A piano chord is played by pressing three keys simultaneously. Any three keys will form a triad, but only certain combinations of keys will create sounds that are musical and pleasing to the ear. Almost all music in comprised of three elements: rhythm, melody, and harmony. Harmony is created when two or more notes are played together. Learning how to play piano chords is a vital part of mastering the instrument and necessary to playing great music.
There are many different types of chords, but some are more common than others depending on the type of music that is being played. A major triad is based on a major scale. Playing the first, third, and fifth degrees of a major scale together will create a major triad. In C major the notes played would be C, E, and G. Major scales create a soothing and generally happy sound.
Minor triads are built using the minor scale. The degrees of the triad stay the same: the first, third, and fifth degrees are played together. In the C minor scale these notes would be C, E flat, and G. The third note in minor scales is lowered by one half step. This combination of notes creates a more sad or somber sound.
The other two most important and most often used triads are augmented and diminished. These are defined by the action taken with the fifth degree of the scale in which they are played. In an augmented scale the fifth is raised by a half step. Diminished chords have a fifth that is lowered by a half step.
There are other types of chords beyond these basic four. Combinations that use the seventh, ninth, and thirteenth scale degrees are common in different genres of music. Sevenths are common in jazz and country songs while ninths are more commonly found when playing the blues. Scales are only composed of seven notes to the idea of ninths and thirteenths can sound strange. A ninth and a second are one and the same. The notes are counted without repeating one each time the root note is hit.
Every type of chord, no matter which scale it is based on, can be inverted. Inversions are used to change the weight of the notes. In the first inversion of the C major scale, the root note is moved to the top and E becomes the root note. This would make the notes played E, G, and C. This changes the tonality of the notes and the impression it makes in the music.
Knowing how to play piano chords will make playing the piano more enjoyable and the music you can create more complex and harmonious. Being comfortable with the different types and knowing their variations will make recognizing them easier and leaning a new piece faster.
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