Intro

🎹 Now that you know what chords are, how you can best utilize them, as well as why they are so integral to music creation, now let's talk about the most common types of chords, Major Chords. Just like with major scales, major chords are going to sound "bright" and "happy." Check out the Major Chords Chart below to see which keys are in each chord.

Major Chord Formula = 1-3-5

(the root, the major third, and the perfect fifth of a major scale)

Major Chords

Intro to Major Chords

If you’re just starting your journey as a piano player, one of the most exciting things to learn is how to play chords. Among all the chords you’ll come across, major chords are the perfect place to begin. They sound bright, happy, and full — and they form the foundation of countless songs in every genre.

In this article, we’ll walk you through what major chords are, how they work on the piano, why they’re important, and how you can start playing them right away — even if you’ve never studied music theory before.

What Is a Chord?

A chord is when you press two or more keys at the same time on the piano. Most chords beginners learn are made of three notes — these are called triads.

Imagine you press down three notes with one hand: your thumb, middle finger, and pinky. That’s your basic triad chord. When those notes are spaced a certain way and sound happy or bright, it’s probably a major chord.

What Is a Major Chord?

A major chord is a specific kind of triad that sounds cheerful, strong, and uplifting. These are the kinds of chords you’ll hear in upbeat pop songs, joyful classical pieces, and even children’s music.

The major chord has a specific "feel" to it. If you play a C major chord (C–E–G), you’ll hear how clean and confident it sounds. It’s that sense of completeness that makes major chords so popular in songwriting and playing.

Why Are Major Chords Important?

Learning major chords is like learning the alphabet of music. Once you know just a few major chords, you can:

Play thousands of songs — Many pop and rock songs are built on just 3 or 4 chords.
Write your own songs — You can combine chords to create your own melodies.
Sing and play — Chords give you the background harmony to accompany vocals.
Train your ear — Recognizing the sound of major chords helps with ear training.
Build hand coordination — Playing chords helps your fingers work together more efficiently.

Whether you’re playing solo, accompanying a singer, or jamming with a band, major chords are the key to sounding fuller and more musical.

How to Play a Major Chord

You don’t need sheet music or advanced training to start playing major chords. Here’s how:

Let’s start with C major, the easiest chord to learn.

Find Middle C – It’s the white key just to the left of the group of two black keys near the center of your keyboard.
Play C – E – G at the same time using:
- Thumb on C
- Middle finger on E
- Pinky on G

That’s it — you’re playing your first major chord!

Now try the same idea with other white key chords:

F major: F – A – C
G major: G – B – D

These three major chords — C, F, and G — are all white keys only, and they appear in tons of songs.

Tips for Learning Major Chords

Here are a few practical tips for learning major chords more effectively:

1. Stick to One Hand First

Start with your right hand, using fingers 1 (thumb), 3 (middle), and 5 (pinky). Once that feels comfortable, try the left hand too.

2. Play Each Chord Slowly

Press all three notes down together and listen to how they sound. You’re training your ears and fingers at the same time.

3. Practice Switching Between Chords

Try going from C major to F major, then G major. These are known as the I–IV–V chords, and they appear in thousands of songs.

4. Use Flashcards or Diagrams

A simple chord chart printed or displayed nearby helps as a visual guide until you have them memorized.

5. Play Along With Simple Songs

Look up “3-chord piano songs” or “songs with C F G chords” and play along using the chords you’ve learned.

How Major Chords Fit into Songs

Most songs are made up of chord progressions, which are just a sequence of chords played in a loop. Think of these as the backbone of a song — the rhythm and melody fit right on top.

Here’s one of the most common chord progressions in the world:

C – G – Am – F

Even though Am is a minor chord (we’ll talk about those another time), this progression shows how major chords work together with others to create the mood and structure of a piece.

What to Do Once You Know a Few Major Chords

Once you feel confident with three or four major chords, you can:

Try singing a song while playing its chord progression
Try making your own short melody or tune using those chords
Look up more chords and slowly expand your list
Listen to your favorite songs and try to hear when a chord changes

Chords are a launchpad for everything else in piano. With each one you learn, your skill — and your fun — grows.

Conclusion

Learning major chords is one of the fastest ways to feel confident at the piano. They’re easy to start with, fun to play, and endlessly useful whether you want to play pop, classical, gospel, jazz, or anything in between.

You don’t need to understand every theory behind them right away — just start pressing those keys, listening closely, and letting your fingers get used to the shapes. Before long, you’ll be making real music, and that’s the best motivation to keep going.

Exercise

Let's get those fingers moving!

Using either the chart above or the PDF you downloaded from the last lesson, play each major chord from A-G. Make sure to do this for each hand, subsequently. Also, make sure to watch the video atop this page for a demonstration of how to perform this exercise.

PRO TIP

Don't worry about trying to memorize all of the chords. That's not important now and it's not even a necessity, although it is still very useful. Instead, for now, just focus on the basics.

Lesson 3.2: Intro to Major Chords

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Chapter 1: Intro to the Piano

Chapter 2: Intro to Scales

Chapter 3: Intro to Chords

Chapter 4: Intro to Music Theory

Chapter 5: How to Read Sheet Music

Chapter 6: Ear Training

Chapter 7: Finger Dexterity Training

Chapter 8: Speed Training

Chapter 9: How to Create Your Own Melodies & Songs

Chapter 10: Course Recap