| Piano chords provide the harmony and backing to any | | | | afterwards. Your wrists should never feel tense or |
| tune. If you are a singer, it is great away to | | | | tight. |
| accompany yourself. Once you know a few chords, | | | | Sitting at the piano, find C. C is the white note on the |
| there is no limit to what you can use them for in music, | | | | left of 2 black notes together. With your right hand |
| by varying the way that you play them. | | | | form the chord triangle 1 3 5 and place your thumb on |
| The 3 easy chords you are going to learn are C | | | | C. Your 3 fingers should be covering C E and G. Play |
| major, F major and G major. Major means happy and | | | | the chord cleanly and follow through. |
| bright in music. | | | | Practice this using your left hand, lower down the |
| A piano chord consists of 3 alternate notes on the | | | | piano. You will use the same triangle shape using the |
| piano. To play this shape you need to form a matching | | | | fingering 5 3 1. |
| shape with your hand. Your fingers are numbered - | | | | The 2nd chord is F major. Move the hand shape so |
| thumb =1, index finger = 2, middle finger = 3 and so on. | | | | that your end finger is on F. F is 3 white keys above C. |
| If you are playing a chord with your right hand the | | | | The 3 notes that make up the chord of F major are F |
| fingering is 1 3 5. If you are playing with your left hand, | | | | A and C. |
| the fingering is 5 3 1. | | | | The 3rd chord is G major. This consists of G B and D. |
| Allow your hands to relax on your lap. Slightly raise | | | | Practice the chords with each hand separately. Then |
| fingers 2 and 4. Feel the chord triangle on your lap. A | | | | play them together. You will get a rich warm sound. |
| very important part of playing chords is to keep your | | | | Experiment with different rhythms and begin to unlock |
| wrists relaxed. Play the chord and follow through | | | | the magical effect of piano chords! |