Even young piano students who enjoy playing chords on the piano want to know how to use them to make their own songs. I tell students that if they can skip across the room, they can learn to play piano with chords. Its not really that easy, but its close!

On the piano keyboard there are groups of 2 and 3-black keys. In between each black key is a white key. From one black key to the very next black key in each group is a skip (or an interval of a 3rd). Heres a beautiful chord with a bright, jazzy sound that children love to play. It is the dominant seventh chord in the key of G flat. In the example below the ones represent groups of 3 and 2-black keys on the piano. Use your left hand to play the group of three and your right hand to play the group of two black keys, or reverse the hands.

1 1 1 -- 1 1

Play the keys in bold together (at the same time). Dont play the key that is not in bold text. Now start at the high end of the piano and play all the groups you see on the keyboard and then end with this low note its a G flat.

1 1 1 -- 1 1

Cynthia VanLandingham

Cynthia VanLandingham's Piano Adventure Bears Music Education Resources create an exciting musical adventure for children ages 5 to 11. Visit PianoAdventureBears.com for free samples of her Piano Adventure Story Books and piano resources for children. She is also the author of The Wonder Guide to Creativity.

Cynthia has been teaching piano in Tallahassee, Florida for 20 years and is the owner of TallyPiano & Keyboard Studios. She is a member of the American College of Musicians National Guild of Piano Teachers, the President of TallyPiano Enterprises, LLC, and a graduate of the Florida State University College of Education. Visit her website at TallyPiano.com to download her original, uplifting piano compositions, including "The Potter's Wheel." While you're there subscribe to her free internet newsletter, Piano Matters, and read the Wonder Guide to Creativity Online.

When you subscribe, you'll receive instant access to the Piano Article Archives, and Free Piano Sheet Music. These articles are full of helpful ideas and tips for piano students and parents. Email your questions or ideas for new articles and Cynthia will respond right away.