Nathaniel School of Music

How to Practice Piano Chords the Right Way (Theory, Technique and Ear)

Pick one note, find every chord that contains it, and play each chord in an inversion that keeps that note on top with your right-hand pinky, the chord's root in the left hand, while you sing the top note and then the bass. This trains your theory, technique and ear together.

Video lesson by Jason Zac · Intermediate · 12 min

Can't see the video? Watch it on YouTube.

Key points

This lesson by Jason Zac of Nathaniel School of Music shows a chord practice method that trains three things at once: music theory, piano technique and your ear. It is built around chord inversions and works for beginners, with extra stages for intermediate and advanced players.

Step 1: Write down the chords of the scale

Choose a note and a scale. In the lesson the note is G, the first note of the G major scale. Write down the diatonic chords of G major: G major, A minor, B minor, C major, D major, E minor and F# diminished.

Use the theory rule: in any major scale, chords 1, 4 and 5 are major, chords 2, 3 and 6 are minor, and chord 7 is diminished.

Step 2: Find the chords that contain your note

In G major, three chords contain G:

Step 3: Keep the note on top with inversions

If you play every chord in root position, your hand jumps around and the sound becomes scattered. Inversions fix this. Keep G on top with your right-hand pinky and rearrange each chord around it:

Move between these shapes, for example G, C, E minor, C, G.

Step 4: Play the true root in the bass

Whatever the inversion, the left hand plays the chord's real root: G under G major, C under C major, E under E minor. This keeps the harmony clear.

Step 5: Train your ear by singing

There are two singing challenges:

  1. Sing the top note. Hold a steady G with your voice while the chords change underneath. Do not lose it.
  2. Sing the roots. Sing the bass movement, G, C, E, in whatever octave suits your voice. This builds awareness of chord changes and helps you recognise each chord.

Step 6: Move to other notes of the scale

Repeat the drill with the next note. For A in G major, the chords are A minor (C E A, first inversion), D major (D F# A, root position) and F# diminished (C F# A). If the diminished chord is new to you, you can skip it at first.

Going further: chords outside the key

Once the diatonic chords are comfortable, find every major and minor triad that contains G, still with G on top:

Advanced players can add richer chords containing G: Ab major seventh (Ab C Eb G), A half-diminished (A C Eb G), D sus4 (D G A) and E diminished seventh (E G Bb Db). A ten-chord goal from the lesson links them: G major, Eb major, C major, E minor, C minor, G minor, E diminished seventh, Ab major seventh, A half-diminished, D sus4 and back to G, always with G on top.

How to practise

If you are a beginner, the seven diatonic chords of G major are more than enough. Work note by note through the scale. Also remember that the same note sits in different keys: in C major, G is the fifth note, and the chords containing it are C major, E minor and G major.

Keep singing the top note and the bass as you play. Beyond technique and ear, this exercise builds chord vocabulary and can spark ideas for improvisation and composing.

Questions about this lesson

Which chords in G major contain the note G?

G major (G B D), C major (C E G) and E minor (E G B). To keep G on top, play G major in first inversion, C major in root position and E minor in second inversion.

Why keep one note on top when practising chords?

It keeps your hand from jumping around, makes chord changes smoother, and gives your ear a fixed reference note to hold while the harmony changes underneath.

What should I sing during this exercise?

First sing the top note, such as G, and hold it steady through every chord change. Then sing the roots of the chords, such as G, C and E, in a comfortable octave.

Is this exercise suitable for beginners?

Yes. Beginners can stick to the seven diatonic chords of one major scale, or even skip the diminished chord. Advanced players can add chords outside the key, such as Eb major, C minor and seventh chords that contain the note.

Practise it

Related lessons