LESSON 4: “THE NUMBER SYSTEM”
The number system can be as simple as you’d like it to be, or for the more advanced musicians, the
number system can be very complicated, yet rewarding at the same time. In music, there is generally a
bass line and chords that accompany the singer, group or band. Some songs only have 3 to 4 chords,
while other songs have more than 50 different chords. By the end of the video lesson, you will be able
to play all 8 chords, while only using 3 BASIC CHORDS!!! We recommend that you only learn 1 chord
number per day; however, if you’ve mastered the theory of mixing and matching chords with the right
hand over left hand bass notes, then progress as you’d like.
In this video, we will cover the numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8. If you haven’t already, please review
Lesson 2: “The Major Scale” before attempting to master this lesson on the Number System.
I have created a simple, yet complex way of playing the number system. Please note, that this is only a
template, and this is not the “gold standard” to playing the number system.
When playing the piano (without a bass player) you will generally play the bass note with your left hand,
and your right hand will generally play the chord to accompany the bass note. So, simply put – the left
hand plays the bass note and the right hand plays the chord. The bass note of the left hand is the
MOST important part, because that note tells you what number you are playing.
Also, don’t forget to use different inversion of the Major Chord, this will make it MUCH easier to move
around quicker through the different chords. For example, “C” Major Chord is (C+E+G)… or you could
also play that same chord by moving the “C” to the top, like this -> (E+G+C). This is called the 1st
Inversion. For the second Inversion, move the “E” to the top, like this -> (G+C+E).
I, personally, use the basic (C+E+G) chord a lot, but I also use the 2nd inversion just as much (G+C+E).
Let’s play the “1” chord in the key of “C”:
Using your left hand, play “C”. Now using the right hand, play a “C” Major chord (C+E+G). Be sure to
play all of the notes at the same time. We could simply describe this as playing 1 over 1; more precisely,
the “C” Major Chord in the right hand OVER “C” with the left hand.
Let’s play the “2” Chord in the key of “C”:
Using the left hand, play “D”. Now, using the right hand, play a “F” Major chord 2nd Inversion (C+F+A).
Be sure to play all of the notes at the same time. We could simply describe this as playing 4 over 2;
more precisely, the “F” Major Chord in the right hand OVER“D” with the left hand.
Let’s play the “3” chord in the key of “C”:
Using your left hand, play “E”. Now using the right hand, play a “C” Major chord (C+E+G). Be sure to
play all of the notes at the same time. We could simply describe this as playing 1 over 3; more precisely,
the “C” Major Chord in the right hand OVER “E” with the left hand.
Let’s play the “4” Chord in the key of “C”:
Using the left hand, play “F”. Now, using the right hand, play a “F” Major chord (C+F+A). Be sure to play
all of the notes at the same time. We could simply describe this as playing 4 over 4; more precisely, the
“F” Major Chord in the right hand OVER “F” with the left hand.
Let’s play the “5” Chord in the key of “C”:
Using the left hand, play “G”. Now, using the right hand, play a “G” Major chord (G+B+D). Be sure to
play all of the notes at the same time. We could simply describe this as playing 5 over 5; more precisely,
the “G” Major Chord in the right hand OVER “G” with the left hand.
Let’s play the “6” Chord in the key of “C”:
Using the left hand, play “A”. Now, using the right hand, play a “C” Major chord 2nd Inversion (G+C+E).
Be sure to play all of the notes at the same time. We could simply describe this as playing 1 over 6;
more precisely, the “C” Major Chord in the right hand OVER “A” with the left hand.
Let’s play the “7” Chord in the key of “C”:
Using the left hand, play “B”. Now, using the right hand, play a “G” Major chord (G+B+D). Be sure to
play all of the notes at the same time. We could simply describe this as playing 5 over 7; more precisely,
the “G” Major Chord in the right hand OVER “B” with the left hand.
Let’s play the “8” chord in the key of “C”:
Using your left hand, play “C”. Now using the right hand, play a “C” Major chord 2nd Inversion (G+C+E).
Be sure to play all of the notes at the same time. We could simply describe this as playing 1 over 8;
more precisely, the “C” Major Chord in the right hand OVER “C” with the left hand. *If you haven’t
noticed already, this is the same as playing the “1” Chord. That’s right, “1” and “8” are exactly the same,
with the exception of the “1 “in the left hand is lower, and the “8” is higher (also known as an octave). If
this is confusing, please refer to Lesson 2: “The Major Scale”.
Right Hand Chord
Using fractions, this is what the number system looks like: Left Hand Bass Note
1 Chord 4 Chord
The (1) chord: 1 Bass Note The (2) chord: 2 Bass Note
1 Chord 4 Chord
The (3) chord: 3 Bass Note The (4) chord: 4 Bass Note
5 Chord 1 Chord
The (5) chord: 5 Bass Note The (6) chord: 6 Base Note
5 Chord 1 Chord
The (7) chord: 7 Base Note The (8) chord: 8 Base Note
In the key of “C”:
C Major Chord F Major Chord
The 1 chord: C Bass Note The 2 chord: D Bass Note
C Major Chord F Major Chord
The 3 chord: E Bass Note The 4 chord: F Bass Note
G Major Chord C Major Chord
The 5 chord: G Bass Note The 6 chord: A Bass Note
G Major Chord C Major Chord
The 7 chord: B Bass Note The 8 chord: C Bass Note
In the key of “F”:
F Major Chord Bb Major Chord
The 1 chord: F Bass Note The 2 chord: G Bass Note
F Major Chord Bb Major Chord
The 3 chord: A Bass Note The 4 chord: Bb Bass Note
C Major Chord F Major Chord
The 5 chord: C Bass Note The 6 chord: D Bass Note
C Major Chord F Major Chord
The 7 chord: E Bass Note The 8 chord: F Bass Note
In the key of “Bb” (Also, called A#):
Bb Major Chord Eb Major Chord
The 1 chord: Bb Bass Note The 2 chord: C Bass Note
Bb Major Chord Eb Major Chord
The 3 chord: D Bass Note The 4 chord: Eb Bass Note
F Major Chord Bb Major Chord
The 5 chord: F Bass Note The 6 chord: G Bass Note
F Major Chord Bb Major Chord
The 7 chord: A Bass Note The 8 chord: Bb Bass Note
In the key of “Eb” (Also, called D#):
Eb Major Chord Ab Major Chord
The 1 chord: Eb Bass Note The 2 chord: F Bass Note
Eb Major Chord Ab Major Chord
The 3 chord: G Bass Note The 4 chord: Ab Bass Note
Bb Major Chord Eb Major Chord
The 5 chord: Bb Bass Note The 6 chord: C Bass Note
Bb Major Chord Eb Major Chord
The 7 chord: D Bass Note The 8 chord: Eb Bass Note
In the key of “Ab” (Also, called G#):
Ab Major Chord Db Major Chord
The 1 chord: Ab Bass Note The 2 chord: Bb Bass Note
Ab Major Chord Db Major Chord
The 3 chord: C Bass Note The 4 chord: Db Bass Note
Eb Major Chord Ab Major Chord
The 5 chord: Eb Bass Note The 6 chord: F Bass Note
Eb Major Chord Ab Major Chord
The 7 chord: G Bass Note The 8 chord: Ab Bass Note
In the key of “Db” (Also, called C#):
Db Major Chord Gb Major Chord
The 1 chord: Db Bass Note The 2 chord: Eb Bass Note
Db Major Chord Gb Major Chord
The 3 chord: F Bass Note The 4 chord: Gb Bass Note
Ab Major Chord Db Major Chord
The 5 chord: Ab Bass Note The 6 chord: Bb Bass Note
Ab Major Chord Db Major Chord
The 7 chord: C Bass Note The 8 chord: Db Bass Note
In the key of “Gb” (Also, called F#):
Gb Major Chord B Major Chord
The 1 chord: Gb Bass Note The 2 chord: Ab Bass Note
Gb Major Chord B Major Chord
The 3 chord: Bb Bass Note The 4 chord: B Bass Note
Db Major Chord Gb Major Chord
The 5 chord: Db Bass Note The 6 chord: Eb Bass Note
Db Major Chord Gb Major Chord
The 7 chord: F Bass Note The 8 chord: Gb Bass Note
In the key of “B”:
B Major Chord E Major Chord
The 1 chord: B Bass Note The 2 chord: C# Bass Note
B Major Chord E Major Chord
The 3 chord: D# Bass Note The 4 chord: E Bass Note
F# Major Chord B Major Chord
The 5 chord: F# Bass Note The 6 chord: G# Bass Note
F# Major Chord B Major Chord
The 7 chord: A# Bass Note The 8 chord: B Bass Note
In the key of “E”:
E Major Chord A Major Chord
The 1 chord: E Bass Note The 2 chord: F# Bass Note
E Major Chord A Major Chord
The 3 chord: G# Bass Note The 4 chord: A Bass Note
B Major Chord E Major Chord
The 5 chord: B Bass Note The 6 chord: C# Bass Note
B Major Chord E Major Chord
The 7 chord: D# Bass Note The 8 chord: E Bass Note
In the key of “A”:
A Major Chord D Major Chord
The 1 chord: A Bass Note The 2 chord: B Bass Note
A Major Chord D Major Chord
The 3 chord: C# Bass Note The 4 chord: D Bass Note
E Major Chord A Major Chord
The 5 chord: E Bass Note The 6 chord: F# Bass Note
E Major Chord A Major Chord
The 7 chord: G# Bass Note The 8 chord: A Bass Note
In the key of “D”:
D Major Chord G Major Chord
The 1 chord: D Bass Note The 2 chord: E Bass Note
D Major Chord G Major Chord
The 3 chord: F# Bass Note The 4 chord: G Bass Note
A Major Chord D Major Chord
The 5 chord: A Bass Note The 6 chord: B Bass Note
A Major Chord D Major Chord
The 7 chord: C# Bass Note The 8 chord: D Bass Note
In the key of “G”:
G Major Chord C Major Chord
The 1 chord: G Bass Note The 2 chord: A Bass Note
G Major Chord C Major Chord
The 3 chord: B Bass Note The 4 chord: C Bass Note
D Major Chord G Major Chord
The 5 chord: D Bass Note The 6 chord: E Bass Note
D Major Chord G Major Chord
The 7 chord: F# Bass Note The 8 chord: G Bass Note
Now, that you have mastered playing 1 – 8, using the number system (in ALL 12 keys), let’s use them in a
familiar song – “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star”. It also sounds like the song, “The Alphabet Song”; you
know – the one that children sing to learn the English Alphabet. The words to the song are on top, and
the accompaniment chords are underneath the corresponding words.
LEVEL 1:
Twinkle, twinkle, little star, How I wonder what you are.
(1) (4) (1) (4) (5) (5) (1)
Up above the world so high, Like a diamond in the sky.
(5) (5) (5) (5)
Twinkle, twinkle, little star, How I wonder what you are.
(1) (1) (4) (1) (4) (5) (5) (1)
LEVEL 2:
Twinkle, twinkle, little star, How I wonder what you are.
(1) (3) (4) (3) (4) (3) (2) (1)
Up above the world so high, Like a diamond in the sky.
(7) (6) (5) (4) (3) (2) (1) (7)
Twinkle, twinkle, little star, How I wonder what you are.
(6) (5) (4) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8)
Instead of playing the single bass note with the left hand, we will now play left hand arpeggios.
While holding the chord with your right hand, press and hold the sustain pedal – then play the notes
upward (ONE ,AFTER,THE,NEXT) with your left hand.
In the key of “C”:
C Major Chord F Major Chord
The 1 chord: (C,G,C,D,E) The 2 chord: (D,A,D,E,F)
C Major Chord F Major Chord
The 3 chord: (E,G,C,D,E) The 4 chord: (F,C,F,G,A)
G Major Chord C Major Chord
The 5 chord: (G,D,G,A,B) The 6 chord: (A,E,A,B,C)
G Major Chord C Major Chord
The 7 chord: (B,D,G,A,B) The 8 chord: (C,G,C,D,E)
You’re probably wondering how to create the left hand arpeggios on your own; after all, this is a “PLAY
LIKE YOU” piano series. That’s completely up to you, as to what notes you choose.
Remember, this is simply a template, so feel free to create and/or rearrange your own arpeggio pattern
of notes.
Right Hand Chord
Using fractions, this is what the number system with arpeggios looks like: Left Hand Arpeggio Notes
1 Chord 4 Chord
The 1 chord: (1,5,1,2,3) The 2 chord: (2,6,2,3,4)
1 Chord 4 Chord
The 3 chord: (3,5,1,2,3) The 4 chord: (4,1,4,5,6)
5 Chord 1 Chord
The 5 chord: (5,2,5,6,7) The 6 chord: (6,3,6,7,8)
5 Chord 1 Chord
The 7 chord: (7,2,5,6,7) The 8 chord: (1,5,1,2,3)
For a challenge, go back to the song, “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star” and plug in the left hand arpeggios
while playing the chords with the right hand. It sounds best when played very slowly, without a
rhythm or tempo. This will be quite difficult for most of you (especially LEVEL 2), but over time (with
practice) this will become much easier to play.
