How to Play Piano Music
Hum a simple tune. Tap your fingers on the table to the tune. You just played a song. Perhaps you have wanted to play the piano for years but believed it is too difficult. Yet learning to play simple songs on the piano is easy. This method relies on counting from one to five and the memory skills of the alphabet. Take the first steps to achieving your goal of playing the piano.
Instructions
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1
Write CDEFGAB, the names of the seven white keys, on a piece of paper. Find a set of two black keys over three white keys in the center of the piano. Press the white key to the left of the two black keys; it is C or Middle C. It divides the keys into right and left parts. Find and play every C key on the piano.
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2
Draw an outline on a piece of paper of the right hand (R), which plays the melody, and left hand (L) plays the bass. Label each finger 1 to 5, beginning with the thumb. Flex each finger as you say its number. Use the right hand to play keys to right of Middle C. Use the left hand to play keys left of it.
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3
Put R1 on Middle C. Put R2 through R5 on the 4 white keys beside, DEFG. Put L5 on any C key below Middle C. Put L1 through L4 on the 4 white keys beside, DEFG. Play each note by the finger number. Refer to the link in the Resource Section for an easy melody to play with the right hand.
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4
Draw five horizontal lines, a treble staff, on a piece of paper. Label each line, bottom to top, EGBDF (Every Good Boy Does Fine). Label each space, bottom to top, FACE. Locate the space below E. Label it D. Draw a short line below D. Label it C or Middle C. Each line and space represents a white key. Play keys C to F by moving the right hand up and down the piano.
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5
Draw another staff below the treble staff for the bass clef. Label each line, bottom to top, GBDFA (Good Boys Do Fine Always). Label each space, bottom to top, ACEG (All Cows Eat Grass). Each line and space represents a white key to the left of Middle C. Play keys G to A with the left hand. Play keys CEG together, basic C Chord, each time you play the C key with the right hand.
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6
Start at Middle C and play the C scale with the right hand to the end of the piano. Listen how each key sounds higher in pitch. Start at the first white key on the piano and play the C scale with the left hand, but stop at Middle C. Listen how each key sounds lower in pitch. Play C scales up and down the piano.
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7
Play a key four times and count 1, 2, 3, 4. Write 4/4 on a piece of paper. Play a key three times and count 1, 2, 3. Write 3/4. The top number is how many beats are in a bar of music: 4 denotes Common Time, most used in music. The bottom number is the length of each note: 4 means a quarter note gets one beat, the most common note. Alternate playing 4/4 and 3/4. Keep an even pace or rhythm by counting slowly.
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Tips & Warnings
Curve and relax the fingers when playing the piano. Imagine holding a ball in each palm. Tense muscles produce an uneven sound.
Create your own melody by playing the keys in any order with the right hand.
Practice 30 minutes daily. If you play too much or too hard, your hands will tire and may cause injury to hands and fingers.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit piano and music notes image by Franc Podgor...¡ek from Fotolia.com
