| The piano is the most perfectly designed instrument | | | | starting point to more complex harmonies. Also, they |
| for playing chords. It's visually straightforward, | | | | are refreshingly simple and easy to play. For example, |
| easy-to-understand layout makes it simple for the | | | | if you set the fingers of your right hand on the first five |
| beginning piano student to learn how to play chords. | | | | notes of the C major scale -- C, D, E, F, and G -- then |
| Unlike other instruments, such as the guitar, the player | | | | your thumb, middle finger, and pinky are already in |
| doesn't need to learn how to contort her fingers in | | | | position to play the C major triad. |
| strange, unnatural ways just to play the most simple | | | | Your knowledge of intervals comes in handy when |
| combinations of notes. | | | | learning triads, of which there are four main types: |
| In contrast, the basic chords on the piano seem almost | | | | 1. Major triad: A major third plus a minor third (e.g., C E |
| magically designed to be played by the human hand. | | | | G). |
| When learning how to play the piano, the beginning | | | | 2. Minor triad: A minor third plus a major third (e.g., A C |
| pianist only needs to learn the structures of these | | | | E). |
| basic chords, and a world of harmony opens itself up. | | | | 3. Diminished triad: A minor third plus a minor third (e.g., |
| To start, although they are not technically chords, | | | | B D F). |
| combinations of two notes -- usually referred to as | | | | 4. Augmented triad: A major third plus a major third |
| "intervals" or "dyads" -- are often seen in piano music. | | | | (e.g., C E G). |
| Even if they aren't technically chords, combinations of | | | | Diminished and augmented triads occur far less |
| two notes are essentially the foundation of all music | | | | frequently than major and minor triads, especially in the |
| harmony. Thus, when learning how to play chords, it's | | | | types of music usually played by beginning pianists. |
| also a good idea for students to first learn intervals. | | | | This will make more sense when you practice playing |
| The smallest interval on the Western music scale is | | | | triads; major and minor triads will sound familiar and |
| the minor second, which is made up of two notes that | | | | comfortable to the ear, while diminished and |
| are only a half-step apart -- for instance, E and the | | | | augmented triads will sound stranger and more |
| next F, or B and the next C. Although there are | | | | dissonant. |
| various ways of referring to the intervals, they are | | | | Meanwhile, it's important to understand the naming of |
| most often named as follows, in order of increasing | | | | triads. In short, all triads are named after their root note |
| size: | | | | -- the note which begins the scale the chord is based |
| 1. Minor second | | | | on. For example, the minor triad of A C E is referred |
| 2. Major second | | | | to as "A minor," because it is based on the A minor |
| 3. Minor third | | | | scale; the major triad of F A C is referred to as "F |
| 4. Major third | | | | major," because it is based on the F major scale: the |
| 5. Perfect fourth | | | | diminished triad of Bb D F is referred to as "Bb major," |
| 6. Augmented fourth (or diminished fifth) | | | | and so on. |
| 7. Perfect fifth | | | | Beyond intervals and triads, the range and terminology |
| 8. Minor sixth (or augmented fifth) | | | | of piano chords only becomes more layered and |
| 9. Major sixth | | | | complex. The number of things you will have to learn |
| 10. Minor seventh | | | | may seem daunting at first, but it's always important to |
| 11. Major seventh | | | | remember that learning how to play chords is a series |
| 12. Perfect octave | | | | of baby steps. For example, soon after learning about |
| You don't have to learn all of them at once, but most | | | | triads, you might want to learn about chord inversion, or |
| piano players must learn them eventually. Plus, there | | | | how to turn triads into seventh chords. Both of these |
| are similar names for intervals larger than an octave, | | | | techniques, though becoming more advanced, are |
| but they don't come up quite as often. | | | | relatively simple on their own. So, when learning, stick |
| When learning how to play chords, many students | | | | with one thing at a time, and soon you will not be so |
| start out with triads, which are the most basic form of | | | | confused by all of those bizarre chord notations you |
| three-note chords. Basically, while intervals are the | | | | see everywhere. |
| foundation of all musical harmony, triads are the | | | | |