What is the significance of playing and identifying chords? From the very first year of study, students learn how to play a triad and probably know how to identify several in root position. HOWEVER, when the chord is in an inversion or spread out over the treble and bass clef, it becomes much more difficult for a student to recognize. I think the best way to prepare students from the beginning is to learn chords and their inversions along with scales. Once the student realizes how the chords works within the scale (key), reading and playing passages start to make sense and are much easier to master.