How To Play Bridge Over Troubled Water

Major and Minor Chords

We've learned how to construct the major Interval and how to construct the perfect Interval.

Major Third: Distance between the root and (3) degree.
Perfect Fifth Interval: Distance between the root and 5th.

The Major Chord

The major chord is created by combining the major third and perfect intervals.
For example, in C major, a major third interval is from C to E. A perfect interval is from C to G.

Combining these two intervals looks like the following:

C to E and C to G.
Since the root is used in both intervals and can only be played once, the C major chord is:

C + E + G.

The Minor Chord

The minor chord is created just like the major chord. the only difference is that it utilizes a "minor third" interval instead of a "major third" interval (the perfect fifth remains the same).

The minor third is a major third interval squeezed in by a half step. For example, in C major, the major third interval is from C to E.

The minor third simply lowers the E a half step to E flat. a minor third is C to E flat.

Major Third = C - E
Minor Third = C - Eb
Perfect Fifth = C - G

Combining a Minor third and a Perfect fifth creates a minor chord: C + Eb + G

Take the 1-3-5 of the major scale and play them together. Take the 1-3-5 of the minor scale and play them all together. Try learning the major and minor chords in all 12 keys. Just use the same exact pattern.

Bridge Over Troubled Water

Words and Music by Paul Simon

© 1969 Paul Simon

Key: C

Time: 4/4

Moderato, not too fast, like a spiritual

                         C       F            C

When you're weary, feeling small

F                       C          F           C            F  C  F
When tears are in your eyes, I'll dry them all (all)

C                 G     G                            C
I'm on your side, oh, when times get rough

C7                       F    D7/F#  G
And friends just can't be found

C        F         F#dim CsusA/G A7sus
Like a bridge over troubled water

F     E7       Am
I will lay me down

C       F           F#dim CsusA/G
Like a bridge over troubled water

F     G         C
I will lay me down

F/C  C  F/C  C  F/C

                     C

When you're down and out

F                             C
When you're on the street

F                     C         F
When evening falls so hard

C                   F   C  F
I will comfort you (ooh)

C                  G    G                             C
I'll take your part, oh when darkness comes

C7              F  D7/F# G
And pain is all around

C        F            F#dim CsusA/G A7sus
Like a bridge over troubled water
F     E7        Am

I will lay me down

C        F            F#dim       Am
Like a bridge over troubled water

F   Am/E E  Am  D7
I will lay me down

C/G  F  Am  F  Fm  C

F  C  F  C  F/C

            C            F

Sail on silver girl
            C

Sail on by

F                     C           F
Your time has come to shine

              C                             F  C  F
All your dreams are on their way

C                      G
See how they shine

                 C
Oh, if you need a friend

C7             F    D/F#  G
I'm sailing right behind

C        F           F#dim  C/G    Am
Like a bridge over troubled water

F      Am    E     Am
I will ease your mind

C   C9  F          D   C/G       Am
Like a bridge over troubled water

F     E7             Am  D9  C/G
I will ease your mind

Here's an advanced chord chart to the song, Bridge Over Troubled Water

If you would like to look into the formation of chords with a music theory resource in your hands, then look into 300pg Piano By Ear Home Study Course

All the best,






"Jazz washes away the dust of everyday life." -- Art Blakey

How To Form Basic Chords

I have a few piano students who are now playing songs from Fake Books, like Hal Leonard Scott The Piano Guy's Favorite Piano Fake Book Volume 2 . The kids know how to read notes and now they're applying their chord knowledge and playing popular songs with both hands. Here's some information I think you'll find very useful that every musician should know.

How To Form Basic Chords

Basic Chords and the Rules For Working Them Out

Although chord finders are valuable tools on the Internet, what do we do when we’re sitting at the piano and don’t have access to the computer, trying to figure out chords?

Here’s a breakdown on forming many chords you’ll use in your piano playing.

      Major

      Minor

      Dominant 7th

      Sus4

      Sus2 and add9

      Diminished

      Major Sevenths

Major Chords

Starting from the root note, count up FIVE semi-tones (5 half steps). Always use the root note when counting. This will bring you to the second note in the chord. From and including this note, count up FOUR semi-tones (4 half steps).  This will bring us to the final note in the chord.

Example: C Major - C is the root note in this chord. Count up 5 semi-tones from the C: C=1, C#= 2, D=3, Eb=4, E=5.  Then, count up 4 semi-tones from the second note in the chord: E=1, F=2, F#=3, G=4.  Play the C, E and G together and you have a C Major chord. By using this 'FIVE then FOUR' rule, you can work out any major chord.

Minor (m) Chords

For minor chords, simply reverse the rule for working out major chords. Instead of counting 5 then 4, count 4 then 5.

Example: C Minor - C is the root note in this chord. Count up 4 semi-tones from the C: C=1, C#=2, D=3, Eb=4.  Then, count up 5 semi-tones from the second note in the chord: Eb=1, E=2, F=3, F#=4, G=5.  Play the C, Eb and G together and you have a C Minor chord. By using this FOUR then FIVE' rule, you can work out any minor chord.

Dominant 7th (7) Chords

With 7th chords, you add an extra note onto the chord. This extra note is always the note two semi-tones (1 whole step) below the root note.  However, you don't play this note at the bottom of the chord - you simply move it to the top of the chord. 

Example: C7 – Form a C major chord... C, E, and G. The root note of this chord is C. Two semi-tones (1 whole step) below the root note is Bb.  Add this Bb to the top of the chord and we have a C7 chord- C, E, G and Bb. The same rule applies for working out minor 7th chords. 

Sus4 Chords

Example: Csus4

      Play C major - C, E, G

      Move the middle note of the chord UP one semi-tone (1 half-step). In this example, 

      Move E up one semi-tone. This brings us to F. Play the C, F and G together and 

      we have a Csus4 chord.

 Sus2 and add9 Chords

Sus2 Chords - Example: Csus

Play C major - C, E, G.

Move the middle note of the chord DOWN two semi-tones (1 whole step). In this example, move the E down two semi-tones. This brings us to D.

Play the C, D and G together and we have a Csus2 chord.

Add9 Chords - These chords are nearly identical to sus2 chords.  The only difference is, is that you play the middle note as well.  So, Cadd9 is made up of, C, D, E and G

Diminished (dim) Chords

Example:  Cdim

    

Play C major - C, E and G.

    

 Move the TOP TWO NOTES of the chord DOWN one semi-tone (1 half-step) - In this example, move the E and G down one semi-tone... this brings us to Eb and F#.

    

 Play the C, Eb and F# together and we have a Cdim chord.

Major Seventh (M7) Chords

These chords are used a lot in Jazz music. 

With major 7th chords, you add an extra note onto the chord.  This extra note is always the note ONE semi-tone (1 half-step) below the root note.  However, you don't play this note at the bottom of the chord - you simply move it to the top of the chord. 

Example: CM7 – Form a C major chord... C, E, and G. The root note of this chord is C. One semi-tone (1 half-step) below the root note is B. Add this B to the top of the chord and we have a CM7 chord...  C, E, G and B.

Now you have some music theory to apply to your piano playing. You now know how to form chords you’ll be using in your music.

I would like to recommend two resources that I personally own in my library that I refer to often:

Chords 101 & 102

300pg Piano By Ear Home Study Course

photo credit: F A C E via photopin (license)

All the best,






"Jazz washes away the dust of every day life." -- Art Blakey

Instant Transposer: Major and Minor Chords

Do you know your major and minor chords in every key?
I have  been playing with my new software, Instant Transposer.

Looking at the chart, the first keyboard shows the Major Chords in root position, while the second keyboard shows the minor chords in root position. 

Keep in mind that you can change and invert a chord 3 ways. Now you can see the major/minor chords in all 12 keys.

Absolute C	Db Eb Gb Ab Bb Db Eb Gb Ab Bb C D E F G A B C D E F G A B	Db Eb Gb Ab Bb Db Eb Gb Ab Bb C D E F G A B C D E F G A B
Absolute C	Db Eb Gb Ab Bb Db Eb Gb Ab Bb C D E F G A B C D E F G A B	Db Eb Gb Ab Bb Db Eb Gb Ab Bb C D E F G A B C D E F G A B
Absolute Db	Db Eb Gb Ab Bb Db Eb Gb Ab Bb C D E F G A B C D E F G A B	Db Eb Gb Ab Bb Db Eb Gb Ab Bb C D E F G A B C D E F G A B
Absolute D	Db Eb F# Ab Bb C# Eb Gb Ab Bb C D E F G A B C D E F G A B	Db Eb F# Ab Bb C# Eb Gb Ab Bb C D E F G A B C D E F G A B
Absolute Eb	Db Eb Gb Ab Bb Db Eb Gb Ab Bb C D E F G A B C D E F G A B	Db Eb Gb Ab Bb Db Eb Gb Ab Bb C D E F G A B C D E F G A B
Absolute E	Db Eb F# G# Bb C# D# Gb Ab Bb C D E F G A B C D E F G A B	Db Eb F# G# Bb C# D# Gb Ab Bb C D E F G A B C D E F G A B
Absolute F	Db Eb Gb Ab Bb Db Eb Gb Ab Bb C D E F G A B C D E F G A B	Db Eb Gb Ab Bb Db Eb Gb Ab Bb C D E F G A B C D E F G A B
Absolute Gb	Db Eb Gb Ab Bb Db Eb Gb Ab Bb C D E F G A B C D E F G A B	Db Eb Gb Ab Bb Db Eb Gb Ab Bb C D E F G A B C D E F G A B
Absolute G	Db Eb Gb Ab Bb Db Eb F# Ab Bb C D E F G A B C D E F G A B	Db Eb Gb Ab Bb Db Eb F# Ab Bb C D E F G A B C D E F G A B
Absolute Ab	Db Eb Gb Ab Bb Db Eb Gb Ab Bb C D E F G A B C D E F G A B	Db Eb Gb Ab Bb Db Eb Gb Ab Bb C D E F G A B C D E F G A B
Absolute A	Db Eb Gb Ab Bb C# Eb F# G# Bb C D E F G A B C D E F G A B	Db Eb Gb Ab Bb C# Eb F# G# Bb C D E F G A B C D E F G A B
Absolute Bb	Db Eb Gb Ab Bb Db Eb Gb Ab Bb C D E F G A B C D E F G A B	Db Eb Gb Ab Bb Db Eb Gb Ab Bb C D E F G A B C D E F G A B
Absolute B	Db Eb Gb Ab Bb C# D# F# G# A# C D E F G A B C D E F G A B	Db Eb Gb Ab Bb C# D# F# G# A# C D E F G A B C D E F G A B

If you are new to the piano and consider yourself a beginner, you might want to look at this music resource, Gospel Keys 101
With the holidays fast approaching, you will learn how to harmonize the melody in your right hand while playing chords with your left.

Best,




"Jazz washes away the dust of every day life." -- Art Blakey