Friday, December 13, 2013

A Basic Introduction To Piano Chords

By Leanne Goff


On a basic level a chord is the building block of tunes. It can often be a lot easier to learn tunes after you have learned how they are structured. Learning piano chords over time will often make it a lot easier for you to get the most from your instrument in the long term.

In simple terms each chord is made of three or more notes. If you only use two notes this is what is known as an interval. Before you play a chord it helps to learn how to play intervals. Once you have practised this and the scale of notes this then becomes a lot easier.

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.

A lot of chords are played in what is known as the major key. Therefore when you are asked to play a tune and they say it is an A or another note then it is in a major key. If it is played using a black key then it will be known as a sharp or a flat depending on the type of black key you play.

A major key tends to be more upbeat which is why it is often used in a lot of pop songs, often with a key change towards the climax to add more emotional uplift. However it is important to remember than a minor key is not lesser or inferior. It tends to be used for more melancholic songs. It can be interesting playing a typically upbeat song in this key as it can substantially change the tone and the meaning behind the lyrics.

Some people can be intimidated when it comes to learning the piano. In an odd way it can be more instinctive than instruments such as the guitar. This is because it is easier to position your hands to play a piano than the way you need to twist your hands round in order to play the guitar.

When playing the best way is to start with the lowest note and build up. The main note of the chord is what is known as the root note. A root note on the left hand side is usually best played with the pinkie finger on the left hand while the root note on the right hand side is best played with the thumb on the right hand.

One way to make it easier to learn piano chords is to look up your favourite music. If you have particular songs you love listening to over and over this can be a good way of learning how to play them. With the right approach and dedication you can get the most from learning how to play your instrument.




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