| It is really nice to know how to use piano chords | | | | Try to learn the melody to for example "Mary |
| as you play melodies in your piano scores! You | | | | Had A Little Lamb" by heart. You can play the |
| can develop this ability by practicing songs you like | | | | melody in the key of C for a start. This means |
| with only basic chords in your left hand. Read on | | | | that you start with an E note on the piano as you |
| and find out how to play chords to your piano | | | | play the melody. Try to figure out the melody by |
| music notes! | | | | ear. Here is the lyrics with suggested chord |
| Two skills | | | | symbols in brackets after the syllable where you |
| There are two things to learn in order to use | | | | are supposed to press down the chord. |
| chords in song melodies in your piano sheet music. | | | | Ma(C)ry had a little lamb, litt(G7)le lamb, litt(C)le |
| First you have to learn how to play chords on | | | | lamb |
| your piano. For example, you have to know how | | | | Ma(C)ry had a little lamb, its fleece(G7) was white |
| to play the chord C-major and which notes to | | | | as snow(C) |
| use in order to use the chord symbols you can | | | | The C chord contains the notes c, e and g |
| find above the melody line in your piano sheets. | | | | The G7 chord contains the notes g, b and f |
| When you see the symbol C above a note you | | | | You can try the same approach with other easy |
| will then know how to play the chord. | | | | songs you know. Try to figure out the melody by |
| The next important but more sophisticated skill is | | | | ear and to find out which chords to use by trial |
| to learn how to use chords in music notes even if | | | | and error. The process will develop your musicality |
| you do not have written chord symbols to a song | | | | and ability to play by ear! |
| you are going to play. Having to know which | | | | How to use a fake book |
| chords to use in a song is also necessary if you | | | | A fake book contains melodies in the form of |
| are requested to play "Happy Birthday To You" | | | | lead sheets with the melody line, basic chord |
| on a birthday party for example. Of course you | | | | symbols and often lyrics. The idea is that this |
| can learn to play this song by heart but it is a | | | | information is enough for a skilled pianist to make |
| tremendous pleasure to be able to play songs you | | | | an impromptu rendering of a song and maybe |
| have heard with chords and melody on the go. | | | | also improvise and create a personal arrangement. |
| The first steps to piano chords | | | | However, you can use a fake book even if you |
| There are some basic levels to master in order | | | | are not able to create complicated and improvised |
| to play chords to songs in an effortless and | | | | arrangements from the scant musical information |
| professional way but even mastering the first | | | | to the songs in these books. Just pick a song you |
| steps will give you the means to play songs you | | | | like and are familiar with from the book and use |
| like. | | | | the music scores and the notated chord symbols |
| The first level means that you can handle piano | | | | as a method for learning piano chords. |
| chords with your left hand and play the melody | | | | The art of messing around |
| line with your right hand. If you see the chord | | | | A very pleasant way to learn which chord to use |
| symbol C above the piano music notes you will | | | | in a song is to use the chords you know with |
| press down the notes c, e and g with your left | | | | your left hand and play simple melodies that you |
| hand as you play the note below the chord | | | | improvise as you play the chords. For example, |
| symbol with your right hand. | | | | play the chord sequence C,F, G7 and C with your |
| The only way to learn this is to start from where | | | | left hand as you try to play melodies on the |
| you are now. This is a piano beginners lesson so | | | | white keys. You really can not go to wrong as all |
| we will start with the most basic chord skills you | | | | white keys will sound more or less good. |
| have to master in order to play chords from | | | | This will help you develop your ability to feel which |
| piano music sheets. | | | | chords to use in songs, you will be training your |
| Playing melodies and piano chords by heart | | | | finger dexterity and also develop your ability to |
| An easy way to start learning chords is to | | | | compose your own melodies. |
| memorize easy melodies you like. This will | | | | It is really a pleasure to be able to play chords to |
| gradually help you develop your musical taste and | | | | piano sheet music you play. Even the process of |
| the ability to use the appropriate chords when | | | | learning to play chords can be a positive |
| you hear a melody or have to put chords to the | | | | experience if you start on the level where you |
| melodies in your piano notes. | | | | are right now! |