Do you wish you knew different ways to play chords on the piano? Maybe you feel like your piano music sounds flat and repetitive. Or, you’ve been playing piano for a while but feel stuck using chords the same way every time. You’re definitely not alone. The good news is that enhancing your chord playing doesn’t require learning harder music. It’s about discovering different ways to play chords on the piano that you already know!
Different Ways to Play Chords on Piano
When I first learnt how to play piano, it was from a book (like many of us). I learnt to play what was in front of me and no more.
It wasn’t until I was a teen that I was introduced to the wide world of chord patterns. For some reason, it never occurred to me that composers used a wide variety of patterns in their music. It wasn’t until I had to create them on my own in the moment that it suddenly clicked.
This is why I do my best to help my students see those patterns in their music. Not only does it help them see similarities between pieces, but it also helps them understand how those patterns fit into the broader mood of the piece.
This realization completely changed how I approach teaching chord techniques. Instead of just showing students one way to play chords, I help them discover the musical possibilities hidden within the progressions they’re already learning.
Level 1: Play Chords with Bridges
The easiest way to start adding variety to your chord playing is through chord bridges. Instead of playing all three notes of a chord, you play just the outside notes: the bottom and top. This creates a more open, spacious sound that immediately makes your playing feel less cluttered.
Using a simple progression like A Major, D Major, E Major, and back to A Major, you can practice both solid chord bridges (playing both notes together) and broken chord bridges (playing the bottom note, then the top note).
Even though this is the simplest technique, it’s fantastic for spicing up your chord playing with rhythm! You can use familiar rhythms like quarter notes followed by dotted half notes (patterns you’ve known since your earliest piano days), just applied in a fresh way.
Watch here to see exactly how to position your hands and move smoothly between these chord bridges, giving you the confidence to apply this technique to any piece you’re learning.
Level 2: Play Chords Solid or Broken
Once you’re comfortable playing all three notes of a chord, how you arrange them completely changes the mood of your music. Solid chords (also called blocked chords) create strong, definitive statements, while broken chords flow like water, creating movement and grace.
The key breakthrough happens when you start using chord inversions instead of always playing chords in root position. This makes transitions between chords much smoother and more musical. See how these hand position adjustments help you move seamlessly between different chord types.
For more advanced players, mixing up the order of chord notes creates even more sophisticated textures. This video includes examples from pieces that show how broken chords can sometimes even substitute for melody lines, revealing just how versatile this technique can be.
Want to take this further? In my inclusive online studio, you’ll create your own music using these exact techniques while learning in a neurodivergent-friendly environment designed for accessible, personalized learning. Visit www.mustlovemusic.ca to get started with your Meet ‘n Greet!
Level 3: Play Chords with Rhythm
If you’ve ever wondered how to play piano chords with rhythm, this technique is perfect for you! Instead of the typical ascending broken chord pattern, this level explores going in the opposite direction, creating unique rhythmic patterns that can instantly establish genre and musical excitement.
The pattern works by having each chord repeat twice with a twist: first time, play the broken chord going down, then skip up; second time, broken chord down, then jump to the home note. When combined with chord progressions that “walk” down the keyboard, you can even create that authentic tango feel (like in “Tangos at Dawn”) that makes listeners take notice.
Listen to these musical examples that show exactly how to execute these patterns while maintaining smooth technique and musical flow.
Level 4: Advanced Chord Techniques
This most sophisticated technique might not even look like chord playing at first glance. By adding passing notes, you can breathe life into simple chord progressions. Passing notes are extra notes you “pass through” on your way to the next chord tone. This turns them into flowing, melodic lines that maintain their harmonic structure.
Rather than just playing a broken chord going up, you add a passing note between each chord tone. This creates sophisticated musical textures that sound far more advanced than they actually are to play. The video shows exactly how these passing notes work within chord progressions, revealing how they make the harmony truly sing.
Master These Chord Techniques
These four chord techniques provide the foundation for creating sophisticated, professional-sounding piano music. Each builds on the previous level, giving you a complete toolkit for livening up any chord progression from basic to beautiful.
The complete video walks through all these techniques with clear musical examples, showing exactly how to position your hands, move between chords, and apply each technique to your own playing. You’ll also discover how these chord patterns connect to different musical genres and how they can revitalize the pieces you’re already learning!
Once you’ve mastered these chord techniques, you’ll want to explore dotted quarter note rhythms. They pair beautifully with these chord patterns to create even more rhythmic interest and sophistication in your playing.
Which of these four chord techniques sounds most appealing for the pieces you’re currently working on?
I’d love to hear about your experience applying these patterns to your own piano music. Share your discoveries in the comments below!
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