| Learning how to play piano chords isn't all that hard. | | | | this topic so we will stick with the simplest of chords. |
| The trick to it is to learn how to play the scales first. | | | | To play this C major chord we use our thumb, middle |
| When we are a beginner we really want to rush into | | | | finger and little finger to play it. |
| things and learn to play a nice piano piece. Something | | | | Try it for yourself. When you hit a chord on the piano it |
| that requires two hands and lasts for over a minute. | | | | sounds rich and full of sound. It is a very nice sound. |
| Well we are a beginner so we must take things back | | | | Major chords sound a lot better than minor ones |
| to reality and do things one step at a time. | | | | because they are more bright and happy. You will find |
| What I mean by taking things one step at a time is to | | | | that a lot of pop songs use a major key to make it |
| not rush into chords guns blazing. Ask ourselves this | | | | sound more bright and happy. Bright and happy tunes |
| question first. Do we know how to play piano scales | | | | are very catchy. |
| and have we mastered them? If we answer no to this | | | | We must remember our scales quite well to be able to |
| question then we should go back to learning how to | | | | play the first, third and fifth notes of the scale to form |
| play scales. The reason why I say this is that scales | | | | a chord. Basically if you know all your scales you can |
| are the building blocks of chords. | | | | play a simple chord of three notes at any key. For |
| So how exactly is scales the building blocks of chords. | | | | beginners we must practise playing the chords along |
| Let's look at a simple C major scale. Major scales | | | | with our scales. |
| sound nice and bright. You feel happy when you listen | | | | Learn to feel the piano and have a sense of how hard |
| to it. Unlike the minor scales which sound kind of sad | | | | you are pressing the keys. A lot of tunes sound nice |
| and unhappy. So how do we play the C major scale. It | | | | with added chords to make the sound more rich and |
| is essentially hitting all the white keys starting from a C | | | | full of sound. Try adding simple chords to the tune |
| up to the next C. Simple right. Well of course, since it is | | | | twinkle twinkle little star. You will hear a large |
| practically the easiest scale to play. | | | | difference in the sound. |
| Now that we understand what a C major scale is, we | | | | Remember to use a metronome when playing the |
| need to know how to play the chord version. The | | | | piano to keep your tempo correct. The last thing you |
| chord version of the C major is to hit the first, third and | | | | want is to play the chords at the wrong timing in a |
| fifth key in the scale. A piano chord is essentially made | | | | piano piece. Practise is the key and all beginners need |
| up of 3 or more notes hit together. It isn't just any few | | | | a lot of practise. |
| keys, a simple chord is the first, third and fifth keys of | | | | In conclusion, scales make up the basic building blocks |
| a scale. So what is the C major chord exactly? | | | | of a chord. A simple chord can be played by hitting the |
| The C major chord is the notes C-E-G. We want to hit | | | | first, third and fifth notes of a scale. Practise makes |
| these three notes in this order. If we hit E-G-C then this | | | | perfect. |
| is called an inversion chord. That is out of the scope of | | | | |