How To Read Sheet Music Piano Chords

Most chords in modern day western music are either a major chord or a minor chord.

How to read sheet music piano chords. Popular songs are often annotated with a chord chart. C or cmaj for a c major chord cm for a c minor chord c7 for a seventh chord csus for a suspended chord etc. Some sheet music omits the guitar diagrams and the chords are written by name. Chord notations can be intimidating but they ll make more sense once you learn your scales and understand a little about piano chord theory.

Learning how to read sheet music unlocks a world of expression and freedom on the piano. By holly day jerry kovarksy blake neely david pearl michael pilhofer. Even if your main instrument is not the piano learning the basics of how to read music notes can be easier when you know your way around a keyboard. If you learn how to read the chords you can easily play a simple accompaniment to any pop song.

If you understand how to read piano chords you can sit down and play nearly any song with a basic chord chart you don t even have to learn a lot of music theory or know how to read sheet music. Minor chord includes the same first and fifth degree and a lowered third degree. Major chord is made of the first third and fifth degree of a scale. Major and minor chords are made up of three tones called the root the third and the fifth.

When learning to play the piano or keyboard you will likely be somewhat confused by sheet music. There are two types of chords major and minor chords. A piano player can simply read the chord name and play it if he has memorized chord shapes.