One of the most popular ways to play a keyboard is to play along with a singer. While the singer sings the melody of the song, the keyboard player provides harmony by playing chords.
When you play chords on the keyboard, you will be playing at least 3 keys at the same time. The most basic kind of chord you can play on the keyboard is called a root position triad. For now, the chords we learn about will only use the white keys. Chords get their name from the most important pitch letter in the chord, which called the root of the chord. For example, if you are playing a C chord, C is the root.
The first step in playing a root position triad on the keyboard is to find the root of the chord on the keyboard. If you are trying to play a C chord, that means that you would find your C key first. After you find the root of the chord, you can follow a pattern to find the other 2 keys of the chord. The pattern for a root position triad is "Play-Skip-Play-Skip-Play". For a C chord, that means that you would play the C, skip the D, play the E, skip the F, and play the G. So, when you play a C chord, the keys you play are C-E-G.
For an F-Chord, step one is to find your F key on the keyboard. When you find the F key, the next step is to follow the pattern "Play-Skip-Play-Skip-Play". That means that you would play the F, skip the G, play the A, skip the B, and play the C. So, when you play an F chord, the keys you play are F-A-C.
When you are able to find the chords and switch quickly between them, you will be able to play a song. Deep in the Heart of Texas is a song you can play with the C and F chords. It goes like this:
F F F
The Stars at night are big and bright
C
Deep in the heart of Texas
C C C
The prairie sky is wide and high
F
Deep in the heart of Texas
When you play a song with chords, you follow the words and play the chords above the words, switching when you get to a new chord. Here's how the song sounds: