Fast Piano Lessons Blog

Here is an introduction to latin montunos on the song Black Orpheus. It is traditionally played as a bossa nova and bossa novas don’t usually incorporate montunos. However Black orpheus is in the key of Aminor which is all white keys, a great key for learning new techniques.

Here is the lead sheet for black orpheus in a PDF format: BLACK ORPHEUS LEAD SHEET

Note: Be aware that the Left hand bass rhythm shown here is not in the traditional tumbao rhythmic pattern for a montuno. It has been simplified rhythmically. After you get comfortable with the notes here (root, fifth of the chord) then go to seek out authentic montunos that fit the clave pattern.

Inversions are written like a fraction, with the name of the chord on top and the bass note on the bottom. For example: “C/E” or “G/D” or “D/F#”

CHORD/BASS NOTE

(chord over the bass note)

1. C – This is how to write the root position chord.
   (From bottom to top: C, E, G)
2. C/E – C is the Chord, E is the Bass.
   (From bottom to top: E, G, C)
   This is called the1st inversion.
3. C/G – C is Chord, G is the bass.
   (From bottom up: G,C,E)
   This is called the 2nd inversion.

Example 1 (C7):

1. Start with a C MAJOR triad in your RH, and the Root (C) in your left hand.

2. Move your thumb down a whole step to Bb.(Bb is the flat 7th,  B is the major 7th)
3. Transpose this voicing in all keys!

Try and use the same fingering as in the picture. The note in the left hand is C. The notes in the right hand are Bb, E and G.

Example 2 (C-7 or Cmin7):

1. Start with a C MINOR triad in your RH, and the Root in your left hand.
2. Move your thumb down a whole step to Bb.

3. Transpose this voicing in all keys!

Try and use the same fingering as in the picture. The note in the left hand is C. The notes in the right hand are Bb, Eb and G.

The only difference between C7 and C-7 is that your middle finger in your right hand moves down a half step from E to Eb.

The notes in alphabetical order:

HERE IS THE SHORTCUT!!!

If you use these mnemonic devices or memorization tricks, your reading will become much quicker. You won’t have to be counting up all the time! This is also a good tool for helping kids remember the lines and spaces.

In the treble cleff (the top staff) use:

“FACE is for the Space”

“Every Good Boy Does Fine is for the lines”

Notice that it rhymes as well to help with memorization.

In the bass cleff (the bottom staff) use:

Spaces: “All Cows Eat Grass” or “All Cars Eat Gas”

Lines: “Good Burritos Don’t Fall Apart”

The Shortcut!

Rather then memorizing the way each shape looks (there are a lot!) You should memorize the structure/intervals because the structure is all the same. I’m not talking about where the white or black notes are. We need to count up the number of half steps and whole steps between each note.

How to find the structure of the Major chords (5 and 4):

1. Start with C and count up 5 notes to E.
2. Then count up 4 notes to G.
3. NOTE: Count both the black and the white notes.
4. Use a counting system that works for you to learn the distance between the C, E and G. That distance (5 and 4) is going to be the same for any major chord.

How to find the structure of the Minor chords (4 and 5):

1. Start with C and count up 4 notes to Eb (flat).
2. Then count up 5 notes to G.
3. NOTE: The only difference between C major and C minor is that your middle should have moved down a half step.

These are the most common chords use on piano. You’ll find them used over and over again in every song… so it makes sense to practice them! (I’ll post a better image as soon as I make one!)

The dots show you where to put your fingers.

I give my private students timed tests to see how quickly they can play these. The goal is all the major chords in 30 seconds.

I probably use this little pattern and variations of it more than any other. Its quick, fun and sounds good on any major triad and sounds a little different on minor triads but thats also useful. Great for other styles besides country as well… Pop, Rock piano etc.

The piano keys and scale! This shows exactly where the notes are related to the staff. If you want to go higher on the staff, just keep going the same direction skipping a line and a space each time.

Heres a link to a PDF with instrucitons:
The Scale: Piano Keys and Grand Staff

Print off the pdf and keep it by you’re piano. There are also some instructions attached for teaching beginners or 4-5 year olds.