Unit 11 — Chords
Three notes a skip apart, played as one: a triad. Unit 11 teaches you to read root-position triads as a single shape and to play the I, IV and V chords of C, then of G and F, under familiar tunes.
Songs in this unit
Three notes a skip apart, played as one: a triad. Unit 11 teaches you to read root-position triads as a single shape (line, line, line or space, space, space) and to play the I, IV and V chords of C major, then of G and F, with a tune on top.
- Prerequisite: Unit 10.
- New notes: none.
- Idea: triads.
The chords
| Key | I | IV | V |
|---|---|---|---|
| C major | C E G | F A C | G B D |
| G major | G B D | C E G | D F♯ A |
| F major | F A C | B♭ D F | C E G |
For songs, the left hand uses shapes that keep it in one place:
| Chord | Left hand, low to high | Fingers |
|---|---|---|
| C | C E G | 5 3 1 |
| F | C F A | 5 2 1 |
| G7 | B F G | 5 2 1 |
The sittings, in order
- Triads (concept). Line-line-line or space-space-space: a triad is a snowman on the staff. You play three.
- Chord cards. Triads on C, F and G, one per card, all three notes at once.
- I, IV and V. Pages of chords in the right hand, moving to the nearest shape, with the root in the left.
- Triads: I, IV, V, I (lesson).
- Mix. Triads on C, D, E, F, G and A: play them, and name the root.
- Use it: Twinkle, with chords. The left hand plays C, F and G7 shapes under the tune.
- Use it: Ode to Joy, with chords.
- Chords in G. I, IV and V in G major.
- Chords in F. I, IV and V in F major.
- Use it: Lightly Row, with chords.
- Checkpoint. Chord cards and a page of I, IV and V.
Teaching notes
- Land the three notes together, like a stamp. If one lags, rest the hand on the keys first, then press.
- Read the bottom note and the shape, not three separate notes. The bottom note (the root) names the chord.
- The left-hand shapes keep it in one place: C as C E G, F as C F A, G7 as B F G. Only one or two fingers move between chords.
- The key signature still applies. V in G is D F♯ A; IV in F is B♭ D F.
Common mistakes
- Reading a triad note by note. Read the bottom note and the shape.
- Rolled chords. In Adult mode, a chord whose notes land more than a moment apart is accepted, but the coach says "Try to land them together".
- Jumping the whole hand to each root. Use the nearest shape.
Related guides
Next: Unit 12 — Sight-reading. Back to the whole path.