Help with PIANO chords?

Question

I am learning the piano and have a question about the chords. The way i have leaned from the book im studying is as follows. a " C" chord is "C, G, E". held down together.

I spoke to somebody today that said a "C" chord is the C, with the next 2 other keys held down as well. This is different from what i have learned. She also said the same about the other chords, EG i read that an " F" chord is "A, C , F" held down together. Yet the person said an "F" chord would be the F and the next 2 other Keys held down.

Which is the correct way of playing a chord, by my book, or as this person had said, or does it differ for everbody? I want to leant the proper way of playing.

Thanks a lot

Jim

Answer 1

C major chord is C E G
F major chord is F A C

Answer 2

Hi Jim,
What you have there is basically correct.
On guitar, the are called triads, in that, if in the base chord is, say C, then F & G with naturally follow.
Not the most of inventive stuff on keyboard, of guitar, but fine for a song I once wrote, called "Country & Western - It's only got three chords"
I now operate mostly in E flat, B flat, & G flat.
The fingers are more at home !
Try that sequence. It is a comfortable way to play, and the source of many a fine tune.
At the end of the day - each to thier own.

All the best with it !
Bob.

Answer 3

You are correct. A chord is built on the triad of the scale from the root note. If you are playing the chord of C, the notes you would use are C, E and G (1,3,5 of the scale of C major). Doesn't matter which order you play them in, ie - what note is on the bottom to start with - it's still the same chord. You can get a keyboard chord chart from your local music shop with diagrams of chords which will be helpful.

Answer 4

Your way is right.

Basically, a chord is 3 notes played at the same time. These three notes can be put in any order and still be called the same chord each time moving up the keyboard. So, for example, GBD is the chord of G, but so are BDG and DGB. These are called inversions. Root position (GBD), 1st inversion (BDG) and 2nd inversion(DGB).

Answer 5

I'm not sure I understand you're question, but CEG is a C chord. Is this person telling you CDE is a C chord? Cause I think if you're just starting out, then CEG is what you're looking for.

Answer 6

As everyone else has already said, Cmaj is C,E,G together. I wonder if the other person plays an electronic keyboard which is set up to play the chord when the root key is pressed?

Answer 7

Hi I used to take piano lessons, and my piano teacher taught me chords the way that your book is telling you how to do them. So go with the book.
Good luck with your study, piano is fun when you get the hang of it!

Answer 8

as far as the major chords go, your book iscorrect, while said person obviously does not know what they are talking about. from the root note of the chord (in teh case of a "C" chord the root note is "C") go up 2 whole steps for the second note (in this case an "E"), and from the second note go up 3 half steps for the third note (in this case "G"). mind you, these are the rules only for the root base major chords. inversions and other types of chords will come along later.

Answer 9

I can't read music at all, but I love playing and have played venues before.

Depending on where you want to go with this, my PERSONAL advice is stop being so technical and just MESS AROUND on it! Play random notes until you figure out yourself how to make music. And also try playing along to records.

Trust me its much more fun to you FEEL the music, rather than THINK it.

Answer 10

You are correct - the person is wrong.
Cmajor = C E G
Fmajor = F A C

You can know that yours sounds right when they harmonize well together. I don't know what the other person is doing but it would sound dissonant and the notes would clash.