Home > Online Piano Lessons > Piano Chords

Piano Chords

The following video lesson shows you how to build or construct a piano chord using a few formulas. You no longer need to memorize the structure of each piano chord. All you need to know is the formula associated with each type of chords. We will discuss major chord, minor chord, diminished chord and augmented chord in this lesson.


How to build a piano chord?

Generally speaking, there are four types of piano chords (also known as a triad):
1. Major Chord (e.g. C)
2. Minor Chord (e.g. Cm)
3. Diminished Chord (e.g. C0)
4. Augmented Chord (e.g. C+)


Major and minor chords are the two most important chords.
It's possible to play many popular tunes using only major and minor chords. Diminished and augmented chords are merely the "salt" and "pepper" of music. They're used for passing from one major or minor chord to another. They're also known as the passing chords.

To Build a Piano Chord by Using Semitones

A semitone (also called the half step) is the smallest possible distance on a piano/keyboard. For example:
C to Db is a semitone. D to Eb is also a semitone.

Major Chord Formula: 4-3 Semitones

Major chord can also be called the pleasant or happy chord.

For example:

To build a C major chord on a piano, you will use the C note, the E note and the G note.

C to E note is 4 half steps/semitones, E to G note is 3 half steps/semitones.


Minor Chord Formula: 3-4 Semitones

This formula is the opposite of a major chord's. Using the formula, we can construct/form any minor chord easily. The minor chord can be called the "moody" chord or the sad chord.

Example 1:
F minor chord = F + Ab (3 semitones from F) + C (4 semitones from Ab).





Diminished Chord Formula: 3-3 Semitones

As mentioned, this chord is used sparingly. The main reason is because this chord sounds unstable. It's transitional and needs to be resolved to a major/minor chord after it's used. The diminished chord can be called the "suspense" chord.

Example 1:

C diminished chord = C + Eb (3 semitones from C) +Gb (3 semitones from Eb)





Augmented Chord Formula: 4-4 Semitones

The augmented chord is similar to the diminished chord. It serves as a passing chord. When used appropriately, it will make the piano music sounds spectacular.

Example 1:

D augmented chord = D + F# (4 semitones from D) + A# (4 semitones from F#)





I suggest you try out these chords and hear for yourself the different flavors associated with each chord. After some testing you will soon be able to identify each type of chords you come across.

We highly recommend you sign up for the free newsletters (scroll up to the left column and enter your first name and email address and click Sign Me Up).

Here are a few topics that we cover in the free weekly newsletters:

  • Find out the best way to spice up any song using one little known secret-"suspended chord".
  • Discover how to make your left hand come alive with my proven techniques The Ballad 10th. You see me arranging the Greensleeves using this method and you catch on in a flash.
  • Top 5 ways to improve your piano playing, and many more.

 

Yoke Wong highly recommend the Learn to Play Piano & Improvisation in 7 Days piano course.