How to Play Guitar Chords on a Piano
Playing guitar chords on the piano is fairly easy. Piano and guitar notes are laid out similarly, with each sequential piano key equivalent to one fret on the guitar (one half-step in the musical scale), but the fingering of chords is entirely different. The piano allows notes that are close together to be played easily, which is something not always possible on the guitar. Learning the notes contained in guitar chords, then transferring them to piano, is the easiest method of playing piano chords. Consulting guitar fretboard, chord, and piano keyboard charts makes easy work of figuring chords.
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Things You'll Need
- Guitar
- Guitar chord chart
- Guitar fretboard note chart
- Notebook and pen
- Piano keyboard note chart
- Piano
Instructions
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1
Tune the guitar to standard guitar pitch.
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2
Play any guitar chord from memory, or by using the guitar chord chart.
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3
Consult the guitar fretboard note chart, and write down the notes your fingers are on in a notebook. You may notice repeating octave notes with some chords, which are optional in the notebook.
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4
Consult the piano keyboard note chart, and locate the matching notes.
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Play the notes on the piano to form the chord, adding octave notes if you desire. Keep in mind that most chords only contain three or four notes, and are closely spaced on the piano. You may also write piano chord positions in your notebook for future reference.
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Tips & Warnings
If you desire the exact chord inversion (a particular order of notes within a chord) to be played on the piano, play them in the order as written.
You may play octave notes, and experiment with different chord inversions, on the piano for fuller sounding chords.
Matching notes by ear is also possible, by playing each guitar chord note separately, followed by "hunting and pecking" on the piano, but learning notes names and proper chord position will help you become a better player.
Ensure that the piano is in tune to avoid bad sounding chords.
Bad piano habits are easy to form, just as they are on the guitar. Avoid guessing about fingering positions by consulting a piano fingering book. Incorrect fingering on any instrument will hinder your ability to play well.
