How To Play Piano Chords In Less Than 30 Minutes
Having said that, I need your constant attention for 30 Minuted On this website where you will educate yourself on the chords on the piano or keyboard or synthesizer as well as the theory associated with it. I’ve created these MIDI and PDF files for you, this will help you to get familiar with sounds and visualization.
Let's start with the definition of Chords.
You will find there are numerous ways you can define a chord, that might vary from the simplest explanation (for any layperson) to one of the complicated definition (for musical scholars).
Here in this example, we are going to explain a chord in a manner that is within the simplest and the most complex, to ensure that absolutely everyone would understand it.
A chord can be defined as a combination of three or even more important notes (pleasant or not), which can be played or heard together.
Among the list of popular chords you’ve probably stumble upon, would be the C major triad that is made of notes C, E, and G.
One particular factor that is different among chords is the actual number of notes which can be included. There are triads (three notes), four-note (sometimes called tetrachords) and five-note chords.Furthermore, chords with six or seven notes also can be found.
Let’s take a look at how to find a Major chord from the Major scale, eg. C Major scale consists of notes C(1) D(2) E(3) F(4) G(5) A(6) B(7) to find C Major chord we will play 1st, 3rd and 5th notes from the Major scale, i.e. notes C E G usually played by 1st, 3rd and 5th finger
Below usually are different classes of chords based on note aggregate:
Triads: Three note chords.
Tetrads: Four note chords.
Pentads: Five note chords.
Hexads: Six note chords.
Heptads: Seven note chords.
Octads: Eight note chords.
Chord Name | Image | Notes |
---|---|---|
C Major | C E G | |
D Major | D F♯ A | |
E Major | E G♯ B | |
F Major | F A C | |
G Major | G B D | |
A Major | A C♯ E | |
B Major | B D♯ F♯ | |
Db Major | Db F Ab | |
Eb Major | E♭ G B♭ |
|
Gb Major | Gb Bb Db | |
Ab Major | A♭ C E♭ | |
Bb Major | B♭ D F |
Now, this 1-3-5 formula remains the same for Minor chords also. First, you need to know the minor scale of the chord, eg. C Minor scale :
C Minor scale consists of notes C(1) D(2) Eb(3) F(4) G(5) Ab(6) Bb(7)
to find C Minor chord we will play 1st, 3rd and fifth notes from the Minor scale, i.e. notes C Eb G.usually played by 1st, 3rd and 5th finger.
In order to find a Minor chord from a Major chord, you just need to subtract a half step from 3rd note eg. C Major is C E G, if you want to derive C Minor from it, just subtract half step from E note i.e it becomes Eb, so C Minor is C Eb G.
Chord Name | Image | Notes |
---|---|---|
C Minor | C E♭ G | |
D Minor | D F A | |
E Minor | E G B | |
F Minor | F A♭ C | |
G Minor | G B♭ D | |
A Minor | A C E | |
B Minor | B D F♯ | |
C# Minor | C♯ E G♯ | |
Eb Minor | E♭ G♭ B♭ | |
F# Minor | F♯ A C♯ | |
G# Minor | G# B) D# | |
Bb Minor | B♭ D♭ F |
Augmented piano chords: An augmented chord can also be a triad. It is actually a 3 note chord which includes the root, 3rd and sharp 5th from the scale. (root, 3rd, ♯5th) The symbol for the augmented chord is + or aug. For example, C augmented can be printed as C+ or Caug.
The quick way to remember a augmented chord is think about major chord, and then add half step to 5th note eg. C Major is C E G, if you want to derive C augmented from it, just add half step to G note i.e it becomes G#, so C Augmented is C E G#.
Chord Name | Image | Notes |
---|---|---|
C Augmented | C E G♯ | |
D Augmented | D F♯ A♯ | |
E Augmented | E G♯ B#(C) | |
F Augmented | F A C♯ | |
G Augmented | G B D♯ | |
A Augmented | A C♯ E♯(F) | |
B Augmented | B D♯ F♯♯(G) | |
Db Augmented | Db F A | |
Eb Augmented | Eb G B | |
Gb Augmented | Gb Bb Ebb(D) | |
Ab Augmented | Ab C E | |
Bb Augmented | Bb D F♯ |
Diminished chords triads too contain 3 notes, the root, flat 3rd, and flat 5th of the scale. (root, ♭3rd, ♭5th) A diminished chord is symbolised by the symbols dim or °. For example, B diminished can be penned as Bdim or B°.
The quick way to form a diminished chord is think about minor chord, and then subtract half step to 5th note eg. C Minor is C Eb G, if you want to derive C diminished from it, just subtract half step to G note i.e it becomes Gb, so C diminished is C Eb Gb.
Chord Name | Image | Notes |
---|---|---|
C Diminished | C E♭ G♭ | |
D Diminished | D F A♭ | |
E Diminished | E G B♭ | |
F Diminished | F A♭ C♭(B) | |
G Diminished | G B♭ D♭ | |
A Diminished | A C E♭ | |
B Diminished | B D F | |
C♯ Diminished | C♯ E G | |
D# Diminished | D# F# A | |
F♯ Diminished | F♯ A C | |
G# Diminished | G# B D | |
A# Diminished | A# C# E |
Major Seventh piano chords : Now Let us consider major seventh chords. A major seventh chord includes four notes. It Is actually a major chord with an additional 7th note. The scale degrees used to form a major seventh chord is the root, third, fifth and maj. Seventh of the scale. The symbols used by such type of chord are M7 or maj 7. As an example, G major seventh should be authored GM7 of Gmaj 7.
The quick way to remember a major 7 chord is think about major chord, and then add 4 half steps after 5th note eg. C Major is C E G, if you want to derive C major 7 from it, just add 4 half step after G note i.e add B note. so C Major 7 is C E G B.
Chord Name | Image | Notes |
---|---|---|
C Major 7 | C E G B | |
D Major 7 | D F♯ A C♯ | |
E Major 7 | E G♯ B D♯ | |
F Major 7 | F A C E | |
G Major 7 | G B D F♯ | |
A Major 7 | A C♯ E G♯ | |
B Major 7 | B D♯ F♯ A♯ | |
Db Major 7 | Db F Ab C | |
E♭ Major 7 | E♭ G B♭ D | |
Gb Major 7 | Gb Bb Db F | |
A♭ Major 7 | A♭ C E♭ G |
|
B♭ Major 7 | B♭ D F A |
Minor Seventh piano chords: It is actually a minor chord and also an added ♭7th note. It is made of 4 notes, the root, ♭3rd, 5th and ♭7th of the scale. Its symbols are -7 or min7. And so D minor seventh should be printed as D-7 or Dmin7.
The quick way to remember a minor 7 chord is think about minor chord, and then add 3 half steps after 5th note eg. C Minor is C Eb G, if you want to derive C minor 7 from it, just add 3 half step after G note i.e add Bb note. so C Minor 7 is C Eb G Bb.
Chord Name | Image | Notes |
---|---|---|
C Minor 7 | C E♭ G B♭ | |
D Minor 7 | D F A C | |
E Minor 7 | E G B D | |
F Minor 7 | F A♭ C E♭ | |
G Minor 7 | G B♭ D F | |
A Minor 7 | A C E G | |
B Minor 7 | B D F♯ A | |
C♯ Minor 7 | C♯ E G♯ B | |
D# Minor 7 | D# F# A# C# | |
F♯ Minor 7 | F♯ A C♯ E | |
G# Minor 7 | G#♭ B D# F# | |
B♭ Minor 7 | B♭ D♭ F A♭ |
Dominant Seventh piano chords: Dominant seventh chord consists of 4 notes. These notes include root, 3rd, 5th and ♭7th from the scale. Its symbol is dom. 7 or 7. Therefore C dominant seventh would be written as C dom.7 or C7.
The quick way to remember a dominant 7 chord is think about major chord, and then add 3 half steps after 5th note eg. C Minor is C E G, if you want to derive C dominant 7 from it, just add 3 half step after G note i.e add Bb note. so C Minor 7 is C E G Bb.
Chord Name | Image | Notes |
---|---|---|
C Dominant 7 | C E G B♭ | |
D Dominant 7 | D F♯ A C |
|
E Dominant 7 | E G♯ B D | |
F Dominant 7 | F A C E♭ | |
G Dominant 7 | G B D F |
|
A Dominant 7 | A C♯ E G | |
B Dominant 7 | B D♯ F♯ A | |
Db Dominant 7 | Db F Ab B | |
E♭ Dominant 7 | E♭ G B♭ D♭ | |
Gb Dominant 7 | Gb Bb Db E | |
A♭ Dominant 7 | A♭ C E♭ G♭ | |
B♭ Dominant 7 | B♭ D F A♭ |
Diminished Seventh piano chords: Dominant seventh chord consists of 4 notes. These notes include root, flat 3rd, 5th and 7th from the scale. Its symbol is dim 7. Therefore C diminished seventh would be written as C dim7.
The quick way to remember a diminished 7 chord is think about diminished chord, and then add 3 half steps after 5th note eg. C Minor is C Eb Gb, if you want to derive C diminished 7 from it, just add 3 half step after Gb note i.e add A note. so C diminished 7 is C Eb Gb A.
Chord Name | Image | Notes |
---|---|---|
C Diminished 7 | C E♭ G♭ A | |
D Diminished 7 | D F A♭ B | |
E Diminished 7 | E G B♭ C# | |
F Diminished 7 | F A♭ C♭(B) D | |
G Diminished 7 | G B♭ D♭ E | |
A Diminished 7 | A C E♭ F# | |
B Diminished 7 | B D F G# | |
C♯ Diminished 7 | C♯ E G A# | |
D# Diminished 7 | D# F# A B#(C) | |
F♯ Diminished 7 | F♯ A C D# | |
G# Diminished 7 | G# B D E#(F) | |
A# Diminished 7 | A# C# E F##(G) |
Augmented Major 7 piano chords: Augmented Major 7 chord consists of 4 notes. These notes include root, 3rd, flat 6th and 7th from the scale. Its symbol is Aug Maj 7. Therefore C Augmented Major 7 would be written as C Aug Maj 7.
The quick way to remember a Augmented Major 7 chord is think about augmented chord, and then add 3 half steps after 5th note eg. C augmented is C E Ab, if you want to derive C Augmented Major 7 from it, just add 3 half step after Ab note i.e add B note. so C Augmented Major 7 is C E Ab B.
Chord Name | Image | Notes |
---|---|---|
C Augmented Major 7 | C E Ab B | |
D Augmented Major 7 | D F# Bb c# | |
E Augmented Major 7 | E G# C E | |
F Augmented Major 7 | F A Db E | |
G Augmented Major 7 | G B Eb F# | |
A Augmented Major 7 | A C# F G# | |
B Augmented Major 7 | B D# G A# | |
Db Augmented Major 7 | Db F Bbb(A) C | |
Eb Augmented Major 7 | Eb G Cb(B) D | |
Gb Augmented Major 7 | Gb Bb Ebb(D) F | |
Ab Augmented Major 7 | Ab C Fb(E) G | |
Bb Augmented Major 7 | Bb D Gb A |
Minor-Major 7 piano chords: Minor-Major 7 chord consists of 4 notes. These notes include root, flat 3rd, 5th and 7th from the major scale. Its symbol is Min-Maj 7. Therefore Minor-Major 7 would be written as C Min-Maj 7.
The quick way to remember a Minor-Major 7 chord is think about Minor chord, and then add 3 half steps after 5th note eg. C Minor is C Eb G, if you want to derive C Minor-Major 7 from it, just add 3 half step after G note i.e add Cb(B) note. so C Minor-Major 7 is C Eb G Cb(B).
Chord Name | Image | Notes |
---|---|---|
C Minor-Major 7 | C E♭ G Cb (B) | |
D Minor-Major 7 | D F A Db | |
E Minor-Major 7 | E G B Eb | |
F Minor-Major 7 | F A♭ C Fb (E) | |
G Minor-Major 7 | G B♭ D Gb | |
A Minor-Major 7 | A C E Ab | |
B Minor-Major 7 | B D F♯ Bb | |
C# Minor-Major 7 | C♯ E G♯ C | |
Eb Minor-Major 7 | E♭ G♭ B♭ Ebb (D) | |
F# Minor-Major 7 | F♯ A C♯ F | |
G# Minor-Major 7 | G# B) D# G | |
Bb Minor-Major 7 | B♭ D♭ F Bbb (A) |
Half Diminished 7: Half Diminished 7 chord consists of 4 notes. These notes include root, flat 3rd, flat 5th and flat 7th from the major scale. Its symbol is Half Diminished 7. Therefore Half Diminished 7 would be written as C Half Diminished 7.
The quick way to remember a Half Diminished 7 chord is think about Diminished chord, and then add 4 half steps after 5th note eg. C Minor is C Eb Gb, if you want to derive C Half Diminished 7 from it, just add 4 half step after Gb note i.e add Bb note. so C Half Diminished 7 is C Eb Gb Bb.
Chord Name | Image | Notes |
---|---|---|
C Half Diminished 7 | C E♭ G♭ B♭ | |
D Half Diminished 7 | D F A♭ C | |
E Half Diminished 7 | E G B♭ D | |
F Half Diminished 7 | F A♭ C♭(B) E♭ | |
G Half Diminished 7 | G B♭ D♭ F | |
A Half Diminished 7 | A C E♭ G | |
B Half Diminished 7 | B D F A | |
C♯ Half Diminished 7 | C♯ E G B | |
D# Half Diminished 7 | D# F# A C# | |
F♯ Half Diminished 7 | F♯ A C E | |
G# Half Diminished 7 | G# B D F# | |
A# Half Diminished 7 | A# C# E G# |
Major 6 piano chords : Now Let us consider major 6 chords. A major 6 chord includes four notes. It Is actually a major chord with an additional 6th note. The scale degrees used to form a major 6 chord is the root, third, fifth and 6th of the scale. The symbols used by such type of chord are 6. As an example, G major 6 should be authored GM6 of Gmaj 6.
The quick way to remember a major 6 chord is think about major chord, and then add 2 half steps after 5th note eg. C Major is C E G, if you want to derive C major 6 from it, just add 2 half step after G note i.e add A note. so C Major 6 is C E G A.
Chord Name | Image | Notes |
---|---|---|
C Major 6 | C E G A | |
D Major 6 | D F♯ A B | |
E Major 6 | E G♯ B C♯ | |
F Major 6 | F A C D | |
G Major 6 | G B D E | |
A Major 6 | A C♯ E F♯ | |
B Major 6 | B D♯ F♯ G♯ | |
Db Major 6 | Db F Ab Bb | |
E♭ Major 6 | E♭ G B♭ C | |
Gb Major 6 | Gb Bb Db Eb | |
A♭ Major 6 | A♭ C E♭ F | |
B♭ Major 6 | B♭ D F G |
Minor 6 piano chords : Now Let us consider minor 6 chords. A minor 6 chord includes four notes. It Is actually a minor chord with an additional 6th note. The scale degrees used to form a minor 6 chord is the root, third, fifth and flat 6th of the scale. The symbols used by such type of chord are 6. As an example, G minor 6 should be authored Gm6 of Gmin 6.
The quick way to remember a minor 6 chord is think about minor chord, and then add 2 half steps after 5th note eg. C Minor is C Eb G, if you want to derive C Minor 6 from it, just add 2 half step after G note i.e add A note. so C Minor 6 is C Eb G A.
Chord Name | Image | Notes |
---|---|---|
C Minor 6 | C E♭ G A | |
D Minor 6 | D F A B | |
E Minor 6 | E G B C♯ | |
F Minor 6 | F A♭ C D | |
G Minor 6 | G B♭ D E | |
A Minor 6 | A C E F♯ | |
B Minor 6 | B D F♯ G♯ | |
C♯ Minor 6 | C♯ E G♯ A♯ | |
D# Minor 6 | D# F# A# B#(C) | |
F♯ Minor 6 | F♯ A C♯ D♯ | |
G# Minor 6 | G# B D# E#(F) | |
B♭ Minor 6 | B♭ D♭ F G |
Major 9 piano chords : Now Let us consider Major 9 chords. A Major 9 chord includes 5 notes. It Is actually a major 7 chord with an additional 9th note. The scale degrees used to form a major 9 chord is the root, third, fifth 7th and 9th of the scale. The symbols used by such type of chord are 9. As an example, G major 9 should be authored G 9.
The quick way to remember a Major 9 chord is think about major 7 chord, and then add 3 half steps after 7th note eg. C Major 7 is C E G B if you want to derive C Major 9 from it, just add 3 half step after B note i.e add D note. so C Major 9 is C E G B D.
Chord Name | Image | Notes |
---|---|---|
C Major 9 | C E G B D | |
D Major 9 | D F♯ A C♯ E | |
E Major 9 | E G♯ B D♯ F♯ | |
F Major 9 | F A C E G | |
G Major 9 | G B D F♯ A | |
A Major 9 | A C♯ E G# B | |
B Major 9 | B D♯ F♯ A♯ C♯ | |
Db Major 9 | Db F Ab C Eb | |
E♭ Major 9 | E♭ G B♭ D F | |
Gb Major 9 | Gb Bb Db F Ab | |
A♭ Major 9 | A♭ C E♭ G B♭ | |
B♭ Major 9 | B♭ D F A C |
Minor 9 piano chords : Now Let us consider Minor 9 chords. A Minor 9 chord includes 5 notes. It Is actually a minor 7 chord with an additional 9th note. The scale degrees used to form a minor 9 chord is the root, flat third, fifth, flat 7th and 9th of the scale. The symbols used by such type of chord are min 9. As an example, G Minor 9 should be authored G min 9.
The quick way to remember a Minor 9 chord is think about minor 7 chord, and then add 4 half steps after flat 7th note eg. C Minor 7 is C E G Bb if you want to derive C Minor 9 from it, just add 4 half step after Bb note i.e add D note. so C Major 9 is C Eb G Bb D.
Chord Name | Image | Notes |
---|---|---|
C Minor 9 | C E♭ G B♭ D | |
C♯ Minor 9 | C♯ E G♯ B D♯ | |
D Minor 9 | D F A C E | |
D# Minor 9 | D# F# A# C# E#(F) | |
E Minor 9 | E G B D F♯ | |
F Minor 9 | F A♭ C E♭ G | |
F♯ Minor 9 | F♯ A C♯ E G♯ | |
G Minor 9 | G Bb D F A | |
G# Minor 9 | G# B D# F# A# | |
A Minor 9 | A C E G B | |
B♭ Minor 9 | B♭ D♭ F A♭ C | |
B Minor 9 | B D F♯ A C♯ |
Dominant 9 piano chords : Now Let us consider Dominant 9. A Dominant 9 chord includes 5 notes. It Is actually a Dominant 7 chord with an additional 9th note. The scale degrees used to form a Dominant 9. chord is the root, third, fifth, flat 7th and 9th of the scale. The symbols used by such type of chord are dom 9. As an example, G Dominant 9 should be authored G dom 9.
The quick way to remember a Dominant 9chord is think about Dominant 7 chord, and then add 4 half steps after flat 7th note eg. Dominant 7 is C E G Bb if you want to derive C Dominant 9 from it, just add 4 half step after Bb note i.e add D note. so C Dominant 9 is C E G Bb D.
Chord Name | Image | Notes |
---|---|---|
C Dominant 9 | C E G B♭ D | |
D Dominant 9 | D F♯ A C E |
|
E Dominant 9 | E G♯ B D F# | |
F Dominant 9 | F A C E♭ G | |
G Dominant 9 | G B D F A |
|
A Dominant 9 | A C♯ E G B | |
B Dominant 9 | B D♯ F♯ A C# | |
Db Dominant 9 | Db F Ab Cb(B) Eb | |
E♭ Dominant 9 | E♭ G B♭ D♭ F | |
Gb Dominant 9 | Gb Bb Db Fb(E) Ab | |
A♭ Dominant 9 | A♭ C E♭ G♭ Bb | |
B♭ Dominant 9 | B♭ D F A♭ C |
Sus 2 piano chords : Now Let us consider Sus 2. A Sus 2 chord includes 3 notes. It Is actually a major chord with an additional 2nd note and 3rd note removed. The scale degrees used to form a Sus 2 chord is the root, 2nd, fifth of the scale. The symbols used by such type of chord are Sus 2 or 2 As an example, G Sus 2 should be authored G Sus 2 or G 2.
The quick way to remember a Sus 2 chord is think about major chord, remove 3rd note and add 2 half steps from root. eg C Major is C E G if you want to derive Sus 2 from it, just add 2 half step after C note i.e add D note and remove E note. so C Sus 2 is C D G.
Chord Name | Image | Notes |
---|---|---|
C Sus2 | C D G | |
D Sus2 | D E A | |
E Sus2 | E F# B | |
F Sus2 | F G C | |
G Sus2 | G A D | |
A Sus2 | A B E | |
B Sus2 | B C# F# | |
Db Sus2 | Db Eb Ab | |
Eb Sus2 | Eb F Bb | |
Gb Sus2 | Gb Ab Db | |
Ab Sus2 | Ab Bb Eb | |
Bb Sus2 | Bb C F |
Sus 4 piano chords : Now Let us consider Sus 4. A Sus 4 chord includes 3 notes. It Is actually a major chord with an additional 4th note and 3rd note removed. The scale degrees used to form a Sus 4 chord is the root, 4th, fifth of the scale. The symbols used by such type of chord are Sus 4 or 4 As an example, G Sus 4 should be authored G Sus 4 or G 4.
The quick way to remember a Sus 4 chord is think about major chord, remove 3rd note and add 4 half steps from root. eg C Major is C E G if you want to derive Sus 4 from it, just add 4 half step after C note i.e add F note and remove E note. so C Sus 4 is C F G.
Chord Name | Image | Notes |
---|---|---|
C Sus4 | C F G | |
D Sus4 | D G A | |
E Sus4 | E A B | |
F Sus4 | F Bb C | |
G Sus4 | G C D | |
A Sus4 | A D E | |
B Sus4 | B E F# | |
Db Sus4 | Db Gb Ab | |
Eb Sus4 | Eb Ab Bb | |
Gb Sus4 | Gb Cb(B) Db | |
Ab Sus4 | Ab Db Eb | |
Bb Sus4 | Bb Eb F |