Chords are at the heart of almost all the music you love. Whether pop, rock or soulful ballads, they form the harmonic foundation that gives a melody depth and emotion. Imagine being able to play the chords of your favourite songs on the piano and accompany them yourself. Sounds complicated? Don’t worry. With the right basics for learning the piano and a few simple patterns, you’ll quickly see how logical and intuitive chords are.

In this article, we’ll show you step by step how to not only understand the most important piano chords, but also play them accurately and switch between them smoothly. Let’s explore the world of harmony together!

What Is a Chord? The Triad as the Foundation

You’ve probably heard it before: a chord is the combination of at least three notes. But to really understand the principle, we need to look at its core: the triad.

A triad is the most fundamental form of a chord. It consists of exactly three notes stacked at specific intervals called thirds.

Let’s look at the C major triad as an example:

• Root: C

• Major third: E (four semitones above C)

• Perfect fifth: G (seven semitones above C)

The distance between the notes, i.e. the number of semitones, is crucial when distinguishing between major, minor, diminished and augmented triads.

The term “chord” generally refers to the simultaneous sounding of at least three different notes, regardless of how they’re built. A chord can therefore consist of a triad or more notes, for example in extended forms such as seventh chords (e.g. C–E–G–B as Cmaj7) or more complex jazz voicings.

In summary: Every triad is a chord, but not every chord is a triad.

The Most Important Chords to Start With: Major vs Minor

Two chord types are crucial to begin with: major and minor. They’re the emotional cornerstones of music and the basis of countless songs. The only difference between a major and a minor chord lies in the middle note, the third.

Major Chords

Major chords are the sunny side of music. They sound bright, clear and positive. You’ll find them in most pop songs, children’s songs and upbeat melodies.

A major triad is built with a major third. That means there’s a distance of four semitones between the root and the third (counting the black keys).

• Root + major third (4 semitones) + minor third (3 semitones)  

Minor Chords

If a song makes you pensive, melancholic or emotional, minor chords are often at work. They sound softer, sadder and more introspective than major chords.

The only difference from major is the third. A minor chord is built with a minor third. Here there are only three semitones between the root and the third.

• Root + minor third (3 semitones) + major third (4 semitones) 

To make your start easier, we’ve listed the six most important chords for beginners. With these, you can already accompany hundreds of pop songs.

Chord	Notes	Fingering (right hand)
C major	C - E - G	Thumb - Middle Finger - Little Finger
G major	G - B - D	Thumb - Middle Finger - Little Finger
A minor	A - C - E	Thumb - Middle Finger - Little Finger
F major	F - A - C	Thumb - Middle Finger - Little Finger
D major	D - F# - A	Thumb - Middle Finger - Little Finger
E minor	E - G - B	Thumb - Middle Finger - Little Finger

If you’re looking for the interplay of theory and practice, music2me is exactly the right place: here you can watch videos from trained music teachers. These cover piano chords, piano basics and much more, explained step by step and combined with audio examples. Particularly helpful is the combination of visual presentation, aural comparison and the chance to play along straight away — it makes learning active and lasting.

For the Curious: The World of Extended Chords

Once you’ve mastered the basic major and minor triads, a door opens to a fascinating sound world. Pros often add further notes to simple triads to give them more colour, tension and depth. It’s a bit like adding a special spice to a delicious dish.

Extended Major Chords: From Pop to Blues

Basic major chords can be expanded in many ways to create very specific moods.

• The dominant seventh chord (e.g. C7): Add a minor seventh to a major triad and you get a tense sound that often seeks resolution. It’s the heart of the blues. A classic blues progression often uses the chords of the first, fourth and fifth degrees as seventh chords, for example C7, F7 and G7. This progression creates the typically rough, “gritty” sound – a feeling between pain and freedom.

• The major seventh chord (e.g. Cmaj7): Add a major seventh instead and the chord sounds softer and more dreamy. You’ll often hear it in film music or soulful ballads.

• Further variants: There are plenty more options. A major 6th chord (e.g. C6) sounds very harmonious and balanced thanks to the added major sixth. So‑called add9 chords (e.g. Cadd9) feel especially airy and modern due to the added major ninth. In jazz it goes further still, with major 9th, major 11th or major 13th chords, creating extremely dense, colourful soundscapes.

Extended Minor Chords: Jazzy and Expressive Sounds

Minor chords also gain huge character from added notes [2, 6].

• The minor 7th chord (e.g. Am7): Like its major counterpart, it’s created by adding a minor seventh to the minor triad. It sounds smooth, elegant and is a staple of jazz, soul and R&B [2, 6].

• The minor‑major 7th chord (e.g. Am(maj7)): Here a minor triad is combined with a major seventh. The result is a mysterious, almost eerie sound often used for special moments of tension [2, 6].

• Other minor extensions: A minor 6th chord (Am6) gives a warm, nostalgic feel, while the minor 9th chord (Am9) brings a particularly refined and expressive mood to modern ballads and soul [2, 6].

Each extension changes the emotion of the chord. As you start experimenting with these layers, you’ll develop a much deeper feel for what harmony can achieve emotionally.

Extended Chords (PDF)

5 Practical Tips: How to Play and Change Chords Confidently

Theory matters, but music only comes to life when you make it. With these five tips, your fingers will soon find the right keys almost by themselves.

1. Consolidate the basics: Memorise the look and sound of the basic triads. Take one chord (e.g. F major) and play it several times in a row. Say the note names out loud.

2. Start slowly: Practise switching between two chords very slowly, for example between C major and G major. Focus on a smooth hand movement and only increase the tempo once the change is secure.

3. Play in inversions: A chord always contains the same notes, but you can change their order. Instead of C–E–G (root position), you can play E–G–C (1st inversion). This helps shorten the distance between chords and makes your playing smoother.

4. Use your ear: Try not only to play the chords, but also to recognise their sound. Play a chord and sing the root note. This trains your musical ear and deepens your understanding.

5. Apply it to songs: Pick a simple song that uses just two or three chords (e.g. “Let It Be” by The Beatles). Using what you’ve learned in a real musical context is the biggest motivator.

Your Path to Becoming a Chord Pro: It’s Easier than You Think!

Starting out in the world of piano chords might feel like a big challenge, but at its core it’s a logical and hugely rewarding system. Every new chord you learn is another building block for your musical freedom. You won’t just accompany existing songs; you’ll also lay the groundwork to one day develop your own melodies and harmonies.

The key to success lies in consistency and the joy of experimenting. Stay curious, play with sounds, and remember why you started: to make the music you love. With patience and the right exercises, you’ll soon find your fingers dancing across the keys.