How to play all piano chords

At its simplest, a chord is when you play two or more notes together that harmonize. Most basic piano chords consist of three notes and are called triads. These chords are built from a root note, with two additional notes stacked on top, forming a harmonious sound.

Major Chords

Major chords are the backbone of most music. They are often described as happy-sounding and are built on the 1st, 3rd, and 5th notes of a major scale.

For example, the C major chord consists of the notes C, E, and G.

Major Chord Formula: Root, Major 3rd, Perfect 5th (1 - 3 - 5)

Example Major Chords:

• C major: C - E - G

• D major: D - F# - A

• G major: G - B - D

Minor Chords

Minor chords provide a sad or melancholic feel, and are just as essential as major chords. These chords lower the 3rd note by a half-step, creating a more somber sound.

For instance, the C minor chord consists of the notes C, E♭, and G.

• Minor Chord Formula: Root, Minor 3rd, Perfect 5th (1 - ♭3 - 5)

Example Minor Chords:

• C minor: C - E♭ - G

• D minor: D - F - A

• E minor: E - G - B

Basic major and minor chords for beginners

► ARTMASTER TIP: If you are learning the piano from scratch, our piano guide for beginner's covers the basics from learning the names of the piano keys to playing your first melody.

Seventh chords add depth and complexity to your playing. They are built by adding a 7th interval to a basic triad.

Major 7th Chords

Major 7th chords have a dreamy, jazzy sound. They consist of a major triad with an added major seventh interval.

• Major 7th Chord Formula: Root, Major 3rd, Perfect 5th, Major 7th (1 - 3 - 5 - 7)

Example Major 7th Chords:

• Cmaj7: C - E - G - B

• Fmaj7: F - A - C - E

• Gmaj7: G - B - D - F#

Dominant 7th Chords

Dominant 7th chords are essential in blues and jazz. These chords have a flattened 7th, adding tension to the music.

• Dominant 7th Chord Formula: Root, Major 3rd, Perfect 5th, Minor 7th (1 - 3 - 5 - ♭7)

Example Dominant 7th Chords:

• C7: C - E - G - B♭

• D7: D - F# - A - C

Minor 7th Chords

Minor 7th chords combine a minor triad with a minor seventh, resulting in a rich, mellow sound.

• Minor 7th Chord Formula: Root, Minor 3rd, Perfect 5th, Minor 7th (1 - ♭3 - 5 - ♭7)

Example Minor 7th Chords:

• Cm7: C - E♭ - G - B♭

• Dm7: D - F - A - C

Diminished piano chords

Diminished chords are built by lowering both the 3rd and 5th notes of a major triad, giving them a dissonant, tense sound.

• Diminished Chord Formula: Root, Minor 3rd, Diminished 5th (1 - ♭3 - ♭5)

Example Diminished Chords:

• Cdim: C - E♭ - G♭

• Edim: E - G - B♭

Augmented Chords

Augmented chords, on the other hand, sound more expansive and “wider.” They raise the 5th note by a half-step.

• Augmented Chord Formula: Root, Major 3rd, Augmented 5th (1 - 3 - #5)

Example Augmented Chords:

• Caug: C - E - G#

• Gaug: G - B - D#

Suspended Chords (Sus2 and Sus4)

Suspended chords replace the 3rd note of a chord with either the 2nd or 4th note, creating a sense of unresolved tension. These are great for building drama in music.

• Sus2 Formula: Root, Major 2nd, Perfect 5th (1 - 2 - 5)

• Sus4 Formula: Root, Perfect 4th, Perfect 5th (1 - 4 - 5)

Example Suspended Chords:

• Csus2: C - D - G

• Csus4: C - F - G

Add Chords

Add chords are similar to triads, but with an added note (usually the 9th). Unlike 7th chords, they don’t extend the chord beyond a simple triad.

• Add9 Formula: Root, Major 3rd, Perfect 5th, Major 9th (1 - 3 - 5 - 9)

Example Add Chords:

• Cadd9: C - E - G - D

• Gadd9: G - B - D - A

Chords aren’t just played individually—they’re used in progressions to create the structure of a song. One of the most popular chord progressions is the I-IV-V progression, commonly used in pop, rock, and blues.

Common chord progressions:

1. I-IV-V (C-F-G): Used in countless songs for a bright, strong feel.

2. ii-V-I (Dm-G-C): Popular in jazz, this progression resolves nicely to the tonic chord.

3. I-V-vi-IV (C-G-Am-F): This is the “four-chord progression” behind many modern pop songs.

► ARTMASTER TIP: You can find out more about chord progressions in our article — How music theory can improve your songwriting skills. It also includes a free video tutorial on chord progressions by professional pianist and online educator David Bennett.

Here are a few tips for getting comfortable with piano chords:

• Start slow: Focus on basic major and minor chords before moving to more complex ones.

• Use inversions: Learn to play chords in different inversions (e.g., C major: C-E-G, E-G-C, G-C-E).

• Practice with progressions: Try common progressions like I-IV-V to build fluidity between chords.

• Explore different genres: Chords are used in all types of music, from classical to blues and jazz. Experiment with 7th chords, diminished chords, and more as you explore new genres.

► ARTMASTER TIP: Find out more about the art of effective music practice.

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