B-flat Major Diatonic Chords

Hello and welcome back. I'm Joseph
Hoffman
and in this lesson we're going to learn
how to play the diatonic chords of
B-flat major, and then we'll finish with
a little improvisation in B-flat major.
So let's come over to the piano to get
started. Okay here's the B-flat major one
octave scale, and remember what does
diatonic mean?
Diatonic means it's any
key that belongs to this scale. So these
are all the notes that are diatonic to
B-flat major. Now answer me this: Is F
diatonic to the key of B-flat major?
The answer is yes, because F is right here. F
is part of the scale. It's part of this
key, so yes it is diatonic is E diatonic
to the key of B-flat major?
If you said no you're correct. E is not part of the
scale, it becomes E-flat for the B-flat
major scale. So remember that when we are
playing diatonic chords, these are the
only possible notes you have to choose
from and of course extended up the
octave as well, like this C is diatonic
because it's part of the B-flat major
scale. Now let's go through our seven
diatonic chords in root position. I'll
use both hands and you can try both
hands as well if you'd like to challenge
yourself, or if you'd like to just do one
hand alone that's okay too. So try
playing our I chord. We'll use root
position chords using fingers 1 3
and 5, and let's name them out loud.
I chord B-flat major.
Now when we come
up a step, you might be tempted to go to
B next because it looks like, ah that's
the next step up, but remember B is not
diatonic so that's not the first step
above B-flat. In our scale today the next
diatonic pitch a step up is C, and
instead of playing C major, we have play
C minor because remember E is also not
diatonic to B-flat, it becomes an E-flat. So
remember that we have to think of the
notes of our diatonic B-flat major
scale. So if everything steps up, B-flat
steps up to C, D steps up to E-flat, F
steps up to G, that actually puts us on a
C minor chord. So let's say C minor ii chord.
Now go up another step and we land
on a D minor iii chord. Try this with
me and repeat, D minor iii chord. Now on
your own, can you figure out what the
IV chord would be? Remember
everything's going to step up, but if you
come to an E or a B remember you have to flat them.
Here's what you should have gotten, this
is the IV chord and it's E-flat major.
So repeat after me, E-flat major IV
chord.
Good, then we're gonna step up
again and remember we can't go to E, we
have to go up the next step to F. F major
V chord repeat after me.
Good, then step up again to G minor Vi
chord.
Now, can you figure out the next one? Step up to the Vii chord, and remember if there are any
B's or E's you have to flat them.
You should have landed here on an A
diminished Vii chord, A C E-flat
And then we'll go up one more step
to bring us back home, B-flat major I chord.
Good, let's do all of those one more time
from the bottom. Play and name them with
me. B-flat major I chord, repeat, C minor
ii chord,
D minor iii chord, E-flat major IV
chord, F major V chord, G minor Vi chord,
A diminished Vii chord, B-flat
major I chord.
Now press pause and on
your own I'd like you to try every
single one of those chords one more time
on your own, name them out loud and then
press play to go on.
Now let's try our heart and soul chord
progression in the key of B-flat.
So let's start with the right hand. Play
the I chord, now can you find and play
for me the Vi chord? But remember
instead of jumping up to the Vi chord,
we're going to go down to the Vi
chord. So show me where the Vi chord
would be, the nearest Vi chord below
this I chord.
Well, if this is the I chord, we can step down to the Vii
chord, then one more step to the Vi
chord is on G. So there's our Vi chord, here's
I chord to Vi chord, and if we go
another skip down that brings us to the
IV chord. We can't go to E because it's
not diatonic we have to go to E-flat,
so there's our IV chord, and then where do
you think the V chord would be? Show
me on your piano.
If E-flat is the IV chord, F major is the V chord. Now
let's try all of those in sequence. The
I chord, there B-flat major, then Vi
chord G minor, then IV chord E-flat
major, V chord F major. Now press pause
and work on that chord progression. If
you want to get fancy with some
different rhythms feel free to
experiment, but get comfortable with
those chords on your own, then press play to go on.
Now let's add in the left hand. ...