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Q&A for How to Play the Piano
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QuestionHow do I become a better piano player?Michael Noble is a professional concert pianist who received his PhD in Piano Performance from the Yale School of Music. He is a previous contemporary music fellow of the Belgian American Educational Foundation and has performed at Carnegie Hall and at other venues across the United States, Europe, and Asia.Practice good posture whenever you play. All of your playing power comes from your core, so you want to make sure you're sitting with your back straight and your shoulders down and relaxed. Your hands should be curved with your knuckles up, almost like you're holding a ball, and your elbows should be at or slightly above the keyboard. Then, keep your wrists firm, but they still need to be flexible and not stiff.
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QuestionIt says to use the tip of our fingers, not pads, but I have long nails. What should I do?JayneCommunity AnswerIt's always best to play piano with short fingernails - I would recommend cutting your nails, otherwise you will hear tapping on the keys!
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QuestionIs it okay to play the piano without a bench? I don't have enough money for a bench, so I have to use my bed. I don't have very good posture as a result.This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.wikiHow Staff EditorStaff AnswerThis is not an ideal situation, particularly if your posture is poor. Your bed likely isn't at the right height for you to play the piano properly. A bed also likely doesn't provide enough support. Look for a used bench at thrift stores, or talk to musicians you know – they might know where to find a used bench. Music stores also often have bulletin boards where customers advertise used music equipment and instruments for sale, so you might check there. You don't even have to get a piano bench specifically, but you should try to find a hard chair that's at the right height for you. Playing with poor posture will put you at higher risk for back injuries and other repetitive motion injuries.
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QuestionI'm left handed. Is that a disadvantage for me in playing piano?This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.wikiHow Staff EditorStaff AnswerNot at all! To play the piano, you have to use both your left and right hands. People who are right-hand dominant often struggle to play with their left hand. Similarly, you may have more difficulty playing with your right hand, but with practice, you can overcome that.
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QuestionCan I learn piano in 3-4 months?This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.wikiHow Staff EditorStaff AnswerIt's certainly possible that you could learn to play simple pieces with daily practice for 3 or 4 months. This goal is more attainable if you already have some musical background, such as if you already play another instrument.
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QuestionIf I'm playing the lead melody, how do I match the harmonizing chords with the lead melody?This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.wikiHow Staff EditorStaff AnswerWhen you're just learning a new piece, it's a good idea to practice each hand separately, then bring them together only when you can play the 2 parts without errors. That way, you'll be able to focus on coordinating your hands without having to also worry about finding the right notes. Set your metronome at a slow tempo and play the piece. When you can play it at the slow tempo with no errors, speed it up. With more experience, you'll be able to shorten this process.
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QuestionHow do l learn chords?This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.wikiHow Staff EditorStaff AnswerScales are the building blocks of chords. Learn scales and then play every other note of the first 3 notes of the scale to form a triad. You can also find chord charts on the internet or download an app that will show you fingering for all of the chords.
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QuestionWhen playing notes with, say, the third and fifth finger only, how do you stop the fourth finger from also playing a note?This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.wikiHow Staff EditorStaff AnswerYou need to work on your finger strength and independence. Doing finger exercises where you move each finger individually will help with this. You can find finger exercises online and do them while you're watching TV. Over time you'll be able to move your pinky independently without your ring finger moving along with it.
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QuestionHow do I improve my left hand on the piano?Community AnswerStudy the bass clef notes so that you know them well and practice the left hand slowly. Only play little sections at a time until you know them well. Don't bite off more than you can chew!
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QuestionWhat if I really want to play the piano, but my fingers are different from other people's fingers? Could I still play?さいちょうCommunity AnswerAny person may be able to play piano regardless of their fingers. If you run into any problems, you may be able to rent or buy a piano with modifications so that using the piano is easier. There are people who drum with just their feet, if a person can do that, then a person with different fingers can learn piano.
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QuestionWhat is the fastest way to learn piano keys and notes?Community AnswerUnfortunately there is no shortcut to learning the piano. The more time and effort you put into studying and memorizing the notes, the better you will learn them. Practice, practice, practice.
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QuestionHow hard is it to learn to play the piano well?Nicola and other stuffCommunity AnswerIt is difficult but if you really want to get good, put the time and effort into it. Then you should become good in no time.
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QuestionHow long would it take a beginner to become advanced on the piano?Community AnswerIt would depend on the student's dedication and time spent practicing, but it usually takes years before a good piano student becomes more advanced.
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QuestionIs 15 too old to learn piano?Community AnswerYou are never too old to begin learning to play the piano. Go ahead and give it a try. You never know what will happen.
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QuestionCan you learn the piano without a teacher?Community AnswerYes, you could study books, DVDs, or check out some YouTube tutorials.
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QuestionDo you have to sit to play the piano?Community AnswerNot necessarily, but most people prefer it, as it is much more comfortable than standing.
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QuestionCan you play the piano on a piano phone app?Community AnswerYou can, but it is not actually playing the piano, not even close. You probably only use one hand, and even if you use two, the fingering is likely to be wrong, as you would not have the appropriate spacing and as such, you will not learn to play properly. If you learned off a phone app, then say your friend had a piano and they wanted to see you play, you wouldn't do very well, as you wouldn't know the proper sitting positions, hand positions, feet positions or even which pedal to use. However, if you have no access to a piano, it's better than nothing and may persuade a parent to get you a real piano some day.
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QuestionHow much does a piano cost?Community AnswerDepending on the piano, it can cost anywhere from $100 to $100,000+. If you're on a tight budget, search for used pianos online, or keep and eye out for people moving out of your area, as they may need to get rid of a piano and might be easy to negotiate with.
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QuestionI had to learn to play piano by myself, and I'm still not good at it. How do I get better without a teacher or parent?Leo BoivinCommunity AnswerStart practicing easier pieces and playing them a lot until you feel confident enough to move to the next level. It takes a lot of time, so don't get discouraged. Once you get accustomed to the principles, it will get a lot easier.
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QuestionCan I learn to play piano on electronic keyboard until Grade 8?Community AnswerYou can, but it's not recommended as most keyboards don't have the full 88 keys that a piano has. It would be better if you had access to a real piano, but you can practice on a keyboard until Grade 8 if you wish.
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QuestionWhat kind of learning books should I get? I don't want a book that teaches me to read music (piano is my second instrument).Community AnswerThe Alfred course is a great series of piano books ranging from easy to hard. I would definitely start with Book One, which has a little bit of the basic stuff, but it also has many songs, too.
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QuestionWhere can I take piano lessons?Community AnswerCheck in with your local music store. If they don't offer lessons there, they will probably have a bulletin board with local instructors' business cards.
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QuestionHow can I learn to play by ear?Community AnswerPlaying by ear is mainly knowing how each note on the keyboard sounds, how the song you're trying to play sounds and going from there. Try starting with the melody and then working on other parts, but it's highly recommended to download sheet music for the song you are trying to play.
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QuestionWhat should I do if I keep losing the tempo because I can't count the beats? Also, is it bad if my hands are small and I can't reach the 9th or 10th?Community AnswerUse a metronome to help you keep the tempo. The constant ticking noise can be annoying, but if you get an app, you can personalize it. And no, that isn't unusual.
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QuestionIs it hard to practice the piano?Community AnswerNo, it's not hard to practice the piano, although it might be hard to motivate yourself to practice at times.
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QuestionHow many lessons shall I take in a week? I take 3 lessons. Is it enough?Community AnswerSure! You can take however many lessons per week you feel comfortable with. Personally, I took one lesson per week for a while.
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QuestionI played a couple games on Roblox about pianos and I can play a few songs using Roblox pianos. Does that count as playing the piano?Diana QuezadaCommunity AnswerNo, game simulation is far different from playing a real piano.
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QuestionWhat is the proper way to sit?Community AnswerSit with the middle of your chest facing middle C. If you are a boy, sit with your legs slightly apart (maybe even shoulder width), if you are a girl, do not sit with your legs crossed but do the same and have your legs slightly apart, not quite shoulder width like boys though.
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QuestionWhat kind of piano should I buy for a 13-year-old girl?Community AnswerIf you don't want to spend too much, purchase a digital piano, as they usually are cheaper and easier to move. The quality of the digital piano depends on your budget. If you want to learn piano and not keyboard, get one with weighted keys and at least a damper (sustaining) pedal or you'll have to upgrade later.
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QuestionI can sort of play piano (I know chords and notes). When I'm reading the music, how do I know whether to play the full chord or just the note?Sebastian CarlsonCommunity AnswerIn music theory, chords are clusters of note heads on one stem, the same as all other instruments.
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