Where to start with chord progressions, cadences etc

[cosminzamfir]

Hello all,

any advise on where to start with chord progressions, inversions, cadences etc. ? - in general any related music theory which would help someone that studied piano for 2.5 years to begin improvising rather than just learning new pieces.
Do you recommend any good book which starts easy and has a lot of examples?

Thank you.

[dcstudio]

the best way to start with chords is to figure out what they are first then start to read about them.

after 2.5 years you should no the chords in the key of c?  or at least a C   F  and G? yes?  

(CEG) (FAC) (GBD)   start with these three triads...play them with your left hand at the downbeat of each measure as indicated--then try different patterns in your left hand using the chord tones--  start by using this form-- all white keys so it's easy.   In your right hand you can experiment with the notes both in and out of the key of C--it's very easy in this case since--in is white--out is black.  the /  is simply marking the 4 beats in each measure.

  4
  4  |C / / /|C / / /|F / / /|F / / /|G / / /|G / / /|F / / /|F / / / :||
 
it will work at any tempo you find comfortable--and in any 4 beat style that you choose

this progression should sound familiar.  Have fun messing around with it and see how easy it is to improvise over.  Then pat yourself on the back--because you just read a chord chart...and improvised... in fact you created music all by yourself...pretty cool, huh.  

you will tire of these 3 chords pretty quickly--although some folks never do----and then you should go and buy a book on Tonal Harmony and get to work understanding what you have been playing.