How Do You Read Piano Chords?
In order to be able to read piano chords, you need to know what the symbols mean. First though, if you're not sure what piano chords are, read what are piano chords.
If you know what chords are but need to understand them a bit better before learning about the symbols, read understanding piano chords and then come back to this page.
Piano chords are made up of symbols that stand for 3 or more notes. So, to read piano chords, you just need to know the symbols and what notes they stand for.
Most of the time the symbols are written the same way but some can be written differently depending on who’s doing the writing.
Here’s a list of what the chords are called. We’ll use the key of C. (These are the most common chords you’ll come across).
Put another way:
Video Lesson on How To Read Piano Chords
Now, skip over this next part if you don’t know anything about key signatures. (Start back at “in order to read piano chords ...”)
If you know key signatures and what “raising” and “lowering” a note means, (lowering means to put the note lower by one semi-tone), then you can build a chord. The following list tells you what notes of a scale to play together to make a chord.
Put another way:
Here’s an example.
You know the key of A has 3 sharps. F#, C#, G#.
So, when you make an A chord, the notes are A C# E. An am chord is A C E. We lowered the C# to a C. An A7 chord is A C# E G. (G# has been lowered to G).
In order to read piano chords, you can continue on doing 1 of 3 things.
1. Memorize individual chords. (Go the chord charts then).
2. Learn about key signatures so that you can learn more about chord theory.
3.
Understand the theory behind the chords so that you know how they are made.
I recommend learning the theory behind chords. That way, you don’t always have to refer to a sheet of chords. You can figure out a chord no matter where you are. And it's not too difficult either. I have a page on
chord theory you can check out.
If you really want to be able to play chords well and read piano chords without any problem, take an online course.
We recommend
Power Piano Chords. It will take you through the basics, advance you, and help you to read piano chords completely. And more importantly, it will teach you some great ways to play chords on the piano.
Video playlist of different C chords:
Free Download:
Ultimate Chord Cheat Sheet
Subscribe below and get free access to the (printable) Ultimate Chord Cheat Sheet.
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The Ultimate Chord Cheat Sheet
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Chords are listed both by letter name and by key.
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