1. KEYBOARD CHORDS FOR BEGINNERS
Chords are a combination of three notes on the keyboard. When struck down at the same time, they
sound great!
Chords are the root and base of all music, and learning chords as a beginner is the perfect place to
start, as you will take this knowledge with you as you develop as a keyboard player, and be able to
adapt them and play them in various different ways, including using them as a melody line, or
bulking out the bass, or playing them in a style which would allow a singer in a band to accompany
you.
You have two common chord types in Music. One is called a Major chord, and the other is called a
Minor Chord.
An easy way to differentiate between the chords is that Major chords are described as happy
sounding chords and Minor chords are described as sad sounding chords.
When the two are combined they create great music. Many pop, rock and classical songs are based
on major and minor chords.
For example using just three major chords such as C Major F Major and G Major will create a 12 bar
blues. Artists such as Elvis Presley and Jerry Lee Lewis have used this in their songs.
You can write a classic pop and rock song using a small selection of chords, and many artists have
done so and created some classic hits by working their songs out on just chords. Once they have the
pattern they expand and add to this to create a brilliant song.
An easy formula to remember to work out any major or minor chord is to do the following –
MAJOR CHORDS – R + 4 + 3.
MINOR CHORDS – R + 3 + 4
R stands for your root note, so the note of the chord you are working out. Then you will climb four
or three steps depending on if you are working out a Major or Minor chord, then a further four or
three steps once again depending on which chord you would be working out.
Some common Major chords to practice as a beginner are: -
D MAJOR – The notes in this are D F# A.
A MAJOR – The notes in this are A C# E.
G MAJOR – The notes in this are G B D.

2. Some common Minor chords to practice as a beginner are: -
D MINOR – The notes in this are D F A
A MINOR - The notes in this are A C E
G MINOR – The notes in this are G Bb D
Suggested fingering to use when playing any chords are: -
Right hand – 1 is your thumb 3 5 – being your little finger.
Left hand – 5 is your little finger 3 1 being your thumb.
Alternative fingering you could use is: -
Right hand – 1 2 4
Left hand – 5 2 1
Remember this might feel a bit abnormal to start with but once you get use to how it feels it will
become natural to you.
Another thing to consider when learning chords is that you can invert them and swap the order
around in which you play the chords.
This can be used for a couple of reasons including making the transitions smoother between chords,
and the gap between them closer.
Another is to change the tone and sound of the chord. Have a go yourself and you will hear the
difference.
It can take many years of practice to reach the standard to be able play your own one hour song
repertoire on piano or keyboard.
But what if there was a simple method that could show any beginner how to do it in just 12 days?
Find out how it’s done...Easy Keyboard Lessons