There's more on chords in my book:
Knowing piano chords and chord developments can appear quite complicated, however you can get a long method on the instrument by knowing simply a couple of. In reality, you can play hundreds of songs if you find out simply four simple piano chords.
In this tutorial I'm going to presume you're a beginner and that, while you understand the standard notes on the piano keyboard, you understand little or absolutely nothing about chords, harmony and improvisation. I'll teach you four chords and an easy progression in the key of C that you can adapt to help you play many different tunes. You can also use this easy tutorial to begin learning some bits and pieces of piano improvisation, and as an introduction to a few of the other piano tutorials on my channel.
The chords I look at are C, F, G and A minor. The very first thing I explain is the significance of having the ability to play these chords in many different voicings and inversions – the piano offers numerous various methods of playing basic chords, and it's important that you truly get comfy with find chord shapes rapidly on the keyboard.
From there we take an easy chord development and begin to play it to time, beginning with simply single chords and moving on to slightly more complex, but simple piano comps. We likewise take a look at ways that you can start improvising on the chords to create more fascinating impacts, and likewise discuss playing in various keys and discovering how to pick out tune at the keyboard.
A truly essential point that I make several times is that you have to practise this pretty difficult – finding out piano isn't easy, and it's truly crucial that you give your brain time to adapt to the complex things you're asking it to do. However, with a few hours or days of practice it should not take wish for you to get quite affordable at playing chords on the piano. It's all about determination and sticking to it!
If you've enjoyed this tutorial you may also like my book, How To Truly Play The Piano – there's a link at the top of this description.
Click Here To Learn Piano or Keyboard
I learned more in 16 minutes than I had watching and reading hours of books…. clear instruction and well presented… thank you.. SUBSCRIBED!
pesto12601 I swear!!
I felt the same exact way lol
Books are theory, this is practice. Doing something is the best way to learn something.
I really want your books, problem is; I don’t have Pay Pal 😭. Is there an address or PO Box where I can send a Check to ? REALLY enjoy your vids 👍👍. (Promise it won’t bounce !) Thank you – JT
I agree
Used to watch these 4 years ago. You, sir, have acctually laid the foundation for my interest in improvised music. Ever since i understood the pentatonic scale as you explained it, it was like you suddenly unlocked hidden powers in me, because truth be told, i already had pretty decent technique, but i knew no theory. Theory is really powerful, it lets you do the best out of what you already know, in a way. You explain simply and to the point! Recommending you to a friend of mine now! You are truly amazing at teaching!
Joshua Anderson if you didn’t figure it out yet it’s a expensive one it’s called nord stage
SO cool! Great feedback. LoveLOVELove
~X🎹X~
Nice video, like it. More like
@Bill HiltonNew
Now it has been four years since you posted this comment
Totally awesome Bill. As a 64 Y.O. picking up the piano again after an absence of 50 years, your simple approach has really helped this old bloke. Much better than sitting in Miss McGarry’s cold studio on a Thursday night as a school boy learning classical piano.
+Tewbacka Glad it’s useful! *My* boyhood piano lessons were on a Thursday night, too, at half past seven. It always used to be pretty difficult to squeeze in a week’s practice between getting home from school and walking round to my lesson…
I Know 😂 what you saying….
@Maria Lopez me too. My piano teacher used to hit me on the hand with a ruler when I dae an error. I gave up as soon. as I could
Brilliantly simple. I managed to achieve a breakthrough in improvisation with short instruction. God bless your work, Bill!
This is so helpful thank you! I’ve always been helpless at chords. I’ve always known his to play the right hand but I’ve always wanted to learn at least the basic chords and I’ve already got a hang of c major this video is fantastic
Thanks for such interesting tutorials Bill, at last someone I can understand. Having suffered dreadful piano lessons fifty years ago, I am hoping I can master this at last.
I haven’t even finished the video and what I have already realized and accomplished was something I was missing in my piano college class I was taking and never really understood something until just now thank you! New sub!
Cool! Glad to hear it, and thanks for the sub!
Theory n
Omg😂 me too!
I’ve watched a lot of tutorials on youtube. Yours are the best.Probably because of the relaxed approach, and your quick tips, and your wonderful English accent.
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Good an example for me, it’s easy to follow.Thanks.
I just started today but I dont get it would be easier for me if he showed the whole keyboard 😥
Thanks so much for this video, can’t wait to get practising and delve further into your other videos. Really appreciate the time and effort you’ve put in here for those of us just starting out.
Such an amazing tutorial it makes so much sense and is easy to follow. It’s the first video for beginners that I feel has actually teaching me principles! Love it.
Thank you! Your approach is very straightforward. I hope alot of people appreciate this particular video because every word you say here is informative and important for beginners that other channels miss or explain complexly.
Fabulous teacher. Makes a difference when you’re trying to learn from someone who you feel relaxed learning from and doesn’t get on your nerves.
I kind of need some inspiration as to what I can learn play with these 4 chords. Thanks for the tutorials and hope you keep them up.
Thanks Joel! In terms of the stuff you can play with these chords, there’s a handy list right here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_songs_containing_the_I%E2%80%93V%E2%80%93vi%E2%80%93IV_progression
Getting into digital music making without even knowing piano. Thought I’d look up some basic theory stuff, and found this. Only 5 minutes in and I’m already beaming at how good it all sounds when I put this stuff together in my music program. Can’t wait to watch the rest, and seriously, thanks so much for such a helpful, well-paced video 🙂
Glad you’re finding it useful, Kian! If you have any questions, or you’d like recommendations for specific tutorials, just give me a shout 🙂
I LOVE IT! I really want to learn how to play free chords, and create beautiful songs with them, and this video has helped me so tremendously. I even learned that the term “free chords” could always be said as improvised chords 🥰. Also, I immediately fell in love with A minor lol. I’ll most definitely be purchasing this book!!!
Was gonna give up on chords but Bill inspired me. I love how he acknowledges the reality of it being difficult yet gives us an outlook on what we can achieve with this later on. Thanks!
No problem at all — glad it helped!
As someone coming from the guitar and just totally new to the piano: this is the best video ever! Thanks bill <3
You’re really welcome — thanks for the kind words!
RE: Quarantine: This is a terrific tutorial for complete novices like me. I’ve been self-taught on guitar for the past five or six years and it quickly became my first line of self-therapy and relaxation. But not long ago, (just before the official quarantine), I picked up an inexpensive Casio keyboard at a flea market or something like that, thinking that eventually I’ll learn to play it. But until now, it’s been a nothing more than a major dust collector taking up living space. Then I stumbled upon this site and was hooked within minutes. I’ve run it through several times now, jotting down notes and drawing diagrams each time. I think It’s well explained, consistent, and thankfully it’s easy to follow. Of course no one knows how long this pandemic business will last. But with more tutorials like this, I’m sure to be tickling the ivory (as they used to say) before it’s over.
Thanks very much for the kind words, Gene — I’m really glad to have helped! Keep pushing away at the practice, and let me know how you get on 🙂
Thanks for this video! Been trying to understand chords and this explanation was very clear. Subscribed.
Thanks very much for the kind words and the sub — give me a shout if you ever have any questions about any of this stuff!
Wow this is on point . Thanks for this tutorial so easy to understand . Also you play beautifully ❤️
Glad you liked it!
I’m 66 just retired and picking up piano for the first time. I’m glad I’ve gone to your site first. You are very encouraging and given me lots of confidence to give it a go.
That’s good to hear, Norman! Good luck with your learning, and give me a shout if you run into problems or have any questions!
Bill Hilton thanks. Keep up the good work