How to Learn Piano Chords

Drum roll, please ... You have started taking basic piano lessons and only during your first piano tutorial did you realise how much piano jargon you encounter.  While it is your very first time learning to play the piano, you shouldn't feel demotivated, or unwilling to continue playing this instrument.

Knowing every piano-related term and having a feel for the piano keys comes with years of training.

Training may also mean intense sessions where you learn to read sheet music, understand musical theory, learn solfege and tempo, and play the piano chords.

When you first set foot into a piano lesson all geared up to learn to play the piano, you are faced with the challenge of actually learning all about piano scales as well as piano chords.

In this article, we explore what basic piano chords are and how it is that you can go about learning to play piano chords perfectly.  So, in preparation to learn all about piano chords remember, you don't need to be the greatest musician to find pure pleasure in playing the piano.

When you play an instrument that you love, the technical terminology should be the least of your worries. However, once you understand what piano chords are, you will always play the right chords.

When we speak about chords, it simply means playing more than one piano key at a time. In terms of chords, all piano chords contain a root note. This means there is a note that the chord is named after.

How to Learn Piano Chords?

Before you even start to learn more about piano chords, get yourself a metronome. The metronome produces noises such as beats or clicks that can be heard so that you can get your rhythm right. A metronome is an instrument used to keep a steady tempo throughout play. Play around with a free online metronome to learn more about this instrument.

If you are interested in learning basic piano chords, an intensive study of solfege is not required. While solfege is important especially when you are learning about piano scales, you can rather easily retain several chord progressions simply because your finger technique doesn’t need to change much. You could learn piano chords by using free resources online, but we do warn you that the best way to learn piano chords is to take piano classes.

It is through piano classes that you will understand that your left hand plays the chord, while your right hand plays the melody. Melody refers to the notes in the scale in which the chord is played. Again, this may all seem like jargon since you are learning how to play the piano for the first time but soon you can get to grips with the fact that melody simply refers to the juggling of notes that are played by the left hand.

Is that all that there is to know about chords?

Well, not quite.

When learning to play chords, you need to know minor and major chords and how to distinguish between them.

That is all well and good, but how can you learn, recognise, and play minor and major chords? Well, through private piano lessons in-person or even piano lessons online.

How to Play Piano Chords?

The Major Piano Chords

The major chords are those tunes that make you want to tap your feet in joy. It is easy to play major chords and you will learn to play the instrument better if you learn solfege first.  Solfege is what teaches us the rules of note intervals. 

The idea is to get to grips with what works and what doesn't. For example, a major C is played as such: c, e, g. that’s the perfect chord of C major, composed of a fundamental (c), a major third (e) and a minor fifth (g).

If you follow these guidelines below, you may be able to play all the major chords of a major scale:

• C: c-e-g
• D: d-f#-a
• E: e-sol#-b
• F: f, la, c
• G: g, b, d
• A: a-c#-e
• B: b-d#-f#

If only playing piano chords were as simple as following a few rules. Having a piano tutor is best, since you may struggle to play flat and sharp major chords.

Playing the right chords entails counting intervals and this can often be taught by a piano tutor.

The Minor Piano Chords

If you want to create more sober tones, you would be focusing on the minor piano chords. Generally, piano beginners are taught how to play major piano chords first and then they are taught how to play minor chords.

It's all a piece of cake learning how to play the piano if you have the guidance of a piano instructor. The piano instructor will tell you that the minor piano keys can be found by lowering the major third by a half key. Similar to a major key, the same process can be used for minor C chords. A minor C chord becomes a c-e flat-g.

To get help you to get acquainted with all the rules of playing minor piano chords, you need to find a piano instructor. If you already found a piano instructor, rest assured that soon enough you will learn how to play major and minor piano chords.

Just like your piano instructor will explain what piano scales are, he or she will also teach you all about piano chords.

Learn Piano Chords with a Piano Instructor

Never underestimate the value of playing the piano once you know the basic piano chords. Knowing basic chords means that you will be able to copy guitar as well as accordion chords.

With the right chords, you can surely go to the right musical places.

You might know piano scales, however, advancing from a beginner piano player level to an advanced piano playing level doesn't entail knowing too many chords. To put it simply, you need to know the following magical chords:

• C major
• G major
• A minor
• F major

These chords are termed magical chords because if you know them, you will realise that they feature in a lot of music, even in tunes from the Beatles.

The composition of magical chords are as follows:

• A major chord in the first degree (the first note of the scale),
• A major chord to the fifth degree (fifth note of the scale),
• A minor chord in the sixth degree (sixth note of the scale),
• A major chord in the fourth degree (fourth note of the scale).

While you may think knowing the chords will make you a better piano player, remember you need to have the right melody as well.

Do Re Me Fa So La Ti Do

Without the right melody, your chord knowledge does not mean that much.

Don't struggle alone, reach out to one of our Superprof tutors to help you find the melody that you are looking for.

Piano Chord Progression with a Piano Tutor

With a private piano teacher, a beginner piano player can learn how to play piano chords well and maybe even progress to a more advanced piano player.

If you have learnt solfege, and know piano scales and chords as well, you are already progressing as a piano player. However, to ensure that you continue to develop, you must ensure that you reiterate your goals to your piano tutor.

If you are taking private piano lessons, your piano teacher works with you to track progress as well as check where your weaknesses are. The piano instructor will then work with you in order to rectify any weaknesses that you may have.

If you are learning piano chords, you need to make sure that you find the right environment to pursue this training. Along with the correct environment, having the correct piano instructor for you matters as well.

Music washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life. Barthold Auerbach

Hand in hand, your private piano tutor will walk with you during your piano learning journey. The private tutor will also motivate you to continue learning how to play the piano and to continue progressing. Again, if you choose a private piano tutor who is right for you, you will see how much of a difference he or she makes to you.

If you still need further inspiration as to why you would want to take up piano lessons with a private tutor, you need to remind yourself to pursue your passion.