Piano Chords: Simple Online Piano Chord Player

A brief word about chords: their qualities and how they are constructed

Major & Major 7th Chords

Major chords are triads constructed using a root, a major third and a perfect fifth. Major chords usually sound happy and bright. Major 7th chords are 4-note chords constructed with an additional major seventh.

Minor & Minor 7th Chords

Minor chords are triads constructed using a root, a minor third and a perfect fifth. Minor chords usually sound sad and darker. Minor 7th chords are 4-note chords constructed with an additional minor seventh.

Diminished & Diminished 7th Chords

Diminished chords are triads constructed using a root, a minor third and a diminished fifth. Diminished chords tend to sound dissonant and unresolved. Diminished 7th chords are 4-note chords constructed with an additional diminished seventh.

Augmented & Augmented 7th Chords

Augmented chords are triads constructed using a root, a major third and an augmented fifth. Augmented chords tend to sound dissonant and unresolved. Augmented 7th chords are 4-note chords constructed with an additional minor seventh.

Sus2 Chords (suspended 2nd)

Suspended 2nd chords are major chords where the third is lowered by a whole step to get a major second. Sus2 chords are therefore constructed using a root, a major second and a perfect fifth. Sus2 Chords tend to sound open and unresolved.

Sus4 Chords (suspended 4th)

Suspended 4th chords are major chords where the third is raised by a half step to get a perfect fourth. Sus4 chords are therefore constructed using a root, a perfect fourth and a perfect fifth. Sus4 chords tend to sound somewhat dissonant and are looking to be resolved.

Dominant 7th Chords

Dominant 7th chords are major chords with an additional minor seventh. Dominant 7th chords are therefore constructed using a root, a major third, a perfect fifth and a minor 7th. Dominant 7th chords chords tend to sound tense and unresolved.

Half-Diminished Chords

Half-Diminished chords are diminished chords with an additional minor seventh. Half-Diminished chords are therefore 7th chords that are constructed using a root, a minor third, a diminished fifth and a minor seventh. Half-Diminished chords chords tend to sound tense and dissonant.

Major 6th Chords

Major 6th chords are major triads with an added major 6th on top, so the intervals are root, major 3rd, perfect 5th and major 6th. Major 6th chords tend to be dark and don't have as much tension as major 7th chords.

Minor 6th Chords

Minor 6th chords are mior triads with an added major 6th on top, so the intervals are root, minor 3rd, perfect 5th and major 6th. Similar to major 6th chords, minor 6th chords don't have as much tension as minor 7th chords.