| I am sure you have heard of Piano Chords. Well, that | | | | play the C chord and learn the sixth later. |
| can be a little misleading because when you play | | | | Now I don't want to bombard you with theory but |
| chords, normally with you left hand, you would play | | | | there are certain rules when playing ninth and eleventh |
| chords on an electronic keyboard or electric organ | | | | chords, the rule being you must include the seventh |
| rather than a piano. | | | | when playing these types of chords. Now, as a |
| When learning to play the piano you would normally | | | | beginner you can substitute ninth and eleventh chords |
| learn, what I call a moving left hand rather than a three | | | | with seventh chords. So now, you have a choice, if |
| note or four-note chord. You can still use chords with a | | | | you see a C9 chord, you can play either a C chord or |
| piano but you must put the bass note in first before | | | | a C7 chord, both are adequate and both will sound |
| playing the chord. So if you are playing a C chord you | | | | correct. |
| would play the C bass note first with your left hand | | | | Here are the chords I recommend beginners learn first. |
| then the C chord. With an electronic keyboard, you | | | | 12 Major Chords |
| would just play the C chord and the auto-chord | | | | 12 Seventh Chords |
| feature that most keyboards have will add the bass | | | | 12 Minor Chords |
| note for you. | | | | 12 Minor Seventh Chords |
| So, for all you keyboard and organ beginners out there | | | | The 12 Major Chords are: |
| all you need to start with is some basic triad and | | | | C, G, D, A, E, B, F#/Gb, C#/Db, Ab, Eb, Bb, F |
| seventh chords. There are hundreds of chords to | | | | The 12 Seventh Chords are: |
| learn, but guess what; you don't need to learn them | | | | C7, G7, D7, A7, E7, B7, F#7/Gb7, C#7/Db7, Ab7, Eb7, |
| now. | | | | Bb7, F7 |
| Let me give you an example, if you are playing your | | | | The 12 Minor Chords are: |
| favourite song on your keyboard and you come | | | | Cm, Gm, Dm, Am, Em, Bm, F#m/Gbm, C#m/Dbm, |
| across a chord called C6 or C9 or even C11 what do | | | | Abm, Ebm, Bbm, Fm |
| you do, stop, and learn these chords or carry on | | | | The 12 Minor Seventh Chords are: |
| playing and learn these chords later, if you want to. | | | | Cm7, Gm7, Dm7, Am7, Em7, Bm7, F#m7/Gbm7, |
| Sound confusing, it's not really, what you do is play a | | | | C#m7/Dbm7, Abm7, Ebm7, Bbm7, Fm7 |
| simple C chord instead of the C6, C9 or C11. | | | | That's 48 of the most popular chords used in modern |
| When you see a number attached to a chord it | | | | music today. If you learn these chords, you will be able |
| means you are adding another note to that chord. So | | | | to play hundreds of songs that are widely available in |
| for example C6 means play a C chord and add a | | | | songbooks and sheet music. |
| sixth to it, and if you don't know what the sixth is just | | | | |