From Beethoven to the Beatles, certain chord progressions have been used consistently across musical genres. Mastering the concept of chords is a key step in understanding basic music theory, applicable to any style of music. By staying tuned to this blog, you will learn about chords and basic chord progressions that are widely used in classical, jazz, pop, and more. Whether you're a complete beginner or have some experience, mastering chords can significantly enhance your playing. This blog will introduce you to major and minor chords, explain triads, and provide insight into simple chord progressions to get you started on creating beautiful music.
Chords
First, what is a chord? A chord is a group of notes, typically three or more, played together to create harmony. Chords are the building blocks of music, providing the harmonic structure that supports melodies. Importantly, it is mostly consited of third intervals, which are the distance between two notes that are separated by three letter names in a musical scale.
Major Chords
There are two main types of chords: major and minor. These chords are generally considered opposites. Major chords are often described as happy or bright sounding. They are constructed using three notes: the root, the major third, and the perfect fifth. To find a major chord, start with the root note, then count four half steps (or semitones) to find the major third, and then count three more half steps from the major third to find the perfect fifth.
Sounds difficult? Let's look at an example. C major chord consists of three notes: C, E, and G.
Here’s how to construct it:
Start with the root note, C.
Count four half steps from C to get E (C to C# to D to D# to E).
Count three half steps from E to get G (E to F to F# to G).
So, the C major chord consists of the notes C, E, and G. Other major chords, such as G major or B flat major share the same way of construct the chords.
Minor Chords
While major chords offer you bright and happy mood, minor chords are the opposite. Minor chords are often described as sad or melancholic. How to build minor chords? It’s almost the same with major chords. They are consisted of three notes again. The only difference, interestingly, is in the middle note. Instead of having major third, the middle note is the minor third from the root. To find a minor chord, start with the root note, count three half steps to find the minor third, and then count four more half steps from the minor third to find the perfect fifth.
For example, to play an c minor chord:
The root note is C.
Count three half steps from C to get Eb (C to C# to D to Eb).
Count four half steps from C to get E (Eb to E to F to F# to G).
So, the A minor chord consists of the notes C, Eb, and G.
Simple Chord Progressions
Chord progressions are sequences of chords that create harmony in music. They form the backbone of many songs and pieces. Here are a few simple and commonly used progressions:
I-IV-V Progression
This is one of the most common progressions in Western music. In the key of C major, it would be:
I (C Major): C, E, G
IV (F Major): F, A, C
V (G Major): G, B, D
Playing these chords in sequence creates a pleasing and familiar sound. Ed Sheeran's "Perfect" features this progression from its verse. Here is link of the sheet music that you can practice at your ease.
I-V-vi-IV Progression
This progression is popular in many pop songs. In the key of C major, it would be:
I (C Major): C, E, G
V (G Major): G, B, D
vi (A Minor): A, C, E
IV (F Major): F, A, C
The I-V-vi-IV progression has a powerful emotional pull. The move from the I to the V chord creates a sense of anticipation, the shift to the vi minor chord brings a touch of melancholy, and the resolution to the IV chord gives a sense of upliftment before resolving back to the I chord.
The most widely loved music that used this progression might be this one: "Let it be" by the Beatles. The verse is consited of I-V-vi-IV Progression. The score is from Phillip Keveren. If you want to practice and get used to the progression, you can download the sheet music from here.
ii-V-I Progression
Common in jazz and classical music, the ii-V-I progression in the key of C major would be:
ii (D Minor): D, F, A
V (G Major): G, B, D
I (C Major): C, E, G
This progression provides a sense of resolution and is widely used in various musical genres. Most of you might be familiar with this jazz music. "Autumn Leaves," composed by Joseph Kosma is one of the most beloved jazz music of all time. If you listen to this song carefully, it starts right with this progression. Composed in minor scale, it features melancholic mood that has been elaborated perfectly with this progression. Download the sheet music here, if you are interested!
Practicing the Progressions
There are a lot more progressions that are commonly used in different songs. If you want to practice and find your favorite progression, I recommend the following steps to master the chord.
Identify the Chords: Write down the chords for each progression in the key you are practicing.
Play Each Chord: Ensure you can play each chord individually on the piano.
Practice Transitions: Work on transitioning smoothly between the chords.
Play Along with Songs: Use the example songs to practice playing the progressions in context.
Conclusion
Understanding basic piano chords, including major and minor chords, triads, and simple chord progressions, is essential for any aspiring pianist. These elements form the foundation upon which more complex music is built. By practicing these chords and progressions, you'll gain the skills needed to play a wide variety of songs and pieces, setting you on a path to becoming a proficient and versatile pianist. Keep practicing, and enjoy the journey of making music!
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