Piano Clues

If you know the melody to a tune, then how do you find the chords to accompany that melody?

My best advice: join Piano Magic

(Really, I mean it!)

In the mean time, here’s a quick summary of how to harmonize melodies:

1. Find out what key the melody is in
2. Learn the I, IV and V7 chords of that key. In the key of C these would be C, F and G7.
3. Press the I chord and play the first notes of the melody.
4. When the melody and the chord no longer seem to fit together, switch to one of the other two chords. This usually happens at the beginning of a new measure.
5. Repeat until you reach the end of the song. Usually the song will end on the I chord.

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