How to Play the Piano Keys
Playing the piano properly involves more than reading notes and learning songs. Sitting at the piano, holding your hands correctly, and using the proper fingering technique plays an important role in your success as a pianist. If you want to teach yourself to play piano, starting with how to play the piano keys will give you the foundation you need to develop as a player.
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Instructions
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1
Sit straight at the piano. This posture will help you hold your hands and place your fingers properly on the keys. Poor posture can lead to poor playing habits that may be hard to break in the future.
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Mentally label the fingers on each hand as one through five, with your thumb as number one. You have left (1-2-3-4-5) and right (1-2-3-4-5). Your left hand is the hand you typically use to play below, or to the left of, middle C, and your right is typically used to play above, or to the right of, middle C.
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Locate middle C on the piano and place your right first finger (thumb) just above the key. Place your left first finger (thumb) over the B just before middle C. You fingers should be slightly bent and hover over the keys, almost as if you are holding a ball in each of your hands. Relax your hands to avoid tightening up as you play.
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4
Lay your thumb down on middle C to begin playing a C scale. Play the first five notes of the C scale with the first five fingers of your right hand, ascending on the keys. When you reach the G note (fifth note) shift your hand up and use your third, fourth, and fifth fingers to play the final three notes of the scale.
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5
Play the same scale descending using your left hand. This same fingering pattern can be used for any scale and for playing any piece on the piano. Initiating and using this fingering pattern from the beginning can help keep your playing fluid.
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References
- Photo Credit piano image by Sergey Goruppa from Fotolia.com
