Triangular hand shapes with 1 black key in the middle for minor triads: Cm, Fm & Gm.
🙌Lesson 7
Left Hand Bass & Two-Hand Play
Adding octave bass notes with left hand & two-handed accompaniment technique.
🎼Lesson 8
Chord Patterns & Arpeggios
4 essential rhythmic patterns & arpeggios to turn static chords into flowing music.
🔄Lesson 9
Chord Inversions
Learn how to rearrange chord notes to create smoother hand movements and richer sounds.
Lesson 1
Chord Group 1: White Key Chords (C, F, G Shapes)
Start by learning the fundamental "white key shapes" where the chords consist entirely of white keys. Once mastered, we apply the minor equivalents (Am, Dm, Em) which share identical physical shapes.
💡 Chord Shapes Theory
Major chords (C, F, G) on white keys use standard shape spacing (root, skip 3 semitones, skip 2 semitones). The minor shapes (Am, Dm, Em) have the exact same shape index, making them easy transitions.
🎹 Practice Chord Spacing (Hover/Click to visualize)
C MajorF MajorG MajorA MinorD MinorE Minor
💡 Tip: What is this Major or Minor thing?
Feeling a bit confused by the Major or Minor labelling of a chord? For now just remember that Major sounds cheerful / happy and Minor sounds more sad. The difference is in the middle note of the chord. If that middle key is lowered or raised by a semitone (1 step) it turns into a Minor or a Major version of that chord.
🖐️ C Major Shape Fingering
Use right hand fingers: 1 (Thumb) on C, 3 (Middle) on E, and 5 (Pinky) on G. Apply this same physical shape to F and G major chords, as well as the minor chords (Am, Dm, Em)!
💡 Tip: Do the chords look a bit complex or challenging when opening a song?
If these chords look a bit challenging or confusing (like F3, Cadd9, or Amaj7), you can use the "Simplify" button in the song details toolbar to make them easier. Look for this button in the toolbar:
🎵 Apply Chords to Pop Songs
Sign of the TimesHarry Styles • F - Dm - C
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All Too WellTaylor Swift • C - G - Am - F
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Around The WorldATC • Am - Em - F - G
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Forever YoungAlphaville • C - G - Am - F
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HappierEd Sheeran • Am - F - C
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Have You Ever Seen The RainCreedence Clearwater Revival • C - G - Am - F
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It's My LifeDr. Alban • Am - F - G - Em
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Let It BeThe Beatles • C - G - Am - F
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SenoritaShawn Mendes • Am - C - F - G
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Lesson 2
Chord Group 2: The Mountain or ∧-shape Chords (D, E, A Shapes)
Now we move to shapes containing one black key in the middle. Because the black key sits between two white keys, we refer to these physically as "triangle shapes".
💡 Chord Shapes Theory
Chords like D (D - F# - A), E (E - G# - B), and A (A - C# - E) feature a black key played by the middle finger, surrounded by white keys for the thumb and pinky finger.
🎹 Practice Chord Spacing (Hover/Click to visualize)
D MajorE MajorA Major
🖐️ D Major Shape Fingering
Use right hand fingers: 1 (Thumb) on D, 3 (Middle) on the black key F#, and 5 (Pinky) on A. Apply this middle-finger-black-key spacing to E and A major chords!
🎵 Apply Chords to Pop Songs
Don't WorryMadcon • Am - C - G - D
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Bad Moon RisingCreedence Clearwater Revival • D - A - G - D
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Hammer To FallQueen • A - E - D - A
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Three Little BirdsBob Marley • A - D - E
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Southern VoiceTim McGraw • A - D - E
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Chasing CarsSnow Patrol • A - E - D - A
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Lesson 3
Chord Group 3: The Valley or V-shape Chords (Db, Eb, Ab)
These chords are inverted "triangles" where the thumb and pinky sit on black keys, and the middle finger sits on a white key. Mastering this provides easy access to pop songs written in flat keys.
💡 Chord Shapes Theory
Db (Db - F - Ab), Eb (Eb - G - Bb), and Ab (Ab - C - Eb) major chords are bound by black keys on the outside, and a single white key in the middle.
🎹 Practice Chord Spacing (Hover/Click to visualize)
Db MajorEb MajorAb Major
🖐️ Db Major Shape Fingering
Use right hand fingers: 1 (Thumb) on the black key Db, 3 (Middle) on the white key F, and 5 (Pinky) on the black key Ab. Apply this same black-white-black shape to Eb and Ab major chords!
🎵 Apply Chords to Pop Songs
Give It UpKC & The Sunshine Band • Eb - Ab - Bb
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All of MeJohn Legend • Fm - Db - Ab - Eb
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Lesson 4
Chord Group 4: The Outliers (B & Bb Chords)
The B and Bb chords don't fit perfectly in standard symmetric shapes. They are transitional shapes that require distinct placements.
💡 Chord Shapes Theory
Bb major (Bb - D - F) begins with a black key followed by two white keys. B major (B - D# - F#) starts with a white key followed by two black keys.
🎹 Practice Chord Spacing (Hover/Click to visualize)
B MajorBb Major
🖐️ B Major & Bb Major Fingering
B Major (White-Black-Black)
Bb Major (Black-White-White)
For B Major: Right hand fingers 1 on B, 3 on D#, 5 on F#. For Bb Major: Right hand fingers 1 on Bb, 3 on D, 5 on F.
🎵 Apply Chords to Pop Songs
Walk of LifeDire Straits • E - A - B
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Where Is the Love?The Black Eyed Peas • F - C - Dm - Bb
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Price TagJessie J • F - Am - Bb - C
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Just the Way You AreBruno Mars • F - Dm - Bb
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In The Air TonightPhil Collins • Dm - C - Bb
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Go Your Own WayFleetwood Mac • F - C - Bb
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Lesson 5
Chord Group 5: The 3 Black Key Chords (F# / Gb and D#m / Ebm)
F# Major (F# - A# - C#) and D# Minor (D# - F# - A#) are the only triads consisting entirely of black keys. Learning these completes your circle of basic triads!
💡 Chord Shapes Theory
To play F#, place your thumb on F#, middle finger on A#, and pinky on C#. For D#m / Ebm, play D#, F#, and A#. All notes sit in the 3-black-key cluster!
🎹 Practice Chord Spacing (Hover/Click to visualize)
F# MajorD# Minor (Ebm)
🖐️ F# Major & D# Minor Shape Fingering
F# Major (F# - A# - C#)
D# Minor / Eb Minor (D# - F# - A#)
Use right hand fingers: 1 (Thumb) on F#, 3 (Middle) on A#, and 5 (Pinky) on C# for F# Major. For D#m / Ebm, play 1 on D#, 3 on F#, and 5 on A#. Both chords sit entirely on black keys!
I Want To Know What Love IsForeigner • F# - G#m - B - D#m
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Hotel CaliforniaEagles • Bm - F# - A - E - G - D
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The Lazy SongBruno Mars • B - F# - E - G#m
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Lesson 6
Chord Group 6: The Minor Mountains (Cm, Fm, Gm)
Triangular hand shapes with 1 black key in the middle for minor triads: Cm, Fm & Gm.
💡 Chord Shapes Theory
Just like the Major Mountain chords (D, E, A), the Minor Mountains feature a triangular hand shape with a black key in the middle played by finger 3, framed by white keys for thumb (1) and pinky (5). Cm (C - Eb - G), Fm (F - Ab - C), and Gm (G - Bb - D) are foundational minor chords in countless pop songs!
🎹 Practice Chord Spacing (Hover/Click to visualize)
C MinorF MinorG Minor
🖐️ Cm, Fm & Gm Mountain Shape Fingering
C Minor (C - Eb - G)
F Minor (F - Ab - C)
G Minor (G - Bb - D)
Use right hand fingers: 1 (Thumb) on the lower white key, 3 (Middle) on the middle black key, and 5 (Pinky) on the upper white key. Apply this white-black-white mountain shape to Cm, Fm, and Gm!
🎵 Apply Chords to Pop Songs
HelloAdele • Fm - Eb - Cm - Db
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We Are The ChampionsQueen • Cm - Gm - Eb - Bb
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PaparazziLady Gaga • Cm - Ab - Fm
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It's A SinPet Shop Boys • Cm - Fm - Bb - Eb
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Eye Of The TigerSurvivor • Cm - G# - A#
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Tell It To My HeartTaylor Dayne • Db - Eb - Cm - Fm
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Dress You UpMadonna • Ab - Bb - Gm - Cm
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FirefliesOwl City • Ab - Cm - Bb - Eb - Gm
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TalkColdplay • Gm - Eb - F - Gm
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Talk To YouANOTR • Cm - Gm - Fm - Bb
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Lesson 7
Adding the Bass Note: Playing with Two Hands
This is where the magic happens. To make your music sound rich, professional, and deep, you must use your left hand effectively.
⭐ The Golden Rule of Bass
Your Left Hand should ALWAYS play the Root Note (the BASS note) of the chord.
If you are playing a C Major chord with your right hand, play a low C (or two C's an octave apart) with your left hand. This "anchors" the sound and gives it that professional piano-ballad feel.
🖐️ Two Hand Technique
Left HandPlays Root Note (Low Bass)
Right HandPlays the Triad or Inversion
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Lesson 8
Chord Patterns & Arpeggios
Learn how to break apart block chords into rhythmic patterns and fluid arpeggios that bring pop songs to life.
⭐ Why Play Patterns & Arpeggios?
Playing block chords (striking all notes together) works well, but doing it continuously can sound robotic, heavy, or static.
Arpeggios (playing chord notes one-by-one) and rhythmic patterns create motion, elegance, and emotional depth. They allow you to build intensity from a gentle verse to a powerful chorus!
💡Understanding Note Numbers (1, 3, 5, 8, 10)
1 (Root Note)1st note of scale/chord (e.g. C). Sets the chord foundation.
3 (Third)3rd note of scale (e.g. E). Determines Major vs Minor.
5 (Fifth)5th note of scale (e.g. G). Adds harmonic stability.
8 (Octave)8th note (same as Root 1, but 1 octave higher, e.g. High C).
10 (Tenth)10th note (same as Third 3, but 1 octave higher, e.g. High E). Creates wide pop voicing.
🎵 6 Essential Pop Chord Patterns
1️⃣
The Broken Triad (1 – 3 – 5 – 3)
Play the 3 notes of the chord one-by-one in a steady rocking motion. LH plays Root Bass; RH plays 1 – 3 – 5 – 3.
The legendary piano riff from Coldplay's 'Clocks' in Eb Major. LH holds the Root Bass (Eb); RH plays descending 5 – 3 – 1 twice (Eb → Bb → G) and ends on 5 – 3. This is the same as pattern two but now the other way around.
LH Bass (Eb) → RH Eb → Bb → G → Eb → Bb → G → Eb → Bb
4️⃣
Pulsing Bass-Chord Split
Left hand strikes the low Bass on Beat 1 & 3; Right hand pulses light chords on Beats 2 & 4.
LH Bass (C) → RH Chord (C-E-G)
5️⃣
Waterfall Arpeggio (Bass – 1 – 3 – 5 – 8)
Start with low Left Hand bass, then roll smoothly upwards through the right hand notes up to the octave.
LH Low C → RH C → E → G → High C
6️⃣
1 – 5 – 8 – 10 Modern Pop Roll
Spanned open 4-note voicing (Adele / Coldplay style). LH plays 1 + 5 (C + G), RH plays 8 + 10 (C + E) letting all 4 notes ring out together.
LH 1+5 (C + G) → RH 8+10 (High C + E)
🎹 Practice Chord Spacing (Hover/Click to visualize)
C MajorA MinorF MajorG Major
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Lesson 9
Chord Inversions
Learn how to rearrange the notes of a chord into different orders — called inversions. This unlocks smoother hand movement, richer piano sounds, and gives you the tools to understand chord notation used in sheet music and apps.
⭐ What Is a Chord Inversion?
A chord inversion is simply playing the same 3 notes of a chord in a different order — starting from a note other than the root.
Instead of always starting on C (C – E – G), you can start on G (G – C – E) or E (E – G – C). The chord still sounds like C Major — just with a different color and bass note. This makes moving between chords much smoother because your hand doesn't have to jump as far.
📖How This App Notates Inversions: C2, C3 & Slash Notation
In this app, inversions are written with a number after the chord name to show which position the root note sits in:
Notation
Name
Note Order
Meaning
C
Root Position
C – E – G
C is in 1st position. Standard triad.
C3
1st Inversion
E – G – C
C is in 3rd position. E is lowest note.
C2
2nd Inversion
G – C – E
C is in 2nd position. G is lowest note.
C/G
Slash Notation
G – C – E
C chord with G as the lowest (bass) note. Same as C2.
C/E
Slash Notation
E – G – C
C chord with E as the lowest (bass) note. Same as C3.
💡 Slash notation (C/G, C/E) is commonly used in sheet music and other apps. The chord before the slash is the chord, the note after the slash is the bass note. This app uses the C2/C3 shorthand for speed.
🎹 The 3 Positions of C Major
1️⃣
Root Position — C
C is in 1st position
C3 (1)+E3 (3)+G3 (5)
C – E – G
Fingers: 1 – 3 – 5. The standard, most common chord position.
2️⃣
1st Inversion — C3
C is in 3rd position · also written as C/E
E3 (1)+G3 (2)+C4 (5)
E – G – C
Fingers: 1 – 2 – 5. E is the lowest note. C sits in position 3.
3️⃣
2nd Inversion — C2
C is in 2nd position · also written as C/G
G3 (1)+C4 (2)+E4 (5)
G – C – E
Fingers: 1 – 2 – 5. G is the lowest note. C sits in position 2.
🎯 Pro Tip:When moving from Am → C, instead of jumping to Root Position C (C–E–G), use 1st Inversion C2 (G–C–E). Your pinky barely moves! Inversions are the secret to smooth, professional-sounding transitions.
🎹 Practice Chord Spacing (Hover/Click to visualize)
