| The piano chord dictionary is arranged according to | | | | four note chords) the student would be well advised to |
| chord usage, not the alphabetical name of the chord. | | | | gain a firm knowledge of three and four note chords |
| Thus, you will find the chords that are most used in | | | | before proceeding on to a study of more complex |
| popular sheet music at the front of the dictionary, with | | | | constructions. |
| those that are least used at the back of the dictionary. | | | | In addition, you will note that the chords covered in this |
| In practice, certain chords are used more frequently in | | | | book are all in a position known as "root position." Root |
| popular sheet music than other chords. | | | | position is a position in which the basic name of the |
| Also, you will find that certain chords have more than | | | | chord is ALWAYS the lowest note of the chord (the |
| one name: F sharp (F#) for example, may also be | | | | note furthest to the left on the piano.) In a root position |
| called G flat (Gb.) The Piano Chord Dictionary lists the | | | | C chord, for example, the note C is always the lowest |
| chord name most used, with a reference to the | | | | note. It is possible, in more complex arrangements, to |
| alternative name. | | | | place any of the notes of the chord in the lowest |
| There are many different names of chords, with | | | | position, resulting in more pleasing sounds and |
| accompanying chord symbols: C Major is the chord | | | | smoother movements from chord to chord. The more |
| name, but you might see many different chord | | | | complex arrangements, known as "chord inversions" |
| symbols, which denote the very same single chord. | | | | are a complicated study, and well beyond the scope |
| Thus a "C Major" chord might be represented by | | | | of this book. |
| several different symbols, depending on the age and | | | | But students would be, once again, well advised to |
| nationality of the sheet music and the choice of the | | | | study the root position of chords first, gaining a |
| editor of that sheet music: C, C ma, C maj are all | | | | practically encyclopedic knowledge of chords in that |
| accepted representations of the "C Major" chord. | | | | basic root position, before proceeding on to a study of |
| The large chord symbol you see at the beginning of | | | | the art and science of inverting chords, that is, the art |
| each entry in the piano chord dictionary, C, for | | | | and science of producing chords in which the name of |
| example, is the chord symbol you will most likely find in | | | | the chord does NOT appear in the lowest position of |
| contemporary, American sheet music, published by a | | | | that chord. |
| major publisher such as Hal Leonard, to name but one | | | | Failure to gain a firm knowledge of root position chords |
| publisher. | | | | will inevitably result in confusion. Think of the Periodic |
| In addition, you will find that there are many more | | | | Table of the Elements, wherein all chemical elements |
| complex chords with accompanying chord symbols | | | | are delineated. A budding chemist would do well to |
| than are covered in this book, which is intended as a | | | | learn the properties of Oxygen and Nitrogen as |
| text for beginners who wish to explore the art of | | | | individual elements before attempting to combine them |
| playing chord symbols in popular music. Therefore, we | | | | into more complex compounds. It is the same with |
| include an APPENDIX which will give you an | | | | chords. |
| acceptable substitute for the more complex chords | | | | However limiting the use of root position may seem at |
| which are not covered in this book: for example, if you | | | | first, a firm knowledge of it will be the unshakeable |
| see an indication for C9, you may simply play C7 as | | | | basis of a further study of more complex and pleasing |
| an acceptable substitute. This is because, for various | | | | chord construction. |
| reasons, the study of chords comprised of FIVE notes | | | | Thus our suggestion is this: learn to play popular sheet |
| is beyond the scope of this book. | | | | music with the chord in the left hand, in root position, |
| The Piano Chord Dictionary attempts only to introduce | | | | and the melody (the notes of the sheet music) in the |
| beginning students to the study of chords comprised | | | | right hand. Once you can play all the root position |
| of FOUR notes. Since the study of more complex | | | | chord symbols covered in this book, you will be ready |
| chords (chords with five notes or more) is based on a | | | | to proceed to a more complete study of complex |
| firm knowledge of simpler constructions (three and | | | | chords and their inversions. |