How to Play "Fur Elise"
Playing "Fur Elise" on the piano requires the knowledge of certain basic piano fundamentals. Knowing how to associate keys with notes, understanding basic fingerings and developing the ability to play each hand separately before playing hands together is essential to learning this piece. "Fur Elise" is a fairly simple piece that a moderately skilled pianist could learn with a little effort. This is a good piece for intermediate players since it doesn't have complicated fingerings and difficult chords.
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Instructions
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1
Learn the names of the notes in the treble clef. The treble clef has five lines and four spaces. Starting from the bottom line, the lines are E, G, B, D and F. The spaces are F, A, C and E.
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2
Memorize the names of the notes in the bass clef. Starting with the bottom line, the lines are G, B, D, F and A. The spaces are A, C, E and G.
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3
The piano consists of black and white keys. Associate the names of the notes with the keys of the piano. The black keys are sharps and named C#/Db and D#/Eb for the set of two black keys, and F#/Gb, G#/Ab and A#/Bb for the set of three black keys. The white keys begin with C before the set of two black keys and continue up alphabetically: C, D, E, F, G, A and B.
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4
Find middle C on the piano. Middle C is the C that is closet to the center of the piano.
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5
Attach numbers to your fingers. Holding both backs of your hands out in front of you, the numbers are one to five. Start with the thumbs and work outward toward the pinkys. With this system, the thumbs are one, the index fingers are two, the middle fingers are three, the ring fingers are four and the pinky fingers are five.
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6
Download the sheet music for "Fur Elise" with the correct fingerings. Learn to play the right-hand treble clef first using the fingerings as pivot points. The first note of "Fur Elise" is a five and starts on E. The correct E to play is just over two octaves above middle C. When playing, use one finger for each note when possible and avoid moving them except when a new fingering appears in the music.
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7
Learn the left-hand bass clef part next. When there isn't a fingering listed, use the pinky for the first note. Practice the left hand until you are able to play it without pausing.
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8
Practice putting both hands together at a very slow tempo at first. Gradually increase the tempo until you are able to play both hands together.
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Resources
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