How to Play Melody on the Piano

One of the most popular instruments in the world is the piano. Often it's the first instrument a person learns to play. When you play a recognizable song on the piano, you are probably playing the principal part of the song, known as the melody. Nothing is more exciting for beginning piano students.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. Recognize that traditional piano music is often written with a right-hand preference. The melody is assigned to the right hand, while the left hand adds chords.

2. Know the seven notes of the scale, found on the white keys. These notes, named after the first 7 letters of the alphabet, lead to simple melodies. For example, "Mary Had a Little Lamb" primarily uses 3 notes: C, D and E. Only once is the F note heard.

3. Understand that the note you start and end with while playing determines the key you play in. If your melody starts with F and ends with F, then you're playing in the key of F.

4. Play half steps up and down from a note to add complexity to a melody. Often this takes you to one of the flat keys (black keys) that are named for the note the white key they are closest to. For example, F sharp (1/2 step higher than the F note) is the same as G flat (1/2 step lower than the G note).

5. Familiarize yourself with the notes of a melody, and then try to play them in the right tempo. A song played largo (very slow) sounds differently when played with an allegro (merry) tempo.

6. Expand your knowledge of music theory to give you the foundation to create your own melodies. Theory shows you how notes and chords work together to form a melody.