I’m really excited about today’s piano lesson. We are going to add chords to the Ode to Joy! Before we do that though, it’s time for another technique lesson. We’re going to talk about hand position at the piano:
Before we start today’s lesson, would you mind taking the VERY short survey below? There are no right or wrong answers and it helps me a lot!
So take some time to practice your technique! And when you’re ready, it’s time to learn the chords we will be using with Ode to Joy:
After you’ve practiced these chords a bit, we can add them to the melody:
Take your time – when we are ready we will finish up here:
A Special Announcement for You:
Thank you for completing these 3 piano lessons with me!
If you’re interested in continuing your piano journey now is the BEST time to do that, because I’m opening up Piano Blog Academy for over Half-Off Enrollment!
I am really enjoying these lessons. I need to work on my right hand pinky though as it seems to have a life of it’s own as it seems to develop a tremor and hits keys randomly! I do have osteoarthritis in my hands, so this may be related. this is partly why I want to I want to learn to play, to try and keep my hands working as well as they can, but also to be able3 to accompany myself singing. .
Thank you for such comprehensive and simple teaching! Your lessons are inspiring and encouraging!
Thank you Matt, excellent information regarding hand positions and clear instructions for this lesson 🙂
Glad you enjoyed it Kathy!
I like your pace and your constant reminder about the slow practice. I think that will make the learning curve successful.
That was great …. many thanks.
Thank you Maureen!
I am so enjoying learning to play the piano
Is it possible to buy a piano keys template to practice on? Is so where
Thank you
Excellent Matt, really enjoyed the 3 lessons. I’m a total beginner and was amazed that I could put that piece of music together with such ease.
Thank you for making this available, as a complete novice to music lessons myself you have made it not only understandable but enjoyable
Thank you, for the 3 free lessons, it is very inspiring. Now I can play without looking at the keys on the piano.
Thanks again Matt..
Question do the next lessons include the rest of the Ode to Joy music?
I am considering your discount offer…but haven’t seen it yet.
Managed to play a tune using both hands thanks to your lessons never would have believed I could thank you Matt
That’s awesome Jacquie!
That was awesome I really enjoyed playing the song and the lessons were great easy to follow
Thank you Mervyn!
Thanks a lot I learned a lot today and the chords for Ode to joy
Thank you Matt. Will practice this. I like the pace you teach, even I can keep up!!
Glad you are enjoying it Lynda!
I like the step by step method your teaching
Hi very interesting to be able to play something.
Thank you very easy to follow just starting to play and im 79 years
Feel I amgetting somewhere. Thank you Matt
Hi Gary Clay from Grindelwald northern Tasmania/Australia. Thank you for your simple, easy to follow, rendition of Ode To Joy (Symphony #9 in D minor by Beethoven ). I’d seriously love to learn the entire piece in its original key signature.
Awesome. I’ll keep practising till the next lesson.Thanks Matt
I thought C cord was CEG and G cord was GBD?
Hi Willy – that’s right: those are what as known as the “root” positions, or most fundamental versions, of the chords. However it is common to mix letters around and also leave some out for simplicity and to get a desired sound. So in this case we learn the C chord as C-G (leaving out the E) and the G chord as B and G (so leaving out the D and with the letters moved around which is known as “inverting” the chord.) You could certainly insert the “missing” notes and it would sound nice too depending on your taste. — Hope that makes sense!
I learned how to move my fingers quickly from c chord to g chord. Thank you. Now I can play ode to joy
Dear MATT, Thank you so much for your free three lessons. I really enjoyed them all. I can play this tune now. I carry on practicing daily till I can play smoothly and enjoy it.
Thank you again.
Hitomi
Need to have patience I tend to rush, I’m used to playing some chords but not with right fingers Thank You Matt
That was great Matt excited starting the new course
Thank you Matt!
Thank you
Matt, loved my lessons. I’ll be watching for your special email.
I’m so glad you have enjoyed the lessons so far!
Thankyou so much Matt for going slowly and explaining every step . I am thrilled that I can now play this with 2 hands ! It’s fun !!!
Hi! Matt,
I loved being part of your music lessons. I learned so much and had a great time doing so. Matt, I like your style of teaching, you make it so easy to learn. I want to continue music lessons with you.
Jacqueline.
Fantastic Matt!!!!
Thank’s to share your piano technics
Thank you Monica I’m glad you enjoy it!
Your piano lessons are very good.
I understand every thing you said it was nice thank you for the piano lesson they are really helpful.
It is really great concentrating on being relaxed
I’ve managed to keep the beads of perspiration at bay
Really enjoyed this
i have enjoyed the lessons, and i want to continue. Do you teach us how to read music too?
Yes we start reading music in the coming lessons and I give several guided tutorials with new music!
I love it Matt!
Great thank you!
This has helped me a lot, Matt. I’ll be watching for your email.
Thank you Bob I’m glad you enjoyed it!!
Good technique! I enjoyed it .
Thank you Priscila!
Thanks for these lessons! I can see how your method makes us successful.
This lessons are really helpful thank you
Kind regards
Pastor Charlotte
Great lesson, thank you, Matt.
Enjoying it!
Hello Matt,
Thanks for the lesson 3 taught, its working and easy to learn. Im enjoying all your lessons.
Great! I’m progressing!
Hi Matt,
I found your lessons very informative and move forward at the correct pace for me as a beginner.
Hopefully, I will eventually be able to use my left- hand together with my right-hand.
Thanks again.
I will look out for your email. Thank you.. I found the lessons very informative and interesting.
It was a great lesson. Excited to be able to add some chords to Ode to Joy.
I’m glad you enjoyed it Harvey!
This one took more practice
Hi Matt, thoroughly enjoying playing piano with you and fulfilling my lifelong dream. Although it’s a bit hard to get my right and left hand to work together, I’m going to practice, practice, practice. Wish me luck. Betty.
Hi Betty I’m glad you enjoyed the lessons! Keep practicing 🙂
Thank you so much!! Sorry my english is really bad, but I am grateful with God for this blessed and with you for this opportunity! God bless you! This is my dream , to learn piano. Thanks!!!
Wow adding the chords is a bit challenging but so fun when it comes together… I get it, practice. practice, practice..thank you so much for the lessons, I have always wanted to play the piano..
Awesome I’m really glad you’re enjoying it!
Thanks for the first and second part of the C & G chords. Ode to Joy sounds complete.
Using the left hand is certainly challenging. But with a lot of practice I am sure I will get it. Thank you for the lesson on C chord and G chord.
You’ll get it — just remember slow and patient practice is the key 🙂
I struggled with playing the chords with my left hand and at the same time the four notes with the right hand.
Then the counting .
One question : when I play the c chord must I at the same time play E note .
Although I find it challenging I am enjoying playing it.
Hi Julia — You can omit playing E if that is easier and then add it when you are more skilled. Remember when adding chords it helps a LOT with coordination to pause before you play the chord and right-hand note and think through everything.
Very interesting since now I can get the chance to play our piano through your lessons.
that was what I was looking ‘ CHORDS’ It’s AMAZING
Wow, wow, wow! I am super excited and surprised at how much I learned and retained in these three lessons. Thank you so much Matt. You are a blessing to so many. I didn’t think in a million years that I could actually understand this much about the piano and music. I look forward to keeping this up!
I played Beethoven, Ode to Joy, yahoo!
Awesome – I love your enthusiasm Phoenix! 🙂
Matt thanks for the 3rd lesson. I enjoyed putting the cords with the song, it made a difference to the sound. excellent lesson
Hi Matt!
I thoroughly enjoyed your videos and am so impressed at how much I have accomplished in 3 days just by watching your video! I would love to keep going! Will you also be showing us how to read sheet music? I taught myself the letter for the keys a few years ago, but I really want to learn how to read it for myself. Thank you!
Hi Elizabeth – I’m really glad you liked the lessons! Yes I get into the basics of note-reading in the next few lessons!
Looking forward for the 4th lesson 🙂
A great lesson!
Thank you Joan!
Hi Matt, Thank you so much for these great lessons! I have learned so much! Your style of teaching is GREAT! I have never played a song before with chords!!!! Looking forward to more lessons with you! How do i sign up for your extended lessons?
Hi Vicky – I’m really glad you enjoyed the lessons! Just keep your eyes open tomorrow because I’ll send you a link to the next four lessons and bonus content 🙂
If I join, can I print out the lessons, songs, music charts, etc?
Thank you,
Carole
Hi Carole – you sure can!
Probably your oldest student today. My last formal piano lessons were 70 years ago when I was 8.
Your method is helpful to get back into playing and enjoying piano again, but this time at my own pace without school, sports and parents as a distraction.
You might be surprised Barry — glad you’re enjoying the lessons and very best wishes 🙂
Thank you very much! I enjoyed my 3 free lessons and got a lot out of it. I like your method of teaching.
Thank you Debbie!
Hope I can continue. I enjoy your teaching technique
Hi Sherry – Thank you very much! I’m really glad you enjoyed the lessons 🙂
These lessons have been fantastic! Looking forward to continuing lessons with you. I am finally understanding the piano. Your lessons are easy to understand.
Thank you Catherine – I’m very happy you are enjoying the lessons!
So glad we have the whole song to practice ! Your instructions are easy to follow, but I am having trouble with my left wrist… too flexed to the left and I feel cramped ( stiff, and painful after while) . Do you have suggestions?
Hi Valerie — stiffness in your wrist (or more likely your forearm actually?) can be caused by many things, especially by habitually tensing the forearms to compensate for a bad hand position. Do your knuckle joints tend to collapse when you play (do any of the joints in the fingers collapse inward instead of making a slight bump outward like they do when you naturally let your hand hang?)… if this is the case, your forearm might be tensing to compensate for this.
I would highly recommend my technique videos which deal with issues like this quite a bit: http://www.pianoblog.com/free-technique-lessons/