Piano Chord Fundamentals: Play Songs with Essential Major and Minor Chords — PickAClass
★ 3.3 (3) ⏱ 2h 57m 📚 32 lessons

Piano Chord Fundamentals: Play Songs with Essential Major and Minor Chords

Learn the foundational major and minor chords to play popular songs on the piano or keyboard using simple written chord charts and modern lead sheets.

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About this course

Have you always wanted to play the piano but felt overwhelmed by traditional sheet music? Learning to play by chords is the fastest and most rewarding way to start playing the songs you love. This written course guides you through the fundamental building blocks of keyboard music, teaching you how to construct, play, and transition between the essential major and minor chords. By understanding chord theory and patterns, you will unlock the ability to play hundreds of songs, improvise, and even write your own music without needing complex classical training. What you'll learn: - Learn the foundational music theory behind major and minor chord construction - Play the 24 essential major and minor chords across the keyboard - Understand how to read modern chord charts, lead sheets, and songbooks - Practice smooth chord transitions and common rhythm patterns using written exercises - Apply chord progressions used in modern pop, rock, and contemporary music - Develop basic improvisation techniques to make your playing sound full and professional You will start with the absolute basics of keyboard geography and core music theory before moving on to hands-on chord construction and practical progression patterns. Through clear explanations and structured written practice routines, you will build muscle memory and confidence. This course is designed for absolute beginners with no prior musical experience, as well as self-taught keyboard players looking to solidify their understanding of chord theory. Start your musical journey today and discover how simple it is to play the piano using chords.

Course contents

6 modules · 32 lessons · 2h 57m

1 Foundations and Keyboard Geography
Navigate the keyboard and understand the building blocks of music.
5 lessons · 27 min
  1. Welcome and Posture
    Correctly position your body and hands to avoid tension.
    5 min
  2. White and Black Keys
    Identify key groups and note names.
    5 min
  3. Tones and Semitones
    Understand the smallest distance between notes on the keyboard.
    6 min
  4. Finding Middle C
    Establish a universal reference point on the keyboard.
    5 min
  5. The Major Scale (Theory)
    How a scale is formed to understand future chords.
    6 min
2 The Major Triad
Build and play the 12 major chords.
6 lessons · 35 min
  1. What is a Triad?
    Definition of a chord as three notes played together.
    5 min
  2. The Major Chord Formula
    Use the 4+3 semitones formula to build any major chord.
    6 min
  3. White Key Chords (C, F, G)
    Learn the three most commonly used fundamental chords.
    5 min
  4. Chords with Black Keys (D, E, A)
    Expand muscle memory by including black keys.
    6 min
  5. The 'Black' Chords (Db, Eb, Gb, Ab, Bb)
    Complete the set of 12 major chords.
    7 min
  6. Practice Routine: The Major Chord Cycle
    Structured exercise to memorize the 12 major chords.
    6 min
3 The Minor Triad
Transform chords into minor and complete the 24 basic chords.
5 lessons · 29 min
  1. Major vs. Minor
    Perceive the emotional and structural difference between the two chord types.
    5 min
  2. The Minor Chord Formula
    Use the 3+4 semitones formula for construction.
    6 min
  3. The 'Easy' Minors (Am, Dm, Em)
    Play the first common minor chords.
    5 min
  4. Instant Transformation
    Technique to switch from major to minor by lowering the third.
    7 min
  5. The 24-Chord Catalog
    Quick review of all 24 chords studied so far.
    6 min
4 Rhythm and Modern Reading
Read chord symbols and add rhythm to your playing.
6 lessons · 31 min
  1. Reading Lead Sheets
    Understand how to interpret chord symbols above lyrics.
    5 min
  2. 4/4 Time
    Develop a sense of steady rhythm.
    5 min
  3. Pattern 1: Block Chords
    Play the full chord on every beat.
    5 min
  4. Pattern 2: Alternating Bass
    Use the left hand to add depth to the sound.
    5 min
  5. Smooth Transitions
    The 'common key' technique for fast chord changes.
    6 min
  6. Agility Exercise
    Routine to reduce pauses between chord changes.
    5 min
5 Pop and Rock Progressions
Combine chords into real musical sequences.
5 lessons · 29 min
  1. What is a Progression?
    Understand how chords move within a song.
    5 min
  2. The Pop Progression (I-V-vi-IV)
    Learn the sequence used in thousands of global hits.
    6 min
  3. The Rock Progression (I-IV-V)
    Play the basic structure of rock and blues.
    5 min
  4. Modern Song Analysis
    Break down a famous song into simple chords.
    6 min
  5. Playing and Singing (or Accompanying)
    Coordinate accompaniment with an external melody.
    7 min
6 Improvisation and Style
Make your sound full and professional.
5 lessons · 26 min
  1. Simple Arpeggios
    Break up the chord for a softer, more fluid sound.
    5 min
  2. Improvise with the Right Hand
    Use chord notes to create short melodies.
    5 min
  3. Bass Octaves
    Create a powerful sound using octaves in the left hand.
    5 min
  4. Dynamics and Touch
    Playing soft or loud to convey emotions.
    5 min
  5. Creating Your Own Sequence
    Writing a short original progression.
    6 min
Final project

Your First Chord-Based Performance

Choose a pop/rock song from your favorite songbook or use the 'Magic' progression. Perform it using a studied rhythmic pattern, including an arpeggiated intro and an improvised final section.

What you'll get

  • 📜 Certificate of completion
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  • 📱 Phone or computer
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  • 💸 14-day refund
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  • ⚡ Short & focused
    2h 57m of practical content

Certificate of completion

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Piano Chord Fundamentals: Play Songs with Essential Major and Minor Chords
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Performance detail
Coursework summary
Lessons completed 14 / 14
Practice questions 26 / 28
Assignments submitted 4 (avg 4.5 / 5)
Capstone project Reviewed — 4.6 / 5
Total practice 6.2 hrs
Performance benchmark
Cohort rank Top 12% of 1,625
Time to completion 11 days (median: 22)
Mastery score 91 / 100
Practice-question score 94%
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Reviews (3)

علي بن محمد TN Verified learner
★ 3 · July 18, 2026

This covers the basics well. I wish there were more opportunities to practice independently between modules.

عبد الرحمن بن محمد TN
★ 3 · June 14, 2026

Hmm, I'm not sure this is for beginners. Some parts skipped over foundational concepts too quickly for my liking.

Joseph Bell AU
★ 4 · June 10, 2026

This was a good introduction. The structure is logical, and it covers the basics effectively. Might be too introductory for advanced learners.

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