Here's a very neat trick to find ANY major and minor chord, extracted and compressed from some of Hack the Piano’s new content.
Using a ‘C’-chord in this first example.
A major chord (triad) in root position is built of 4 half steps (in this case, using C from ‘c’ to ‘c-sharp’ to ‘d’ to ‘d-sharp’ to ‘e’) + 3 half steps (from ‘e’ to ‘f’ to ‘f-sharp’ to ‘g’).
Major chords in root position = 4 + 3 half steps.
This trick can be used to find ANY and EVERY major chord and is the ultimate ‘cheat-trick’ for those of you who do not yet know all major chords and are too lazy to learn their scales. 😉
Here’s the same trick shown on Bb:
Minor chords can be found with the same trick, only vice-versa.
These are built of 3 half steps (for Cm from ‘c’ to ‘c-sharp’ to ‘d’ to ‘d-sharp’/’e-flat’) + 4 whole steps (‘e-flat’ to ‘e’ to ‘f’ to ‘f-sharp’ to ‘g’).
Minor chords in root position = 3 + 4 half steps.
This works the same for EVERY minor chord.
Major = 4 + 3.
Minor = 3 + 4.
Try it out on C# and F#m and let me know what notes these chords consist of in the comments below this post.
The first 3 correct answers win a free Major+Minor Chord Cheat Sheet.
Have fun!
Cheers, Coen.
If no one's commented yet, I'll be first then! 🙂
For C# the notes will be C#, F, G# and for F#m - F#, A, C#. 🙂
Thanks for your comment Kamil!
And yes, of course you're very correct. If you send me an email at: info@piano-couture.com I'll reply back with your prize, the free Major+Minor Chords Cheat Sheet, attached!
Cheers
So from Major = 4+3 method i have learned here, the C# chord should comprise of:
C# + F + G#
And using the Minor = 3+4 formula, the F#m:
F# + A + C#
But I have a question, what if i want to continue that sequence, so that I can play a chord from any point of the pattern, will the formula continue in a repetitive manner, like Minor = 3+4+3+4+3+4?
And for Major = 4+3+4+3? . . . what happens to the formula in these cases?
Thank you for your help!
Hi Byron,
Thanks for your comment and correct answer to the challenge (please send me an email @ info@piano-couture.com, so I can reply back with your prize attached).
To respond to your question: it doesn't work exactly as you described.
What you're talking about (if I understand correctly) is using inversions.
The trick in this post works for finding the ROOT position of the chord. This is the 'basic' form of a triad (chord consisting of three notes), so to speak.
Inversions are different voicings for the same chord. They're made up of those same notes, only in a different order.
In the case of the C#, for instance:
The notes we've found are: 'c#', 'f' and 'g#'. Played in this 'order' from bottom to top, so the 'c#' at the bottom of your voicing, the 'f' in the middle and the 'g#' as the top note, would give us the root position of C# chord.
For finding other inversions we'd be using these notes in different orders. We could for instance also play 'f', 'g#', 'c#'. Same notes, but now in a different order. This would be the first inversion.
'g#', 'c#', 'f' would still be the C# chord (all the same notes are again there), but now in second inversion.
So in short: the 4 + 3 / 3 + 4 trick, is to find which notes are in the chord. You can then reposition them as you please.
Hope that helps!
Cheers, Coen.
i just found this amazing website today, and i love it. Thanks buddy
i already know this trick but i always wanted a good chord cheat sheet. specially a free one. ($-$)
C# -> C# + F + G#
F#m -> F# + A + C#
Hi Sam, thanks for your comment, glad you like the website!
Of course you're right. Congratulations with the last steal. I've sent you your free Cheat Sheet via email!
Cheers, Coen.