Piano Cheat Sheets
by Wade McNutt
© Wade McNutt. Life In a Nutt Shell Publishing 2012.
Table of Contents
Introduction
How to Use “Cheat Sheets”
Getting Started
The Key of C........................................................................................... 1
The Key of D........................................................................................... 2
The Key of E........................................................................................... 3
The Key of F........................................................................................... 4
The Key of G.......................................................................................... 5
The Key of A........................................................................................... 6
The Key of B........................................................................................... 7
The Key of Bb......................................................................................... 8
The Key of Eb......................................................................................... 9
The Key of Ab....................................................................................... 10
The Key of Db........................................................................................11
The Key of Gb...................................................................................... 12
The Key of F#....................................................................................... 13
Introduction
There are many ways to do things...and on the piano there are seemingly billions! The forest of black
and white keys can be very daunting for a person who is new to the piano, but there is good news...you
have a Cheat Sheet!
Each page will have:
• A KEY represented in the title and at the top left with a SCALE.
• The COMMON CHORDS that go along with that key and a professional way to play them.
• A GOING PRO section to take you to the next level with: The PENTATONIC SCALE and how to
play it (wonderful scale to use for improvisation) and NASHVILLE NUMBERS to get you to start
thinking in numbers.
DISCLAIMER: Even though I am calling these “Cheat Sheets” you should not feel remorse or the sudden urge to hide them when someone walks by...though it still might be fun to tape them to the seat in
front of you. That was a joke.
How to Use “Cheat Sheets”
With YouTube Video Lessons
These “cheat sheets” were specifically designed to go along with my FREE YouTube videos. You can
find these videos on the “pianomeditation” channel. You can also find an organized list of all of the
videos at the website pianomeditation.com. Just click on FREE LESSONS.
Without YouTube Video Lessons
Learn each KEY and memorize all of the chords and scales.
-orWork on a Song. Figure out what KEY that song is in. One way to do this is to look at the chords of
that song and see which page of chords from your “cheat sheets” matches it the best. After a while you
will notice that certain groups of chords seem to go together often...and that is a KEY!
*Memorize the chords needed for that song.
*GO PRO and learn the Pentatonic Scale and Nashville Numbers!
Getting Started
Go to pianomeditation.com and click on FREE LESSONS. On that page you will find a video link called
“Getting Started with Cheat Sheets.” Watch this video to better understand “cheat sheets” and how to
use them effectively.
The Key of
1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5
C
Piano Che a t She e ts
Song:
Chords for this song:
= Root Note
C
5
1
3
5
5
1
G
1
2
5
5
1
Em
1
1
3
5
Dm
1
5
= Right Hand
F
1
5
= Left Hand
1
3
5
Am
1
3
5
5
1
1
2
5
NOTES:
GOING PRO
Pentatonic Scale
1
C
1 2 3
2 -
Dm
Nashville Numbers
3 4
5
Em
F
G
6 -
7 º
Am Bdim
1 2
Go to pianomeditation.com and the “pianomediatation” channel on YouTube for FREE lessons
© Wade McNutt. Life In a Nutt Shell Publishing 2012.
1
3
1 2
The Key of
4
5
1 2 3
D
Piano Che a t She e ts
Song:
Chords for this song:
= Root Note
D
= Left Hand
= Right Hand
G
1
5
2
1
5
5
1
1
A
3
5
Em
3
5
1
1
1
5
5
F#m
5
1
1
2
5
Bm
2
5
1
1
5
5
1
3
NOTES:
GOING PRO
Pentatonic Scale
D
3
1 2
1
2 -
Em
Nashville Numbers
3 4
5
F#m
G
A
6 -
Bm C#dim
1 2
Go to pianomeditation.com and the “pianomediatation” channel on YouTube for FREE lessons
2
© Wade McNutt. Life In a Nutt Shell Publishing 2012.
7 º
2 3
1
The Key of
3 4
1 2
5
E
Piano Che a t She e ts
Song:
Chords for this song:
= Root Note
E
= Left Hand
A
1
5
1
3
2
5
5
1
B
1
5
F#m
1
3
5
5
5
1
2
1
1
5
1
G#m
5
= Right Hand
C#m
2
5
5
1
1
3
5
1
NOTES:
GOING PRO
Pentatonic Scale
2 3
1
2
1
E
2 -
F#m
Nashville Numbers
3 4
5
G#m
A
B
6 -
7 º
C#m D#dim
1
Go to pianomeditation.com and the “pianomediatation” channel on YouTube for FREE lessons
© Wade McNutt. Life In a Nutt Shell Publishing 2012.
3
The Key of
4
1 2 3
1 2 3 4
F
Piano Che a t She e ts
Song:
Chords for this song:
= Root Note
F
= Right Hand
Bb
5
5
= Left Hand
1
1
2
1
1
5
C
3
5
Gm
1
5
1
1
3
5
5
1
Am
5
1
1
2
5
Dm
3
5
5
1
1
3
5
NOTES:
GOING PRO
Pentatonic Scale
1
F
1 2 3
2 -
Gm
Nashville Numbers
3 4
5
Am
Bb
C
6 -
Dm
1 2
Go to pianomeditation.com and the “pianomediatation” channel on YouTube for FREE lessons
4
© Wade McNutt. Life In a Nutt Shell Publishing 2012.
7 º
Edim
The Key of
4
1 2 3 1 2 3
5
G
Piano Che a t She e ts
Song:
Chords for this song:
= Root Note
G
5
= Left Hand
= Right Hand
C
1
1
5
2
5
D
1
1
3
3
5
5
Am
5
5
1
1
3
5
Bm
1
Em
1
5
1
5
1
5
3
1
1
3
5
NOTES:
GOING PRO
Pentatonic Scale
1
G
1 2 3
2 -
Am
Nashville Numbers
3 4
5
Bm
C
D
6 -
Em
7 º
F#dim
1 2
Go to pianomeditation.com and the “pianomediatation” channel on YouTube for FREE lessons
© Wade McNutt. Life In a Nutt Shell Publishing 2012.
5
3
1 2
The Key of
3 4
1 2
5
A
Piano Che a t She e ts
Song:
Chords for this song:
= Root Note
A
= Left Hand
D
3
5
1
1
5
5
5
1
E
1
1
1
2
5
1
1
5
5
C#m
5
3
Bm
1
5
= Right Hand
1
3
F#m
3
5
1
5
2
5
1
NOTES:
GOING PRO
Pentatonic Scale
3
1 2
1
2
A
2 -
Bm
Nashville Numbers
3 4
5
C#m
D
E
6 -
F#m G#dim
1
Go to pianomeditation.com and the “pianomediatation” channel on YouTube for FREE lessons
6
© Wade McNutt. Life In a Nutt Shell Publishing 2012.
7 º
2 3
1
The Key of
2 3 4
1
5
B
Piano Che a t She e ts
Song:
Chords for this song:
= Root Note
B
3
5
5
5
1
1
5
F#
1
= Right Hand
E
1
5
= Left Hand
1
3
C#m
1
2
5
5
1
1
3
5
D#m
5
1
1
G#m
3
5
5
1
2
5
1
NOTES:
GOING PRO
Pentatonic Scale
2 3
1
1 2
B
2 -
C#m
Nashville Numbers
3 4
5
D#m
E
F#
6 -
7 º
G#m A#dim
1
Go to pianomeditation.com and the “pianomediatation” channel on YouTube for FREE lessons
© Wade McNutt. Life In a Nutt Shell Publishing 2012.
7
2
3
1 2
The Key of
4
1 2 3
Bb
Piano Che a t She e ts
Song:
Chords for this song:
= Root Note
Bb
= Left Hand
= Right Hand
Eb
5
1
5
1
3
1
1
3
5
5
F
Cm
3
5
1
1
2
5
5
1
1
Dm
5
Gm
1
5
1
1
3
5
1
5
2
5
NOTES:
GOING PRO
Pentatonic Scale
1
Bb
1
2 3
2 -
Cm
Nashville Numbers
3 4
5
Dm
Eb
F
6 -
Gm
1 2
Go to pianomeditation.com and the “pianomediatation” channel on YouTube for FREE lessons
8
© Wade McNutt. Life In a Nutt Shell Publishing 2012.
7 º
Adim
2
3 4
1 2
The Key of
3
1 2
Eb
Piano Che a t She e ts
Song:
Chords for this song:
= Root Note
Eb
5
1
= Left Hand
Ab
1
3
5
1
5
2
Fm
5
1
1
1
3
5
5
1
Gm
5
2
Cm
1
1
5
1
Bb
5
= Right Hand
3
2
5
5
1
1
5
NOTES:
GOING PRO
Pentatonic Scale
1
Eb
1
2 3
1
2 -
Fm
Nashville Numbers
3 4
5
Gm
Ab
Bb
6 -
Cm
7 º
Ddim
2
Go to pianomeditation.com and the “pianomediatation” channel on YouTube for FREE lessons
© Wade McNutt. Life In a Nutt Shell Publishing 2012.
9
2 3
2 3
The Key of
3
1
1 2
Ab
Piano Che a t She e ts
Song:
Chords for this song:
= Root Note
Ab
5
1
= Left Hand
Db
1
5
5
1
1
3
3
5
Eb
5
1
Bbm
2
5
5
1
1
1
5
Fm
5
1
3
1
Cm
5
= Right Hand
1
5
3
1
2
5
NOTES:
GOING PRO
Pentatonic Scale
1 2
1
Ab
1
3
2 -
Nashville Numbers
3 4
5
Bbm Cm
Db
Eb
6 -
Fm
2
Go to pianomeditation.com and the “pianomediatation” channel on YouTube for FREE lessons
10
© Wade McNutt. Life In a Nutt Shell Publishing 2012.
7 º
Gdim
2 3
2 3 4
1
The Key of
2
1
Db
Piano Che a t She e ts
Song:
Chords for this song:
= Root Note
Db
5
1
= Left Hand
= Right Hand
Gb
1
3
5
1
1
2
5
5
Ab
5
1
Ebm
1
5
5
1
1
3
5
3
Fm
Bbm
1
5
1
5
2
1
5
3
1
5
NOTES:
GOING PRO
Pentatonic Scale
1 2
1 2
1
2 -
Db Ebm
Nashville Numbers
3 4
5
Fm
Gb
Ab
6 -
7 º
Bbm Cdim
3
Go to pianomeditation.com and the “pianomediatation” channel on YouTube for FREE lessons
© Wade McNutt. Life In a Nutt Shell Publishing 2012.
11
2 3 4
2 3
1
The Key of
2
1
Gb
Piano Che a t She e ts
Song:
Chords for this song:
= Root Note
Gb
5
1
1
2
5
1
3
Abm
1
3
5
1
2
5
1
1
5
1
Bbm
5
5
1
Db
1
= Right Hand
Cb
5
5
= Left Hand
Ebm
3
5
1
1
3
5
5
NOTES:
GOING PRO
Pentatonic Scale
1 2 3
1 2
1
2 -
Gb Abm
Nashville Numbers
3 4
5
Bbm
Cb
Db
6 -
Ebm Fdim
Go to pianomeditation.com and the “pianomediatation” channel on YouTube for FREE lessons
12
© Wade McNutt. Life In a Nutt Shell Publishing 2012.
7 º
2 3 4
2 3
1
The Key of
2
1
F#
Piano Che a t She e ts
Song:
Chords for this song:
= Root Note
F#
5
1
1
2
5
1
3
G#m
1
3
5
1
2
5
1
1
5
1
A#m
5
5
1
C#
1
= Right Hand
B
5
5
= Left Hand
D#m
3
5
1
1
3
5
5
NOTES:
GOING PRO
Pentatonic Scale
1 2 3
1 2
1
F#
2 -
G#m
Nashville Numbers
3 4
5
A#m
B
6 -
7 º
C# D#m E#dim
Go to pianomeditation.com and the “pianomediatation” channel on YouTube for FREE lessons
© Wade McNutt. Life In a Nutt Shell Publishing 2012.
13
The Key of
Piano Che a t She e ts
Song:
Chords for this song:
= Root Note
= Left Hand
= Right Hand
NOTES:
GOING PRO
Pentatonic Scale
1
2 -
Nashville Numbers
3 4
5
6 -
Go to pianomeditation.com and the “pianomediatation” channel on YouTube for FREE lessons
14
© Wade McNutt. Life In a Nutt Shell Publishing 2012.
7 º