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Today’s post will be fun because I’m going to show some of my newbies how to play something you hear all the time.

From Mariah Carey to Fred Hammond and Andre Crouch, every artist has had their share of the slow “ballad” — and more specifically, the type that simple moves down the scale, note for note.

Here are some samples just so you know what I’m talking about…

Do you hear the similarities?

(Now, I’m not talking about all the details and melodies — I’m talking about the primary movements of the choruses of each song. They are all moving in a downward, stepwise motion, scale tone for scale tone — and that’s what I want to show you how to play today… with just TWO chords!)

And because I’ve limited this lesson to only two chords, it may not be suitable for my experienced readers. However, sit back and you just may pick up something here or there.

Can you guess the two chords I’m talking about?

If you even thought about the 1-chord and 5-chord, congratulations! (In fact, I did a lesson not too long ago that stressed playing songs with only the 1 and 5-chords. You can check it out here.)

And, of course, when I say “1″ and “5-chord,” I’m grabbing those numbers straight from the major scale.

C major
C D E F G A B C
1 2 3 4 5 6 7

1 = C
5 = G

And to make it even simpler, we’ll only play major triads on those tones…

1-chord = C major (C + E + G)
5-chord = G major (G + B + D)

But as you know from past lessons, these chords are too far from each other so we’re going to invert (change the way) we play our second chord so that it connects to our first chord more smoothly.

Since these chords have a note in common (”G”), I want to play the common note with the same finger. But as you can see, one “G” is on top (C major triad) and one “G” is on the bottom (G major triad). So what I’ll do is invert my G major triad so that “G” is on top! Super simple!

5-chord (1st inversion) = G major (B + D + G)

So now we have G on top, just like we want it! That gives us two chords that are pretty close to each other:

1-chord = C major (C + E + G)
5-chord = G major (B + D + G)

What if I told you these EXACT two chords played this EXACT same way could allow you to play the ballads sampled at the top of this lesson? Would you be excited?

Well, first off…

I don’t want to mislead you. By no means will these two chords, alone, have you sounding like a seasoned professional. And you will have to learn them in the other keys because the samples above are not in C major. But you will have a clear understanding of how these slow ballads are created — what they’re made of… and that’s important!

And for these 3 songs included here, there are hundreds more that follow this same movement. It doesn’t even take a musician to hear the movements. Just listen to the three recordings above until you hear what I’m talking about. Yes, they are in different keys! Yes, the melodies are different! But that’s not what I’m talking about — I’m talking about the movement of the chords… how close they are… how the bass is moving. This is what you want to key in on.

But back to the two chords…

The first thing you want to do is get good at alternating between the two chords.

1-chord = C major (C + E + G)
5-chord = G major (B + D + G)

Now, play this in a nice, slow “ballad-style” rhythm (…all I’m doing is alternating between each chord and stopping after the 8th change).

[Set 1]
1-chord = C major (C + E + G)
5-chord = G major (B + D + G)

[Set 2]
1-chord = C major (C + E + G)
5-chord = G major (B + D + G)

[Set 3]
1-chord = C major (C + E + G)
5-chord = G major (B + D + G)

[Set 4]
1-chord = C major (C + E + G)
5-chord = G major (B + D + G)

*To make things easier, I’m calling each pair of chords a “set.” So, there are 4 sets for a total of 8 chords. Still following me?

Now, here’s the best part…

You know your C major scale, right?

Do you know it backwards?

C major (downward)
C B A G F E D C

Here’s the great news. All you’ll do is give each one of the chords above one of these bass notes in your left hand. This will pretty much be the pattern until the last chord. Don’t worry, I’ll show you what to do for the last chord when we get there.

So basically, your right hand is simply alternating between a C major and G major chord and your left hand is playing the C major scale backwards (or what we call moving in a “stepwise” motion).

*Play the chord with your right hand and play the single bass with your left hand.

[Set 1]
1-chord = C major (C + E + G) *** Bass: C
5-chord = G major (B + D + G) *** Bass: B

[Set 2]
1-chord = C major (C + E + G) *** Bass: A
5-chord = G major (B + D + G) *** Bass: G

[Set 3]
1-chord = C major (C + E + G) *** Bass: F
5-chord = G major (B + D + G) *** Bass: E

[Set 4]
1-chord = C major (C + E + G) *** Bass: D
5-chord = G major (B + D + G) ????????????????

Wow! You’re playing ballads and all you had to learn was two chords!

The last bass note is easy. We’re not quite ready to go back to “C” on our bass. We will, but we must play another bass note first.

I don’t have much time to talk about why this is, but the 5-chord will almost always take you back to your 1-chord. It has a very strong pull back to the 1-chord. It signals to our ears that we are returning back “home.” Even non-musicians hear a good 5-chord and know a song is either about to end or return back to the beginning.

And it’s no surprise that the very last chord is a 5-chord (B + D + G). All we have to do is play the 5-bass with it and this will complete one cycle of our ballad.

So here’s the entire ballad with the last chord on “G” bass:

*Play the chord with your right hand and play the single bass with your left hand.

[Set 1]
1-chord = C major (C + E + G) *** Bass: C
5-chord = G major (B + D + G) *** Bass: B

[Set 2]
1-chord = C major (C + E + G) *** Bass: A
5-chord = G major (B + D + G) *** Bass: G

[Set 3]
1-chord = C major (C + E + G) *** Bass: F
5-chord = G major (B + D + G) *** Bass: E

[Set 4]
1-chord = C major (C + E + G) *** Bass: D
5-chord = G major (B + D + G) *** Bass: G

*This takes us perfectly to the beginning, where we start all over with our C major (1-chord).

There you have it! A ballad with two chords..

In future lessons, I’ll show you how to spice up this ballad by adding “other” chords. Similar to prior lessons, you’ll see how a song is created from the most basic patterns and spiced up using other chords of the scale.

For now, enjoy playing this and let me know how you’re doing!

Until next time —

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To be truthful, there’s not too much to do in this lesson but finish the rest of the major chords that you learned at this post. Why don’t you take the time to complete those on the worksheet below:

B major = ____________
C# / Db major = ____________
D# / Eb major = ____________
F# / Gb major = ____________
G# / Ab major = ____________
A# / Bb major = ____________

———————-

Now check your answers with the ones below:

B major = B + D# + F#

C# / Db major = Db + F + Ab

D# / Eb major = Eb + G + Bb

F# / Gb major = F# + A# + C#

G# / Ab major = Ab + C + Eb

A# / Bb major = Bb + D + F

Congratulations… you now know all 12 major scales and chords! Here is a summary below:

12 Major Scales

C major

C - D - E - F - G - A - B - C

D major

D - E - F# - G - A - B - C# - D

E major

E - F# - G# - A - B - C# - D# - E

F major

F - G - A - Bb - C - D - E - F

G major

G - A - B - C - D - E - F# - G

A major

A - B - C# - D - E - F# - G# - A

B major

B - C# - D# - E - F# - G# - A# - B

C# / Db major

Db - Eb - F - Gb - Ab - Bb - C - Db

D# / Eb major

Eb - F - G - Ab - Bb - C - D - Eb

F# / Gb major

F# - G# - A# - B - C# - D# - F - F#

G# / Ab major

Ab - Bb - C - Db - Eb - F - G - Ab

A# / Bb major

Bb - C - D - Eb - F - G - A - Bb

12 Major Chords

C major = C + E + G

D major = D + F# + A

E major = E + G# + B

F major = F + A + C

G major = G + B + D

A major = A + C# + E

B major = B + D# + F#

C# / Db major = Db + F + Ab

D# / Eb major = Eb + G + Bb

F# / Gb major = F# + A# + C#

G# / Ab major = Ab + C + Eb

A# / Bb major = Bb + D + F

Thank you for your time and don’t forget to read about my course at:

http://www.hearandplay.com/course

… or call us at 1-877-856-4187!

Hear and Play 702: Piano By Ear For Starters

The Hear and Play 702 Audio Series is a 2-hour, 2-disc set that specializes in taking you from the VERY beginning all the way to playing basic songs (popular ones at that). You'll study everything from the notes on the piano, scales, and basic chords to melody, harmonization, and even progressions!

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This lesson is going to be so much easier than the last two.

You know why? Because you’ve already done all the work! Building chords is no more than choosing certain notes out of the major scale. For example, the C major scale is:

C - D - E - F - G - A - B - C

With the rules that I’m about to show you, a major chord is formed by taking C, E, and G out of the scale and playing them all together like this:

C + E + G

If you’ve never played a major chord before, why don’t you take the time to play C, E, and G all together and hear how it sounds!

Ok, let’s continue …

Here is the magic rule:

1) Number the notes of each major scale

For example, here is the numbered C major scale:

C = 1
D = 2
E = 3
F = 4
G = 5
A = 6
B = 7
C = 8

2) To form a major chord, simply choose the 1st, 3rd, and 5th note out of any major scale.

In the C major scale, that is:

C = 1
E = 3
G = 5

Thus, the C major chord is:

C + E + G

3) Since you have learned 12 different major scales, that means that there are 12 different major chords.

————————-

Exercise:

Take the worksheets from e-mails #1 and #2 and write numbers on top of each note of the major scales. Then pick out the 1st, 3rd, and 5th tones of each major scale to form major chords. Write your answers below:

C major = C + E + G
D major = ____________
E major = ____________
F major = ____________
G major = ____________
A major = ____________

———————

Now, compare your answers with the answers below:

C major = C + E + G

D major = D + F# + A

E major = E + G# + B

F major = F + A + C

G major = G + B + D

A major = A + C# + E

You’re all done for today! Join me tomorrow to learn the remainder of the major chords!

Way to go!

Hear and Play 702: Piano By Ear For Starters

The Hear and Play 702 Audio Series is a 2-hour, 2-disc set that specializes in taking you from the VERY beginning all the way to playing basic songs (popular ones at that). You'll study everything from the notes on the piano, scales, and basic chords to melody, harmonization, and even progressions!

If you're a newbie and want to be up and playing in less than a few days, you can't afford to miss this opportunity at this incredible price. Click here to learn more | Buy now

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Yesterday, you learned:

• how to construct the major Interval
• how to construct the perfect Interval

Major Third: Distance between root and (3) degree

Perfect Fifth Interval: Distance between root and 5th

The Major

The (major chord) is created by combining the major third and perfect fifth intervals.

For example, in (C major), a major third interval is from (C) to (E). A perfect fifth interval is from (C) to (G)

Combining these two intervals looks like the following:

(C) to (E) and (C) to (G).

Since the root is used in both intervals and can only be played once, the (C major) chord is:

(C) + (E) + (G).

The Minor Chord

The (minor chord) is created just like the major chord. The only difference is that it utilizes a “minor third” interval instead of a “major third” interval (the perfect fifth remains the same).

If a major third is the difference between the root and (3) degree, what do you think a minor third is?

Minor Third: Difference between the root and lowered (3) degree.

The minor third is a major third interval “squeezed in” by a half step. For example, in (C major), the major third interval is from (C) to (E).

The minor third simply lowers the (E) a half step to (E flat). Thus a minor third is: (C) - (E flat).

Combining a Minor third and a Perfect fifth creates a minor chord:

(C) + (E flat) + (G)

Here are other ways of figuring out a major or minor chord:

Major Chord: Take the (1) (3) and (5) of the major scale and play them all together.

Minor Chord: Take the (1) (3) and (5) of the minor scale and play them all together.

Learning all your major and minor scales will allow you to know all of your major and minor chords!

(In our 300-pg course, we take you step by step through each key and its major scale, major chord, minor chord, and more! Check out the 300-pg course by clicking here.)

Try learning the major and minor chords of all 12 keys! Just use the same exact pattern.

Good job!

Until next time —

Hear and Play 702: Piano By Ear For Starters

The Hear and Play 702 Audio Series is a 2-hour, 2-disc set that specializes in taking you from the VERY beginning all the way to playing basic songs (popular ones at that). You'll study everything from the notes on the piano, scales, and basic chords to melody, harmonization, and even progressions!

If you're a newbie and want to be up and playing in less than a few days, you can't afford to miss this opportunity at this incredible price. Click here to learn more | Buy now

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