Piano for Beginners 6th ED - 2016 UK

Playing the piano

A

major chord comprises three notes

played simultaneously: a root, a major

third and a perfect fifth. The terms

‘major third’ and ‘perfect fifth’ arise as in

the major scale of the root note these intervals are

the third and fifth tones respectively. Some major

chords are more commonly used than others, and

as your repertoire increases you may notice how

particular sequences of major chords form the basis

of many popular and classical compositions. The

root is the note that the chord is named after; C for

C major, for example. To identify the major third

count four semitones up from the root (four black

or white keys); in C major (simply noted in music as

C), the major third is E. To complete the triad count

a further three semitones up from the major third;

in C, the perfect fifth is G. Once you have mastered

this formation you can use it to calculate any major

chord. With practice you will find you can hear the

‘happy’ ambience that this structure creates in order

to identify it. If a chord does not begin on its root

note it is known as an inversion: the first inversion

begins on the major third (in C major, this would

produce the structure E-G-C); the second inversion

begins on the perfect fifth (in C major, this would

produce the structure G-C-E). Generally when

playing major chords the common fingering is 5 - 3 - 1

in the left hand and 1 - 3 - 5 in the right.

Major chords

Major chords are an essential tool for budding pianists, as an

accompaniment or as part of a melody

Put it into practice Now you have perfected these major chords, use them!

Bars 1 and 2

To switch between D major and A major in its first inversion,

simply move your left third and fifth fingers together by two

semitones each while keeping your thumb on the A

Bars 3 and 4

Here G major is in its second inversion and D is in

its first. A major is not completed as leaving out

the E creates a rising bass of B-C#-D

Bars 7 and 8

To move from A major in the second

inversion to D major in the first inversion

use your third finger on A as a pivot

Bars 5 and 6

The chords are now in the right hand. To move to

G major keep your thumb on the D and move your

third and fifth fingers up together by two semitones

“As your repertoire increases you may notice

how particular sequences form the basis of

many popular compositions”

Audio file

Listen to the audio files

and follow along on your

own keyboard

Give it a try

D A D G A D

D G A D