You may be wondering why I’m asking this question.
What’s the difference between tones and notes?
Don’t these mean the same thing?

Actually, there is a very important difference between the musical meaning of each term.

Basically, all chords are created from scales and are built using every other note.
If you need a refresher on this idea, go to:
Building Block No. 3: Discovering 1-3-5 is as Easy as 1-2-3: Major Triad

There are many three tone chords such as D major (D-F#-A), Bb minor (Bb-Db-F), E augmented (E-G#-B#), etc.
Each of these chord types requires three tones to create its structure.

For the most part, these types of chords are used in rock ‘n roll, folk music, hymns, new age music, classical pieces and many popular songs.
What I’m getting at is this:
It doesn’t matter whether you play these chords in root position, an inversion or in any pattern you choose.
The chord will never have more than 3 tones in it.

Can you play a three tone chord with four notes?
Certainly, it’s done all the time.
However, this does not make it a four tone chord.

Think about it this way.
When Beethoven composed the 9th Symphony (Ode to Joy came from the last movement of this work written when the composer was deaf), he used many three tone chords.
But how many Gs do you think are played in the large orchestra which performs this work? There are plenty of them – and in different octaves.
Thus, Beethoven’s use of the three tone chord G major triad reveals that it is a four, five, six, ten note version of the three tone chord G major triad.

For the pianist, four note chords are commonly played.
So, for example, you can play an F major chord with four notes like this:
F-A-C-F or C-F-A-C (inversion).

What I’ve been leading up to is this…..
The difference between four note chords and four tone chords is this:
Four note chords are three tone chords that have one of their notes doubled.

So when the sheet music says: Db, Gmin, Eaug, etc., you can feel free to play these three tone chords with four notes in them.

However, when you see Dbmajor 7th(Db-F-Ab-C), Gminor7th (G-Bb-D-F), or E7+5 (E- G#-B#-D), you will need to play these four tone chords.
And guess what.
You can play four tone chords as five or six note chords by simply doubling one of the chord tones.

If you want to see more four tone chords  and how they are created from the notes in a scale, take a look at this theory lesson:
Analysis of a Major Key and Its Parallel Minor Key

Action items
Here are two things that you can do immediately to help you know when to use four note chords or four tone chords.

First, look at the song and notice the style of the piece. Figure out if it’s a flowing song such as Canon in D or Memory and then determine how you will play the three tone chords. On the other hand, if it is a standard like Misty or Love Is Here to Stay, you will need to use four tone chords.

Second, if the chords printed above the staff in the sheet music reveal a combination of three tone chords and four tone chords, e.g. Climb Every Mountain or I Love Paris, simply select a strategy. For beginning students, three tone chords can work well.
However, if you are a more experienced pianist, you will sound much better if you create your arrangement using four tone chords (you can easily expand many three tone chords into four note chords).

Need help applying this idea to your piano playing; summer is a great time to work on your favorite songs.
Contact Ed Mascari today to help you turn your fun time into learning time this summer.