Chords play an integral role in music by providing tension and release, making your song sound unique and distinctive.
Chord progressions typically follow a specific key and are written out using roman numeral notation for easier recognition and learning!
1. C Major
Beginners typically begin their piano studies in C major, as this scale does not contain any flats or sharps that make learning simpler for beginners.
The key of C is an ideal starting point for beginners who need to become familiar with piano fingerings. Remember that to count up one whole tone on piano keys (white or black), they must go up two physical keys at once.
This song showcases various chords in C Major, including its opening and closing chords, for an engaging musical pattern. This chord progression creates a melody-laden experience while remaining memorable to listeners.
2. E Major
E Major is an accessible chord with a bright sound that’s easy to master with some guidance. This lesson will cover its notes, finger positions on the piano keyboard, intervals, scale degrees and diatonic chords that can be built using this key.
Understanding the relationship between half steps and whole steps when building any major scale is of crucial importance. This step demonstrates how to construct an E major scale starting on its tonic note (1-E), including all scale degrees – tonic, supertonic, mediant, subdominant, and dominant – found within this key.
3. G Major
G major is one of the most frequently used keys in music, used for many melodies including Igor Stravinsky’s Pulcinella suite and Piano Concerto for two hands.
This key only has one sharp note – F sharp. All other notes in its scale are naturals.
To play this scale, place your left hand on the white keys starting with your pinky finger on G and adding A, B and C as desired. Strum each chord four times before moving on; this will enable you to practice quickly switching chords.
4. F Major
F Major is an easily identifiable key that contains one flat note – B-flat – on a piano keyboard, as it lies directly to its left in any grouping of two or three black keys.
A regular F chord contains three notes – its root, major third and perfect fifth. To practice these chords and their inversions on piano keyboard diagram below, referring to major scale interval formulae as referenced below. Doing this will make Taylor Swift song chord progressions much simpler to master!
5. A Major
Great Balls of Fire offers a deceptively straightforward melody with only two main chords (D and G) repeated over its duration, giving you plenty of opportunities for fun glissandos, slides and tremolos!
This song is an ideal way to practice rhythm. The repetitive nature of its rhythm helps you internalize it quickly and pick up this song much quicker than trying to figure out chords on your own.
This song provides a great starting point for learning slash chords, seventh chords, and other advanced chord progressions. Check out our slash chords tutorial for more information!
6. B Major
Taylor Swift is an amazing musician and many of her songs feature piano. Additionally, the instrument often makes an appearance during her live concerts; recently at Gillette Stadium video footage had fans discussing conspiracy theories that her piano had played low notes by itself during a concert!
If you’re just getting into Taylor Swift on piano, try starting off by learning one of her older songs like “White Horse.” It features an easy piano riff that makes learning her songs easier than you might expect!
7. D Major
As D major contains two sharp notes – F and C – it requires using your thumb to cover the second fret on your first finger.
Practice each chord individually until both hands feel confident playing them simultaneously and this will also reduce movement between chord changes.
Once the song begins, start playing along and gradually increase your speed. Have fun learning this beautiful tune – I know I certainly enjoyed learning it! It is one of my favourites!