{"id":3928,"date":"2021-05-28T08:00:00","date_gmt":"2021-05-28T15:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/?p=3928"},"modified":"2023-01-16T13:09:32","modified_gmt":"2023-01-16T21:09:32","slug":"chord-shortcuts","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/chord-shortcuts\/","title":{"rendered":"Chord Shortcuts to Make You Sound Amazing on the Piano"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

If you’ve ever dreaded having to move big distances across your keyboard when chording a song, this lesson is for you!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I’ll show you shortcuts you can use to more efficiently hop from chord to chord.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We’ll be using the song “Perfect” by Ed Sheeran to practice with today. If you don’t know how to play “Perfect” yet, check out this tutorial<\/a>. (Please note: we’ll be playing “Perfect” in a different key today, but the concepts here should work in any key.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to Use Inversions as Shortcuts<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Did you know you don’t have to play the notes of a triad in the same order<\/strong> every time?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is essentially what chord inversions<\/a> are. Chord inversions are when we shuffle around the order of notes.<\/strong> This can be helpful because sometimes, it’s easier to go from chord to chord using inversions than it is to move from root position to root position.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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For example, this is what the C major triad looks like in root position.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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\"Graphic<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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And this is what the A minor triad looks like in root position.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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\"Graphic<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Going from C major root position to A minor root position can be clunky because you have to lift and re-position your hand across the keyboard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, going from C major root position to A minor 1st inversion (C-E-A) is more efficient because you only have to move one finger \u2014 your 5-finger \u2014 from G to A.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is because C major and A minor have two notes in common, C and E. <\/strong>Look how easy it is to move from C major to A minor when you use inversions!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"Graphic<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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\"Graphic<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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How to Practice Inversion Shortcuts<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If you’re just starting out with chords and chord inversions, it may feel overwhelming to keep track of all these chord-stacking possibilities!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That is very understandable, which is why I suggest you practice going from one chord to another <\/strong>when you spot an opportunity for a shortcut. Pick out and focus on this transition, then practice it on its own.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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