Things You'll Need:
- Piano or keyboard
- Sheet music
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Step 1
Look for a key signature at the beginning of the line. This indicates when to play sharps or flats throughout the piece of music. For example, if there are 2 flats, play every B and E a half step flat, on the black keys. If there is no key signature, play every note as a natural, on the white keys.
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Step 2
Read the notes in the first four measures by their letter names. Find these notes with your right hand on the piano keyboard. Without worrying about time, play them in order to see where they are. If a note is written twice, this indicates that you play it twice.
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Step 3
Notice the time signature. This indicates how many beats to count in each measure. Four-four means that you count 4 quarter notes. Six-eight tells you to count 6 eighth notes. A large C means common time or 4/4; a vertical slash through the C means cut time, or 2/4.
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Step 4
Look at the stems and flags above each note. These tell you how long to hold each note. A single stem means a quarter note. One flag or bar on the stem makes it an eighth note. A note with an open circle is a whole note and a stem on this type of note makes it a half note.
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Step 5
Count out the time for the first four measures without playing the notes. You can tap your finger on the rail in front of the keys. In 4/4 time, play 1 quarter note for each beat, or play 2 eighth notes in the same amount of time. Hold a half note steady for 2 beats and a whole note for 4 beats. (You can use your left hand to tap out four straight beats per measure while the right hand counts out the timing for the melody.)
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Step 6
Play your melody by putting the notes and the rhythm together. Use your right hand to play the notes on the piano keys while you count out steady beats with your left hand on the rail.
