A Guide to the Piano: A Beginners Instructional

It’s long been linked to talent shows, high society and, of course, simply being an amazing instrument to play: the piano. Whether you are a fan of the instrument itself or simply want to harness the wide range of emotions you can conjure by playing it, the piano can be an intimidating instrument to learn.It requires the use of both hands, the building of muscles in the hands and wrists, as well as having a vague idea about notes, timing, and reading sheet music. There is no shortcut to becoming a piano expert, and to get started, you will need to learn the basics. So, here are some simple and easy-to-follow tips to get you started on the piano.

Learn the Notes

It can be scary to look at piano sheet music and have no idea about which note is which on the piano. As a beginner, you need to learn which notes are which. Here are some simple tips to help you remember:

• The notes on your piano are in alphabetical order from A-G.
• A standard piano has 52 white notes (A-G) and 36 black notes. For now, focus on learning the white notes.
• The black notes on a piano are grouped: 2 black notes together, followed by 3 together, and so on. This is important for learning the white notes.

The white note placement is as follows:

• To the left of 2 black notes is a white C.
• To the right of 2 black notes is a white E.
• To the left of 3 black notes is a white F.
• To the right of 3 black notes is a white B.

Play about with this to get an idea of how to identify the white notes on your piano. As for the black notes, or minor keys, that comes a bit later!

Number Your Fingers

Next, you can number your fingers. This will help you to identify which finger should be on which white note on your piano.

• Thumbs on both hands numbered 1.
• Index finger on both hands numbered 2.
• Middle finger on both hands numbered 3.
• Ring finger on both hands numbered 4.
• Little finger on both hands numbered 5.

Now that you have numbered your fingers, try some piano beginner exercises like hitting the B key with finger 3 (middle) or C with finger 4 (ring).

Hand Positions

You can develop nerve damage from playing the piano with incorrect hand positions. So, it’s best to get this figured out as early as possible.Aim to rest your hand in a semi-circle shape on the keys. Don’t dip the wrist, and keep it level with the floor. Always keep your wrist loose, or you may develop carpal tunnel syndrome.

Note Stickers

It is useful for many beginners using a piano to get note stickers. You can make these yourself from post-it notes or even a permanent marker (provided your piano is not an antique!). Alternatively, you can buy them online. This will help you learn the notes better while also giving you visual guidance to gain more confidence.