• About
  • Sitemap
  • Privacy Policy
  • Disclaimer
  • Contact

Piano Music Chords QA

Find popular and new piano chords to play everyday.

  • Home
  • Ask
    • Ask Your Question
  • Answer
Home » piano chord variations » How to play piano chords. HELP PLEASE!?

How to play piano chords. HELP PLEASE!?

Q. So, I've been teaching myself to play the piano. (a thoroughly complicated task, but beside the point) And, well I've come across chords. I know that chords are pretty much a bunch of notes played together. But the question is what notes? The song I'm working on has the chords C, E, F, G, Dm7 (whatever that means) Am, (A minor, or something, I think) and a C/E (totally lost there). Help. Please!

A. Pianos are cool.

The chords C, E, F and G all follow the same pattern - start on the letter of the chord (e.g. C) then add the notes that are 4 keys up (including black keys) and then another 3 keys up from that. So for C chord, four keys up is E, and another 3 keys up is G. C, E and G make up the C chord. That's for a major chord.

The minor chord has the same first and last note - but the middle note is one less. So start with the chord note, then got up 3 keys for the middle note, then go up 4 keys fort he last note. For Am you would start on A, go up 3 keys to C, then go up 4 keys to E. (ACE). A major would be similar - but the middle key would be one higher - C#. (A C# E).

You can try this with any starting note.

There are lots of variations for chords. Dm7 for example, is just D minor (D, F, A) with the addition of a fourth note. Without getting into details, just at 3 more keys from the last note (A+3 = C). So Dm7 is D, F, A, C.

C/E is a different thing again. The notes are actually identical to the C chord - however instead of the C being the main sound of the chord, the E is made to sound more dominant. Just play a C chord (CEG) with the right hand, and add a single E note in the bass scale.

Original Question

Learning Piano Chords?
Q. Where do I begin? Majors? Is there a good free site which has pictures included?
Would it be good to learn scales before chords? Or after?

Thanks in advance

A. I was taught to play piano classically and I'd say if you want to be able to sightread and play classical pieces of music then there's no substitute for learning the scales. It was boring as anything but it'll stand you in good stead when playing piano generally because you'll already know the key signatures/fingering.

However, I know some other types of piano-playing particularly jazz and blues (and to some extent I guess rock) are built more around chords. This method is also supposed to be a fast-track method to learning to play? So if you're wanting to learn more for fun - to play around with songs or maybe write your own then maybe you don't need to know the more "correct" fingerings.

There's plenty of websites out there doing this kind of stuff but be warned a lot of them are trying to sell you something.
I've just had a quick look and I think this is my favourite because it shows you all the variations and how they should sound: http://www.8notes.com/piano_chord_chart/

If you prefer videos this is kind of basic but shows you exactly what you're doing and what fingering etc.
http://www.expertvillage.com/video-series/464_basic-piano-lessons-chords.htm

I think the normal order would be to learn them in the order of fewest sharps and flats so starting with C, G, D, A and F majors and A and D minors. (look at the ABRSM syllabus for the order they teach the scales: http://www.abrsm.org/resources/pianoComplete0608.pdf)

I think if it was me I'd learn both at the same time, so start with a basic scale like C major, and then learn the C major chord at the same time - maybe playing around with some of the variations a bit too.

I'm sure some other people will disagree though and if you're already familiar with music theory or play another instrument pretty well you can probably skip the scales. Or if you're not too serious about piano and doing it just for fun by all means learn the chords.

Original Question

How to do chord variations on the piano?
Q. When playing the chords of songs, my teacher can do these variations on the rhythm and the notes of these chords instead of just playing it solid once every beat. Can someone please explain how I can do these and make it sound nice? Thanks :)

A. Your teacher used different ways to arrange the music. There are tons of tricks you can do to make your playing sound interesting:
1. Chord inversion
2. Chord substituition
3. Varying rhythm
4. Broken chords, etc
Here are some helpful lessons to make your playing sounds exciting:
http://www.playpianotips.com
http://www.pianoimprov2.com

Original Question




Powered by Yahoo! Answers
Posted by KickAnswers on - Rating: 4.5
Title : How to play piano chords. HELP PLEASE!?
Description : Q. So, I've been teaching myself to play the piano. (a thoroughly complicated task, but beside the point) And, well I've come acr...

Share to

Facebook Google+ Twitter
Newer Post
Older Post
Home

Popular Posts

  • Piano players, Dm/F chord?
    Q. Hey there, just a beginner :) But I'd like to know which keys you use to play a Dm/F Help is appreciated :) Thankyou. A. It means t...
  • What does a letter above a musical note for the keyboard piano mean?
    Q. Ok, I'm learning how to play the keyboard piano (by myself) right now, and I'm playing Ode to Joy. Well, above some of the notes...
  • Is there piano chord finder?
    Q. Is there a web application what i can input the notes, and it tells me what chord is being played for piano? A. You can make one. You n...
  • Does anyone know what phat chords and quartels are on the piano?
    Q. just want to know A. There's no such thing as "phat chords". Quartal harmony is harmony built in 4ths, as opposed to the ...
  • How to play from a fake book?
    Q. Any tips would be nice. I play piano. I see different ways to play it too like( Med. Swing, Calypso,, etc..........) How do you play it...
  • why when I play the chord G#M7b5 in the left hand I play E , if G#M7b5 has nothing to do with E or at least I?
    Q. A. Thats not very specific but the only relationship i know is that G#m7b5 is subbing or using as voicing for an E9 chord. Does happen ...
  • How do you convert piano chords into sheet music? Is there some sort of program you can use?
    Q. I've played for 8 years, but I only know how to read sheet music, and I don't have time to learn to read chords before i play ne...
  • What are the notes/ fingerings for these arpeggios on piano?
    Q. What are the notes for C major C minor G major F major A minor D minor? Please help by telling me the notes or directing me to a website...
  • How do I make a song into a jazz song?
    Q. Hey im having trouble on deciding on choosing a jazz song for music so I decided to change a song that I already know into a jazz song. ...
  • What do the letters above the score mean on piano music?
    Q. I took lessons in classical for a while, and now im trying to learn to play pop music on the piano (billy joel) and they have these lett...
Copyright © 2012 Piano Music Chords QA - All Rights Reserved
Powered by Blogger