An Overview of 14 basic piano chords for beginners

Learning and understanding piano chords is essential knowledge you need when learning to play the piano. Mastering these chords helps you quickly approach your favorite songs. This article by Pianosintheparks.com will introduce you to 14 basic piano chords for beginners.

What is a Piano Chord? What are the Rules for Constructing Chords?

What is a Piano Chord?

A piano chord combines three or more notes played simultaneously on the piano. These notes create a harmonious sound and are often used to provide the foundation for a piece’s melody. Here are the important roles of piano chords:

• Creating a Foundation for the Melody: Chords provide the foundation for a piece’s melody, making the music harmonious and more pleasant to listen to.
• Expressing Emotions: Different types of chords can express different emotions, such as major chords often bringing a cheerful, lively feeling, while minor chords often bring a sad, melancholic feeling.
• Accompanying the Melody: Chords can be used to accompany the melody, making it stand out more.

Rules for Constructing Piano Chords

Basic piano chords are usually constructed from 3 notes, following these rules:

Root note: The root note is the note that gives the chord its name. For example, in the C major chord, C is the root note.

Second note: The second note is a certain interval away from the root note, usually 4 or 5 steps.

• For major chords: The second note is 4 steps away from the root note.
• For minor chords: The second note is 3 steps away from the root note.

Third note: The third note is a certain interval away from the second note, usually 3 or 4 steps.

• For major chords: The third note is 3 steps away from the second note.
• For minor chords: The third note is 4 steps away from the second note.

Examples:

C Major (C – E – G)

• Root Note: C
• Second Note: E (4 steps away from C)
• Third Note: G (3 steps away from E)

A Minor (A – C – E)

• Root Note: A
• Second Note: C (3 steps away from A)
• Third Note: E (4 steps away from C)

Understanding 14 Basic Piano Chords

Piano chords are divided into 2 main types: 7 major chords and 7 minor chords. Let’s explore these 14 basic piano chords with Pianos in the Parks!

7 Major Chords

Major chords are one of the most basic and important types of chords in music, serving as the foundation for many piano pieces. The 7 major chords include:

• C Major (C)
• D Major (D)
• E Major (E)
• F Major (F)
• G Major (G)
• A Major (A)
• B Major (B)

Construction: Major chords are constructed from 3 notes, following these rules:

• Root note: The note that gives the chord its name. For example, C major has C as the root note.
• Second note: 4 steps away from the root note. For example, C major has E as the second note.
• Third note: 3 steps away from the second note. For example, C major has G as the third note.

Formula: The formula to remember the construction of major chords is: 1 – 3 – 5.

• 1: Root note (1st note in the corresponding major scale).
• 3: Note 3 steps away from the root note (3rd note in the corresponding major scale).
• 5: Note 5 steps away from the root note (5th note in the corresponding major scale).

Examples:

• C Major (C – E – G)
• D Major (D – F# – A)
• E Major (E – G# – B)
• F Major (F – A – C)
• G Major (G – B – D)
• A Major (A – C# – E)
• B Major (B – D# – F#)

Playing Technique:

The way to play major chords on the piano can vary depending on the position on the keyboard and the player’s preference. However, there are some common ways to play each chord that you can refer to on reputable music websites or in piano textbooks.

Role: Major chords are often used to:

• Provide the foundation for the melody, making the music harmonious and easy to listen to.
• Express cheerful, lively, and optimistic emotions.
• Accompany the melody, making it stand out more.
• Transition between different sections of music.

Benefits of Learning 7 Major Chords:

• Makes playing the piano easier, especially for simple pieces.
• Develops musical sensitivity.
• Stimulates creative thinking, helping with music composition.

7 Minor Chords

Minor chords are the second most common type of chord in music, bringing sad, melancholic, and subdued emotions, adding diversity to piano pieces. The 7 minor chords include:

• C Minor (Cm)
• D Minor (Dm)
• E Minor (Em)
• F Minor (Fm)
• G Minor (Gm)
• A Minor (Am)
• B Minor (Bm)

Construction: Minor chords are constructed from 3 notes, following these rules:

• Root note: The note that gives the chord its name. For example, Cm has C as the root note.
• Second note: 3 steps away from the root note. For example, Cm has Eb as the second note.
• Third note: 4 steps away from the second note. For example, Cm has G as the third note.

Formula: The formula to remember the construction of minor chords is: 1 – 3b – 5.

• 1: Root note (1st note in the corresponding minor scale).
• 3b: Note 3 steps away from the root note and lowered by a half step (3rd note in the corresponding minor scale).
• 5: Note 5 steps away from the root note (5th note in the corresponding minor scale).

Examples:

• Cm (C – Eb – G)
• Dm (D – F – A)
• Em (E – G – B)
• Fm (F – Ab – C)
• Gm (G – Bb – D)
• Am (A – C – E)
• Bm (B – D – F#)

Playing Technique:

Similar to major chords, the way to play minor chords on the piano can vary depending on the position on the keyboard and the player’s preference. However, there are some common ways to play each chord that you can refer to on reputable music websites or in piano textbooks.

Role: Minor chords are often used to:

• Express sad, melancholic, and subdued emotions.
• Create contrast with major chords, making the music more diverse.
• Accompany the melody, providing a foundation for melodies with a sad tone.
• Transition between different sections of music.

Benefits of Learning 7 Minor Chords:

• Makes playing the piano easier, especially for pieces with many minor chords.
• Develops musical sensitivity, especially in feeling different emotional nuances.
• Stimulates creative thinking, helping with composing music with a sad, deep tone.

Useful Tips for Learning Piano Chords

Learning basic piano chords is an important first step in conquering your musical passion. Here are some useful tips to help you effectively learn piano chords:

Start with Simple Chords

Instead of trying to memorize all 14 chords at once, start with the 3-4 most common major and minor chords like C, G, Am, F. Once you master these chords, you can gradually learn the others.

Learn to Identify Notes on the Keyboard

Knowing how to identify notes on the piano is essential for finding and playing chords on your own. Spend time learning how to read sheet music and memorizing the positions of notes on the keyboard.

Use Appropriate Learning Materials

There are many materials available to help you learn piano chords, including textbooks, video tutorials, websites, and mobile apps. Choose materials that suit your skill level and learning style.

Practice Regularly

The key to mastering any skill is regular practice. Spend at least 15-30 minutes daily practicing piano chords. You can practice by playing simple exercises, accompanying your favorite songs, or composing short pieces.

Conclusion

We hope that sharing the 14 basic piano chords has helped readers understand and identify the notes in a piece of music better. PianosintheParks wishes you diligent practice to improve your piano playing skills.