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What Are Piano Gospel Chords?

Gospel music encompasses a range of sounds that often incorporate blues and jazz, allowing for a range of chord possibilities. The gospel sound is "big" because the music typically accompanies choirs, therefore, the chords you use need to lay a foundation for singers. Learning which chords and progressions work best for gospel music can help you play piano in situations ranging from solo vocal performances to full church choirs.
  1. Chord Progressions

    • Many gospel chord progressions follow a progression that begins on the fourth chord built on the fourth chord, followed by the fourth chord itself and then the one chord. This is simpler than it sounds. If you're playing in the key of C, for instance, the notes in the scale are C-D-E-F-G-A-B. The fourth chord in this scale is an F chord. The fourth chord of the F scale (the fourth note of the fourth chord in C) is Bb. The first chord in C is C. This means a gospel progression in the key of C might consist of the F chord, the Bb chord and the C chord. This formula can be applied to any key.

    Major 7th Chords

    • Major 7th chords are used often in gospel music that has a country or jazz influence to it. Seventh chords are major chords that also contain the seventh degree of the major scale with the same name as the chord. A C major chord with B added to it is a C major 7 chord.

    13th Chords

    • A 13th chord is called an extended chord, and imparts a jazzy flavor to a progression. These chords are used in any key and work well for large choirs. Ninth chords are often substituted for thirteenth chords in complex gospel arrangements.

    Augmented and Suspended Chords

    • An augmented chord is a chord with a degree of the scale raised (played sharp), and suspended chords are chords that omit the third note of a scale from the chord construction and replace it with the fourth. Augmented and suspended chords are used in gospel to add flavor and fill space, particularly if you are playing piano for a small group as opposed to a large choir.

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