Major chords are just like the basic root, 3rd and fifth interval chords mentioned above with the Major C chord. So, for example, if you happen to start with playing the E note, then the next half-step up would be an F, which is a white key (also called an E#), and then the full-step would be to the F#, which is a black key. However, half steps are not always black keys, and whole steps are not always the next white key.

A full-step would be to the next white key (two notes up), which is the D. The half-step up would be a C# – the very next note, which is the black key. A half step is going to the next note on the piano, whereas a full step would be two notes.Īs an example, let’s say you are playing the C note.

You can “alternate” these chords by going up or down a full or half step. You can recognize the chords on sheet music by playing the odd numbers on your hands – 1,3,5 to make up the 3 notes to form a chord. This may look overwhelming, but when you break it down, you can see that color-coding the chords gives you the root note and whether it is a major, minor, augmented, or diminished chord that you are playing. Here’s a chart available that displays all of the possible piano chords: Memorization is a key factor in learning chords. When you’re just starting, it’s a good idea to start with only the piano chords until you get a feel for how to play them by sight. When you actually start to learn music theory and read music to play on the piano, you’ll notice that chords are mainly played with the left hand while the right hand plays the melody. For instance, C Major chord is root note C (the chord’s root), 3rd interval note E, and 5th interval note G. Songs are written in keys and what is known as the Key Signature so that you can identify your root note to start. Looking at the piano and its notes, the first thing even the most amateur musician will notice is an array of keys – some black and some white – that make different sounds or notes when struck.Ī combination of those notes, known as the chord on a piano, is a minimum of 3 notes played together, sometimes more in some cases.ĭiving a bit deeper into what the chord actually is, it consists of a triad of a root note (the bass or chord’s “name”), a third interval note, and then a fifth interval note.

You are the reason piano chords b flat