Nathaniel School of Music

Modern Pop Piano Chord Exercise: Spread Voicings, Intervals and Odd Meter (Bm–D–F#m–E)

This exercise plays the Bm–D–F#m–E progression (ii–IV–vi–V in A major) as root–fifth–tenth spread voicings in a 3/4 arpeggio, changes the last eighth note into each diatonic interval above the top note, then regroups the pattern into odd meters such as 4+3.

Video lesson by Jason Zac · Intermediate · 25 min

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Key points

What this lesson teaches

In this all-round exercise, Jason Zac of Nathaniel School of Music uses one modern dance-pop progression to train three skills at once: spread (open) chord voicings, diatonic intervals and odd time signatures. It suits intermediate pianists, but the ideas came from guitar and bass and are useful for any musician.

Step 1: Understand spread voicings

A close triad (1-3-5) sounds muddy when played low on the piano. A spread voicing fixes this: take the middle note of the chord and move it up an octave. The result is root, fifth, then the third an octave higher. That upper third is called a tenth, because counting past the octave (8) gives 9 and then 10.

Spread chords sound clear in almost any register, even very low.

Step 2: Learn the progression

The chords come from the three-sharp scale. You could treat it as F# minor, but the lesson thinks in A major:

This kind of progression is common in dance pop, including music by Daft Punk. Start by splitting each voicing across two hands. Then try it in one hand, using the sustain pedal so the root keeps ringing.

Step 3: Make a 3/4 arpeggio pattern

Play each chord as an arpeggio in 3/4, counted one and two and three and. That gives six eighth notes per bar. Keep the left-hand pinky holding the root for the whole bar.

Don't confuse this with 6/8. Here you feel three strong beats, while 6/8 has two strong beats (1 and 4 of six).

Step 4: Add dynamics

Once the pattern is comfortable, develop it in four ways:

  1. Crescendo: let the volume swell up and down.
  2. Follow an imaginary drummer: play louder where the snare (or open hi-hats) would land.
  3. Legato and staccato: switch between smooth and detached playing.
  4. Registers: move the pattern around the keyboard. Each region has its own feel.

Step 5: Interval embellishments

On the last eighth note of each bar, replace the expected chord tone with a new note. Choose it as an interval above the chord's top note, always using notes of the A major scale. The top notes are D, F#, A and G#.

Avoid accidentals such as D# or G natural, because they fall outside the scale.

Where you can, let the embellishing note ring a little longer. You may need some unusual finger juggling. The pedal works too, but holding with the fingers sounds cleaner. Let your ear decide, not how tidy your hands look.

Step 6: Odd time signatures

Finally, regroup the pattern into other meters:

The last note of each group can still carry an interval embellishment.

How to practise

Work slowly through each stage:

  1. Voicings with two hands, then with one hand.
  2. The 3/4 pattern.
  3. Dynamics.
  4. One interval type at a time.
  5. Odd meters.

Over the following days and weeks, repeat the interval stage in other major scales.

Questions about this lesson

What is a spread voicing on piano?

It is a triad with its middle note moved up an octave, giving root, fifth and a tenth. For B minor that means B, F# and the higher D. It sounds open and avoids the muddiness of close triads played low.

What key is Bm–D–F#m–E in?

All four chords belong to the three-sharp scale, so the key could be F# minor or A major. Thinking in A major, the chords are ii, IV, vi and V.

Why is there a diminished fifth in the interval exercise?

A fifth above G# that stays in A major is D, which makes a diminished fifth. Every major scale has one diminished fifth, built on its seventh degree. Using D# instead would bring in a note outside the scale.

How do I count 7 so it feels less confusing?

Break it into smaller groups, such as 4+3 (one two three four, one two three) or 3+4. Each grouping gives the pattern a different groove.

Practise it

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