What is a piano chord ????

Question

what is a piano chord and why do you need to learn it

Answer 1

I think you're referring to a chord (music) in general. A chord is the simultaneous sounding of more than one pitch at once. So perhaps a piano chord is the playing of more than one key at once. For example, Middle C + E + G (closest neighbours) is a chord known as the C-major triad.

Chords are a fundamental part of playing technique, which includes scales, broken and solid chords, arpeggios, etc. If you learn your technique well, you will be able to play technically demanding pieces more easily.

Answer 2

A chord is multiple notes sounding (or being played) together. Chords built in thirds are collectively referred to as tertian harmony.

A major chord is built by taking a major third (e.x. C and E) and placing a minor third (E to G) on top. A major third is always made up of two notes 4 half steps apart (C to C# to D to D# to E is four half steps). A minor third is always 3 half steps apart (E to F to F# to G is three 1/2 steps).

A minor chord is built by taking a minor third (like G an Bb) and placing a major third on top (Bb to D).

An easy way to find the parallel minor chord from a major chord is to simply lower the middle tone a half step.

By raising the top note by a half step on a major chord, (thus you have a major third stacked onto another major third) you come up with an augmented triad.

If you lower the top note of a minor triad you have two minor thirds on top of each other, and this is a diminished triad.

This is just some of the basics of chord structure... there's a LOT more.

It's important to understand chord structure because that's what almost all instrumental and choral music from Bach on up (until the 20th century and 12-tone series and stuff) is based on. Chord structure and progressions are absolutely necessary in the analysis of music.