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Piano Chords For Beginners – The Three Main Chords You Should Know on the Piano

by Manuel Marino | Music

So the first chord you should learn is how to play a major chord. The basic formula for a major chord is the root note, then the note that is 2 steps away, and finally the note that is 1 step and a half away. For example, the C major chord consists of the notes C, E, and G.

Now, to play the C minor chord, you take the second note, which is E, and lower it by half a step, resulting in Eb. Therefore, the C minor chord is composed of the notes C, Eb, and G.

Moving on, you can form a diminished chord by lowering the third note by half a step. So the C diminished chord is C, Eb, and Gb. This formula can be applied to any note on the piano to find the major, minor, and diminished chords.

Lastly, let’s discuss augmented chords. To form an augmented chord, you take a major chord and raise the third note by half a step. For example, a C augmented chord is C, E, and Ab.

These are the four basic chords you can play on the piano. From there, you can add elements like major 9th, …

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