Every chord, or triad, is built on a predictable pattern, so if you know the basic notes of music, you can learn how to play piano chords. Basic chords are built out of three notes, but there are endless variations. These include adding an extra note, like a seventh, diminishing and augmenting, and, of course, inversions. But to start with, all you need is a note to build on and at least three fingers.

First, you need some elementary music theory. In musical terms, each key on the piano is a half step, both the black keys and the white keys. Two half steps make a whole step. So, for instance, from C to D in the C major scale is a whole step, because you skip a black key in-between. But from E to F in the C major scale is a half step, because you don't skip any keys; it's from one straight to the other. Simple, right?

Here's the crazy part. Every single major chord has the same pattern of steps or half steps in between the three notes. Play one note, skip three half steps to the second note, skip two half steps to the third note, and that's a chord. Therefore, to play a C major chord, you start on C, skip three half steps to E, skip two half steps to G, and that's it. That's the C major chord. If you know the first note of any major chord, you can figure out the other two. Skip a whole and a half step, then a whole step. If this seems confusing, try visualizing a keyboard in your head and seeing what it looks like, or sit down at one and try it out. You can play any chord!

The pattern for minor chords is just a reversal of the pattern for major chords. Play the first note, skip two half steps and play the second note, then skip three half steps and play the third. A C minor chord is C, two half steps to E flat, and three half steps to G. You can also think of it in terms of playing a major chord, than moving your middle finger down one half step or one key. You'll find that it's easiest to build basic chords using your thumb, middle finger, and pinky, which is 1, 3, and 5 in piano fingering lingo.

Most songs in western culture can be played using just basic major and minor chords. The more fancy chords definitely make the music sound better and more interesting, but you can get the gist of the sound just with basic chords. Ever notice how a lot of popular songs sound a lot alike? It's because they're constructed using the same chords, the same building blocks of music. It's why a lot of amateur guitarists can get by knowing just four or five chords. Their music may not sound as great as Jimi Hendrix, but they can play songs for campers around a campfire.

There's a lot more to the story of chords. You still haven't learned about sevenths and inversions and diminishing and augmenting, but hopefully this is enough to get you started. If you want to know more about how to play piano chords, the resources exist—all you need to do is look.