Teach students the names of the notes on the piano.
Show students the location of the middle C, which always is the white key to the left of the two black keys. Middle C is in the center of the piano.
Count four half steps from middle C, which is the next note in a major chord.
Instruct students to play middle C and the note that is four half steps from middle C, which is called an interval.
Ask students if they know what the name of the note that is four half steps above middle C. Tell them it is an E, if they don't know and can't figure it out.
Tell them to play one more note to play a chord. Ask them to find the notes three half steps above E.
Instruct them to play the three notes simultaneously, which is a major chord.
Tell the students that they can play any major chord on the piano if they follow these steps. All major chords comprise four half steps between the bottom two pitches and three between the top two pitches.