The 867-5309 Secret to Smooth Chord Transitions & Unlimited Creativity for Pianists

Want to unlock smooth chord transitions and unlimited freedom in your piano playing but don’t know where to start?

I’ve been there, and over the past 15 years, I’ve transformed my playing with the help of this powerful tool: the 7-3-6-2-5-1-4 sequence.

If I were starting over today, here’s exactly what I would do to see improvement in just a few weeks to months, helping you play more confidently, and discover new musical ideas.

Step #1: Start in the Key of C Major

The key of C Major is the perfect place to begin since it has no sharps or flats, making it visually simple on the keyboard.

• Play the C Major scale with your right hand, starting on C, and call out each note (C, D, E, F, G, A, B, C) as you play it slowly to familiarize yourself.

• Play the scale again, but this time, call out the number associated with each note (C = 1, D = 2, E = 3, etc.). This will help you connect the notes to numbers.

• Practice this until you can play the scale smoothly and confidently while associating each note with its number.

Step #2: Memorize the 7-3-6-2-5-1-4 Sequence

This sequence is the foundation for creating smooth passing chords that will elevate your transitions.

• A fun way to remember it? Sing these numbers to the tune of 867-5309/Jenny—yes, really! It’s catchy, and you’ll never forget it.

• Use repetition to lock the sequence into your muscle memory. Practice saying or playing it multiple times a day.

• Challenge yourself by thinking of a number in the sequence and immediately playing the chord associated with that number. For example, if you think "7," play the B diminished chord (in the key of C Major). Do this until switching between chords becomes second nature.

Step #3: Practice the Sequence & Label a Simple Pop Song

Now that you’ve memorized the 7-3-6-2-5-1-4 sequence, it’s time to put it into practice by labeling a simple pop song in the key of C with the proper numbers.

• Choose a song like “Let It Be” by The Beatles or any other pop song in the key of C. The chord progression for the verse of "Let It Be" is C → G → Am → F.

• Using the number system, label each chord: C = 1, G = 5, Am = 6, F = 4. So, the progression becomes 1 → 5 → 6 → 4.

• To add a passing chord from our 7-3-6-2-5-1-4 sequence, look at the next chord in the song (for example, the 5 chord). Then, use the chord that comes just before it in the sequence (in this case, the 2 chord) as your passing chord. Play the 2 chord right before the 5 chord to create a smoother transition. Repeat this process for other places you'd like to place a passing chord in this or any other song.

That’s it for this week!

Focus on these steps to get comfortable with the 7-3-6-2-5-1-4 sequence and notice how it begins to improve your transitions. But this is just the beginning and we’ve really only scratched the surface.

Next week, we’ll dive into an even more advanced way to unlock your creative potential using this progression.

Stay tuned—there’s so much more to explore together!

Whenever you’re ready, here’s how I can help you:

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