Major Piano Chords
How do you form a major chord on piano? A major chord is perhaps the simplest chord. It consists of three notes, the root, 3rd and 5th. Its symbol is “Maj”. For instance C major can be written “C Maj”.
Let’s take a look at all 12 major chords and the notes which form them.
- C major – C E G
- C sharp major – C♯ E♯ G♯
- D major – D F♯ A
- E flat major – E♭ G B♭
- E major – E G♯ B
- F major – F A C
- F sharp major – F♯ A♯ C♯
- G major – G B D
- A flat major – A♭ C E♭
- A major – A C♯ E
- Bb major – B♭ D F
- B major – B D♯ F♯
Minor Piano Chords
Next in our free piano chords section we take a look at minor chords.
A minor chord is formed by playing the root, flat 3rd and 5th of the scale. Its symbol is mi, -, or m. For instance, A minor can be written as Ami, A-, or Am. Am seems to be more common.
Let’s take a look at all 12 minor chords and the notes which form them.
- C minor – C E♭ G
- C sharp minor – C♯ E G♯
- D minor – D F A
- E flat minor – E♭ G♭ B♭
- E minor – E G B
- F minor – F A♭ C
- F sharp minor – F♯ A C♯
- G minor – G B♭ D
- A flat minor – A♭ C♭(B) E♭
- A minor – A C E
- B flat minor – B♭ D♭ F
- B minor – B D F♯
Diminished Piano Chords
Diminished chords are triads as well, and consist of three notes, the root, flat third, and flat fifth of the scale. (root, ♭3rd, ♭5th) A diminished chord is represented by the symbols dim or °. For instance B diminished can be written as Bdim or B°.
Let’s take a look at 12 diminished triad chords and the notes which form them.
- C diminished – C E♭ G♭
- C♯ diminished – C♯ E G
- D diminished – D F A♭
- E♭ diminished – E♭ G♭ B♭♭(A)
- E diminished – E G B♭
- F diminished – F A♭ C♭(B)
- F♯ diminished – F♯ A C
- G diminished – G B♭ D♭
- A♭ diminished – A♭ C♭ E♭♭(D)
- A diminished – A C E♭
- B♭ diminished – B♭ D♭ F♭(E)
- B diminished – B D F
Augmented Piano Chords
Let’s continue our free piano chords lesson. It’s now time to take a look at all 12 augmented chords and their notes.
An augmented chord is also a triad. It is a three note chord consisting of the root, third and sharp fifth of the scale. (root, 3rd, ♯5th) The symbol for an augmented chord is + or aug. For instance C augmented can be written as C+ or Caug.
- C augmented – C E G♯
- C♯ augmented – C♯ E♯(F) G♯♯(A)
- D augmented – D F♯ A♯
- E♭ augmented – E♭ G B
- E augmented – E G♯ B♯(C)
- F augmented – F A C♯
- F♯ augmented – F♯ A♯ C♯♯(D)
- G augmented – G B D♯
- A♭ augmented – A♭ C E
- A augmented – A C♯ E♯(F)
- B♭ augmented – B♭ D F♯
- B augmented – B D♯ F♯♯(G)