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6. Getting used to chords

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Move things around a little and get to know a few more triads. To keep things simple to start with, we’re going to play a sequence of chords that are all rooted on the notes or ‘degrees’ of the C major scale. Because they belong to the scale, these are known as ‘diatonic’ chords. Start by forming the C power chord, finger 1 on C and 5 on G. 4

Now work your way back down again through the scale, maintaining the correct distance between your thumb and finger 5, but without your hand becoming overly rigid. Once you’ve got the hang of playing accurately each time, add in the left hand an octave below and play the same thing with both hands together. 2

Play the C chord, hold it for a beat, then move your whole hand up the keyboard so that your thumb now rests on the next white key along – D. Keeping the same power chord shape, you should find that finger 5 has moved up with it automatically to play the note A. Play the D power chord, keeping equal pressure on the keys. 5

Time to get finger 3 into the act. Repeat the exercise, but this time adding in finger 3 to the right hand to start from a full C major triad. When you move up to the D, maintain the chord shape so that your thumb falls on D, finger 3 on F and finger 5 on A to play a D minor triad. After D, move up again to frame an E minor triad (E, G, B). 3

Once you’ve played the D chord, make the same move again, one white key up, so that your thumb is on E and finger 5 is now on B. Play this chord – the E power chord – then move on again to F, G and all the way up until you hit the C power chord an octave up from where you started. 6

Work your way up and down the scale, keeping the chord shape intact each time you move chords – you’ll end up playing a diatonic, harmonised C major scale – C major (C, E, G), D minor (D, F, A), E minor (E, G, B), F major (F, A, C), G major (G, B, D), A minor (A, C, E), B diminished (B, D, F) and C major again (C, E, G).