How to Learn to Play Piano Sheet Music

Though learning to read sheet music can be complicated, it is worth it in the end

Piano music is beautiful, romantic and classic, and it's a great skill to learn. However, learning to read sheet music is almost like learning a new language. You must take it in steps and thoroughly learn each aspect of the music before getting started. Playing your favorite song on the piano will take a lot of practice, but it will all be worthwhile in the end.

Things You'll Need

• Paper
• Pencil
• Sheet music
• Calculator

Instructions

1. Study the layout of a typical line of music. A line of music contains five horizontal lines with spaces between each line. Each line and space of sheet music means something to the sound of the song. A line of music is also separated into bars, which are marked by vertical lines. Each bar consists of a specific duration of time in the piece of music, which contributes to the beat of the song.

2. Familiarize yourself with the two different clefs in sheet music: the treble and the bass clef. The treble clef holds the higher sounding notes in music, whereas the bass clef holds the lower sounding notes.

3. Learn the notes in the treble and bass clefs. Each line and space represents a different note on the piano. In the Treble clef, the lines from the bottom to the top represent the notes E, G, B, D, F. Use the acronym, "Every Good Boy Does Fine" to remember these notes. The space in between the lines, from the bottom up, are F, A, C and E, which can be remembered simply with the word FACE. On the bass clef, the notes from the bottom to the top are G, B, D, F and A, which can be remembered with the phrase, "Good Boys Do Fine Always." The space notes in between are A, C, E and G, or "All Cows Eat Grass."

4. Memorize the time signatures and their meanings in music. The time signature is the number over another number that looks like a fraction, located next to the clef. The time signature tells you the rhythm and note durations of a piece of music. The top number in the time signature tells you how many beats are in each measure, and the bottom number tells you the kind of note that takes that beat.

5. Learn each type of note and their names. Among the many varieties are five basic types of music notes: The whole note, the half note, the quarter note, the eighth note and the sixteenth note. In 4/4 time, the top number tells you that there are 4 beats in each measure, while the bottom number tells you that a quarter note is one beat. A whole note would then be the only note in the measure, and there would be two half notes in the measure.

6. Practice the scales in order and then random order until you can easily find each note on the piano without looking at your fingers. Then begin practicing the song you want to play. Break it up into sections, learning the chorus first.

References

• Notation Machine: The Basics of Reading Music