Count keys of the same color.
Printable sheet
Piano CC Cheatsheet
Quick reference for the Color-Count Method and its bridge to traditional interval reading.
Designed for study, teaching, and print.
Core rules
When you cross E-F or B-C, watch for the intersection rule.
Apply CC when the mode formula asks for a color change.
If formula CC and intersection CC happen together, they cancel out.
Seven modes, two readings
| Mode | Compact | C-C rule | Traditional |
|---|---|---|---|
| Major (Ionian) The bright reference sound. In traditional theory, this is the major scale. | 33 | 3 CC 3 CC | T T S T T T S |
| Dorian A minor sound with a more open and balanced character because of the raised sixth. | 231 | 2 CC 3 CC 1 | T S T T T S T |
| Phrygian A darker modal sound, immediately marked by the half step above the root. | 132 | 1 CC 3 CC 2 | S T T T S T T |
| Lydian A bright major-like sound whose raised fourth creates the strongest sense of lift. | 42 | 4 CC 2 CC | T T T S T T S |
| Mixolydian A major sound with a lowered seventh, often heard as relaxed or blues-adjacent. | 321 | 3 CC 2 CC 1 | T T S T T S T |
| Minor (Aeolian) The natural minor reference, useful as a familiar comparison against the other minor modes. | 222 | 2 CC 2 CC 2 | T S T T S T T |
| Locrian The most unstable mode, marked by the diminished fifth above the root. | 123 | 1 CC 2 CC 3 | S T T S T T T |
Bridge note
Color-Count does not replace traditional theory. It helps shorten the gap between what the student sees on the keyboard and what interval language describes.