The 12 basic piano chords consist of the C major, G major, A minor, D minor, E minor, F major, A diminished, B flat major (Bb), D flat major (Db), F sharp minor (F#m), and B augmented. Each of these chords is made up of three notes: root note (the lowest pitch in a chord) plus two other notes. The root note will be either a white key on your keyboard or one half-step lower than that. The next two notes should then be either both higher or both lower than the root note to form a complete triad chord shape. Learning how to play these chords can help you quickly transition between different keys and give you an understanding of music theory basics like intervals and scales.