| The secret to playing with confidence is to first of all | | | | with your right hand, simply place your thumb on middle |
| learn piano chords. Starting with chords and playing | | | | C, your middle finger on E and your little finger on G. |
| songs in your own record collection gives you that | | | | Play these three notes at the same time - and you |
| feeling of satisfaction that YOU REALLY CAN DO | | | | are playing the C chord. |
| THIS! There are some great well-known tunes and | | | | If you move the whole shape of your hand along two |
| rhythms you can play just by mastering a few simple | | | | notes to the left, you will play the chord A minor. Your |
| chords, plus the knowledge you gain at this early stage | | | | thumb will be on A, your middle finger on C and your |
| will be invaluable later on. | | | | little finger on E. Practice this for a while, then alternate |
| As you probably know, middle C sits near the center | | | | between the chords of C and A minor. |
| of your keyboard. It is the white key immediately to the | | | | Now add the chord of F to your repertoire by moving |
| left of a group of two black keys. The two white keys | | | | your hand two more notes to the left of your A minor |
| to the left of middle C are A and B (from left to right). | | | | chord, so your thumb is on F, your middle finger on A |
| The next four white keys are D, E, F and G. | | | | and your little finger on C. |
| The black keys are called sharps or flats, and are | | | | Finally, by moving your whole hand shape one note to |
| named after the nearest white key to them on their | | | | the right, you will be playing the chord of G (i.e. the |
| left or right. For example, the black key between the | | | | notes G, B and D). |
| white C and D keys is known as C sharp OR D flat. | | | | By repeating the chord sequence of C, Am, F and G |
| A chord is a group of 3 or more notes that when | | | | you will start to get familiar with it. Your hands may |
| played together make a complete sound. When this | | | | hurt a little at first, but this is usual if you are a beginner. |
| sound is played rhythmically, and chords used in a | | | | Keep at it. |
| particular sequence, a background sound is created | | | | Numerous popular songs use exactly the same |
| that can support a melody (the main tune) or lyrics | | | | sequence. See if you can sing along to "Blue Moon", |
| (vocals). | | | | "Red Red Wine", "Always Look On The Bright Side Of |
| Let's learn piano chords - by mastering just 4 easy | | | | Life" or "All I Have To Do Is Dream" as you play the |
| ones you can be playing songs in no time at all. These | | | | chords. There you go - as I told you, when you begin |
| are the chords C, A minor (or Am), F and G. These | | | | to learn piano chords, you can be making music in no |
| are all played using just the white keys, so you should | | | | time at all. |
| be able to master this swiftly. To play the chord of C, | | | | |