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Music theory

Fast tracks your learning by teaching you about the building blocks of music.

Aspiring Pianists

Gain confidence and improve quickly with these easy-to-use cards.

Perfect for beginners

Products are aimed at musicians of all levels.

Music producers

Start making your own music and add complexity to your compositions.

Chords and scales

Commit chords and scales to memory to become a more fluent player.

Accessible for all

Illustrated chord and scale diagrams means no sight reading required.

Learn the piano and produce your own music

The Really Useful Piano Reference Cards help producers and pianists of all levels to make better music. Covering everything from scales to chord progressions, these easy-to-use cards guide you through the fundamentals of music theory. By teaching you about the building blocks of music, they’ll fast-track your learning and make practice more fun. 

In each pack, you’ll find 12 double-sided cards which cover the 12 key signatures. The cards contain visual chord and scale diagrams, which means there’s no sight-reading required. Each pack also comes with a bonus card, which includes additional information on chord progressions, intervals and modes. 

From playing your first chords, to writing your next album - these cards encourage creators of all abilities to unlock their musical potential.They’ll teach you how to identify the scale of your melody and find the best chords for your piece. Practise with them consistently, and you’ll  memorise those all-important chords and scales, and get a better understanding of music theory.

Ready to start playing?

Okay. So your Really Useful Piano Reference Cards have just arrived in the post. You can’t wait to get started. You open the pack and...what next? 

Whatever your musical goal is, we’ve got you covered.

The Really Useful Piano Reference Cards help piano players to commit chords and scales to muscle memory. They’ll teach you the correct hand positions and fingering for each scale, so that you learn the best way to play them. With these cards, there’s no need for apps – which means you can stay in the zone as you play

Pick one scale each day and practise it for 15 minutes -  5 minutes with your right hand, 5 minutes with your left hand, then 5 minutes with both hands together. Work through the major scales first, and then move on to the minor scales. Rinse and repeat until you can play every scale by heart! You’ll notice significant improvement after you’ve practised each scale five times over - which would take approximately four months if you’re working on one scale per day.  

Producers can use The Really Useful Piano Reference Cards to help them find their creative flow. They enable music makers to discover which scale they’re playing in and identify the best chords to jam with. They’ll teach you which notes fit together, so that you can become a more intuitive songwriter. Over time you’ll start to absorb the music theory behind your songs by osmosis.

Choose a chord set and play all 7 chords in sequence. Once you can do that with ease, start  playing the chords in a random order. This will help you to come up with your own unique progression. As soon as you’ve created something that you like the sound of, turn the card over to find the matching scale. You can then use the 7 notes in the scale to write a  melody over the top of your chord progression. Try to do this for a different chord set every day to improve your playing skills and consistently create new music!

Head to our Learning Portal to find videos and guides that will support you on your creative journey.

Strike a chord

A chord is a collection of two or more notes that are played together at the same time. You can choose any notes you like to create a chord. But it’s worth learning the most common chord types, as they appear in many popular pieces of music.

Major, minor, augmented and diminished. Those 4 chord types have created the world’s most beautiful songs. Once you understand how they’re formed, you can play and improvise with the best of them.

Just as a drumbeat provides rhythm, chords give structure to a song. They’re also a great way to create emotion. Chords are built using combinations of intervals - which means the distance between one note and another. By using different interval patterns, you can create distinct moods. This is how chords and chord sequences add suspense, sorrow or joy to a piece.

When you become familiar with each chord type, you can pick the perfect chords for any arrangement.

The Really Useful Piano Reference Cards contain visual diagrams of the 4 most common chords in every key signature - and their inversions. The chords are displayed in a large, easy-to-read format, with their notes written underneath them. This means you can instantly access all the notes you need, rather than having to figure out how to build each chord manually. Use these cards every time you practise, and you’ll soon be playing chords with ease.

Scale your learning

A scale is a collection of notes, played in a particular order. Scales can start on any note and each has its own distinct sound.

Scales provide useful sets of notes, which sound good when played together. When you know which notes are in each scale, then it’s easier to riff and create new music.

Mastering your scales is a bit like learning how to touch-type. By practising them frequently you’ll improve your coordination and fluency. Once you’ve nailed your scales, you’ll be able to play with confidence. The more you practise them, the quicker you’ll commit them to memory!

The Really Useful Piano Reference Cards teach you about 4 of the most common scales: major, natural minor, harmonic minor and melodic minor. Each card is illustrated, which means that there’s no sight-reading necessary. The cards also give you a step-by-step guide on how to play each scale, with clearly indicated fingering for both the left and right hand.

Practice makes progress

A chord progression is made up of multiple chords played in succession. Much like individual chords, chord progressions create a sense of atmosphere. They work alongside the melody of a song to give it structure.

Each major and minor scale has its own set of 7 triad chords. All of these chords work well when played together because they’re made up of notes from the same scale. By memorising these chord sets you’ll become a more intuitive player and songwriter. Over time, they’ll help you to pick up music by ear and create more interesting compositions.

The Really Useful Piano Reference Cards cover the major and natural minor chord sets for each key signature. The chord sets are laid out in an accessible, visual format - so you don’t have to take the time to work them out yourself. Just refer back to your cards and you’ll be able to jam chord progressions in any key.

Music theory made easy(ish)

Music theory is the study of the rules and concepts that underpin every piece of music. It covers a huge range of topics, including scales, modes, musical terminology, harmonies, notation and much more.

You don’t have to study music theory in order to make and play music - but it definitely helps. If you can get to grips with the fundamentals, then you’ll be able to understand the instinctive choices you make when you play. The more you learn, the more informed your decisions will be. Think of music theory as a tool that can improve your performance and speed up the song writing process.

Each pack of The Really Useful Piano Reference Cards comes with a free bonus theory card. This card includes information on notation, intervals, extended chords and modes. Work through the card to learn new musical lingo and add complexity to your compositions.

With each purchase you’ll also immediately receive a free digital download of our original product - The Really Useful Piano Poster. So you can get practising straight away!

Good to know

Free 2-day shipping to the UK and US

Worldwide shipping is charged at £15

Free digital download with this product

This product ships in an envelope

Each pack weighs approximately 250g / 0.55lb

Each card measures 210 x 297mm / 8.27 x 11.69in

We offset our carbon footprint via Ecologi

We use 100% recyclable paper and packaging

What makes these cards so useful?

  • Each pack contains 12 double-sided A4 cards - one for each key signature
  • Illustrated chord and scale diagrams mean no sight-reading required 
  • Learn all the chords and scales you need to start composing
  • Portable, and the perfect size for your desk, piano or keyboard
  • Receive a bonus theory card covering chord progressions, intervals and modes
  • Free shipping to the UK and US
  • Receive a free digital download with your product
  • Scale your learning by doing 
  • Improve your improvisation
  • Compose with confidence 
  • Commit scales and chords to memory
  • Fine tune your musical ear
  • Make more informed choices in your productions
  • Start writing songs with ease
  • Learn music theory at your own pace

Frequently Asked Questions

If your order includes digital downloads, you will be able to download it immediately from the Order Confirmation page. You will also receive an email with a link to download the file, which you can keep for your records.

No! All our products are Designed to be understood by anyone, of any age, and any ability. They’re practical guides that help you shortcut the learning process by giving you the information you need, nothing more. And they’re fully illustrated, so there’s no traditional musical notation involved. That’s why we call our products ‘Really Useful’!.

All printed posters are A1 in size (33.1 x 23.4 inches / 841 x 594 mm). Depending on whether you order the ‘rolled’ or the ‘folded’ version, your poster may or may not arrive folded to A4 (11.7 x 8.3 inches / 297 x 210 mm) for easy shipping. If you’d like to frame your poster, you can take it to a local framer or purchase a suitable frame online.

Once your order is dispatched you will receive a tracking number via email. You can then track your item here: https://www.royalmail.com/track-your-item#/ More info can be found on our shipping page.

Reviews from happy creators

“The Really Useful Piano Reference Cards have become a consistent part of my production workflow. They got me thinking more about scales and keys. As a producer who doesn’t have ‘formal’ training in key playing, they’ve helped me to feel more empowered. I get ideas punched in a lot quicker when referencing these cards. They are easy to read and it’s actually nice not to have to use a screen - it’s just you, the keyboard and the cards! I’ve been kicking off my process by either choosing a scale to work in directly in my DAW, or pitching a sample to the scale I like and then finding what that scale is within my DAW. Once I know the scale, I use the cards when adding additional layers to the base idea. Works a treat!”

"These cards are a producer's dream! 🎹👌They've simplified my music creation process and made scales and keys a breeze. A mobile app version would be amazing for on-the-go producers! Also, can't wait for you to bring out a poster for drums!"

"I'm a music producer, and these cards are a brilliant addition to my toolkit. They've sped up my music creation process. Also, any plans for a poster for saxophone?"

"I'm a self-taught producer, and these cards have made a huge difference. They're simple and effective. Also, can't wait for you to bring out a poster for ukulele!"

"I'm in my 50s, and these cards have brought back my love for the piano. They've made scales and keys a breeze. Also, any plans for a poster for drums?"