Chord Roots, and How to Count

A: The key is to remember that in most cases the chords in a piece of music will be made up of stacked thirds. For instance, a C7 chord from the bottom note up is C, E, G, Bb, which is a major third on the bottom, then a minor third, then another minor third. The root is C, because C is at the bottom of the stack of thirds.

Now, change the order of the notes: G, Bb, C E, from the bottom up. Now we have a minor third on the bottom, followed by a major second between Bb and C, followed by a major third on top. You know the chord isn't in root position because the intervals are not all thirds. Rearrange the notes to be in root position. Then you see that G is the fifth. The fifth, G, was on the bottom before, and the root of the chord is C.

Q: I understand how time signatures work, but what I am having trouble with is how to count the notes as I play them. What's the best approach?

A: When you're first learning the piano, it is almost impossible to count in correct time without a metronome. So, my suggestion is that you buy a good one and use it all the time. In case you are not familiar with what a metronome does, let me explain that it functions as a conductor for you. It keeps steady time, so that you can concentrate on your playing. It is indispensable and really necessary, because it makes learning to play much easier.

Metronomes come in two basic types: mechanical and electronic. Mechanical metronomes tend to cost less. They have a pendulum that swings back and forth, making a clicking sound on each swing. You can set the speed of the clicks by adjusting a weight higher or lower on the upper part of the pendulum. Electronic metronomes allow you to use a dial to set the speed of an electronic clicking sound, and they typically have a light that flashes on each click. They cost more, and some of them are quite fancy. Either type of metronome will do the job just fine.

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