Learn and play piano chords

Learn and play piano chords

Music theory includes a huge variety of concepts. There are fundamental musical terms that constitute not only theoretical, but also practical foundation. Understanding the term "chord", the ability to quickly find and build this kind of musical constructions is what is needed for a quick and confident study of music. This article will help you learn how to distinguish and build chords while playing the piano. In it, you will find a theory that includes such sections as varieties of chords, their conversions, a table of chords in tonality, as well as visual material for better assimilation of information.

What is a chord and what types of chords exist

A chord is the simultaneous sound of 3 or more sounds of different pitch. Virtually no musical work, starting from the 17th century, can not do without the use of chord texture.

At this time, the number of sounds are distinguished:

• Triad
• Septa chord
• Nonaccord

Each species has a different design.

Triad

A triad consists of three sounds located along the thirds. Depending on the combination between large and small third, there are 4 types of triads.

Title	Structure	Music sample	Reduction
Major	b3 + m3		B53
Minor	m3 + b3		M53
Magnified	b3 + b3		Uv53
Reduced	m3 + m3		Mind53

Each sound in the chord, in this case in the triad, has its own name:

• Bottom - Prima
• Middle - third
• Upper - fifth

Septa chord includes 4 sounds, the interval between which is the third.

Title	Structure	Music sample	Reduction	How to remember
Large enlarged	b3 + b3 + m3		Bouv7	Uv53+ m3
Big major	b3 + m3 + b3		BB7	B53 + b3
Big minor	m3 + b3 + b3		BM7	M53+ b3
Small Major	b3 + m3 + m3		mb7	B53+ m3
Small minor	m3 + b3 + m3		mm7	M53+ m3
Reduced	m3 + m3 + b3		Mind7	Mind53+ b3
Twice reduced	m3 + m3 + m3		2nd7	Mind53+ m3

It is important to remember that the name is compound: so the first adjective indicates which septim is large or small at the base or which third needs to be completed, and the second adjective indicates what triad is at the base. Also, as with a triad, each sound has its own name, the first three completely coincide with the names in the triad, and the last sound is called a septim.

Nonaccord has in the design of 5 sounds. In this case, nona is added to the previous names. In musical practice, nonaccord without quint tone is most often used.

Circulation triad

A triad reference is the use of chord notes in a different sequence. Circulation is formed when the lower note of the chord is moved to the top. So if you take a major triad from the note "to", you get a chord: do, mi, salt. The bottom note of a chord is before, we transfer it to an octave higher and we get the first appeal. So all the chord notes were used, but their sequence changed: mi, salt, do. Now the bottom note becomes "mi". We transfer it to the octave up. It turns out a chord: salt, do, mi - this is the second appeal. If we again transfer the bottom note, which is the “salt”, then we will return to the original chord, that is, to the triad: do, mi, salt.

Triads have 2 hits, each of which has its own name:

• Sekstakkord - this is the first treatment of the triad, the name is closely related to the design, because the basis of this chord is the interval of the sixth. The lower sound is the third, and the upper is the prima. In reducing the chord has the following form: T₆, if initially - this is a tonic triad. Similarly from subdominates and dominants - S₆ and D_6.
• Quartesektakkord - this is the second reference triad, the name also comes from the design - inside the sixth is a quart. The bottom chord sound is the fifth, and the upper third. The abbreviation has the following form: T⁶₄, if the triad was originally built on the first step in tonality.

The table shows the structure of the chord, in brackets the abbreviation is written.

Circulation of seventh chords

The principle of treatment of seventh chords completely repeats the treatment of triads. You need to move the lower note an octave higher. If we take a seventh chord: salt, si, re, fa and transfer it, we get the following chord: si, re, fa, salt - this is the first appeal.

A seventh chord has three references, each of which has its own designation:

• Quintsekstakkord represents the first appeal. It is built on tertsevom tone. The main feature can be called the educated second, located at the top of the chord. Abbreviated denoted by numbers ⁵₆, after the name, for example, mb⁵₆
• Terzquartakcord - this is the second appeal. It is built on the quint tone of the chord. The identifying mark is the second in the middle of the chord. The abbreviation is denoted by numbers ⁴₃ - mb^4₃
• Sekundakkord is the third treatment. Built on septim. The second is located at the bottom of the chord. Denoted by digit _2, for example, mb₂

Each of the appeals has its own structure, depending on the type, in the table you can see how to build a certain chord.

Key chords

All the passed chords can be easily found in the key, as they are located on certain levels. Talitsa will help you quickly navigate and build the necessary chord for the sound, being in a specific key.

Major keys

Chord name out of key	Chord name in key	Note example in tonality C-dur
B53	T53S53, D53
M53	II53, III53, Vi53
Mind53	VII53
Uv53	VI53 (garm. dur)
Bouv7	VI7 (garm. dur)
BB7	T7
BM7	S7 (garm. dur)
mb7	D7
mm7	II7
Mind7	VII7 and II7 garm
2nd7	VII7 (garm. dur)

Minor key

Chord name out of key	Chord name in key	Note example in tonality a-moll
B53	III53, Vi53, Vii53
M53	T53S53, D53
Mind53	II53
Uv53	III53 (garm. moll)
Bouv7	III7 (garm. moll)
BB7	III7
mb7	D7 (garm. moll)
mm7	s7
Mind7	II7
2nd7	VII7 (garm. moll)

What is digits?

The numbering is a logical sequence of chords, which are arranged in accordance with all known harmony rules. When playing continuously digital cameras, the following positive skills for a musician are developed:

• Improving the accuracy of harmonic hearing
• Improving the technology of reading from a sheet
• Improving theoretical knowledge.

The table below not only helps to better find the various chords on the steps, but also helps when playing or writing digital cameras.

Example of digital cameras:

1. T⁵₃ - S⁶₄ - D₆ - T⁵₃
2. T⁵₃ - S₆ - D - T₆

Digits play better in different keys, it improves the efficiency of classes.

Other Chord Types

In addition to the triad and seventh chords, there are other types of chords, which we will now review:

• Sus₄ represents a chord with retention. The peculiarity of this musical construction is that in the ordinary triad the third part increases by a second, resulting in a triad: do, mi, salt turns into a chord: do, fa, salt. He does not have a certain mood, as a result of which tension is created in music.
• Sus₂ also a triad having a retention. The only difference from the previous version in SUS₂ The end of the tone goes down for a large second, with the result that the chord does not have a certain inclination. From the triad: do, mi, salt is obtained: do, re sol.
• Trivia with a low fifth is often used in jazz music to create a color effect.
• A cluster is a chord arranged in seconds. Especially often found in modern classical music.

Learning chords is not limited to theory. Play more, listen and remember their sound. We hope that the article was useful for reading. Read other articles on music theory and improve your own musical abilities.