Root Note
Chord Type
Piano Keyboard
Chord Info
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Notes
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Intervals
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Formula
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Inversions
Piano Chord Tips
Use these tips to get the most out of your piano chord practice and performance.
Learning Chord Inversions
Inversions let you move smoothly between chords without large hand jumps. Practice moving from root position to 1st inversion to 2nd inversion on every chord type to build muscle memory.
How to Practice Chord Voicings
Start by playing chords with your right hand while your left hand holds the root note in the bass. Gradually add inner voices to create fuller, richer voicings across both hands.
Using the Sustain Pedal
Press the sustain pedal just after striking a chord, not before. Release it at each chord change to keep harmony clean. This technique is the foundation of expressive piano playing.
Frequently Asked Questions
A piano chord is two or more notes played at the same time. Chords form the harmonic foundation of music. The most common type is the triad — three notes built by stacking intervals of a third.
The most common piano chords are major triads (happy, bright sound), minor triads (sad, serious sound), dominant 7th chords (used heavily in blues and jazz), and major 7th chords (smooth, jazzy feel). C major, G major, F major, and A minor are great starting points.
A chord inversion is a rearrangement of the same chord notes so that a note other than the root is in the bass. Root position has the root note lowest. 1st inversion puts the 3rd in the bass. 2nd inversion puts the 5th in the bass. Inversions help with smooth voice leading between chords.
Piano chord notation starts with the root note (e.g. C, G, F#) followed by the chord quality (e.g. maj, min, 7, m7). A bare letter like "C" means major. "Cm" means C minor. "C7" is a dominant 7th. "Cmaj7" is a major 7th. Slashes like "C/E" indicate an inversion with E in the bass.