An introduction to the keyboard and how to use Gigajam's lessons and software. If you are new to Gigajam or to the keyboard, start here.

This lesson starts by explaining the layout of the keyboard. You will then learn how to form chords with your right hand. By the end of the lesson you will have learned how to play the chords of A and G. You will use these chords with a variety of rhythms using whole, half and quarter notes.

This lesson introduces the scales of A and G. You will be shown how to play scales with the correct fingering technique.

You will develop the skills learned in lessons 1 and 2 to build triads and scales for the chords of C and D. You will learn to play with you left hand. The lesson will introduce you to the bass clef.

You will use both hands together and develop greater control of finger and hand coordination. You will play chords with your left hand whilst playing scales with your right hand. This will help you to develop the skills needed to be able to play melodies over chords. You will be introduced to eighth notes.

In this lesson you will learn about chord inversions. This will help to increase your understanding of the chords you have learned so far. You will develop a greater control of the keyboard and be able to play chord progressions with economy of movement.

Here we review all material learned so far and end the first part of our study of major chords and scales. We use the knowledge and skills we have developed to learn to play all natural major chords and scales by specifically adding the chords of F, E, and B to our library.

In this introductory lesson to minor chords, we study the differences between minor and major whilst learning how to play A minor as right and left hand triads and arpeggios with a variety of rhythms.

Here we introduce the minor scale for A and then learn how to transfer the knowledge gained to create minor scales for all natural notes.

Lesson 9 takes the knowledge acquired in lesson 8 and uses it to develop the formation of minor triads. By the end of this lesson you will be able to play all major and minor triads and scales with both hands on all natural notes.

Learn how to play with a professional band, whilst reading a keyboard chart. This lesson completes your Level 1 in Essential Keyboard Skills with GigajamOnline Keyboard School.

Watch the The First Time being performed by the Gigajam band, made up of the course authors, and learn a little about some of the skills required to work together in a professional situation.

This lesson begins our study of rhythm incorporating rests. We will begin to study their appearance, note values and how they are played to create and enhance rhythms. At the end of this lesson you will be able to play a variety of rhythms incorporating quarter notes rests.

In this lesson we will introduce the concept of melody and begin to play simple melody lines using quarter notes. The use of melody will require you to develop greater two-hand co-ordination and we will also build upon rhythm by incorporating rests. We will also include a brief introduction to the use of keys and keys signatures to develop your theory and reading skills.

Lesson 13 builds upon the skill developed in Lesson 11, except here we introduce eighth note rests. As a result, you will develop greater skill in being able to understand, read and play rhythm.

Here we are going to build upon our introduction to melody in lesson 12 and move the ideas on by incorporating more rhythm and more reading, by specifically incorporating a variety of rests into the exercises. Lesson 12 uses major scales. In this lesson we shall look at minor scales for our melodies.

In this lesson we are going to look at how to play different arpeggio patterns using triads. This will develop strong two hand co-ordination and also the technical ability with which to play melodies.

This lesson builds on the use of arpeggios and brings in the use of eighth notes. The focus is on strong co-ordination, timekeeping, fluency and remembering the triad shapes and notes.

This part of the course is attempting to develop your reading and musical knowledge to a level that will provide a great deal of the foundation skills essential to becoming a proficient musician. In this lesson you will learn anmd understand the role of Dots in music, how they appear, how they are used and how you read them, play them and understand their value in terms of note lengths.

Having introduced the concepts of dots in the previous lesson we now progress through a series of sophisticated rhythm exercises, utilising many different combinations of note vales including dotted notes and rests. The exercises focus on developing these newly acquired skills, along with using melody.

Here we are preparing for the performance piece and need to be able to understand and play power chords. The application of the skills learned through this level will come strongly into play when developing power chords and there is a strong use of two hand co-ordination in the exercises.

Play with a professional band, whilst reading a keyboard chart. This lesson can go towards your Level Two in Essential Keyboard Skills with GigajamOnline Keyboard School.

In this lesson there is a close look at intervals. You will learn to play melodic intervals and thirds throughout the lesson. The 16 exercises take you through a step by step approach to ensure that you have both an understanding of intervals and also the ability to play them with both hands using a variety of scales.

Lesson 22 builds upon the knowledge and skills introduced in Lesson 21 and moves on to introduce harmonic intervals. In this lesson there are 14 exercises which will help you develop your understanding and physical ability to play intervals comfortably. You will also be able to transfer the skill using a variety of scales.

As we take stock of the new information introduced at the beginning of level 3 we consolidate and develop intervals by introducing minor thirds. The 17 exercises ensure that you are comfortable playing minor thirds and are able to transfer the skill using a variety of scales.

Building directly upon the skills developed in Lesson 23 you will learn to be able to play minor thirds as harmonic intervals. You have 14 exercises that will help you develop your performance of the scales and rhythms whilst further improving hand coordination.

This lesson turns to the development of your rhythmic playing with the introduction of ties. By the end of Lesson 25 you will understand what ties are, what they look like and how they affect a note and the rhythm it creates. You will also develop ways if reading ties effectively. Over the lesson’s 10 exercises you will have a good opportunity to practise playing ties in both melody and chords.

Building directly on from Lesson 25 this lesson develops ties by introducing eighths notes into the rhythms. The lesson will combine dots and ties to help develop your understanding of the creation of rhythm using different notation and help your reading. Lesson 26 contains 10 exercises focused on developing the new skills you are learning.

Lesson 27 is focused entirely on developing the rhythmic side of your playing with the introduction of triplets. You will understand how triplet eighth notes divide the beat and be able to count and play triplet eighth notes.

This lesson introduces the idea of using broken chords and open voicing to develop your sound as well as helping you create fluency in your playing. This builds upon many elements introduced through the course but specifically develops your ability to play arpeggios with great effect with both hands.

This lesson is very practical and shows some of the steps you could take to create a keyboard part. Building upon the use of a 12 bar progression you will develop your keyboard playing using a variety of developed skills and different rhythms.

In Lesson 30 we have a song to play which as always is designed to build upon many of the skills learned through the course. You will be able to play along with a professional band, whilst reading a keyboard chart. This lesson can go towards your level three in Essential Keyboard Skills with GigajamOnline Keyboard School.