Accidentals may be placed at the beginning of the staff to remind performers which pitches should have flats or sharps. This inventory of accidentals is called a key signature. Here are examples of key signatures:
Tiny Tenor 6 | Guitar the size of a tenor 'ukulele!
Reading Key Signatures
For key signatures to make sense, you need to know the letter names of the lines and spaces on the staff. You should know by now, but I'm just making sure!
Sharp Keys ()
To read the key signature below, note the positions of the sharps on the staff. For example, the sharp on the far left is centered on the uppermost line of the staff. What is the letter name of the note on that line? If you answered F, good job! That sharp indicates all F notes are sharp throughout the piece, including higher and lower octaves of F. Likewise, there's a sharp on the C space, so all C notes are sharp. In other words, this key signature tells you to move all F and C notes a half step higher in pitch—one fret to your right or towards the body of the guitar.
Key Signature | Sharps in the key signature: F-sharp and C-sharp
He is Lord Key | As you play the music, sharp all F and C notes.
Flat Keys ()
The key signature below has two flats: one on the B line and another on the E space. Thus, all B and E notes are lowered by a half step:
Key Signature | Flats in the key signature: B-flat and E-flat
Although you can have as many as seven sharps or flats in a key signature, pieces in this course only use two or fewer accidentals in the key signature.
Study Tips
He Is Lord has two sharps in the key signature: F sharp and C sharp (key of D major). Before practicing, take a few minutes to identify all sharp notes used in the score.
Pickup Note
Notes in an incomplete measure at the beginning of a piece are called pickup notes. He Is Lord has two eighth note pickups—one 1 beat of total duration—at the beginning. Because He Is Lord is in 4/4 meter, count 1-2-3 and play the two pickup notes on beat 4. The final measure of this piece only has three beats but the pickup notes become the missing fourth beat when you repeat back to the beginning.
He Is Lord
Listen to the Track
Listen to the audio track so you can absorb the sound and feel of the melody.
He Is Lord | Melody only. Play along!
Play the Melody!
Practice the melody (above) of He Is Lord. Play with the audio track or video to help shore up your rhythm.
If you're reading TAB you can follow the numbers and not worry about the key signature. However, to play the pickup notes you'll need to count and place the pickups precisely on beat 4 just like your note reading friends.
He is Lord | Melody performed with accompaniment
Once the melody is securely under your fingers, begin working on the chords.
Chords
You already know most of the chords in He Is Lord. However, the progression is somewhat challenging due to the use of five different chords, and most chords change every two beats. The slow ballad tempo should ease the strain of the changes a bit. There's also one new chord to learn, Bm7.
I recommend the Flat-Four Strum: strum on beats 1, 2, 3 and 4.
P-i-m-a 2X Arpeggio
If you prefer an arpeggiated accompaniment, try the P-i-m-a 2X Arpeggio. P-i-m-a 2X sounds great in this song.
P-i-m-a 2X Arpeggio Pattern
P-i-m-a 2X "How To" for He Is Lord | Secrets of the P-i-m-a 2X arpeggio.
Finally, leave time in your practice session to review prior materials. Most pieces take weeks to fully absorb and polish. Don't leave your music half learned.
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Key Signatures
Reading Key Signatures
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Study Tips
Pickup Note
Listen to the Track
Play the Melody!
Chords
P-i-m-a 2X Arpeggio
Daily Review
