Piano Chords for Beginners: Here’s what You Need to Know

Piano chords are one of the most important aspects of learning piano. Understanding chords helps one to master piano notes, unleash creative skills, and make the practice session more enjoyable. This feature is designed to help you study piano chords thoroughly, along with pointers and suggestions to be more efficient.

But before that…

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What Are Piano Chords/Keyboard Chords?

To create harmony on the piano/keyboard, a group of notes are played together. These groups of notes are called the Piano Chords. A chord can consist of three or more notes played simultaneously. The most common chords are:

1. Major chords: Known for their bright, cheerful sound.

• Example: C Major (C, E, G).

2. Minor chords: Recalls a sad or depressed tone.

• Example: A Minor (A, C, E).

3. Seventh chords: Add depth and richness to the music.

• Example: G7 (G, B, D, F).

Beginners can start with major and minor chords to build the foundation.

Why Learning Chords is Important?

A comprehensive grasp of all chords will open doors to numerous possibilities:

• Simplifies learning songs: Learning to play popular songs will get easier as most of them are built around simple chord progressions.
• Boosts creativity: Understanding chords will give you the edge to create your own music or improvise easily.
• Build technique: Playing chords is one of the best finger exercises as it strengthens your fingers and improves hand coordination.
• Accelerates growth: For students enrolled in online piano lessons, chords provide a structured way to understand music theory.

How to Practice Piano Chords?

Let’s look at some easy and effective practice tips that you can follow through:

1. Start slow: It is always a good decision to start slow and build up techniques and skills as you go. Begin with easy piano notes and focus on mastering one chord at a time.
2. Use proper fingering: Placing your fingers in the correct position will help you play the chords comfortably.
3. Practice transitions: Practice transitioning chords so that you can move smoothly and effortlessly between chord progressions.
4. Combine hands gradually: Practice playing the chords with one hand until confident enough to incorporate the other hand.
5. Follow a structured plan: It is advisable to have a structured routine to help with your practice sessions. Artium Academy’s online piano courses offer step-by-step structured plans for your learning progress.

Basic Major and Minor Chords 

Here are some of the chords that you may use for your practice session:

C major:  C – E – G	C minor:  C – Eb – G
D major:  D – F# – A	D minor:  D – F  –  A
E major:  E – G# – B	E minor:  E –  G –  B
F major:  F – A – C	F minor:  F – Ab – C
G major: G – B –  D	G major: G – B b-  D
A major: A – C# – E	A minor: A – C – E
B major: B – D# – F#	B minor: B – D – F#

Play the notes with fingers 1(thumb) – 3(middle finger) – 5 (little finger) to each chord respectively for easier finger positioning. 

Common Chord Progressions for Beginners

Chord progressions or family chords, are a series of chords that is commonly used as the backbone of most songs. Here are a few beginner-friendly progressions to try:

1. C – G – Am – F: Used popularly in many pop songs.
2. G – Em – C – D: A classic progression for folk and rock.
3. D – A – Bm – G: Prominently used in ballads.

Understanding how the chords work together will help you in your journey as a musician.

Tips for Playing Chords with Both Hands

Playing with both hands can be challenging as a beginner but once you get used to it, it can be rewarding. Here is how to approach it:

• Start simple: Learn to play the chords with the right hand while the left hand plays the single bass notes.
• Maintain rhythm: Maintain the speed/dynamics by using a metronome or counting the beats out aloud. This will help you keep a steady rhythm.
• Strengthen independence: Independent hand playing will help greatly in strengthening the hand. It is advised to practice each hand separately before playing with both hands to develop individual hand-playing skills.
• Explore resources: EnrolEnroll in online piano classes like those offered by Artium Academy to get personalised guidance.

Conclusion

Piano chords are one of the most important aspects of learning piano. Understanding chords not only helps you master piano notes but also unleashes your creative skills, making your practice sessions more enjoyable and productive. If you’re exploring a piano online course, you’ll find that a thorough understanding of chords forms the foundation for advanced techniques and improvisation. This feature is designed to help you dive deep into piano chords, offering valuable pointers and suggestions to enhance your efficiency and progress on your musical journey.

At Artium Academy, our goal is to shape your musical journey from a learner to a performer. Our online piano courses are designed by industry experts with a structured 1:1 personalised learning approach. Our teachers are meticulously scouted and trained for you, as a student to get the quality of music education you deserve. 

Ready to dive deeper? Book a FREE Trial with us and join an online piano course today to take your skills to the next level!