How to Get Started Playing an Electronic Keyboard Or Digital Piano

For people who have never tried to make music on aB,A,G,F,E,D,C.
keyboard or a piano, or do not even have the ability toTo start, we'll learn to play the first five keys. Using
read music, the idea of playing a popular song mightyour right hand, put your thumb on middle C and hover
appear impossible. But, by learning from the verythe rest of your fingers over the next four white keys,
beginning and building on each skill you learn bywhich would be D,E,F, and G. Then, depress each key,
practicing on a regular basis, everyone has the abilityone after the other, beginning with your thumb on
to become an accomplished keyboard player. All youmiddle C. After you press five keys, return to middle C
need to do is be patient and don't worry if you're notin reverse order.
sounding like a professional after only a few lessons.Very good. However, you might wonder how you're
To start with, you must be able to identify the notesgoing to play the other notes in the scale with no other
each key on a keyboard represents.fingers available. Some of your fingers will have to play
The first note you must recognize on the keyboard ismore than one note. There is a proper method of
middle C. After you know which key represents middledoing this that you can grasp fairly easily. Learning the
C, all other notes will fall into place fairly easily. Middle Ctechnique now will save time later as you learn to play
will be in a different location depending on how manyactual songs. Here's the correct method:
keys your keyboard has.Put your hand in the same position as indicated above.
If your keyboard has either 61 or 76 keys, middle C willOnce you sound the initial 3 tones (C,D, and E), take
be the white key right before the 3rd black 2-key setyour thumb and cross it under your fingers and place it
from the left. If your keyboard has 88 keys, middle Con the following white key (F). Then, cross your fingers
will be the white key just before the 4th black 2-keyover your thumb and your fingers should then hover
set from the left.above the following four white keys. Sound F using
On electronic keyboards, all keys are arranged byyour thumb, then the following four keys (G,A,B, and C).
octaves, and all octaves start with C. If your keyboardAfter you get to C, go back down the scale (B,A,G,F).
has 61 keys, it will also have five octaves with 12 keysTake your middle finger and cross it over your hand to
each. In any given octave, the black keys come in setsget to E. Sound the final two keys, D with your index
of either two or three, and all other keys are white.finger, and C with your thumb. Practice this technique
The notes that are contained in an octave are:until you are able to complete it flawlessly.
C, C#, D, D#, E, F, F#, G, G#, A, A#, BOf course, this is only a start, learning to play the
The # indicates that the note is sharp, and will beelectronic keyboard will require many more methods
played by a black key. If there is no # next to the note,and techniques than illustrated here, but acquiring the
then it is played by a white key.ability to read music is an important skill you should
Once you recognize the notes, you can attempt athink about learning next. A number of great instructors
scale. A C scale is fairly simple because you play itare available if you want one to show you how to do
using just white notes. Begin with middle C andit, and to keep you on track. Or, if you learn better on
depress the following 8 white keys, then reverse andyour own, you can access a multitude of
return back to middle C using the same white keys. SoInternet-based lessons that can allow you to go at the
this translates to C,D,E,F,G,A,B, and on the way back:speed that's right for you.