It is essential to learn chords while learning the piano. If you can’t play the chords well, you won’t be able to play a music piece nicely. Piano chords are the bone structure of harmonies, which in turn support the melodies. If you master the basic chords at the beginning, then the forthcoming journey will be easier for you. Melodies need harmony to support them, and to add effect and emotion. And you can master the art of playing harmony if you start by conquering the basic piano chords.
What Are Chords?
Piano chords are a combination of numerous complementing notes played simultaneously. If you play a chord, then it means you are pressing numerous piano keys at a time. Chords tend to create an overlapping effect that works as an accompaniment in music pieces. Chords are represented vertically on sheet music.
What Are The Basic Chords?
The basic piano chords are the triads. Triads are the chords consisting of only three notes. When you are playing a triad, you are pressing three piano keys simultaneously. Triads are formed keeping in mind the notes that sound pleasant while overlapping each other. If you peek into the categorization of chords, then there are two basic chord families, namely, major and minor.
How To Master A Triad?
Understand Its Composition
a) Major
A major chord is made of three notes: the root, the third, and the fifth.
Root – This is the note mentioned in the name of the
chord. For example, in the chord C major, the root note is C.
Third– Third is the note that is three piano keys away on the right side. The space between the first that is the root note and the third should be filled with three piano keys (both black and white). For example, in C major the root note is C, the next key on the right is C# (C sharp), then D, next is D# and then comes E. Thus, E is the third in C major chord with C#, D, and D# in between the root and the third note. For chords without any sharps and flats, you can simply count the third note- C-1st, D-2nd, and E- 3rd
Fifth – Fifth and third should have two piano keys in between, and fifth is to the right of the third. Thus, the space between the root note and the fifth is filled by five piano keys. For example, in C major, the third is E, next is F (which is also E#), then F# and then comes G. In C major, the fifth is G. In cases of chords without sharps and flats, we have to count the fifth note from the root note: C-1st, D-2nd, E- 3rd, F-4th, and G-5th.
When you use your left hand to play a major chord on piano, then you employ your pinky finger to play the root, middle finger for the third, and thumb to play the fifth. If you play the chords with your right hand, you reverse the order. So, when you will play a C major chord with your left hand, you press C with the smallest finger, E with the middle finger, and G with your thumb at the same time.
b) Minor
The three notes in minor chords are: root, minor third, a perfect fifth.
Root – Like major chords, the root note is the first note based on which the chord is named. For example, in C minor the root note is C.
Minor third – The root note and minor third have two keys between them, and the minor third is towards the right of the root note. For example, in C minor, after C comes C#, then D and then Eb (E flat). Hence, Eb is the minor third with the space filled by two notes.
The perfect fifth – The distance between the root to fifth is the same as the major chord, that is, five piano keys. But the distance between the third and the fifth has changed. A minor third and a perfect fifth have three piano keys in between. For example, in C minor, the third is Eb, then E, next F, and then comes G. Hence, the three notes in C minor are C, Eb, and G.
The general fingering for a minor chord is also the same as the major chords. For the left-hand, little finger on the root, middle on the minor third, and thumb on the perfect fifth.
Try To Note Down The Basic Chords Without Memorizing Them.
Now you know the basic composition of triads, so it’s time to write down the twelve basic chords without memorizing them. You have to write all the chords based on the semitone formulas.
- Major –For writing down the triad major chords, first you have to decide the root. Let’s start with A, so we will be writing down A major chord. A semitone is the distance between two consecutive piano keys. And the semitone formula for major is to move four semitones towards the right of the root note to find out the third. In A major chord, A is the root note, and moving one semitone will give A#, then B, next C, and then C#. Thus, when A and C# are four semitones from each other, this means C# is the third in A major chord.
Now for the fifth, you have to move three semitones towards the right of the third. For example, C#, then one semitone brings you to D, next D#, and then E. Thus, the fifth in A major is E. We can also say that the distance between the root and third is two full notes, and third and fifth is 1.5 full notes.
Thus, the formula is root note + 4 semitones = third, and third + 3 semitones = fifth
A major: A C# E
B major: B D# F#
C major: C E G
D major: D F# A
E major: E G# B
F major: F A C
G major: G B D
- Minor – For minor, the formula is reversed: Root note + 3 semitone = third, and third + 4 semitones = fifth
A minor: A C E
B minor: B D F#
C minor: C Eb G
D minor: D F A
E minor: E G B
F minor: F Ab C
G minor: G Bb D
Practice Daily
Once you know all the basic chords and fingering technique, it is time to practice on the piano. Now, you have to travel the semitones for real. Practice daily, and eventually, you will learn all the basic chords by heart. Once you learn on the basic chords, it will be a piece of cake to play them fluently.
Try To Play Songs
You can also try playing songs composed of the basic chords. This will help you feel motivated and hone your skills. Play simple songs and learn chord progressions.
Try To Identify Chords Through Listening
Another trick to mastering the chords is to try and identify them with your ears. Ask your friend to play the chords and then try to recognize them. This will help you absorb all the basic chords so that you can play them better.
It is not a difficult task to master the basic piano chords because they are basic after all. All you have to do is keep practicing and stay motivated. Follow the tips and learn all the basic chords, and then you can move to the next level to master the complicated chords with more than three notes.
