Basic Piano Chords To Quickly Learn New Songs
Basic piano chords are how many new songs come together under your hands. Learn the building blocks - intervals and triads - then the common chord qualities (major, minor, augmented, and diminished) and a few popular progressions you can reuse across pieces.
This page is for learners who already know a little keyboard geography and want chord shapes that unlock songs faster. Absolute beginners can start with 15 easy piano songs for beginners, then come back here to grow chord fluency.
Before we begin
If you have some experience playing the piano, this article is a strong fit. If you have never played a single key, we suggest you go through our article on 15 easy piano songs you can practice as a beginner first. That list gives you simple songs to get started. This article will still cover the chord basics you need.
For starters, you will need a keyboard or a piano. Dedicate a small portion of your time daily to get better at this instrument. With steady practice, you will be able to play more of your favorite songs sooner.
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What exactly is a chord?
A chord is constructed when more than one note is played at the same time and contains two, three, four, or more individual notes. Every time you press more than one key on your piano, you are playing a chord.
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The Basics - Piano Intervals
A piano interval refers to the distance between piano notes. They determine how the notes sound when played together. Intervals are measured in half-steps (semitones) and whole-steps (whole tones).
- Half-Steps (Semitones) - A half-step is the difference between one key to the next immediate key either to its left or right.
- Whole-steps (Whole Tones) - It is the distance of two half-steps.
- Common intervals - In piano chords, the common interval is the major third and is the difference of two whole-steps (four half-steps).
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The Basics - Triad Chords
In this article, you will be learning about triad chords as well. A triad is any chord that contains three notes: a root, a third, and a fifth.
The Root Note
All piano chords have a root note. The root note is what the chord is named after. It is played simultaneously with other notes to create the chord. In most cases, basic piano chords contain only two or three notes. Advanced chords usually tend to have more notes.
The Third Note
The Third is the middle note of the chord. It is quite important as it determines whether the chord is a major chord or a minor chord.
The Fifth Note
The remaining note is called the Fifth note. The Fifth closes out the triad sonically and adds a sense of weight or stability to it. The fifth is important because it determines whether a chord is augmented or diminished.
Cannot tell one note on the piano from the other? Check out our guide on how to remember piano notes.
Major Chords
A major chord is said to sound happier or brighter - it has a warm tone. A major third is 4 semitones, and the major fifth is 7 semitones from the root note respectively.
Here are some common major piano chords:
- C major (C). C - E - G
- D major (D). D - F# - A
- E major (E). E - G# - B
- F major (F). F - A - C
- G major (G). G - B - D
Minor Chords
The sound that comes from minor chords is often associated with the notions of melancholy and darkness. The minor third is 3 semitones and the minor fifth is 7 semitones from the root chord respectively.
Here are some common minor piano chords:
- C minor (Cm). C - Eb - G
- C# minor (C#m). C# - E - G#
- D minor (Dm). D - F - A
- Eb minor (Ebm). Eb - Gb - Bb
- E minor (Em). E - G - B
Augmented Chords
Augmented chords are said to sound surreal or bizarre. It is built from two major thirds which build up to an augmented fifth. In an augmented chord, the fifth is 7 semitones away from the root.
Commonly used augmented chords include:
- C augmented (Caug). C - E - G#
- C# augmented (C#aug). C# - E# - G##
- E augmented (Eaug). E - G# - B#
- G augmented (Gaug). G - B - D#
- G# augmented (G#aug). G# - B# - D##
Diminished Chords
Diminished chords sound eerie and sinister. It is built from two minor thirds which build up to an augmented fifth. In a diminished chord, the fifth is 6 semitones away from the root.
Commonly used diminished piano chords include:
- F diminished (Fdim). F - Ab - Cb
- C# diminished (C#dim). C# - E - G
- C diminished (Cdim). C - Eb - Gb
- F diminished (Fdim). F - Ab - Cb
- F# diminished (F#dim). F# - A - C
What are Chord Progressions?
A Chord Progression is a series of chords played on the piano in a sequence. Chord progressions provide a structure to songs and maintain consistency throughout. They exist to develop music in a harmonically meaningful manner. There is a "harmonic story" in each progression that contains a beginning, a middle, and an end. Some popular chord progressions are:
- The 4 Chord Song Progression - C - G - Am - F
- Cadential Chord Progression - Dmin - G - C
- Classic 3 Chord Progression - C - F - G
- 50s Chord Progression - C - Am - F - G
The 4 Chord Song Progression - The Most Popular Chord Progression of Our Era
The 4 Chord Song Progression is the most popular chord progression of our era. You have probably heard this progression being used in many of your favorite songs and may not have noticed. The chords used in this progression are:
- C major (C)
- F major (F)
- A minor (Am)
- F major (Fm)
There is a mathematical reason that explains why this chord is so frequently used. To summarize, the 4 chords that create this progression are opposites of each other. The G chord is the opposite of the C, and the A minor chord is the opposite of the F major. These chords create complementary frequencies that our brains instinctively gravitate towards.
Some notable songs composed using this progression include:
- Bob Marley - "No Woman No Cry"
- The Beatles - "Let It Be"
- Journey - "Don't Stop Believing"
- Adele - "Someone Like You"
- Train - "Hey Soul Sister"
The Cadential Chord Progression
This progression is commonly used in classical, gospel, and church settings. In a cadential progression, the tonal function of the chords are defined and audible which eventually resolves into a chord of rest and purpose. The chords used in this progression are:
- D minor (Dm)
- G major (G)
- F major (F)
Some notable songs composed using this progression include:
- Eric Clapton - "Tears in Heaven"
- Miles Davis - "Tune Up"
- Maroon 5 - "Sunday Morning"
If you want to be able to play these amazing songs, you will need to practice. Confused about where to start? Check out our guide on how to master any piano song.
The Classic 3 Chord Progression
This is one of the most diverse yet simple piano chord progressions. It is used as the basis for a lot of songs, particularly modern pop. You can easily improvise playing this progression since the chord progression itself does not require a lot of concentration. The chords used in this progression are:
- C major (C)
- F major (F)
- G major (G)
Some notable songs composed using this progression include:
- Jerry Lee Lewis - "Great Balls of Fire"
- Poison - "Every Rose Has Its Thorn"
- Richie Valen - "La Bamba"
The 50's Chord Progression - "The Heart and Soul" chords
This chord was popularised in the '50s and is still used today. It was associated with the doo-wop genre of rhythm and blues that was popular during the '50s and '60s. The chords used in this progression are:
- C major (C)
- A minor (Am)
- F major (F)
- G major (G)
Some notable songs composed using this progression include:
- Ben E. King - "Stand by Me"
- Rebecca Black - "Friday"
- Coldplay - "Viva La Vida"
- Bonnie Tyler - "Total Eclipse of Heart"
All of the songs mentioned above are classics. You might be able to create a piece of your own in the future as well - or at least learn how to play other pieces you love. If these songs have inspired you to want to learn how to play the piano, check out our complete guide to starting piano first.
Putting These Chords Into Practice
Practice the basic chords and progressions on this page until the shapes feel steady at a slow tempo. Then apply them to songs you already know, or pick a few from the easy songs list linked above.
A short daily loop works well: review a few triads, run one progression in C, then try that same loop under a song you like. Keep chord switches clean before you chase speed.
Guidance from an inspiring teacher can make practice more productive. You get structure, constructive feedback, and a clearer way to track progress. To find a teacher online or in person near you, sign up to The Best Piano Teachers for FREE today.
Which piano chord will you get started with?