15 Chromatic Chord Crawl
Moving chromatically around the keyboard is essential for accompanying vocal warm-ups. It also reinforces triad comprehension.
15.1
Start by tracing the chromatic scale with the thumb alone in the right hand.
15.2
Now add finger 5 to form a perfect fifth. As you move up chromatically from C, you will observe that most fifths comprise either two white keys or two black keys. Which two fifths include one white key and one black key?
Practice with the metronome and use the rest to move your hand to the next position.
15.3
Repeat these steps for LH.
15.4
15.5
Then practice hands together. Say aloud whether the fifths are “white,” “black,” and “both.”
15.6
After becoming comfortable with perfect fifths, you can add a third to form major triads. This exercise would be a helpful warm up:
15.7
Then play major triads in both hands:
Practice saying the name of the triad before you play it, as shown here:
