Piano Chord Patterns Chart

For example, there’s a virtual piano that let you see chords written out and hear them played immediately. Best of all, it works as a learning tool (a chord pattern chart) as well as an actual working instrument. You have two options for playing around on it. If you’re looking for exact note control, just click on the keys (or buttons) with your mouse. Or, for a more hands-on keyboard experience, use only your computer keyboard to move around interface.

At the base of the widget is the piano keyboard display which covers over two octaves allowing you to view where chords fall across a broader range. Once you have chosen your desired chord type, the necessary notes is highlighted in blue as shown below. One of these keys has a white ring surrounding it. This is the root note; the tonal center of the selected chord. You can also click any one of these keys to play that note alone. This lets you check the quality or even verify interval of each note in the structure.

How to Use the Virtual Piano Tool

The buttons above represent several types of chords, including major and minor triads, suspended structures, and different versions of seventh chord. If you click on any of them, it alter the highlighted pattern on keyboard below. What happens is that the widget instantly sounds the new chord for you to listen to. It then also displays what notes is actualy in that choice. Next to the chord name you will notice formula listed. That details the intervals being used. This links your ear to underlying theory behind each shape.

Next to the root note indicator are arrow buttons that make transposing easy. To raise the root pitch press the right arrow. Pressing the left arrow moves it down a semitone. The whole shape move up or down the keyboard accordingly. But what happens to the visual pattern? Even though the notes have altered, the pattern stays the same. This shows you how the movable shapes functions on a piano. No need to hunt around for alternative fingerings when trying out other keys. So it gives you an immediate grasp of how chords move through the staff.

Inversion controls allow you to change order of the notes within the chosen chord. They offer two inversions plus root position. Each button shifts which note sit in the lowest register. The display on the keyboard adjusts accordingly to show you the voicing with the same collection of notes. That allows you to compare the difference in how voice leading affects the feel of a progression. Chords aren’t fixed blocks of notes; they’re flexible collections of them.

The chord you select plays when you click on a play button. That’s helpful when you’re learning how the chords are fingered. You can hear sound on repeat to help you learn as you listen. There’s also a volume control which lets you dial the volume up or down depending on whether you need the audio louder or softer. If you prefer more room to read what notes you’re playing there’s a full screen option that will stretch the widget out across more space on your screen. And lastly, there’s a help toggle that provides a brief summary right on the screen for those moments where you forgot what something did.

Experimenting with different control combinations is an effective use of this tool. Hold down a chord type and select through inversions to hear difference in textures. Switch on the transpose buttons and transpose a known shape into new keys. This gets you used to the patterns throughout the range of the keyboard. Some shapes may be comfortabley in one place but awkward elsewhere. This allows you to build muscle memory for when you practice on your instrument. The visual feedback reinforce this.

For ease of use, the interface can be fully used with keyboard. As you’d expect from a typical web form, it’s possible to tab through the controls and buttons. Any button you focus will activate when you press space or enter, no need for a mouse click here. This means you don’t have to remove your hands from the desk to try out various sounds. Whether you’re using the mouse or your fingers, interface is laid out to make sense.

First choose a simple major chord, play it in the default key. Hear its stability. Hear how bright it sounds. Now change to the minor version of the same root note. What happens? It changes. The middle note moves and gives the chord an entirely different feeling. Keep moving these two chords up and down the scale using the arrows until they become familiar. From here, have a go at the suspended and seventh variations. You’ll discover that they’re all based off the same underlying logic. That’s what this tool does. It makes them audible and visible right there in front of your eyes.