Understanding Chord Symbols for Piano Students

 Some piano students have difficulty grasping the theory concept of chord symbols. This can definitely tricky, especially if students are younger and not super familiar with Roman numbers. While learning chord symbols might feel like you are swimming in a math class full of mysterious numbers when you come to music lessons, understanding chord relationships can pave the way for students to later transpose and improvise music much more easily in multiple keys!

Scale Degrees

The first step is understanding that scale notes are numbered, similar to counting your steps as you walk up a ladder. These numbers are called scale degrees. They are often written using Roman numbers. You can build a triad (3 note chord) on top of every note of the scale. This example shows C Major because the bottom note of the #1 chord (aka I) is C.

Chord colors aren't a standardized thing in music theory but, it definitely makes it easier for kids to remember!  

Here's a fun free Chord Symbol Memory Match Game to help students match up the Roman numbers with the cardinal numbers. You can choose to add in the colors for a match of trios if you'd like. 

Chord Inversions on the Keys 

Jumping around to the "snowmen" shaped root chords can be a bit tricky on the piano.

So most piano music includes rearranged or inverted chords to make easier for your hand to switch back and forth between chords. 

The first 5 minutes of  Pianote Piano Chord Inversions Tutorial demonstrates what some common chord inversions look like on the piano keys. 

Traditional Triad Chord Inversion Symbols

In music the IV chord (blue)  is most often inverted to be "top heavy" also known as  IV64 or 2nd inversion. 

The V chord (yellow) symbol V63 is typically written shorthand style as just V6 for 1st inversion.

Hint: The numbers after the roman number represent the intervals of the notes above the bottom note.

Seventh Chord Inversion Symbols

Adding 7th chord symbols to the mix can seem daunting, but they follow a similar concept. The numbers represent the position of the "7th note" and "root" (for inverted 7th chords)

V7 chord - the 7th note is in the top spot, a 7th above the lowest chord note.

For inversions, look at the notes "stuck close together" (root and 7th) and measure how high they are above the lowest chord note to think of the chord symbol. 

V65 chord  - the root (6th above) and the 7th note (5th above) the lowest chord note with the root

V43 chord -   the root (4th above) and the 7th note (3rd above) the lowest chord note with the root

V2 chord - the root (2nd above) 

The V Chord Family Reunion free printable game includes the most common chord symbols for both triads (3 note chords) and 7th chords (triads with an extra note added in)

How to Read Slash Chords (Inversions)

 

Pop or Jazz Lead sheets sometimes include letter chord symbols instead of Roman numerals to tell you which notes to play in the left hand.

Watch the video up to 5:20 to learn about how to play chords from slash chord symbols.

Have Fun with Mastermind Chords

As a child, I loved to play the game MasterMind with my brother. "Chordle" is a fun spin on the same concept where you try to guess the possible hidden seventh chord notes.

Related Posts

Chord Match -Game to review how major, minor, augmented and diminished chords are built.

Cupcake Improv Group Lesson

For this month's composing theme, I'm introducing Leila Viss's "Cupcake Improv" improvisation activity to my intermediate piano students. The monthly challenge is to create an improvisation with their favorite "cake, frosting and sprinkles" combo or try a Create First improvisation pattern by Forrest Kinney. I love how the QR codes on the cupcake improv handouts have videos students can review at home  if needed. 

Creating Interesting Melodies (aka "Sprinkles")

We reviewed motif's and ways to vary them (sequence, inversion, etc) with a game of melodic motif bingo.

Cake Chord Progression Samples

Next we listened to a few excerpts from the song samples below to hear how the "cake" chord progression patterns are included in many familiar songs.

White Cake Sample - Zootopia (Key of D flat Major)

Yellow Cake Samples - 

• Forrest Kinney Heart and Soul Blues
• 
  
• Tightrope (Key of A)
• 
  
  
  
• Lauren Daigel "Thank God I Do" Verses (Key of G Major)

Chocolate Cake Sample - Lauren Daigel Thank God I Do (G Major: Chorus Start at :57)

Red Velvet Cake Sample - Forrest Kinney Create First Garden

Cookie Dough Cake Samples - Spanish Dance Jennifer Eklund/ Leila Viss Noodle

Cookie Dough Variation Sample (using e minor not E M Major) Ocean without a Shore

Create First Chord-Based Improvisation Patterns 

Ready for more patterns or prefer the left hand pattern written out?  Forrest Kinney's Create First 2 Book includes several improvisation pieces that start with "cake "chord patterns that are not included in the Cupcake Improv but follow a similar concept. Start with a left hand chord progression  "cake/frosting" pattern. Then improvise melodies above. Can you identify the number patterns of the chord progressions he uses in these pieces? It's definitely easier if you refer to the printed music!

Sharing

A Song Someday

Roots in the Sky

Circus Music

Chord Pattern Inversions

Sometimes leaping your left hand around can be a bit tricky if you are trying to improvise a melody over the top with your right hand. Inverting or swapping the order of chord notes can make it easier. Or you could leave out some of the chord tones. Listen to the samples below to see this in action.

Classic Chords

Secret Dance

Full Circle

Which improvisation style is your favorite?

Need for Speed Tempo Term Videos

 I love to start out every lesson with a quick game. To review tempo terms  we play the game "The Need for Speed" from Colourful Keys to introduce or review tempo terms. Since students encounter these in a different order in their lesson books, I like to pair some songs with the game to speed up the learning.

What is Tempo?

Define tempo as students clap or choose various motions to follow along with as you sing and watch this video. 

PR Tempo - animated video defining tempo 

Then as you play the game, instead of just saying "Largo is slow" make the learning more memorable with a song. The first time students choose a particular tempo card that pairs with the songs below, sing and move to the video below

Largo (Start at 1:15 seconds)

PR Presto Largo- animated video illustrating tempo terms Presto and Largo

Adagio Play Slow

Sing Adagio to the tune of Edwin McClean's "Ghost Waltz" (from FJH Federation Favorites Book 2).

Andante Walking Pace

Sing "Andante" to the tune of "The Ants Go Marching."

Allegretto and Moderato

CK Tempo Marks - brief definitions and memory aids for Allegro, Allegretto, Moderato, Andante

Allegro

Sing the "Allegro's quick" lyrics to the tune of Three Blind Mice.

Presto (Start at 50 seconds)

PR Presto Largo- animated video illustrating tempo terms Presto and Largo

Key Signature Game - Firing at Flat Keys

 After reviewing some of these videos I created a fun FIRING AT FLATS game to solidify their knowledge with some fun mini nerf guns and targets!

Free Printable Firing at Flats

Key Signature Order Song

 The number of pencil strokes it takes to write each letter helps you know how many sharps are in the scale.

The Circle of Fifths and Writing Key Signatures by Piano Anne

Rhythm Challenge and Activities for Group Lessons

The online resources below include some options for this month's Rhythm Challenge and activities we'll try at group lessons.

Rhythm Practice Videos

At group lessons, students take turns choosing the movement for each of these rhythm practice videos.

Stomping your feet with a steady beat while you choose a hand motion helps you keep a steady pulse. 

Do you want to 

• slide hands? 
• windshield wipers? 
• snap?
•  tap thighs?
•  chopstick finger tap?

Remember to count aloud using the smallest note pattern found in each example. 

Eighths: 1 & 2 &, etc.

Sixteenths: 1 e & a, 2 e & a, etc.

Elementary

Musical Minds: Quarter, Half, Eighth Notes and Rests.

Barbie Rapunzel Theme Piano Music

Today at lessons I asked a few students if they had any requests for pieces they'd love to learn. One teen mentioned they love the classical-sounding Barbie music... not from the new movie but from her childhood favorite animated videos. 

I'd never heard it.

So with a quick YouTube search, we found this beautiful piece posted by Emilie's Piano! I printed it immediately, and it was an instant hit. 

 I love it when my students introduce me to new music that I enjoy as well. 😎 The link to the free sheet music is beneath her post on YouTube. 

When a student is eager to learn a piece, their practice tends to increase dramatically and I love how this particular piece has a classical/pop sound and includes some unusual rhythmic patterns and key shifts based on familiar chords that will stretch her skills to new levels. 💪💓

The style of the music reminds me of a music book I purchased years ago for my own playing enjoyment called "Jane Austen's World."

Click the image to purchase Jane Austen's World on amazon or preview some of my favorite pieces from this intermediate level book that are played by various pianists.

The simplest piece is End Titles from Emma.  It includes repetitive broken chords and gives students practice playing cantabile in the easy key of G Major.

Frank Churchhill Arrives is the opening piece in the key of G Major, 6/8 Time. It includes a lot of repetitive, broken arpeggios in the left hand (what I call 1-5-8-5-8-5 based on scale degrees). The rallentandos and temporary swap to 9/8 time may be new for some students.

Excellent Notion is in 6/8 time, G Major with mostly harmonic 3rds and 2nds in the left hand giving good practice with legato 3rds and syncopated pedaling

My Father's Favourite is a bit trickier, written in the key of A flat major with a few dotted eighth + sixteenths. I love the slow, expressive style of this piece! It's my favorite to play in this book.

For more Intermediate Piano Music that students love, check out these reviews!

Wunderkeys Stolen Roses Review and Practice Tips

Wunderkeys Pop Performance 2 Review

Some of the products linked in my posts may be affiliate links, earning me a small commission on any products purchased with no extra cost to you.

Wunderkeys The Stoles Rose Solos Review with Practice Tips

 I have subscribed to a lot of piano teaching related emails for the past 20 years, but one that brings me the most value and joy is Teach Piano Today blog by Trevor and Andrea Dow. They have so many free games and song samplers that my students love to learn with. Clicking this free song sampler for the Stolen Roses led me to dive in and buy the book.

But their teen piano library is what has recently captured my interest. I previously shared thoughts about their Performance Pop 2 Book that my intermediate students are enjoying more than their method books.