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LEARN PIANO

Happy or sad? Major and minor chords

A major chord sounds cheerful; a minor chord sounds sad. Find the one-note difference with your ears.

Instrument
Piano
Suggested grade
Grades 3–4 (age 8–10)
Level
Advanced
Duration
about 8 min
Lesson type
Ear training
Notes
C4–C5
Tempo
70 BPM

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Learning goal

Tells major and minor triads apart by ear and shows on the keyboard that the difference is the third (E–E♭).

Topic

Chords have feelings too! Some smile, and some feel a little sad.

Prior knowledge

Can play the C chord.

Teacher note

First play the two chords one after the other and ask: ‘Sunny or rainy?’ In the mystery chord steps, all the keys of the chord must be pressed together for the right answer; the marked keys are the choices. The black key (D♯/E♭) is the key to the minor chord.

Lesson steps

  1. Happy (major) chord: C–E–G. Play it and listen.
  2. Sad (minor) chord: instead of E, use the black key just to its left (E♭). Play it and listen to the difference.
  3. Mystery chord: happy or sad? Play the chord you hear.
  4. A new mystery chord. Listen and play the same.
  5. This time the chord starts on F. Happy or sad?
  6. Last mystery chord. Trust your ears!

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