Playing the piano is a beautiful and rewarding experience, whether you want to become a professional musician or inspire your loved ones. Before you can play the piano, however, you need to know the basics, such as how to sit down and what each key on the keyboard does. You can play your favorite songs on the piano and even compose your own if you take the time to practice efficiently with a keyboard.
You don’t necessarily need private lessons to learn a new skill. This article offers a refreshing approach to mastering the keyboard and learning the piano. Key steps and recommendations, such as how to practice, where to place your hands, and how to match notes to keys, are covered in this tutorial.
Learn how to build a solid foundation to become an admirable piano star.
1. Assume the Right Sitting Posture
Now that you have the right keyboard for learning piano, the next thing is to get a keyboard bench and position yourself correctly. The middle fingers should be touching the keys, and there should be no backrest to distract your forearms.
The bench should also allow you to get a perfect height so you can play freely and confidently. If you don’t have a keyboard bench, you can use a short bench or stool as a substitute.
When using a keyboard, put your knees under the keyboard. Standing firmly on the ground is also a must, and sometimes you need to adjust the height of the keyboard stool to suit your needs.
On the other hand, your hands should be straight in front of you. You must have fingertips on the white keys and the palms off. Relax your hands and make a “C” shape by bending your fingers downward. On the other hand, you should try keeping your elbows just above the level of the keyboard.
Finally, put your feet up, keep your shoulders back, and push out the chest without tensing up. The seat should move forward, so the bench’s front half is occupied. As you start playing the keyboard, take a deep breath and push your shoulders near your ears to assume the correct position. Relax your shoulders and let them drop as you take a deep breath.
2. Master The Basic Piano Skills
When using a keyboard, try to familiarize yourself with the musical alphabet. The musical alphabet consists of seven notes: A, B, C, D, E, F, and G. The white keys on the keyboard play these notes in sequence, from left to right.
The letter A repeats after each G key. To understand the position of various keys, mark the keyboard keys and label strips of tape with one of the seven notes. One of the A keys is located in the same area as the three other black keys. There are three black keys on a piano, and the A key is the white one between the second and third black ones.
Generally, piano skills involve playing quarter notes, half notes, and full notes. The differences between the three notes reflect the musical differences. It takes four beats to play a whole note, represented by an empty circle in the music notation.
The half notes are held for two beats and are notated as hollow circles with extended arms. On the other hand, the quarter note is played for the duration of one bar, and it’s notated as a full circle with extended arms.
3. Learn Scales
Scales on the keyboard are collections of notes performed as a unit. The C Major scale is a popular choice. To play the C Major scale, you need to locate the note C on the keyboard and press that key (C is the first white key to the left of a cluster of two black keys).
Play the D on the next white key to the right, the E on the next white key, and so on until you reach B on the final white key in the row.
4. Get Experience with C Chord
To play a chord, you need to play three or more notes at once. Many chords can be performed, with some being easier to play than others. The C chord is a simple starting point since it only requires you to know three notes.
With your right hand, practice playing the C chord by placing your thumb on C, middle finger on E, and pinky finger on G. To play the chord, simultaneously depress the three notes.
5. Be Comfortable With The F Chord
The F chord is a simple three-note chord in the C Major scale. Individuals who wish to hone their F-chord playing skills should start by arranging left-hand fingers: pinky on F (F is the first white key to the left of a cluster of three black keys), middle finger on A, and thumb on C. Hold the button down, and all three notes will sound at once.
6. Improve Your Piano Skills
First, you should make keyboard practice a daily habit. To improve your abilities, set aside at least half an hour each day to practice. Become familiar with the keyboard’s layout and challenge yourself by attempting increasingly complex chords and scales. To learn piano yourself, look for free online keyboard lessons or pay for private sessions with a qualified instructor.
Furthermore, you must also earn to read music notation to improve your piano skills. After mastering the fundamentals of piano, it’s time to go on to rehearsing actual songs on the piano. Just do a web search for the phrase to get some free piano music to play around with. It will take some time to become used to reading musical notation on sheet music, but you will quickly improve.
If you want to be heard, you should create your music. You can dabble in songwriting once you understand musical notation, chords, notes, and scales. You don’t have to compose difficult songs. Therefore, make music that you can perform well effortlessly. Ultimately, practicing personal tunes is more enjoyable.
Playing the piano is a fulfilling and exciting endeavor that requires patience and practice. A keyboard is a powerful tool that aids piano learning, and it’s essential to use it correctly. By using the correct finger positions and posture and practicing consistently, you’ll be able to master the basics and move on to more complex pieces.
Additionally, you can improve your skills and become a proficient pianist by using various resources such as online tutorials, books, and classes. Remember, playing the piano is about expressing yourself, so don’t fear experimenting and having fun with it. With dedication and hard work, you will achieve your musical goals and enjoy the beautiful sound of the piano.