Learning major chords on keyboard can seem daunting, but it needn’t be. The first thing you should recognize about these chords is that they all contain intervals.
Intervals measure the distance between two notes and can be represented as half-steps between white and black keys.
All major chords share a similar interval structure: root, major third and perfect fifth. Let’s build an F major chord starting on middle C together!
Root
Root chords contain the initial note of any major scale, often called its first note or root chord, also known as its root of triad as they’re created from this first note in scale. A triad includes its root note as its basis while major third and fifth scale notes make up its entirety.
Major chords are the foundational structure of piano chords, making them an excellent place to begin learning them. Each major chord has a distinct sound which will help you identify them when heard in music.
Key to remember is that chord intervals always consist of whole steps rather than half steps, making them easy to play on a keyboard.
A major chord on a keyboard resembles three books stacked next to one another like books in a pile; its lowest note, known as its root note, sits under its middle note known as its major third while its highest note known as its fifth is tacked at its top or highest note position. To modify its order you can simply change its combination by moving up or down in its stack of notes.
Third
The next note in a chord typically falls either a major or minor third above its root note, and determines its status: for instance, C to E in a C major chord would be considered major third while C to G would constitute minor third – this interval gives each chord its unique identity.
To create a piano major chord in any key, begin with the root note and add major thirds above it and perfect fifths below it until all notes of the chord have been covered by this pattern. Practice is key here so as to develop muscle memory; furthermore it helps if each chord is played through all 12 keys so as to hear its ratio of intervals shifting up or down the scale.
To create a minor chord, adjust the 3rd and 5th notes as in creating a major chord; this creates a tone that sounds less major and full. There are also augmented chords which add one note above the major third; an example being C7 chord (pronounced “c7”). C7s sound powerful yet suspenseful when used for dramatic or romantic music compositions.
Fifth
Chords consist of three tones known as the root, third and fifth. The root will always be the lowest note in a major chord; its middle note, known as third in major chords; while its top or last note (called fifth for minor chords) will always be its perfect fifth note; regardless of which key the major chord occurs in, its distance between its bottom and top notes remains consistent.
To quickly and efficiently learn major chords, it is useful to have an in-depth knowledge of scales. This will make learning the intervals of each chord much simpler; once this knowledge has been acquired, combining chords to form different types is straightforward – for instance a C major chord can quickly be transformed into an A minor one by simply dropping its third note by half step.
Piano chords form the cornerstone of song composition, giving songs distinct emotions and tones that range from joyful and powerful to melancholic. By learning a few basic chords it is possible to play any song on keyboard; while for advanced players experimenting with various voicings can be fun way of expanding and growing your chord vocabulary.