Saturday, December 14, 2013

A Simple Introduction To Piano Chords

By Leanne Goff


In recent times more people have noted how piano chords are a crucial part of construction. A recent comedy video looked at how a lot of hit songs are essentially made of four chords. In order to understand this it first helps to know exactly what they are and how they work.

While for some people this can seem quite intimidating the irony is that in a lot of ways it is easier to perform a chord on a key than it is with a guitar. With a guitar it involves moving your hand in a way that at first does not always feel natural whereas this becomes a lot easier over time.

Another way to make it easier is to be aware of how the notes are laid out on the piano. The best way to do this is to locate middle C. As you might expect this is in the middle of the keyboard layout. You then have a series of notes to the left and a series of notes to the right.

From middle C it is then possible to find the others. The white keys to the left of middle C are C, D, E, F, G, A and B which is then reversed with the keys to the right of the middle C. The black keys on the left are the sharps and the ones on the right are the flats.

There are two main types of chord. If the group of notes are played together at the same time then this is known as a regular. If the notes are not grouped together then this is known as an alternate. Another way to differentiate is through major and minor. Major keys are upbeat sounding while minor keys tend to be more sad sounding, so the one you play can affect the tone of the music.

Major chords are the most common form. Therefore they will tend to be referred to by letter rather than as a major. However if it is a minor key then this will usually be indicated. However as with anything if you are asked to play something and you are not sure it is best to ask rather than trying to wing it!

Developing your skills can become easier with the right tutor. They can guide you so you learn at your own pace. You can also use video tutorials and guides online to further practise and develop in between lessons. A mixture of resources will often make it easier to practise and get more confident playing your instrument. While it can seem daunting at first being able to repeat and practise over and over again will make playing more intuitive.

There are a lot of books that provide piano chords. Ideally you want to choose a book that includes songs that you like. This will then make you more likely to want to learn to play and will mean you are more likely to independently practise rather than trying over and over to play something you do not really like. With a smart approach and the right teacher you can get the most from your instrument!




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