Chords are simultaneous combinations of notes that provide the harmonic backbone for any composition, as well as setting its tonality and emotional resonance.
A piano major chords chart displays chord symbols above a musical staff. Chord tones are usually notated using capital letters; for seventh chords (C7 for instance), capitalization may also be used.
All major keyboard chords contain three tones known as the root note, third tone and fifth tone – these three harmonies make up what are known as major keyboard chords. The interval between root note and third tone is four half steps and seven semitones from fourth note to fifth tone respectively.
Root note
If you want to play songs on the piano, it is essential that you understand major chords as a foundation for most popular tunes. Major triad chords consists of three notes stacked atop one another and are widely used in pop, rock, R&B country blues music as well as classical pieces for piano.
Root Note – the initial note in any chord. Usually mentioned at either the top or left of a chart. Second Note – usually mentioned a third above root to determine major or minor harmony. Fifth Note – usually five half steps higher than root, known as perfect fifth note
Chords may seem intimidating for beginners, as they require complex fingerings and knowledge of the keyboard; however, with practice it’s easy to master chords quickly.
Third note
A major chord’s third note typically sits a step or two above its root note and determines its quality; major chords have a full step above their roots while minor chords only need be half steps above.
The second note in a major chord is equally as crucial, as its influence determines its quality and melody. A major triad is often the go-to choice, giving music a pleasant, buoyant vibe; on the other hand, minor triads offer more serious and dramatic tones.
There are four basic triad types: major, minor, diminished and augmented. Major triads are most often found in popular and classical music alike – for instance you will likely come across them when listening to pop, rock and other contemporary songs, as well as beginner classical pieces. Diminished and augmented chords may be less frequently heard but they can add depth and flavor to a piece.
Fifth note
Addition of a fifth note can transform the character of a chord by altering its fifth note; adding harmony, tension or minor effects such as vibrato. For instance, by including a flattened fifth (b5) to an otherwise C major chord you can amplify it to become dominant seventh with ease; to do this the name changes from C to CM, or it can change between lowercase letters like G#dim to uppercase ones like G#m for instance.
Chords are the foundation of most songs. By learning these fundamental piano chords, you will soon be on your way to playing many genres of music. A piano chord chart can help you remember them while keeping your fingerings straight across the fretboard; these charts are especially beneficial for beginning piano players who wish to improve. Get your free chord chart today by entering your name and email address below; with more practice comes easier memorization!
Shape of the chord
Major chords typically consist of three notes stacked upon one another – these notes are known as the root, third and fifth notes – with intervals in between them serving as their foundation.
By adding additional notes to a chord, adding flavor and color. For instance, adding seventh notes can change a C major chord into its variant Cmaj7.
Addition of a minor seventh can create an atmospheric feel in a major chord, and can even be expanded further by including a ninth note to form C9.
When reading a chord chart, it’s essential to recognize each symbol for every chord. Root letter names will usually appear above the staff with a slash separating it from any bass notes that should be played underneath (e.g. C/G). Other symbols that you might encounter include # and b symbols as well as su, dim and aug notations.