It’s a two-for-one deal. You are now going to learn how to compose while learning the basics of piano playing. Put your helmets on and get ready for the ride of your life. Please note, however, that most composers and pianists take off their helmet after a while. They can become quite hot.

Let’s get to know the building blocks of compositions: scales and chords. Here are five easy major keys followed by their relative minor keys:

• C major and A minor (no flats or sharps)

• G major and E minor (F# in the key signature)

• F major and D minor (Bb in the key signature)

• D major and B minor (F# and C# in the key signature)

• Bb major and G minor (Bb and Eb in the key signature)

For a review of notes on a piano, go to our piano music notes link. For details on how play and write scales and chords in the above keys, click on any of the following links:

• Major scales
• Minor scales
• Piano chords

Playing scales and chords on a keyboard, in conjunction with writing notes on manuscript paper, are magical combinations. The faster that you can take down played chords and scales on manuscript paper, the more efficient you are as a composer.

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