Easy Method to Learn Chord Piano

Learning simple chord shapes on piano can allow you to play songs quickly.

One of the quickest ways to learn piano is to use a chord approach. Playing piano by chords is a method often used to teach adults to play because the approach is simple and effective for getting them into playing songs right away. This is a useful approach for teaching piano when the goal is to play for pleasure rather than to become a skilled or career musician. Adults often favor this approach for its simplicity.

Things You'll Need

• Piano or electronic keyboard Piano chord book

Instructions

1. Familiarize yourself with major and minor chord formulas. A major chord is made up of the first, third and fifth notes of the scale that shares the same name. For instance, a C major scale contains the notes C-D-E-F-G-A-B. The first, third and fifth notes are C-E-G. those are the notes you need to play for a C major chord. The only difference between a major and minor chord is that the third note is played flat, so the notes for a C minor chord are C, E flat and G.

2. Apply the note formula of the major chords to the piano keyboard. To make the C major chord, place your thumb on any C (begin with middle C), your first finger on the E and your second finger on G. On the keyboard, these notes are one white key apart. This is a major chord shape and can be moved anywhere on the piano. If you keep the same chord shape and begin on a G instead of a C, you'll have a G major chord. If you begin on an A, you'll have an A major chord. By memorizing this chord shape, you can play all of your major triads without having to change your finger position or memorize new chord fingerings.

3. Apply the minor chord shape to the keyboard. Begin on middle C as you did with the major chord form. The only difference in the fingering is that you'll move your second finger back one key (to the black key) to make the second note flat. This is a minor triad. Just like the major chord shape, you can begin this shape on any key and that will be the name of the minor chord you're playing. Using this chord shape, you can play minor triads in any key.

4. Play songs using major and minor chords. Playing is the best way to get familiar with the positions of the chords on the piano and to get better changing from one chord to another. With your two basic triad chord shapes, you can play countless songs. Purchase sheet music or use an online database to find songs free of charge. Start with a simple song and play the chords as you sing along. This will help you with timing.

5. Build your chord repertoire. There are many chords and many different ways to play the same chords. Add various notes from the major and minor scales to get used to building more complex chords. You can find a major and minor scale chart online at no charge. This will be a handy reference as you continue your chord study. By adding various notes to basic triads, you can make new chords. Adding the seventh note of a scale to the major triad, for instance, will give you a seventh chord. The same holds true for adding the note to a minor triad. If you added B (seventh note of the C major scale) to a C major triad, you'd have a C7 chord. Add it to the minor triad and you'll have a C minor 7. You can apply the same rule of shape and move the seventh chord anywhere on the piano to make all the seventh chords.

Tips & Warnings

• Focus on major and minor chord shapes to learn quickly how to play numerous songs. You can deepen your study of music theory if you choose to go farther with your piano playing, but learning the major an minor chord shapes will open up a world of piano playing pleasure in a short time.

References

• PianobyChords: Learn to Play Piano by Chords

Resources

• Piano Play It: Three Chord Piano Songs
• Piano Lessons Info: Major Scales on Piano