Learn Piano Chords

Piano Chords It is not at all hard to learn piano chords. Once you understand the basics, you’ll see how foolish it was to think that it’s tedious thing to study. Chords are simply combinations of two or more notes from a given scale. There is actually a pattern that is true for all the 12 major scales. You don’t even have to consult a chord chart to know it, you simply apply the pattern.

Do you recall the C major scale? Again the pattern is in the sequence: whole-whole-half-whole-whole-whole-half or if you find it easier to count the keys (black and white included) 2-2-1-2-2-2-1. So for the C major scale, it is C-D-E-F-G-A-B-C. It is now time to use this knowledge form the chord. We shall focus on the triad which is the simplest and most common kind of piano chord

The word triad simply means three, so for this kind of chord you will be using only three notes from the major scale. The major triad uses the first, third and fifth note of the major scale. The first being the root, the major third and the perfect fifth. So for the C major chord the notes or tones are C, E, and G. The chord can be written as CM or simply C. For F with the scale: F-G-A-Bb-C-D-Eb-F the F chord the notes are F-A-C. Use the thumb for the first note, the middle finger for the third and the pinky for the fifth

Learning Piano Chords - Tips It is even simpler to learn piano chords for the minor triads. Are you ready? Just lower the third note one half step or just one key on the board and it becomes a minor triad. Mino triad chords are then 1st, b3rd, and 5th note or tones of the major scale. This means the Cm chord is composed of C-Eb-G and Fm is F-Ab or G#-A.

It is simple to learn piano chords for augmented and suspended 4th. The augmented chord is formed by combining the 1st, 3rd, and 5th sharped tones of a major scale. Again if it is sharped you raise the note just one key higher or by one half step. So C augmented is C-E-G# and F augmented is F-A-C#. The symbols for an augmented chord are aug., (#5), and +5. For the suspended 4th you combine the 1st, 4th, and 5th tones (notes) of a major scale. Based upon this combination of tones , the C suspended 4th would consist of C, F, and G. The symbol for a suspended 4th chord is (sus4) and for F suspended 4th it is F-Bb-C. For More information and resources Visit Piano Lessons Online