How can a beginner pianist learn to play chords easily?

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• Piano teacherOkada Atsuko
  Based in Yokohama, I teach piano, electronic organ, and Eurhythmics while continuing my band activities. For those who love music and want to play the piano, I offer beginner-friendly ways to enjoy learning. Adult Piano Starting with Chords: http://happy.ap.teacup.com/otona-piano/ JUN’s Piano Lessons: http://piano-daisuki.at.webry.info Music Lessons for Band Beginners: http://ameblo.jp/band-lesson/

Even piano is easy with chords!

Isn't it quite difficult to find just the right sheet music?

Being able to read sheet music is great, but if you learn chords, you'll be able to play a variety of songs much more easily.

If you learn chords, you’ll be able to play with both hands easily using melody scores with chord symbols, and you’ll also be able to accompany yourself by playing just the chords while singing.

Moreover, melody scores with unarranged code are available at a low price.

How can a beginner pianist learn chords and start playing easily?

Now then, if a beginner wants to play with both hands,

"Melody (right hand) and bass (left hand)" / "Chords (right hand) and bass (left hand)"

First, two types of practice are necessary.

After that, if you have the capacity, practice holding the chords with your left hand as well.

Some people might think, “Chords are just accompaniment, so there’s no need to play them with the right hand,” but whether you’re doing sing-and-play or even performing a piano solo, being able to play chords with your right hand will let you play far more stylishly.

Let's try playing G, C, D, and Em!

The following sheet music is part of the chord progression for “Sekai ni Hitotsu Dake no Hana.”

1.

Melody (right hand), bass (left hand)

2.

Melody (right hand), chords (left hand)

3.

Chords (right hand), bass (left hand)

4.

Chords (right hand), 5th arpeggio (left hand)

Due to copyright issues, the melody section has been removed, but typical beginner sheet music often uses the pattern in which the melody (right hand) and chords (left hand) are played as in “2.” However, if you practice the pattern in “3,” where you play chords with the right hand and the bass with the left hand—useful for singing while playing—you’ll be able to perform in a way that doesn’t look like a beginner.

Actually, in the right-hand chords in “3,” the top note is the melody, and only at the points where the chord changes does the right hand play in harmony (as a chord).

You might think playing the melody with chords is difficult, but since the chords aren’t moving, it’s actually really easy.

This has been proven by actually having adult beginners with no prior piano experience do it, so please give it a try.

When your left hand can move in the “4” pattern at 5 degrees, you’re officially no longer a beginner.

This is a pattern that often appears in arrangements for intermediate to advanced players, so if you’ve mastered 1, 2, and 3, definitely give it a try.

Below is the pattern for “4.”

The video below is a practice video where I play G–C–D–Em and then G–C–D–C in the pattern of “1, 2, 3, 4.”

This pattern is made up of the intervals of a fifth and an octave (8th). If you're curious about intervals, please take a look here (it's my blog).

Pitch Study Answers 2 | Music Lessons for Beginner Band Members

Let's learn the diatonic chords of your favorite song.

Now, the four chords used in the G–C–D–Em progression are the chords of the key of G major.

The original key of 'Sekai ni Hitotsu Dake no Hana' is A, but I changed it to G to make it a bit easier.

If we keep it in the key of A, then “G-C-D-Em” becomes the chord progression “A-D-E-F# minor.”

This is the I–IV–V–vi chord progression, and it appears frequently in many songs.

Previously, "Let's learn some useful chords for piano beginners.In that article, I talked about the types of chords, focusing mainly on I, IV, and V, but there are seven chords specific to each key, and the vi minor that appeared here is one of them.

the chord unique to that keydiatonic chordIt goes like this in the key of G.

“1” is a four-note chord (a chord), and “2” is a triad (three-note chord).

1

2

When you take on a new song, it’s a good idea to write out the diatonic chords in that key and try playing them.

Of course, songs may also use chords outside of that key.

Both seventh chords (four-note chords) and triads (three-note chords) are commonly called 'chords' in everyday usage, but strictly speaking, four-note chords are 'chords' and three-note chords are called 'triads.'

This is something I wrote on my blog about the following diatonic chords (with sheet music).

Diatonic Chords | Music Lessons for Beginner Bands

Diatonic Chords (Sharp System) | Music Lessons for Beginner Band Members