How to Play Piano Chords

Piano is an instrument that plays both the treble and the bass clef. It works well within group situations where it functions as part of the rhythm section, as well as in solo situations. Chords are an important part of piano playing, regardless of the role the piano fulfills. Learning chords on a piano will allow you to accompany other musicians in any situation, as well as strengthen your solo playing abilities. Once you understand the basics, knowing how to form any chord on the piano is simple. Learn how to play any chord on the piano.

Instructions

1. Visit and bookmark the website Learn Piano By Chords (see resources below). This is a free, well designed website that teaches a structured chord method for playing piano from a lesson plan outlined on the left menu of the website. This method is simple enough that you should be able to use it and teach yourself how to play piano chords expertly in just a short time.

2. Start with the section titled "The Basics." This section will get you familiar with your piano keyboard. You will learn how the keyboard is set up, where the notes are and how scales are formed from the keys. You will also learn your first basic chords.

3. Play your first piece. Click on the "Your First Piece" section of the website. The song is "Silent Night." It uses the chords you learned in the basic step.

4. Continue to follow the course as it is outlined on the website. The tutorials come in gradual degrees of difficulty, introducing theory and chord construction while having you play songs that show your progress.

5. Memorize chord shapes. You'll find that chords on a piano are made the same way, with your fingers positioned in a fixed pattern, but the note names of the chords change depending on your root note (usually the first note in your chord). Once you have the basic shapes down, you'll work on inversions (different voicing) of the chords, which this website teaches.

Resources

• Learn Piano By Chords