How to Play Piano Chords From Sheet Music

Popular piano music often includes the guitar chords above the melody line. You can use these on the piano for a quick play-through of the song or as a guide to the basic chord structure so that you can improvise. Either way, this article explains some shortcuts to sight-reading sheet music.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Things You’ll Need:

• Piano sheet music
• A piano or keyboard

1. Check the beginning of the line for the key signature. This will help you identify the tonic (home) chord for the song and remind you of what notes to alter as you build your chords. A key signature of one sharp indicates that the song is in the major key of G and that the D chord will have an F# in it.
2. Look at the chord names written above the melody line. Find each one with your left hand on the piano. Start with simple voicings. Once you are comfortable playing each chord, try your first run through.
3. Pay attention to the indicators for minor and seventh chords. A chord with only a letter name indicates a major chord. A small "m" after the name indicates a minor chord. Add a sixth or seventh only when necessary.
4. Play the melody as written. At the beginning of each measure, play the chord of letter name written above the staff. Play it once on the downbeat and hold it until the next chord change or a new measure. Play each chord as you come to it, striking it firmly, playing all the notes at once.
5. Change chords on a downbeat, even in the middle of a measure. Trust your ear to help you gain a feeling for the song.
6. Experiment with different voicings or experiment by changing the rhythm of the left hand once you are familiar with the song. You can also vary the melody, but stay true to the pattern of the chord changes.

Tips & Warnings

• When a 7th is noted on a major chord use the common (flatted) seventh, unless you encounter a specified major. For example: C7 uses a B flat, while CM7 uses a B natural.
• Some fake books may simply use a dash to indicate a minor, such as F-7.