Guide

Learn piano chords

Chords are the foundation of playing piano. Here is how major, minor and seventh chords are built — and how to practise them on a free online keyboard.

Online piano keyboard
Featured tool — Online piano keyboard

How a chord is built

A basic chord is three notes: a root, a third and a fifth. A major chord (like C — C, E, G) sounds bright; a minor chord (like Am — A, C, E) sounds softer. Learn the shape once and you can move it around the keyboard.

Major, minor and seventh chords

Start with the major and minor triads, then add sevenths (C7, Cmaj7, Am7) for colour. A one-key chord mode lets you hear each one instantly, so your ear learns the difference before your fingers do.

Practise on a free online keyboard

The best way to learn is to play. The Jam Jam online piano highlights scales, plays full chords from a single key and works right in your browser — no download, so you can practise chords anywhere.

Practise piano chords now on the free online keyboard: