Class Blog
How To Learn The Basics of Piano
Want to learn the basics of piano?
So you're a beginner wanting to play the piano, but don't know how to even start? No need to stress over it, that's why this was created. Lots of people want to play the black and whites, but give up after a short time out of frustration. The thing is, the piano requires a lot of patience to learn, but persevering through the difficulties to learn will be rewarded with a feeling of achievement, and it feels great. But before we learn to play, there are things to learn beforehand. So let's go, plus ultra!
Start
Once again, patience is needed when beginning, so try not to get frustrated. This is the start after all. Before we start actually playing the piano, there are other important things to do beforehand.
Posture
Posture
-You want to be seated where its comfortable to your height, and also where your fingers can rest comfortably on the keys, and on the level of the keys.
- Also you want to your feet to be able to reach the pedals (though if you're a beginner, don't worry about the pedals just yet). You also want your knees and feet under the piano, while keeping your feet flat on the ground.
-Sit up straight and keep your head and back aligned, keeping your back straight. Slouching can actually affect your playing and limits movement, so don't slouch.
-Also, your shoulders should always be relaxed. Don't tense up and, keep calm and try not to get anxious by calming down and taking deep breathes before. Get in a good position before playing to reduce stress.
- Also you want to your feet to be able to reach the pedals (though if you're a beginner, don't worry about the pedals just yet). You also want your knees and feet under the piano, while keeping your feet flat on the ground.
-Sit up straight and keep your head and back aligned, keeping your back straight. Slouching can actually affect your playing and limits movement, so don't slouch.
-Also, your shoulders should always be relaxed. Don't tense up and, keep calm and try not to get anxious by calming down and taking deep breathes before. Get in a good position before playing to reduce stress.
Keys/Notes and Octaves
Middle C
This is the center note on a piano. To find this key, sit in the center of the piano. Now look at the black keys, and you will notice that they are in groups of two and three. In the center, Middle C will be the white key exactly on the left of the group of two black keys. This is the center, and after finding this key, you can find the others. Now Middle C is also called C4, but we will get back to that in awhile.
White Notes
After finding Middle C, we will look at the white keys after it. Now look at the key after it. This will be D. The key after this will be E, F, G, A, B, and restarts at C. And it just keeps repeating C, D, E, F, G, A, B, C.
Black Notes
Next we will look at the black keys, which are the flats and sharp notes. They are two notes in one basically, The first black key after Middle C is the C#/Db, and the keys after this black key is D#/Eb, F#/Gb, G#/Ab, and A#/Bb. These are really not for beginners, but it is good to be familiar with the names of the keys early on so when they are needed, there won't be as much confusion.
Octaves
Now octaves are simple. Octave means a series of eight occupying an interval, or space. For example, look for Middle C on the piano. The Middle C through B are 4's, so D will be D4, E will be E4, and so on until you reach B, or B4. The C after B4 will be a C5, as every time you pass a C, you go up an octave. Now go back to Middle C, or C4, and go back one note. This note is a B, but it is an below C4, so this B is B3, as it is in the third octave. The B3 backwards to the C will all be 3's, until you make it to C3, and the C though b below C3 will all be 2's.
Playing the notes/keys
Now, after you are sure of everything above this, we can move on to how we play notes/keys on a keyboard. Now this is more or less the last thing for a beginner, as everything else is for the ones with just a little more experience. Now then, we start with the fingers.
Fingers
-Now when you play these notes, remember that you curve your fingers while doing so. Like if you were hold a small ball while playing. Do not to play with your fingers flat.
-Going on, your fingers and thumbs are numbered while playing for more effective playing. Your thumbs are 1, pointer fingers are 2, middle fingers are 3, ring fingers are 4, and your little fingers are 5. No matter what you play, the your fingers will always be the same.
-When playing, do not lift your little finger like you're drinking a cup of tea with the Queen of England. Do your best to keep it down.
-Your thumb, 1, and little fingers, 5, will never play black keys. It is difficult to use them in playing on black keys.
Example of how to play
Here is an example of how to play. Lets start with the simplest scale, the C scale. It consist of C4, D4, E4, F4, G4, A4, B4, and C5 for your right hand, and C3, D3, E3,F3, G3, A3, B3, and C4 for left. As a beginner, for now we will do it with just the right hand.
-Right Hand
Your 1 (thumb) on your right hand will be on Middle C. It is followed by your 2, 3, and then on the F, you start with your one again. To do so, slip your thumb under your fingers to get to the F. Now that your on your 1, continue 1, 2, 3,, 4, 5 until you get to C5 with your 5. Then descend from C5 to F4 with 5, 4, 3, 2 , 1, and land on F. Now to get to E, use your 3 (middle finger), and let it go over your fingers to get to E4, and finish it of with 3, 2, 1 on the E4, D4, and C4.
Keep On
Now all this looks like a lot of complicated nonsense to you, but with good practice, and a lot of it, it will be second nature to you. You just have to keep on, and do not let this stress you out. Before you know it, you will know these basics and learn everything else! If you're not feeling it, just know, even if it is not said enough, just knowing the basics means you pretty much know everything else. Just keep on practicing to reach your goal!
Middle C
This is the center note on a piano. To find this key, sit in the center of the piano. Now look at the black keys, and you will notice that they are in groups of two and three. In the center, Middle C will be the white key exactly on the left of the group of two black keys. This is the center, and after finding this key, you can find the others. Now Middle C is also called C4, but we will get back to that in awhile.
White Notes
After finding Middle C, we will look at the white keys after it. Now look at the key after it. This will be D. The key after this will be E, F, G, A, B, and restarts at C. And it just keeps repeating C, D, E, F, G, A, B, C.
Black Notes
Next we will look at the black keys, which are the flats and sharp notes. They are two notes in one basically, The first black key after Middle C is the C#/Db, and the keys after this black key is D#/Eb, F#/Gb, G#/Ab, and A#/Bb. These are really not for beginners, but it is good to be familiar with the names of the keys early on so when they are needed, there won't be as much confusion.
Octaves
Playing the notes/keys
Now, after you are sure of everything above this, we can move on to how we play notes/keys on a keyboard. Now this is more or less the last thing for a beginner, as everything else is for the ones with just a little more experience. Now then, we start with the fingers.
Fingers
-Now when you play these notes, remember that you curve your fingers while doing so. Like if you were hold a small ball while playing. Do not to play with your fingers flat.
-Going on, your fingers and thumbs are numbered while playing for more effective playing. Your thumbs are 1, pointer fingers are 2, middle fingers are 3, ring fingers are 4, and your little fingers are 5. No matter what you play, the your fingers will always be the same.
-When playing, do not lift your little finger like you're drinking a cup of tea with the Queen of England. Do your best to keep it down.
-Your thumb, 1, and little fingers, 5, will never play black keys. It is difficult to use them in playing on black keys.
Example of how to play
Here is an example of how to play. Lets start with the simplest scale, the C scale. It consist of C4, D4, E4, F4, G4, A4, B4, and C5 for your right hand, and C3, D3, E3,F3, G3, A3, B3, and C4 for left. As a beginner, for now we will do it with just the right hand.
-Right Hand
Your 1 (thumb) on your right hand will be on Middle C. It is followed by your 2, 3, and then on the F, you start with your one again. To do so, slip your thumb under your fingers to get to the F. Now that your on your 1, continue 1, 2, 3,, 4, 5 until you get to C5 with your 5. Then descend from C5 to F4 with 5, 4, 3, 2 , 1, and land on F. Now to get to E, use your 3 (middle finger), and let it go over your fingers to get to E4, and finish it of with 3, 2, 1 on the E4, D4, and C4.
Keep On
Now all this looks like a lot of complicated nonsense to you, but with good practice, and a lot of it, it will be second nature to you. You just have to keep on, and do not let this stress you out. Before you know it, you will know these basics and learn everything else! If you're not feeling it, just know, even if it is not said enough, just knowing the basics means you pretty much know everything else. Just keep on practicing to reach your goal!
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