How to Start Learning Piano Basic steps for beginners to get started on the piano
If you’re thinking of starting to learn to play the piano, it can be tough to know where to start. There’s a lot to take in all at once- from scales and fingering to learning to read sheet music. But learning to play the piano from scratch doesn’t have to be hard work. You can always pay for lessons, but with the amount of help and resources available online it’s easy to master the basics and learn piano alone. Here are a few good ideas to get you started. Learn Scales and Chords Scales might not be the most fun thing in the world to practice, but they are essential in understanding keys and building up your finger strength. You can find a list of all the most common scales online which tell you exactly which notes to play. Start with just one hand, then when you’re playing them comfortably try playing with both hands together. This will really help with hand coordination and playing speed. Always practice with a metronome- either a real one or one of the many apps available- and slowly increase the speed you’re playing at. Chords are another essential part of your piano playing repertoire. If you want to learnhow to play piano pop covers then you’re going to need to know your way around your chords. Again, start with the basics. Piano chord charts are just a quick Google search away, telling you which notes to hit and which fingers to use. Once you can play all the notes together try playing the notes of the chords in sequence from lowest to highest. Congratulations- you just learned how to play arpeggios! Playing Songs- Start Simple It’s tempting to dive right in and try to play your favourite song on the piano, but you might be frustrated at how hard it is. Start with something easy that you still find fun to play. You can pick up easy songs books from any good music shop, covering every style from pop to rock, jazz and classical. There’s also a fantastic range of sheet music libraries online, some of which are free to download, some of which cost a few dollars. If you’re having trouble with sheet music, start by learning the chords of a song. Sites like ultimate guitar and guitar tab have a massive selection of chord and lyric sheets that are great for singing and accompanying yourself on piano. You’d be amazed how many songs you can learn with just four chords, so have fun figuring out your favourite tunes! Practice! The only way you’ll make progress is with regular practice. Set aside a specific time each day and give yourself a set amount of time for polishing up your scales and trying out new songs. It doesn’t have to be for hours- 20 minutes a day is enough. You’ll be amazed how quickly you make progress!