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.