Eaziplay Chord, Scale,
Arpeggio & Mode Formula
Here at Eaziplay we have developed a very simple and universal way to apply various formulae to Chords, Scales, Arpeggios & Modes.
With these formulae you will be able to play thousands of Chords, Scales, Arpeggios & Modes without having to learn astronomical
amounts of music theory! At the end of this lesson you can find a list of formulae for each of them. To begin let’s show you how each
one works for Chords, Scales, Arpeggios & Modes.
Eaziplay Chord Formula Eaziplay Chord
The Eaziplay Formulae uses mathematics and algebra to unravel the Formula
difficulty in remembering various types of Chords, Scales, Arpeggios & Modes.
With Chords we will just use a set of numbers. In Part Two of the Eaziplay Eaziplay Scale
Series you learned how to play all Major Chords. What if you could Formula
play all 168 Major & Minor Chords across the entire range of the piano with
simple formula?. Eaziplay Arpeggio
Formula
F GH I J
Eaziplay Mode
Formula
40 44 47 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51
+4 +3
If we look at the C Major Chord above we play the 40th key, the 44th key and the 47th key together. Using basic mathematics however
we can work out a formula for remembering all Major Chords and play them anywhere on the piano. In this case with addition we can
see that 40 plus 4 = 44 and 44 plus 3 = 47 indicated with (RED DOTS). So the Formula for playing all Major Chords on the piano is:
+4, +3. To use the formula pick any note on the piano say for example the 35th key. The 35th key is the G note on the piano. So to play
the G Major Chord simply go: 35 plus 4 = 39 and 39 plus 3 = 42 indicated with (BLUE DOTS). So the notes to play the G Major Chord
are the 35th key, 39th key and 42nd key all of which are played together! Use this remarkable code anywhere on the piano. 49
Now let’s find out the code for all Minor Chords on the piano. The code for all Major Chords is +4, +3, the code for all Minor Chords is
the opposite i.e., +3, +4. Remarkable isn’t it? Try the Minor Chord code of +3, +4 anywhere on the piano. Let’s pick a note and try it out.
Say for example we pick the 28th key on the piano. The 28th key is the C note on the piano. So to play the C Minor Chord simply go:
28 plus 3 = 31 and 31 plus 4 = 35 indicated with (PURPLE DOTS). So the notes to play the C Minor Chord are the 28th key, 31st key
and 35th key all of which are played together!
Let’s try another one, let’s say the 43rd key. The 43rd key is the D# note on the piano. So to play the D# Minor Chord simply go:
43 plus 3 = 46 and 46 plus 4 = 50 indicated with (GREEN DOTS). So the notes to play the D# Minor Chord are the 43rd key, 46th key
and 50th key all of which are played together!
16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63
C# D# F# G# A# C# D# F# G# A# C# D# F# G# A# C# D# F# G# A#
CDEFGAB CDEFGAB CDEFGAB CDEFGAB
2nd Octave 3rd Octave 4th Octave 5th Octave
Eaziplay Scale Formula
The formula for Scales involves using algebraic values i.e., x, y and z in that x = 1, y = 2 and z = 3. By using addition we can work out
the scale so in the example below for the C Major Scale 40 plus 2 = 42, 42 plus 2 = 44, 44 plus 1 = 45, 45 plus 2 = 47, 47 plus 2 = 49,
49 plus 2 = 51 and 51 plus 1 = 52. So if x = 1 and y = 2 the formula for all Major Scales is y, y, x / y, y, y, x.
F GHF G H I J Now try this formula (y, y, x / y, y, y, x) to work
out all Major Scales on the piano! Start at any
40 42 44 45 47 49 51 52 note and then apply the formula. Now let’s find
out the code for all Minor Scales on the piano.
+2 +2 +1 +2 +2 +2 +1
y y xy y y x The code for all Major Scales is yyx / yyyx, the
code for all Minor Scales is:
+2, +1, +2, +2, +1, +2 +2 which is: yxy / yxyy.
By using x and y for the code the brain
remembers the formula much quicker.
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Eaziplay Arpeggio Formula
Chords and Arpeggios are directly related to each other. Because of this direct relationship the Formula for Chords is the exact same
for Arpeggios! A full size piano keyboard has seven octaves. If we know the formula within one octave, we automatically know it for all
the other octaves. Let’s take the C Major Arpeggio as an example and work out how it’s played on the piano.
Remember the image below from earlier when we analyzed the formula for Chords? We said the Major Chord Formula was +4, +3.
With this formula we have all we need to work out the Major Arpeggios on the keyboard. See how the keys are identical in all the other
octaves! So the C Major Arpeggio as seen below indicated with (ORANGE DOTS) is played by pressing the following keys in ‘legato’ :
16th key, 20th key, 23rd key, 28th key, 32nd key, 35th key, 40th key, 44th key, 47th key, 52nd key, 56th key and the 59th key.
F GH I J
40 44 47
+4 +3
16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63
C# D# F# G# A# C# D# F# G# A# C# D# F# G# A# C# D# F# G# A#
CDEFGAB CDEFGAB CDEFGAB CDEFGAB
2nd Octave 3rd Octave 4th Octave 5th Octave
The formula for C Minor Arpeggios is the opposite i.e., Major Arpeggios= +4, +3 while Minor Arpeggios = +3, +4.
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Eaziplay Mode Formula
The formula for Scales is similar to the formula we use for Modes. Like before we use numbers and algebraic values x and y. Take for
example the formula for the C Mixolydian Mode which is represented below i.e., 40 plus 2 = 42, 42 plus 2 = 44, 44 plus 1 = 45, 45 plus
2 = 47, 47 plus 2 = 49 and 49 plus 1 = 50. So the formula is yyx / yyx indicated with (PINK DOTS). Using this formula yyx / yyx we can
work out all Mixolydian Modes for all the notes on the piano across all octaves.
F GHF G H I
40 42 44 45 47 49 50
+2 +2 +1 +2 +2 +1
16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63
C# D# F# G# A# C# D# F# G# A# C# D# F# G# A# C# D# F# G# A#
CDEFGAB CDEFGAB CDEFGAB CDEFGAB
2nd Octave 3rd Octave 4th Octave 5th Octave
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Eaziplay Formula for Chords & Arpeggios
➢ 11th +2, +2, +1, +2, +3 ➢ Minor 6th +3, +4, +2
➢ 13th +2, +2, +3, +2, +1 ➢ Minor 7th +3, +4, +3
➢ 5th +7 ➢ Minor 7th Add 11 +3, +2, +2, +3
➢ 6 Add 9 +2, +2, +3, +2 ➢ Minor 7th Add 13 +3, +4, +2, +1
➢ 6sus4 +5, +2, +2 ➢ Minor 9th +2, +1, +4, +3
➢ 6th +4, +3, +2 ➢ Minor Add 9 +2, +1, +4
➢ 7#5 +4, +4, +2 ➢ Minor Major 11th +2, +1, +2, +2, +4
➢ 7#5b9 +1, +3, +4, +2 ➢ Minor Major 13th +2, +1, +4, +2, +2
➢ 7#9 +3, +1, +3, +3 ➢ Minor Major 7th +3, +4, +4
➢ 7b5 +4, +2, +4 ➢ Minor Major 7th Add 11 +3, +2, +2, +4
➢ 7b9 +1, +3, +3, +3 ➢ Minor Major 7th Add 13 +3, +4, +2, +2
➢ 7sus4 +5, +2, +3 ➢ Minor Major 9th +2, +1, +4, +4
➢ 9#11 +2, +2, +2, +1, +3 ➢ Sus 2 +2, +5
➢ 9b13 +2, +2, +3, +1, +2 ➢ Sus 4 +5, +2
➢ 9sus4 +2, +3, +2, +3
➢ 9th +2, +2, +3, +3 On this page you will see a collection of formulae for many types of chords &
➢ Add 9 +2, +2, +3 arpeggios. As explained earlier as Chords are directly related to Arpeggios the
➢ Dominant 7th +4, +3, +3 formula for all Chords works for all Arpeggios. So a Major 7th Add 11 Chord formula
➢ Dominant 7th Add 11 +4, +1, +2, +3 is the same for a Major 7th Add 11 Arpeggio formula. To make it simple to follow we
➢ Dominant 7th Add 13 +4, +3, +2, +1
➢ m7#5 +3, +5, +2 have left the numbers in place of x, y, z etc. On the LEFT you have the name of the
➢ m7b5 +3, +3, +4
➢ m7b9 +1, +2, +4, +3 chord/arpeggio while on the RIGHT you have the formula that is used to work out
➢ Major +4, +3
➢ Major 11th +2, +2, +1, +2, +4 the chord/arpeggio on your piano. In total the potential for 4,200 chords and 600
➢ Major 13th +2, +2, +3, +2, +2
➢ Major 7th +4, +3, +4 arpeggios are available to the student by simply applying the 50 listed formulae!
➢ Major 7th Add 11 +4, +1, +2, +4
➢ Major 7th Add 13 +4, +3, +2, +2 We have already detailed Major and Minor formula i.e., Major = +4, +3, while Minor
➢ Major 7th Sus 4 +5, +2, +4 = +3, +4. If we take another example from the list here namely Major 7th Add 11.
➢ Major 9 Sus4 +2, +3, +2, +4 The formula for this type of chord is +4, +1, +2, +4. Let’s use it to form a
➢ Major 9th +2, +2, +3, +4
➢ Minor +3, +4 C Major 7th Add 11 Chord. So if we choose the 40th key as the origin: 40 plus 4 = 44,
➢ Minor 11th +2, +1, +2, +2, +3
➢ Minor 13th +2, +1, +4, +2, +1 44 plus 1 = 45, 45 plus 2 = 47 and 47 plus 4 = 51. So play all five notes together
➢ Minor 6 Add 9 +2, +1, +4, +2 with the correct right hand fingers and this is the C Major 7th Add 11 Chord.
Now use this formula on any note on the piano!
FG HI J
40 44 45 47 51
+4 +1 +2 +4
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Eaziplay Formula for Scales & Modes
➢ 6th Tone Symmetrical……………… xzx / zxz ➢ Pelog…………………………………… xyz / ax
➢ 8th Tone Spanish…………………… xyxx / xyyy ➢ Pentatonic Blues…………………….. zyx / xz
➢ 9th Tone Scale………………………. yxxy / xxxyx ➢ Pentatonic Major…………………….. yzy / yz
➢ Aeolian Mode………………………… zyxy / yxyy ➢ Pentatonic Minor…………………….. zyy / zy
➢ Augmented…………………………… zxz / xz ➢ Pentatonic Neutral…………………… yz / yz
➢ Auxiliary Augmented……………….. yyy / yyy ➢ Phrygian Mode I……………………… xyy / yxyy
➢ Auxiliary Diminished………………… yxyx / yxyx ➢ Phrygian Mode II…………………….. xzx / yxy
➢ Auxiliary Diminished Blues………… xyxy / xyxy ➢ Prometheus………………………….. yyy / zxy
➢ Blues ………………………………….. zyx / xzy ➢ Prometheus Neopolitan……………. xzy / zxy
➢ Chromatic…………………………….. xxxx / xxxx / xxxx ➢ Pure Minor……………………………. yxy / yxyy
➢ Diatonic……………………………….. yyz / yz ➢ Roumanian Minor…………………… yxz / xyxy
➢ Diminished half……………………… xyx / yxyx ➢ Spanish Gypsy……………………….. xzx / yxyy
➢ Diminished whole…………………… yxy / xyxy ➢ Super Locrian…………………………. xyx / yyyy
➢ Diminished Whole Tone……………. xyx / yyyy ➢ Whole…………………………………… yyy / yy
➢ Dominant 7th ………………………... yzy / yxy On this page you will see a collection of formulae for many types of scales and
➢ Dorian Mode………………………….. yxy / yyxy modes. As explained earlier as Scales are directly related to Modes the formula for
➢ Double Harmonic……………………. xzx / yxzx all are listed together. The nine main Modes in music are indicated with PINK
➢ Enigmatic……………………………… xzy / yyxx FONT. When using the formulae x = 1, y = 2, z = 3 and a = 4. On the left you have
➢ Harmonic Minor………………………. yxy / yxyx the name of the Scale/Mode while on the RIGHT you have the formula that is used
➢ Hypophrygian Mode…………………. xyy / xyyx to work out the scale / mode on your piano. In total the potential for 4,116 scales and
➢ Ionian Mode…………………………… yyx / yyyx modes are available to the student by simply applying the 49 listed formulae!
➢ Leading Whole Tone………………… yyy / yxx We have already detailed Major and Minor Scales formula i.e., Major = yyx / yyyx,
➢ Locrian Mode…………………………. xyy / xyyy
➢ Lydian Mode………………………….. yyy / xyyx while Minor = yxy / yxyy. If we take another example from the list here namely the
➢ Lydian Augmented………………….. yyy / yxyx Blues Scale. The formula for this type of scale is zyx / xzy. Let’s use it to form a
➢ Lydian Diminished…………………. yxz / xxyy C Blues Scale. So if we choose the 40th key as the origin: 40 plus 3 = 43, 43 plus 2
= 45, 45 plus 1 = 46, 46 plus 1 = 47, 47 plus 3 = 50 and 50 plus 2 = 52. So play the
➢ Lydian Minor……………………….… yyy / xxyy sequence of notes in ‘legato’ i.e., 40th key, 43rd key, 45th key, 46th key, 47th key, 50th
➢ Major…………………………………... yyx / yyyx key and 52nd key. This is the C Blues Scale. Now use this Blues formula (zyx / xzy)
➢ Major Locrian………………………… yyx / xyyy on any note on the piano to work out Blues Scales from any root note!!
➢ Melodic Minor………………………… yxy / yyyx
➢ Minor………………………………….. yxy / yyyx 40 43 45 46 47 50 52
➢ Mixolydian Mode…………………….. yyx / yyxy
➢ Neopolitan Major……………………. xyy / yyyx
➢ Neopolitan Minor……………………. xyy / yxyy +3 +2 +1 +1 +3 +2
➢ Overtone………………………………. yyy / xyxy z yxx z y
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Glossary of Musical Styles, Tempo/Speed,
Music Dynamics, Moods of Music & Dotted
Note Values
In sheet music sometimes you will come across italic words. These words relate to Musical Styles, Tempo/Speed, Music Dynamics &
Moods of Music and are normally of Italian, German or other generic languages. These terms help musicians play the piece as if it were
being played by the composer themselves, i.e., interpretations for music and songs vary unless given a guide by the composer in the
sheet music. Below follows a small list of such terms and what they mean
Musical Styles
➢ A Cappella Sung with no instrumental accompaniment
➢ Aria A song, especially one from an opera
➢ Arietta A short or light aria AM broadcasting is the process of
radio broadcasting using amplitude
➢ Ballabile Song to be danced to modulation (AM). AM was the first
method of impressing sound on a
➢ Battaglia A piece suggesting a battle radio signal and is still widely used
➢ Bergamasca A peasant dance from Bergamo today. Radio broadcasting was
made possible by the invention of
➢ Burletta A light comic or farcical opera the amplifying vacuum tube, the
Audion (triode), by Lee de Forest in
➢ Cadenza A florid solo at the end of a performance 1906. FM broadcasting pioneered by
Edwin Howard Armstrong, uses
➢ Capriccio / Caprice A lively piece of music
frequency modulation (FM) to
➢ Codatail The end of a piece provide high-fidelity sound over
broadcast radio. In June 1936, he
➢ Concerto A work for one or more solo instruments accompanied by an orchestra
played a jazz record using a
➢ Concertino A short concerto; the solo instrument in a concerto conventional AM radio, then
switched to an FM transmission.
➢ Concerto A Baroque form of concerto, with a group of solo instruments
➢ Intermezzo A short connecting instrumental movement
➢ Libretto A work containing the words to an opera or musical
➢ Opera A drama set to music for singers and instrumentalists
➢ Opera Buffa A comic opera
➢ Opera Seria An opera with a serious, esp. classical theme
➢ Sonata A composition for one or two instruments in sonata form
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Tempo/Speed Accelerating
The accompaniment must follow the singer who can speed up or slow down at will
➢ Accelerando Slow, but not as slow as largo
➢ Accompagnato Faster than adagio; or a short adagio composition
➢ Adagio Accelerating
➢ Adagietto Slightly slower than allegro
➢ Affrettando Moderately fast
➢ Allegretto Moderately slow, flowing along
➢ Allegro At moderate speed
➢ Andante Not as slow as largo
➢ Comodo Slow and dignified
➢ Larghetto Slow
➢ Largo Very very fast, as fast as possible
➢ Lento Very fast
➢ Prestissimo Decelerating
➢ Presto The speed of a piece of music
➢ Rallentando
➢ Tempo Moods of Music
Music Dynamics Becoming softer ➢Affettuoso Tenderly
Becoming louder ➢Agitato Excited and fast
➢ Calando Becoming softer ➢Animato Animated
➢ Crescendo Becoming softer ➢Bruscamente Brusquely
➢ Decrescendo Loud ➢Comodo Unrestrainedly
➢ Diminuendo Very loud ➢Con amore With love
➢ Forte Moderately loud ➢Con brio (Con Spirito) With spirit
➢ Fortissimo Moderately soft ➢Con fuoco With fiery manner
➢ Mezzo forte Very soft ➢Dolce Sweet
➢ Mezzo piano Soft ➢Maestoso Majestically
➢ Pianissimo Sharply accented ➢Scherzando Playfully
➢ Piano ➢Sotto Subdued
➢ Sforzando ➢Vivace Up-tempo
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▌▌ ▌
▌
Long Breve Semibreve Minim Crotchet Quaver Semiquaver DemiSemiQuaver HemiDemiSemiQuaver
4 2 1 1/2 1/4
1/8 1/16 1/32 1/64
Above you can see how RESTS are indicated in music on what each value assigns to rests within a bar of music. For example: Whole Note
rests last for a full bar of music, a 1/8th note rest lasts for one eighth of a beat within the bar and 1/16th note rest lasts one-sixteenth of a bar.
28 28 28 ⅛ 28
NOTE
½WHOLE NOTE NOTE ¼ NOTE
1/16th NOTE 28 28 1/128th NOTE
28 1/32nd NOTE 1/64th NOTE 28
In music, in order to have notes held down a little longer within a bar we simply add a dot to the right side of any note value. In modern
practice the first dot increases the duration of the basic note by half of its original value.
WHOLE NOTE WHOLE NOTE REST
½ NOTE HALF NOTE REST
¼ NOTE QUARTER NOTE REST
⅛ NOTE EIGHT NOTE REST
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Teacher’s Practice Schedule
This practice schedule sheet can be used by teacher’s who are using this book to teach children piano. On the left side the teacher fills in
date of the piano lesson / right side they fill in what the student is to complete before their next music lesson. Students who are organized
will progress in piano at a much faster pace. While this sheet is aimed at teachers it can also be used by parents with their children.
Date of Lesson Material to be practiced, revised or memorized etc.
58
Certificate of Merit
This certifies that
has successfully completed
Part Four of the Eaziplay Piano Course
and is eligible for promotion to the
Eaziplay Band Series™ (Beginners Level)
Teacher: Date:
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Includes lots of songs to play along to from the get-go. No
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Makes learning fun for all and you start to see results as
soon as you get your keyboard set up for Eaziplay. Perfect for
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