Super Simple Piano
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Block Chords on Piano

A block chord is every note of the chord played at the same time, here in the right hand while the left hand plays the bass. Played on the beat, block chords are the simplest way to accompany a singer; played on every eighth note, they become the pumping chords of rock. Start with one chord on each beat: C, E and G together.

Practice it

Start with Steady chords, the one most songs use.

Patterns

Chords: C, G

Steady chords

A full chord on every beat, steady and simple.
Chords: C, G

Pumping chords

A chord on every eighth note, driving the song forward.
Chords: C, G

Soft chords

Soft chords on beats 1, 3 and 4.
Chords: C, G

Pausing chords

Three steady chords, then beat 4 left empty to breathe.
Chords: C, G

Wait-a-beat chords

Silence on beat 1, then chords on 2, 3 and 4, leaving room for the bass.
Chords: C, G

Hopscotch bells

A high bell note, a chord, a skipped beat, and one more chord.
Chords: C, G

Hopscotch chords

Chord, chord, skip beat 3, chord: hopping over a square.
Chords: C, G

Waltz chords

A chord on each of the three beats: a simple waltz.

Marching chords

Two chords per bar, left-right, like a happy little march.

Waltz bells

A single high note, then two chords: ding, dong, dong in three.

Doo-wop chords

Three soft chords on every slow beat: the classic 1950s ballad sound.

Pirate-stomp chords

Three even chords that cut across the rocking bar, bold like pirates.

Songs that use block chords

Questions

What is a block chord?

All the notes of a chord pressed together at once, instead of one at a time. A C chord as a block is C, E and G played together.

Which fingers play a block chord?

In the right hand, usually the thumb (1), the middle finger (3) and the little finger (5) for a chord in root position, such as C, E and G.

Which songs use block chords?

Baby, Now That I've Found You by The Foundations, Billie Jean by Michael Jackson and Nine To Five by Dolly Parton use block chords. The songs on this page all use it, the most played first.