The smoothest sounding Piano Chord ever!

The smoothest sounding Piano Chord ever!

Have you ever heard a specific chord that completely blows your mind? Or maybe a chord so delicate and deep, that when played at the right moment in a song it just makes your skin crawl with sensation? Well this is one of those chords!

The first time I discovered this chord was back in my elementary days of studying music on my own. I would sit for hours trying to learn popular music from the 80’s at my baby grand piano, while listening to the radio or a CD. I remember exactly the first time I heard this chord. It was while listening to Earth Wind and Fire’s magical song “Reasons”. This chord is used throughout this song in many ways and variations, but the one inversion I like to use the most is as follows. Are you ready?

Here we go:

Let’s start in the key of Bb (B Flat) to begin this tutorial.

1-) On the left hand play Bb (B flat) and Ab (A Flat), forming a minor 7^th interval. Like this: 

2-) On the right hand let’s play a major 7^th Ab (A flat) chord. (AbMaj7th)       

Starting on Ab (A flat) + C + Eb (E Flat) + G

Take your time and learn this chord in every single key, by simply moving each and every single note one half step up or down as you wish until you have covered every single key.

And there you have it, one of my favorite sounding chords ever and a real favorite to use in popular music. I use this chord in many more variations to substitute the 11^th chords. They are usually effective when trying to resume a specific chord progression like from the V to the I (tonic). But, you can use it as you wish!

Thank you for reading and feel free to comment with any questions or your own suggestions or variations of this magical chord.

Carlos Camilo 

(Author)(pianist/singer/arranger/producer/composer from Miami,FL).

www.carloscamilo.com