Relative Finger Position Method for Piano (RFPM)
Relative Finger Position Method for Piano Chord Changing (RFPM)
Relative Finger Position Method for Piano Chord Changing (RFPM)
This Relative Finger Position Method for Piano Chord Changing (RFPM) chord changing method is for Standard and RockStyle Piano Chord Changing.
The Relative Finger Position Method for Piano Chord Changing (RFPM) is an extension of The Circle Of Fifths.
In the Circle Of Fifths you learned how to change to chords a fifth away.
But you also want to change the chords that are not a fifth away (second, third, fourth, sixth, seventh).
This formula will show you how to skip to those chords while still working in the Circle Of Fifths.
So you will be able move through the Circle Of Fifths and skip through the Circle Of Fifths.
Please familiarize yourself with The Circle Of Fifths before you attempt this method.
The Formula
For chord changing you need to remember only three intervals (3rd, 5th, 7th).
After you finger the first chord, every other chord is a 3rd, 5th, or 7th away from the chord that you are fingering.
Chords a 5th (4th) away
You covered that in The Circle Of Fifths.
Chords a 7th (2nd) away
You don’t need a formula for chords that are a 7th or 2nd away.
Chords a 7th or 2nd away are adjacent chords. Just move three fingers up or down one note.
/ > X – X – X 7th down (2nd up)
/ X – X – X
/ X – X – X < 7th up (2nd down)
Chords a 3rd (6th) away Left Hand (LH)
Move the middle finger (M) up to the note of the top finger (T).
M > T > X – X – X 3rd up
/ X – X – X
M < T X – X – X < 3rd down or 6th up
Move the top finger (T) down to the note of the middle finger (M).
Chords a 3rd (6th) away Right Hand (RH)
Move the Bottom finger (B) up to the note of the Middle finger (M).
B > M > X – X – X 3rd up
/ X – X – X
B < M X – X – X < 3rd down or 6th up
Move the Middle finger (M) down to the note of the Bottom finger (B).
The logic of the Relative Finger Position Method (RFPM)
After you form the first chord (triad) which is normally the I chord (tonic chord), all the other chords will fall between the Bottom finger (B) and the Top finger (T).
II III IV V (Bot. finger on root)
X – X – X
B M T
IV V VI VII (Top finger on 5th)So you will now be able to play without looking at the keyboard.
Is this the method that blind people use to play the piano?
When you change chord just slightly delay moving your finger from the target key to get the next finger in place.
Don’t worry about the other fingers, with practice they will fall into place.
Additional Discussion
Musical Intervals
Music has 6 intervals
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
. 2nd , 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th.
The piano keyboard is linear so 7 is farthest from 1.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
But music is circular
/ 1
/ 7 2
/ 6 3
/ 5 4
So 7 is adjacent to 1, not farthest away from 1.
The only intervals that you need to remember are 3, 5, 7.
So what about 2, 4, 6?
2 is 7 going in the opposite direction
6 is 3 going in the opposite direction
4 is 5 going in the opposite direction
So the only intervals you need to remember are 3, 5, 7.
Observations
If the next chord is only one letter away it is a 2nd or 7th away.
C > D or
B < C If the next chord is 2 letters away it is a 3rd up or a 3rd down (6th) C > E or
A < C If the next chord is more than 2 letters away it is a 5th away C > G or
F < C
For major and minor chords (most of the chords you will play) :
If the bottom note is a white key, the top note will also be a white key except for B.
If the bottom note is a black key, the top note will also be a black key except for Bb.
Play songs using Circle Of Fifths
Relative Finger Position Method for Piano Chord Changing (RFPM)
