You heard about them all the time, piano chords. First and foremost, there isn’t really a “piano chord” or a ‘chord piano’. A chord is universal and the same chord can be played on most
musical instruments, like a guitar, an organ, harp, etc. Nevertheless, this lesson is essentially a quick comprehensive chord guide for pianist. But what are chords? A chord is created when three or more notes are stacked on top of one another. Well, even if you play the notes separately one at a time, you form a chord too. Basically, a chord forms the harmony, and most (and almost all) contemporary styles (in pop&jazz) are organized harmonically around chords. When we improvise on the piano, we improvise using the chords given in the song.
How to form a CHORD using numeral formulas?
In this lesson, we will show you how to form the basic major and minor chords using the numeral formula. The formula for a major chord is 1-3-5 and the formula for a minor chord is 1-b3-5.
(We assume that you know what is b (flat) and # (sharp) in music)
Next, let’s look at a C major scale (which we will be using as a guide for the rest of the other chapters in this lesson): C(1) - D(2) - E(3) - F(4) - G(5) - A(6) - B(7) - C
When we apply the formula, you will get this:
C major chord = C (1) – E (3) – G (5) / C minor chord = C (1) – Eb (b3) – G (5)
Which means, C major chord = C-E-G, and a C minor chord = C-Eb-G.
If you are able to understand this logic, let’s move on. As you know, this is an express lesson, and we suggest you should not be bothered too much about the theory behind everything for now, there’s too much to absorb. It’s more important that you are able to form the chords quickly and be able to play them first.