Chord Change Formula 12 BMT Method

Chord Change Formula 12 BMT Method

How to use the BMT Method  by Rockmaster to change chords

Chord Change Formula 12 BMT Method

Chord Change Formula 12 BMT Method

Before we get into the method, let's see what we can do when we change chords on the keyboard.

The Power Of 2

The power of 2

There are 2 things that you can do on a keyboard when you change chords.

 1. You can move your fingers UP.
 2. You can move your fingers DowN. 

When you move your fingers UP

 1. You can move UP to a chord note.
 2. You can move UP to a non-chord note.

When you move your fingers DowN

 1. You can move DowN to a chord note.
 2. You can move DowN to a non-chord note.
Finger/Note       B = Bottom M = Middle T = Top
 
 X-X-X 
 B M T

When you move UP to a Chord note 

1. You can move the middle finger (M) UP to the top finger (T) 

 or the bottom finger (B) UP to the middle finger (M).

 ---> X-X-X 
    X-X-X

2. You can move the bottom finger (B) UP to the top finger (T).

 ---> X-X-X 
  X-X-X

When you move DowN to a Chord note 

1. You can move the top finger (T) DowN to the middle finger (M).

   X-X-X 
 X-X-X <---

2. You can move the top finger (T) DowN to the bottom finger (B).

     X-X-X 
 X-X-X <---


When you move UP to a non-chord note 

1. You can move the Middle finger (M) UP one note  
 or the bottom finger (B) UP one note.

 ---> X-X-X 
     X-X-X


2. You can move the bottom finger (B) UP to the note below the top finger (T). 

 ---> X-X-X 
   X-X-X


When you move DowN to a non-chord note

1. You can move the top finger (T) DowN one note
  or the bottom finger (B) DowN one note.

  X-X-X 
 X-X-X <---

2. You can move the top finger (T) DowN to the note above bottom finger (B).

    X-X-X 
 X-X-X <--- 
The Formula

Now that we know all the changes, let's create a formula for these changes.

Chord Change Formula 11
  
The next chord is a 3rd, 5th, or 7th (UP or DowN) away from the chord that you are holding.

For the chord that is a 3rd away you move one finger.

For the chord that is a 5th away you move two fingers.

For the chord that is a 7th away you move three fingers.
 
Just focus on the target note. 
With practice, the other fingers will fall into place.Chord Change Formula 12 BMT Method
Standard Method

At the start you may cross finger over or under similar to what you do when playing scales.
    
7th Away

Chords a 7th away are the easiest change to make. 
Chords a 7th away are adjacent chords.

7th UP

Move the top finger (T) down one note

 X-X-X
X-X-X         M+1 (T-1)   <----  T

or

Move the middle finger (M) down one note

 X-X-X
X-X-X          B+1  <----   M
7th DowN (2nd) 

Move the middle finger (M) up one note

 X-X-X       M ----->  T-1 (M+1)
X-X-X

3rd Away


3rd UP

Move to middle finger (M) up to the top finger (T)    

 ---> X-X-X       M ----> T 
    X-X-X 

3rd DowN

Move to top finger (T) down to the middle finger (M) 

   X-X-X 
 X-X-X             M  <---  T
5th Away

Ascending

Chord a 5th up.

The bottom note and the top note are a 5th apart, so you
 
Move the bottom finger (B) up to the top finger (T).

---> X-X-X        B  ---->  T
 X-X-X

But if you keep doing this you will move out of the chord range area of the keyboard.

Another way to get to the chord that is a 5th up is to 

Move the top finger (T) down to the note above the
bottom finger (B).

    X-X-X 
 X-X-X           B+1   <---  T


Descending

Chord a 5th down.

The bottom note and the top note are a 5th apart, so you 

Move the top finger (T) down to the bottom finger (B) 
position you have the chord that is a 5th down. 

     X-X-X 
 X-X-X        B  <---  T 


But if you keep doing this you will move out of the chord range area of the keyboard.

Another way to get to the chord that is a 5th down is to
 
Move the bottom finger (B) up to the note below the top finger (T).

B ---->  T-1        X-X-X
                 X-X-X
M --->   T+1

or
 
Move the bottom finger (B) up to the note above the middle finger (M).

or

Move the top finger (T) up to the note of the bottom finger (B) an octave up.

 ---> X-X-X 
 X-X-X
 

5th Summary

Ascending      B ---> T   or  B+1 <--- T

Descending     B <--- T   or  B ---> T-1
                             (M ---> T+1) 


The BMT formula is not for beginners. Beginners should start with Formula 1. 
You need to know chord shapes and intervals to use this formula.

Chord Change Formula 12 Examples

Chord Change Formula 12 BMT Method




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