How to Find Any Chord on the Piano
If you know anything about music or the piano, it is relatively easy to learn how to find chords on the piano. Chords are made up of three notes and follow a simple formula. There are numerous different types of chords, including the three basic types: majors, minors and sevenths. Once you learn the formulas for these chords, finding chords in any key is quite simple. Songs are written in a musical key, such as the key of C or the key of G, and the songs are made up of chords within that key.
Instructions
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Choose a key to play in. The key of C is the simplest key to play in because there are no sharps or flats. Find middle C on the piano to begin learning.
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Place your right thumb on middle C. Major chords follow a pattern of 1 3 5. Your thumb on C represents the "1". Place your middle finger on E and your pinky on G. The 1 3 5 represent whole steps in a scale. From C to E, it is two whole steps, or four half steps. You can count this by starting at C and working up: C C# D D# E. Each number therefore represents two half steps.
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Repeat this process. The common chords used in the key of C are C, G and F. This system of 1 3 5 works ideal for any of these chords.
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Learn the minor chord rule. Some chords within a key are typically played as minors. The difference in a minor is that the third note, the one played with your middle finger, is flatted. It is written as 1 b3 5. The b3 represents flatting the third note.
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Play an Em chord. Em is a popular chord used in the key of C. To play this chord, place your thumb on E. Follow the 1 b3 5 formula by placing your middle finger on G and your pinky on B. Follow this same pattern for all minor chords.
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Learn the seventh formula. To seventh a chord, add the seventh note. The pattern then looks like this: 1 3 5 7. For a C7 chord, play the notes C, E, G and B.
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References
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