Piano chords question

Hi,

I'm trying to teach myself to learn how to play piano. I have some questions about playing chords.

Are there any tricks to memorizing or playing chords with minimal hand movement? Because at the moment, I'm trying to learn how to play chords in their root positions as per book, and in the process my left hand has to move all over the place just to keep up with the melodies I'm playing with my right hand. And after I play a simple C major chord in it's root position, I'm also having trouble with my pinkie finger descending on the root note of the chord I want to play...for example, I play the C major chord, then I move my hand up to play a G major chord..... I'm having a hard time getting it (my little finger) to land where I want it...because sometimes my pinkie finger lands on the F note instead. It's very frustrating since I've been trying to get it right for several days. (I'm trying to play 'em without looking down at the keys)

So I want to know from from those more experienced at playing piano:

when you first start off as a beginning piano player , is it better to learn to play chords by their roots instead of inverting a lot of things just for the sake of less hand movement? Should the inversions come later when you are more experienced instead? I could learn every chord by it's root position (i suppose that's how everyone else does it) but I guess it will take me quite a while to get it all memorized.

I am just doing one inversion...for example, I play the root c major-chord, and I just move a couple of fingers over to play F. But every other chord I'm trying to play by it's root. It's certainly plenty of hand movement to play the other chords by their roots, but I guess that's how everyone else learns it when they are first starting, right?

any help, advice, or tips would be much appreciated.

Maybe this site will help you:

Virtual Piano Chords

Yes, you want to use inversions from the very beginning, and minimize movement to make the accompaniment sound smooth.

If your music uses triads (major and minor chords), then start with the tonic chord in root position (tonic is the same as the key of the piece), and use the closest inversions for other chords. For example, in the key of C, use CEG for C; CFA for F, and BFG for G7.

Jazz chords are treated differently (although the same principle holds). But I assume you're not attempting jazz yet.

No. Look where you are going initially. You are making it too hard for yourself.

Learn the chords and inversions

Don't trust http://www.oddrealm.com/piano/sub-topics/vpc.htm

For example C9 ist not exactly C/E/G/A#. IMHO a 9 is missing too. Right?

Norbert

If that is how they spell C9, that isn't the only thing wrong with it. It should be C E G Bb D. A# isn't the same as Bb.

Well, you have to know all the inversions. However, to use the example you do - if you're playing in Cmaj, the typical chords are C, F, and G (or G7). If you play the C triad as CEG, and the F as CFA, then by all means play the G as DGB. (Or if G7, DFG These require minimum hand movement and the same combination will be true in other keys.

Gerry