Piece boardStage 1 · FoundationsPlayQuick win
#1Updated Nov 09, 2026

C major · 4/4

Let It Be

The Beatles

Core skills

Major/minor triads, chord changes, root-note bass, inversions, melody over accompaniment.

Current passage

Verse loop with comfortable inversions

Obstacle

Add melody without losing pulse in the accompaniment

Next actions

  • Two versions: roots+triads, then smoother inversions
  • Use Session 1 score trail if you want a guided first night
E01
Four-chord loop without stopping
Triads, chord changes and pulse.
#piano#repertoire#stage-1#e01

Why this piece

Its familiar, mostly diatonic harmony makes it easy to hear when a chord change should happen. The opening progression is a practical laboratory for learning where triads sit on the keyboard: the harmony is recognizable enough that you can concentrate on technique rather than deciphering the song.

Musical profile

  • Key / tonal centre: C major
  • Meter: 4/4
  • Suggested version: Simplified piano accompaniment; add the vocal melody later.

Representative harmony

Verse core: C – G – Am – F (I–V–vi–IV); the chorus uses variants rather than exactly the same loop.

Practice loop

I:4 | V:4 | vi:4 | IV:4

What to listen for

Compare G → Am with C → G: the chord root and the voice-leading motion are different even where the pop texture is similar.

What to learn

Start with right-hand block chords and left-hand single bass notes, keeping four steady beats per bar. Next, replace some right-hand root-position chords with inversions so the top notes move less. Finally, play or sing the vocal melody while the accompaniment continues. Notice how using an inversion changes the physical movement without changing the underlying chord.

Practice checkpoint

Play the verse progression without looking down for every change, keeping a continuous pulse; then play it again using at least two inversions.

Diagnostic drill · E01 — Four-chord loop without stopping

Target: Triads, chord changes and pulse.
Drill key / meter: C major · 4/4

Use this only when it addresses the current bottleneck. Skip it when the skill is already ready.

Steps

  1. LH plays one bass note on beat 1 of each bar: C3 | G2 | A2 | F2.
  2. RH plays these chords on beats 1 and 3: C–E–G | G–B–D | A–C–E | F–A–C. Sustain or release together; do not let the hands race to the next chord.
  3. Repeat the four-bar loop without stopping. Then use closer RH voicings: C–E–G → B–D–G → C–E–A → C–F–A.

Ear task: Sing each bass root before playing it.

Transfer: Apply the closer voicings to the verse of Let It Be.

Drill checkpoint: Eight bars in time at a comfortable speed (perhaps ♩ = 60–72), with two chord inversions and no pause between bars.

Guided trail

For a score-led first night, use Session 1: Let It Be.