| One of the most important aspects of any pianist's | | | | minor and B diminished. A whole world of chord |
| repertoire is the understanding of how to play chords. | | | | progressions is already at your fingertips. Play chords |
| To play chords, you must learn some simple theory. | | | | and hear the differences in each. You may even start |
| To make it easier, you'll mainly be playing the white | | | | to hear songs that you know and love by playing |
| keys. | | | | chords in this key. |
| Look at the white keys on the keyboard and find a C. | | | | Another way to learn how to play chords is to number |
| If you don't know how to find a C, then look at the | | | | the keys. Starting at C, number the white keys up to |
| sets of black keys. The black keys are grouped two | | | | seven. C is one, D is two, E is three, etc. When you |
| ways: in a set of two or a set of three. Find a set of | | | | reach the number seven, start over at one. Now that |
| two black keys and move to the white key | | | | you have each white key numbered, you understand |
| immediately to the left. This is a C. Now that you've | | | | the relationship between each note. A C chord is |
| found a C, learning how to play chords comes easy. | | | | numbered 1-3-5. These are called the chord tones. A |
| To begin learning how to play chords, start with the C | | | | Cmaj7 is 1-3-5-7, while a C7 is 1-3-5-b7. The flat |
| chord. Hold the thumb of your right hand on C. Now | | | | indicates a black key, at least when you're playing in |
| skip the next white key and put your middle finger on | | | | the key of C. |
| the white key after that. This is an E. Holding those | | | | To make a minor chord, start at C and play the |
| two fingers in place, skip the next white key and play | | | | following tones: 1-b3-5. This will be C, Eb and G. Your |
| the white key after that with your pinky. This is G. Play | | | | thumb is on C; your middle finger is on the black key |
| all three of these notes at the same time and you'll | | | | just to the left of E; and your pinky is on G. |
| have created a C chord. Learning how to play chords | | | | Congratulations! You've learned how to play the C |
| is that simple. | | | | minor chord. |
| By holding your hand in this position and moving it up | | | | This is just a basic explanation of how to play chords. |
| and down the white keys, you'll be able to play chords | | | | There are many more chord shapes to learn that |
| in the key of C. Just remember the basic pattern: play | | | | make piano music great, but it's best to start at the |
| a white key, skip one, play the next, skip, and play the | | | | beginning. Even the greats have written entire songs |
| next key. Move to the right with your fingers in this | | | | playing chords in the key of C. |
| shape and you'll be playing D minor, E minor, F, G, A | | | | |