Dm

&b 4 ∑
œ œ œ
∑ œ ∑ œ ∑
œ œ œ
#œ œ #œ œ

{
? b 43 œ œ œ ∑ #œ œ
œ
∑ #œ œ
œ
∑
Why not make up your own 4-bar sequences? But be careful to always finish on the home chord.
œ œ œ ∑

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Improvising with the pentatonic scale (G major)

Fig. 10 Improvising in G major with pentatonic scale Click to download as MIDI file

#4 œ
G D D G

& 4œ œ œ œ ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ..

{ 4
w
?# 4 w
w w
w
w
w
w
w
improvise for 8 bars (i.e. two repetitions of the chord sequence)
w
w
w ..

The G major pentatonic scale (5 notes) is included in Scales & Chord Knowledge at Grade 1.
Tip: Try and finish on the key note (G)

Improvising with the pentatonic scale (D minor)

Fig. 11 Improvising in D minor with pentatonic scale Click to download as MIDI file
Dm A A Dm

&b œ œ œ œ œ ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ..

{
?b w
w
w w
#w
w
w
#w
w
improvise for 8 bars (i.e. two repetitions of the chord sequence)
w
w
w ..

The D minor pentatonic scale (5 notes) is included in Scales & Chord Knowledge at Grade 1.
Tip: Try and finish on the key note (D)

Chord inversions

Fig. 12a Chord inversions (C major) Click to download as MIDI file

w
root position first inversion second inversion

& w w
w w
w
w
w w

Fig. 12b Chord inversions (G major) Click to download as MIDI file

# w
root position
w
first inversion
w
w
second inversion

w w
& ww w

Fig. 12c Chord inversions (D minor) Click to download as MIDI file

w w
w
root position first inversion second inversion

&b w
w
w w
w w

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