| A lot of starting piano players who haven't played the | | | | Make sure our backs are straight and that we are not |
| piano at all just stare in awe when they see a top | | | | slouched over. Our posture is vital when playing the |
| piano player play. They listen to them playing and it just | | | | piano. We really don't want to develop a bad back |
| sounds awesome. More often than not you are | | | | while playing the piano. |
| listening to piano chords within the piece. Piano chords | | | | When we are learning the chords we need to know |
| make a piano piece a lot more richer and fuller. | | | | what a chord is. A chord is essentially playing 3 or |
| There has been a lot of debate on what should be | | | | more notes together. When we play chords made up |
| taught first when it comes to learning how to play | | | | of 3 keys we can do so quite easily by just looking at |
| piano as a beginner. I believe quite firmly that we | | | | how we play scales. For example, if we want to play |
| should all begin with learning how to play the piano | | | | the C major chord we have a look at the C major |
| scales first. The reason for this is because that the | | | | scale and play the first, third and fifth note in that scale. |
| basis of chords comes from scales. So if we learn | | | | As mentioned, playing the first, third and fifth notes of a |
| how to play scales first we can easily learn how to | | | | scale form a chord of 3 notes. To play the C major |
| play chords. | | | | chord we just play C-E-G notes together. The fingers |
| A brief look at scales is going to be covered here. We | | | | that we use on both our left and right hands at the |
| should as a beginner learn how to play major and | | | | same. We just use the thumb, middle finger and the |
| minor scales. Scales start at a note and end at the | | | | little finger. It is really quite simple. |
| same note one octave up. Scales follow certain | | | | Chords sound happy or sad depending if we are |
| patterns of half and whole tones and we should learn | | | | playing major or minor chords. Major chords sound |
| these patterns. The simplest of these patterns is the | | | | happy and cheerful. Have a go at playing major |
| major scale. The pattern is WWHWWWH. W stands | | | | chords and listen for yourself. Minor chords on the |
| for whole and H for half tones. | | | | other hand sound sad. If we play the A minor chord |
| When we play chords we need to have our hands | | | | which is made up of A-C-E we can hear the |
| relaxed. Relaxing our hands means that we should | | | | difference. A lot of happy up beat pop songs use |
| imagine the palms of our hands holding an egg. The | | | | major chords as a basis because it is what makes it |
| fingers should be curved. Playing with our fingers | | | | so happy and catchy. |
| straight just doesn't work. We need to feel the keys | | | | In conclusion, playing chords is quite easy once we |
| pressing down and have a sense of how loud we are | | | | know how to play piano scales. Scales form the basis |
| going to play. | | | | of the chords and we just play a section of the scales |
| The position for playing the piano is similar to that of | | | | to form a piano chord. To play chords of 3 notes we |
| sitting in front of the computer with our hands on the | | | | just play the first, third and fifth note of the |
| keyboard. The only difference that I think is that the | | | | corresponding scale. |
| arms should be slightly lower when playing the piano. | | | | |