Pianochordy
Quick instructions how to play piano chords
Note: these instructions are really straighforward and basically skipping all the boring theory behind them. I'm sure this is all you need to play chords, you can check out the links in the end of this article to learn the theory more deeply.
What you need to know is:
- what is chord
- what is key
- and how to know what keys to play in chord
Description of chord (based on Wikipedia):
"In music and music theory a chord is a set of three (a triad) or more different notes that sound simultaneously."
Sound equals one key on the piano. Keys are called C,C#,D,D#,E,F,F#,G,G#,A,A#,B. The ones without # in the end are the white keys. The ones with # in the end are the black keys. You may see b-character in the end of chord. That's also a black key.
So. Chord is a collection of these keys. How we know what key belong to what chord?
Let's take example: chord Am.
Rule number one: chords first one or two characters define the key. In this the key is A. It could two characters like Bb or C# but that's basically the same. This describes what is the first key in the chord, and it's called the ROOT key of chord.
But what is the "m" in the end?
That describes the keys you need to play. First of all, place your thumb on the white key "A" because it's the ROOT key of Am chord.
Am is a triad chord. In "Am" chord there are three keys and you have correctly found the first one. Now you have to find the missing two keys. Remember: not all chords are triads, there are also chords that have four keys.
Now it comes to the point what you have to learn. There's no other way getting trough this.
"A minor triad can also be described as a minor third interval with a major third interval on top or as a root note, a note 3 semitones higher than the root, and a note 7 semitones higher than the root." (Wikipedia)
So: it has one minor third interval and one major third interval.
What the heck is a one semitone? If I say "play C key on piano and the next semitone" you would play C key, but also the NEXT key to the C on right, which is the black key called C# or Cb. So third semitones means just that you count three keys upwards.
What is "minor third" then when we think of our example Am?
Let's see: A..A#(one semitone)..B(two)..C(three).. It's C! Nice! Place your index finger on the C now!
Now you have to find the last key, remember the minor chord is a TRIAD chord, meaning it has THREE keys.
The description said also that minor triad has also note on 7 semitones higher than root. You can ofcourse count the last one same way as we did already (starting from A), but make it easier for you. You know that you have moved 3 keys already, so you're missing only 4 to reach the last missing key. Basic math: 7-3=4. If you didn't understand this, start from A and count 7 semitones. We will start from the C.
So, let's continue. C..C#(one semitone)..D(two)..D#(three)..E(four). It's E! Nicely done.
Now play all this three keys together and you're playing A minor chord! It consist of THREE keys: A,C and E keys.
The nice thing is that this rule (REMEMBER: Minor chord consist of ROOT key, a note 3 semitones and a note 4 semitones) applies to ALL the minor chords. If you need to play Cm or Bbm you would follow the same protocol.
All you need to remember is the RULE. Here are some of them for other chord types:
Major (usually not printed: C chord means C Major chord) - a note 4 semitones higher than the root, and a note 7 semitones higher than the root.
Minor - a note 3 semitones and a note 4 semitones
Augmented: - a note 4 semitones higher than the root, and a note 6 semitones higher than the root.
If you're lazy and don't want to remember, you can always check this PDF for most of the piano chords: http://on.tuu.fi/chords/pianochords.pdf
Other descriptions of chords:
Major chord (such as C or D chord): "In music theory, a major chord is a chord having a root, a major third, and a perfect fifth. When a chord has these three notes alone, it is called a major triad. Some major triads with additional notes, such as the major seventh chord, may also be called major chords.
A major triad can also be described as a major third interval with a minor third interval on top or as a root note, a note 4 semitones higher than the root, and a note 7 semitones higher than the root."
Augmented triad: "Whereas a major triad, such as C-E-G, contains a major third (C-E) then a minor third (E-G), with the interval of the fifth (C-G) being "perfect", the augmented triad sharpens that fifth (to an augmented fifth), becoming C-E-G#.
If an octave from the root is added, the resulting chord (C-E-G#-C) contains also a diminished fourth (G#-C); this is the enharmonic equivalent of a major third, so the full-octave chord is, in effect, three major thirds."
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