Left Hand Chords
Train the left hand through a grand staff: the treble holds a single sustained note while the bass clef grows from single root notes up to full 3-note block chords. Covers all common progressions in the keys of C, G, and F.
12 lessons
Root Notes — C F G Am
The bass clef shows the root note of each chord: C, F, G, Am. The left hand plays just one note (pinky finger) per bar. Practice reading the chord symbol above and finding the correct bass note below.
Root + Fifth — Power Chord
The bass clef adds the fifth interval above the root. Two notes played together — begin coordinating pinky (root) and thumb (fifth) in the left hand. Creates an open, powerful sound.
Major Triads — C F G
Full 3-note block chords in the bass clef for C, F, and G major. All three notes are played simultaneously. The treble shows a simple arpeggio so you can hear both staves together.
Minor Triads — Am Dm Em
Minor block chords: Am, Dm, Em. The middle note (third) is one semitone lower than in a major chord, producing a darker sound. Compare C major and Am — same finger shape, very different feel.
Progression I–V–vi–IV (C G Am F)
Full block chords cycling through C → G → Am → F. This is the most used chord progression in pop music worldwide. Train smooth chord changes by reading the symbol above and switching the left hand in time.
Progression I–IV–V (C F G)
The classic 3-chord blues and rock progression: C → F → G. Countless rock, folk, and country songs use only these three chords. Practice fast, even transitions between them.
Progression vi–IV–I–V (Am F C G)
The same four chords as I–V–vi–IV but starting on Am — giving the progression a sadder, more dramatic feel. Very common in ballads and emotional pop. Hear how starting on a different chord changes everything.
I–V–vi–IV in G Major (G D Em C)
The same I–V–vi–IV progression transposed to G major: G → D → Em → C. The D chord contains F# — the bass clef clearly shows the sharp accidental. Many popular songs use the G major key.
I–V–vi–IV in F Major (F C Dm Bb)
The I–V–vi–IV progression in F major: F → C → Dm → Bb. The Bb chord contains a flat — visible on the bass clef. The key of F is very common in Vietnamese music and international ballads.
Dominant 7th — G7 and C7
Adding a 7th note to the V chord creates a dominant 7th (G7, C7). The bass clef shows four notes for these chords. The extra note adds noticeable tension that wants to resolve to the next chord — essential in blues, jazz, and gospel.
Inversions — Slash Chords
Slash chords (C/E, Am/C, F/A, G/B) mean the chord is played with a different bass note. The bass clef shows this clearly: C/E has E as the lowest note instead of C. This creates a smooth, step-wise bass line that sounds professional.
Review — Mixed Progressions
A full Course 2 review combining major, minor, dominant 7th, and slash chords in an unfamiliar progression. The left hand must read the bass clef and switch chords confidently without preparation.