Flat Signs
This is a flat sign. When a flat sign is placed before a note on the staff, it means that you play the key immediately to its left. This key may be either black or white. The note B flat (written as Bb) is shown on the following staff in both treble and bass.
The Note B Flat
These Bb notes are written on the third line of the treble staff and above the second line of the bass staff. The Bb note is the black key immediately to the left of the B note, as shown in the diagram.
This piece uses both the Bb notes just shown. Playing single note lines with both hands is often more difficult than a melody accompanied by chords. Practice each hand separately if you need to.
The C7 Chord
Practice changing between the chords F and C7 with both hands as shown here.
Key Signature of F Major
Instead of writing the flat sign before every B note on the staff, one flat sign can be written after each clef. This means that all B notes on the staff are played as Bb, even though there is no flat sign written before them. This is the key signature for the key of F major. There is one flat sign after each clef.
Here is a new version of the song you learned in lesson 4, this time in the key of F major. Notice the use of F and C7 played as broken chords in the left hand part.
The B Flat Major Chord
To play the Bb chord, use the first, second and fifth fingers of your left hand as shown in the Bb chord diagram. Practice changing between F and Bb and also Bb and C7.
Notice the quick changes between F and Bb in this song. This style of accompaniment is common in Blues and Boogie piano playing. These styles will be dealt with later in the book.
