The piano is one of the most loved instruments in the world. Get inspired and inspire others to become pianists with these beautiful piano quotes.

Everything from the piano’s sleek design to the beautiful sounds it emits is the result of individuals investing time, focus, and energy into the instrument. When you devote yourself to something, particularly playing an instrument, you develop a relationship with it. Eventually, it becomes a means of expression, in some cases, one that is more articulate than language. 

There are many pianists capable of leaving listeners in awe. Their fingers effortlessly glide across the majestic keyboard, producing sounds that take us to places we may not have thought possible. Truly, sound, music, and piano are marvelous. 

Many of those adept at playing the instrument have left our listeners and practitioners with words that give us a taste of what playing the piano can mean.

But why exactly does the piano affect people so profoundly?

The article provides insight into why the piano impacts people and presents 20 lovely quotes from pianists, musicians, and authors that describe the piano from their perspectives. 

Sound.

It all begins with sound, or rather, vibration. 

Science finally backs up the claim that everything in existence moves and vibrates. Regardless of what science says about vibration, we are no strangers to sound. Everything from rustling leaves to the words we speak creates vibrations. 

The point is that vibrations play a central role in our lives, affecting our mental and emotional states. 

Humans are pretty good at making sounds. Many people devote their lives to making sounds by making music.

Music.

Music is the expressive art of arranging sounds in a combination of form, harmony, melody, and rhythm.

It hugely impacts us, and we can’t get enough of it. It speaks to us in ways we still don’t fully understand–affecting our brain in measurable ways. 

If you’re curious about how playing the piano affects the brain, check out our blog Why Playing Piano Is a Brain Booster. 

Music makes us feel happy, sad, angry, and all sorts of other ways that we can’t necessarily describe with language. Music brings us closer together through collaboration and dance. 

And through these musical experiences, whether it’s be creating or listening to a mind-blowing sequence of notes, or profound lyrics, music can bring us closer to the essence of life.

Piano.

We create music in many different ways. There are countless musical instruments that we use to make diverse sounds. Surely one of the most beloved is the piano. 

With 88 keys, 230 strings of varying widths, and a massive soundboard, the piano is a unique instrument that touches the hearts of countless musicians and listeners. 

Piano quotes on expression.

The piano is far more than a musical instrument. To many, it’s a tool that offers the means to express themselves beyond words. 

1. “The piano as a medium for expression is a whole world by itself. No other instrument can fill or replace its own say in the world of emotion, sentiment, poetry, imagery, and fancy.” — Leopold Godowsky, Polish-American Pianist

2. “To me, the piano in itself is an orchestra.” — Cecil Taylor, American Pianist, and Poe

3. “One of my biggest thrills for me still is sitting down with a guitar or a piano and just out of nowhere trying to make a song happen.” — Sir Paul McCartney, English Singer-Songwriter

4. “I’m able to sometimes express things even more articulately on the piano than I am with singing.” — Harry Connick Jr., American Musician

5. “I tell my piano the things I used to tell you.” – Frederic Chopin
6.  “Sometimes I can only groan, and suffer, and pour out my despair at the piano.” – Frederic Chopin

7. “The important thing is to feel your music, really feel it and believe it.” – Ray Charles

8. “I had never before thought of how awful the relationship must be between the musician and his instrument. He has to fill it, this instrument, with the breath of life, his own.” — James Baldwin, American Author

Funny piano quotes.

Quotes don’t always have to be profound. Sometimes, someone’s description of the piano can be lighthearted, allow us to see the instrument uniquely, or point out human characteristics. 

1. “The piano is a monster that screams when you touch its teeth.” – Andre Segovia

2. “I wish the government would put a tax on pianos for the incompetent.” – Edith Sitwell

3. “The public is like a piano. You just have to know what keys to poke.” – Al Capp

4. “What has keys but can’t listen to the beauty it unlocks? A piano. – Jarod Kintz

5. “The piano is a monster that screams when you touch its teeth.” – Andre Segovia

6. “There’s nothing remarkable about it. All one has to do is hit the right keys at the right time and the instrument plays itself.” – Johann Sebastian Bach

Philosophical piano quotes.

Vibration permeates existence. And the manipulation of sound can be an intense and profound experience. The following quotes express the sense of wonder we can plunge into thanks to the piano. 

1. “The piano is able to communicate the subtlest universal truths by means of wood, metal and vibrating air.” — Kenneth Miller, American Biologist

2. “Life is like a piano. What you get out of it depends on how you play it.” –Tom Lehrer

3. “The piano keys are black and white but they sound like a million colors in your mind.” — Maria Cristina Mena, Author

4. “Prayer is when you talk to God. Meditation is when you’re listening. Playing the piano allows you to do both at the same time.” — Kelsey Grammer, American Actor

5. “There are eighty-eight keys on a piano and within that, an entire universe.” ― James Rhodes

6. “The piano as a medium for expression is a whole world by itself. No other instrument can fill or replace its own say in the world of emotion, sentiment, poetry, imagery and fancy” – Leopold Godowsky

Music is a wondrous phenomenon. Musicians and listeners gather regularly to celebrate and take a melodic journey inward. Just as the sounds emanating from the piano can be emotionally captivating, so can the quotes and sayings that describe this instrument. 

While listening to the piano can be a beautiful experience, playing it can be much more fulfilling. Even the adventure of learning the instrument can be fun and rewarding. 

Are you learning how to play the piano?

Simply Piano is a fantastic app that provides students everything they need to learn how to play, from reading sheet music to playing your favorite songs. Give it a try today!

The post 20 Lovely Piano Quotes To Share With Your Friends appeared first on Learn to Play an Instrument with step-by-step lessons | Simply Blog.

While “Best Picture” might be the most well-known award in the Oscars, there have been some incredible award-winning songs throughout the years as well. Here is a collection of some of the most unforgettable pieces of music that won the Academy Award for Best Original Song.

1930s – “Over The Rainbow”

In 1939, the movie The Wizard of Oz came out and took the world by storm. Contained in the fantastic film were numerous hit songs, with “Over The Rainbow” standing out as the most popular. “Over The Rainbow”, sung by Judy Garland, is listed as the best movie song of all time by the American Film Institute in their 100 song list.

1940s- “Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah”

“Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah”, composed by Allie Wrubel with lyrics by Ray Gilbert, came out in 1946 in the Disney movie Song of the South. It’s a cheerful tune that has remained popular in all age groups. Multiple artists have covered this song, including legend Johnny Mercer.

1950s – “Que Sera, Sera (Whatever Will Be, Will Be)”

This hopeful song was introduced in the 1956 Alfred Hitchcock film, The Man Who Knew Too Much. This song featured actress/singer Doris Day, and quickly became one of the songs she was most known for. “Que Sera, Sera” was written by songwriting duo Jay Livingston and Ray Evans.

1960s -“Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on My Head“

“Raindrops Keep Fallin’ on My Head” won the Academy Award for Best Original Song in 1969. It was featured in the movie  Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, and was written by Hal David and Burt Bacharach. This song was hugely popular when it first came out, and reached #1 on charts in the USA, Canada, and Norway.

1970s- “Theme from Shaft“

This song was written and sung by artist Isaac Hayes for the 1971 film Shaft.  This academy-award was significant because it made Hayes the first African-American to receive the Oscar for original songs. “Theme from Shaft” went on to reach number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in the USA.

1980s-“(I’ve Had) The Time of My Life” 

Written for the 1987 film Dirty Dancing, “(I’ve Had) The Time of My Life” was/still is an extremely popular song. It went on to win multiple awards besides the Oscar, including A Golden Globe and a Grammy. This song was written by Franke Previte, John DeNicola, and Donald Markowitz, and recorded by Bill Medley and Jennifer Warner.

1990s- “My Heart Will Go On“

Also known as “Love Theme from Titanic,” this award-winner was the theme song from James Cameron’s record-breaking movie. This song was performed by Celine Dion, and quickly became her signature piece. This smash-hit reached number 1 on charts all around the world, and became one of the best-selling in history.

2000s – Lose Yourself

“Lose Yourself”, written by Eminem for the 2002 movie 8 Mile, was the first rap song to receive the Academy Award for Best Original Song. This was a massively popular song, and went on to win a Grammy and secure the #1 spot on Billboards Hot 100. The quintuple platinum song was also on Rolling Stone’s list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.

2010s- Let It Go

Even though we’re only half-way through the Oscars of the 2010’s, “Let It Go” has surely sealed its reputation as one of the most well-known movie songs in the world. The 2013 Disney movie Frozen was the highest grossing animated film, which can be largely accredited to its soundtrack. Let It Go reached the top 5 in the Hot 100 Billboard chart, and was covered in multiple languages, making it one of the most globally recorded Disney songs.

Read more: 

• Piano accompaniment and how to master it
• 35 Beatles songs you probably didn’t know
• The 6 most famous female pianists

The post The Greatest Oscar-Winning Songs Over the Decades appeared first on Learn to Play an Instrument with step-by-step lessons | Simply Blog.

In this beginner’s guide, we will teach you everything there is to know about natural and artificial guitar harmonics.

When you first pick up the guitar, your want to learn where the notes are on the frets and how to strum. However, as you advance in your skills, you discover new techniques to make your songs come to life. 

Guitar harmonics are fun to play and not too difficult once you learn how to find them on the guitar. This technique can add a bell-like quality to your strings. Are you ready to learn a new skill? Let’s dive into how to play natural and artificial harmonics on the guitar.

Are you ready to learn a new skill? Let’s dive into how to play natural and artificial harmonics on the guitar.

What are guitar harmonics?

You can hear subtle guitar harmonics every time you play the guitar. A note on guitar strings creates vibrations between the fret and string base.

The name note is audible because you play it intentionally. Then you have additional pitches that are less audible. These overtones are harmonic.

These overtones are harmonic.

When you play guitar harmonics, the string can vibrate from a fret to where the string meets the headstock. This technique brings the overtones to the forefront while the fundamental note takes a back seat. With this technique, you get a bell-like sound.

Guitar harmonics can add an impressive new tone to your guitar playing.  

Natural vs. artificial harmonics and how to play them.

There are two different types of harmonics you can play on the guitar: Natural and artificial harmonics. Let’s look at each type. 

How to play natural harmonics on guitar.

Playing a natural harmonic is not hard at all once you know where to find them on the fretboard. Follow the step-by-step. Then try playing natural harmonics on your guitar.

Step 1: Find the fret marker

To play a natural harmonic on the guitar, you can lightly rest your finger over any string on the fifth, seventh, or twelfth fret bars. These frets should be easy to find since there are dots that mark these frets. 

Step 2: Lightly touch the string 

After you find the fret, place your finger above the fret bar and lightly touch a string. You don’t want to press down too hard to fret the note. The string should touch only the tip of your finger and nothing else.

Step 3: Pluck and release

Once you pluck the string, release your finger to get a crisp, bell-like harmonic note. If you are using a capo, remember to count up the fifth, seventh, or twelfth from the capo instead of the headstock.

Different harmonic techniques.

Natural harmonics are straightforward to play. However, you have different techniques you can try when you play artificial harmonics on the guitar. These include tap harmonics, touch harmonics, and pinch harmonics. 

Artificial harmonic techniques can be tricky at first, but with practice, they can become second nature. To warm up your fingers so you can play these techniques nimbly, try these finger exercises: 5 Guitar Finger Exercises for Every Guitarist.

How do you read guitar harmonics in tablature?

Standard music notation indicates guitar harmonics with diamond-shaped notes and a dot next to the tablature numbers.

You may also see the words Harmonics or Harm above the staff.  These words indicate a natural harmonic. If there are several notes in a row you should play, you may see a dotted line after the word Harm. Here are a few other harmonic terms and their abbreviations that you commonly see in tablature: 

A final word on guitar harmonics.

Harmonics can be satisfying to play and give you a new dynamic to your guitar. For beginning guitarists, it is simpler to start with open-string harmonics. Then you can try out different techniques with artificial harmonics. 

To excel at guitar playing, you can download the Simply Guitar app. This app lets you stay on track while practicing guitar at home. It can also give you real-time feedback to strike all the right notes. Try it free for two weeks to see if it is for you!

FAQs.

The post How To Play Natural Harmonics On The Guitar  appeared first on Learn to Play an Instrument with step-by-step lessons | Simply Blog.

Playing music in odd time signatures can be challenging–especially if you have no idea what they are or how they work. Luckily, this blog post looks at time signatures and what makes them odd.

You can recognize odd time signatures in songs when they are tough to count or dance to–it’s like they’re skipping a beat. 

Odd time signatures enable artists to harness their imagination’s depths, creating unconventional and unique music. They can be tough to grasp at first. But once you get the hang of them, they’re a piece of cake.  

So let’s take a closer look at odd time signatures, their components, and their impact on music.

What is a time signature?

Time signatures determine the song’s rhythm. 

In sheet music, they appear as two numbers, one on top of the other. For instance, the simplest and most common time signature is 4/4. 

We use them to measure or organize songs by dividing them into smaller sections. This helps musicians with timing and makes the song easier to remember. 

Time signatures consist of two elements, a beat and a measure or ‘bar‘.

Beats & measures

In musical notation, the beat represents a basic unit of time. We organize beats in bars or measures. There are many types of beats, such as half beats, quarter beats, and eighth beats, to name a few.

The time signature’s top number is the number of beats in a bar, and the lower number refers to the type of beat that you’re playing. For instance, 5/8  is five eighth notes per measure. As you can see, songwriters have countless variations to play within musical notation.

So what’s the deal with an odd time signature?

Odd time signatures.

Also known as asymmetric, unusual, complex, or irregular time signatures, a song has an odd time signature when you can’t evenly divide the beats into the bar. For example, they appear in sheet music as 5/4, 11/4, 5/8, and even 23/16.

It’s always nice when things fit perfectly into their framework. However, in the case of music, a particular number of beats can produce intricate and pleasing sounds. 

Odd time signatures are found in all types of music, including pop, electronic, and traditional, and they’re also popular in progressive rock and metal music.

Different types of odd time signatures.

When it comes to odd signatures, you can create almost anything you want. Although, some interesting examples could clarify the beat’s layout.

• 11/4—This signature contains eleven beats that are a quarter note each. We can break the beats down into 1-2-3, 1-2-3, 1-2-3, 1-2. You can also switch the beats to look like 1-2-3, 1-2, 1-2-3, 1-2-3, etc.
  
• 5/4—With five beats per measure, this time signature resonates at a frequency of a quarter note each. You can break this signature down into 1-2-3, 1-2, or 1-2, 1-2-3.
  
• 7/8—In this case, the signature has seven beats per measure, eight notes each 12-12-12- 1, or 123-12-12. 

As you can see, you can use time signatures–especially odd ones–in interesting and unique ways. 

How is odd time different from other signatures?

There are many different approaches that you can use regarding time signatures. 

A signature is odd because the number of beats does not fit evenly into a measure. Their distribution must be in unique patterns, creating an unconventional rhythm.

Music has a host of other time signatures, and each offers a distinct rhythm. In a simple or normal time signature, you can divide beats into two equal sections of notes. The most common forms are 4/4, 2/4, and 3/4. 

Compound signatures are similar to their simpler peers; only the beats break down into three equal parts. The introduction to Game of Thrones uses a 6/8 time signature. Some other common forms include 9/8, 12/8, and 3/8. 

Another interesting way to write music–perhaps more peculiar than the odd time signature–is the changing, or polymetric time signatures. Using a changing time signature, you can play with beats and measures, establishing a new rhythm as the song progresses.

Popular songs with an odd time signature.

Part of understanding odd time signatures is identifying their sound. Here’s a list of songs that harness irregular beats to capture their listeners’ attention, love, and praise.

• The Ocean by the timeless rock band Led Zeppelin. The song’s musical time signature operates within a 7/8  framework. 

• MGMT, a famous indie rock band, composed Electric Feel, which uses a 6/4 rhythm.

• Pink Floyd’s hit, Money, with a time signature of 7/4.

• You by Radiohead uses a changing time signature, mixing some simple and odd time signatures! The rhythm changes between 6/8 and 5/8.

Cool stuff right?

The more you practice listening to songs that use odd time signatures, the easier they are to identify, giving you a clearer idea of how they work.

However, like any skill, it takes time and practice. 

Learn how to play the songs you love in various musical time signatures with JoyTunes. Our app Simply Piano guides you through a custom lesson plan that helps you progress one step at a time.

You’ll be playing your favorite songs in no time!

FAQs

The post How To Play Music in Odd Times appeared first on Learn to Play an Instrument with step-by-step lessons | Simply Blog.

My name is Ms. Becki, and I am a private music teacher.  I mostly teach piano, but also teach drums, guitar, and many other instruments.  I learned them because I have ADD but totally did not know it while growing up.  My husband and I have two kids who also suffer from ADD.  Between the ages of four to twelve, I had no idea what ADD/ADHD (no, I’m not going to talk about the differences between them—I’m not a doctor. Focus!) looked like in my son. He is bright, artistic, good with his hands, and has no difficulty with authority. However, he cannot remember to put on two socks when we leave the house, and his grades are hit or miss—and mostly miss because he can never remember to put his name on his papers.  Fast forward to today: after he was diagnosed and began treatment, his overall concentration showed much improvement.

As an educator, you’d think that I would have recognized the symptoms earlier.  ADHD 1 and 2 look different on everyone. Since music lessons are great for ADHD kids, I want to share with you some of the recommended music apps (and one company in particular) I used with my own son. See: an ad. I’m sorry!

Keezy Drummer

I love Keezy Drummer because it teaches rhythm.  It’s a creative yet concrete way to teach your musician the structure and fractions of rhythm. It will also help with math and algebra, but don’t tell the kids that! I also a way

SoundBrenner Pulse

I’ve just ordered the SoundBrenner Pulse; it’s an app that physically taps you. If you have a serious musician in the house, this will really help them “feel” time.  My son is super excited to get it; I, sadly, don’t need it because I slept with a metronome under my pillow for years to learn tempos. This, however, would have been much better. Technology for the win! 

Piano Maestro 

Piano Maestro is an app that, quite simply, teaches piano skills and is a real game changer for teachers, but also this company’s really amazing to its parent- and student-users. You create a login and begin to play: no cables, no setup, no hassle.  Put your iPad on the piano or keyboard and, when you see the highlighted key on the iPad, press the corresponding key on your instrument to play the song.  

When it’s over you get your results. Three stars? Whoot, you mastered it!  For the ADHD crowd, it’s great to receive that feedback. The songs are short and the library is full of current top-forty pop hits; in other words, songs that every kid wants to learn. The app also has video game and movie themes.

You’ll have a hard time stopping your child from playing this app, but why would you want to anyway if they’re having such a good time and learning so much? 

Another great aspect of this company: if you need a teacher who’s trained in music technology, they will help you find one in your area.  Yup. They certify thousands of teachers who are ready and able to help make the musical journey a great experience for your child. It kind of makes you want to learn to play too, doesn’t it? If so, check out Simply Piano, also by JoyTunes. 

As you can tell, I get super excited about teaching—you might even say I get jump-up-and-down, can barely be contained excited when I find apps that really connect with my kids. 

The combination of music and an ADHD musician is the most wonderful way to bring new music into the world.  An ADHD musician’s creativity and energy is amazing to see and experience.  Give your kids the tools to be all they can be!    

The post Music Learning Apps That Help With ADD & ADHD appeared first on Learn to Play an Instrument with step-by-step lessons | Simply Blog.

Wondering what are the best piano apps for Android in 2022? This article is a compilation of the best apps to start learning piano.

The Android versus Apple battle is ongoing. The camps are forming. Swapping sides is akin to treason.

Each device has its benefits, but not all apps can run on both platforms. So, if you are looking for a piano app for your Android, you want to make sure you find one compatible with your device.

Luckily, when looking for the best piano app, you can find a wide array of options available for your Android.

Find the best piano apps for your Android.

If you want to learn piano, an app can help you progress. But with so many options on the table, you need to narrow down your choices. 

Before you purchase a lifetime subscription to a piano app, ask yourself the following questions:

Who’s learning to play the piano?

Some piano apps are kid-friendly, while others are better suited for adults. Some apps are flexible and meet the needs of either party.

Do you want to pick up a new hobby? Or, are you looking for a more productive way for your kid to spend time than playing video games all day? 

Look at the app’s target audience to know which app is the best choice for you (or your kid).

What skill level do you need?

If you are a beginning student, you want an app that covers the basics. However, you don’t want to reinvent the wheel if you just need to brush up on your skills. Some apps focus on games and very basic skills, while others can take you from beginner to advanced. 

Think about what you already know and want to learn before making your final choice.

Do you have an acoustic piano, digital piano, or keyboard?

Some apps are flexible. You can use them with acoustic pianos, digital pianos, and keyboards. 

However, you have to plug some apps into the keyboard or digital piano to give you real-time advice on your skills.

Other apps are designed to learn directly on the app without needing to access a real instrument. Consider what instrument you have or don’t have before signing on the dotted line.

What is your price range?

Most apps offer a free trial period where you can see if the app works for you. Others offer limited free services that you can enjoy long-term.

However, when you purchase an app, you get a wide range of benefits that you can’t get for free. If you try the app and enjoy it, you can sign up on a monthly or year-long basis. Some even offer lifetime subscriptions!

Subscribing to an app is significantly cheaper than in-person lessons. Also, with an app, you can pick up your device as often as you want to improve your piano skills on the piano.  

Let’s look at some of the top piano apps for Android devices in 2022.

1. Simply Piano

The Simply Piano app has millions of users and is available for Android and Apple devices. You can also buy a family plan to download on multiple devices. Whether you are a child or an adult, you can enjoy the step-by-step teaching methods of this app. 

Simply piano shows you proper hand position and note names. They also walk you through the treble and bass clef as you put both hands together on the keys. 

You can use this app with an acoustic piano, electric keyboard, or digital piano. It uses a microphone to listen as you practice and then gives you real-time feedback so you can correct your mistakes. Or, you can use a MIDI cable to connect to a device.

If you are traveling, the Touch Course allows you to keep up with your skills on the go. Your android phone becomes a piano, so you don’t lose any of your hard-earned progress. 

Learning to play your favorite pop songs and classical music has never been easier. 

This highly-rated app has been downloaded over ten million times, making Simply Piano one of the most popular apps in 2022. 

2. Perfect Piano

Perfect Piano is an 88-key piano simulator for Android systems.

If you don’t have a piano nearby, you can keep up your skills by playing on your device. You can also connect a USB MIDI keyboard to take your skills to the next level. Record the songs you learn and save them to listen to.

This app teaches you the tools for playing music by creating weekly challenges where you can compete with other learners. You can also team up with friends and show off your newly-learned skills.

With Perfect Piano, you have thousands of songs at your fingertips and the opportunity to connect with other piano students worldwide. Create your own community and support each other as you learn to play piano.

3. Real Piano Teacher 2

Android users highly rated the Real Piano Teacher app, and the 2.0 version is even better. Real Piano Teacher 2 comes with challenging family and friends to play-offs. This puts your skills to the test in a fun, interactive way.

You can be your own teacher with this app and learn at your own pace. If you want guidance, the app can take you by the hand. However, if you know what you are doing or just want to go it alone, you have that option. 

Choose from various lesson plans and play with different instrumental sounds while at it.

Real Piano Teacher 2 could be for you if you want to make learning a game.

4. Flowkey

Flowkey is a simple and constructive way to learn piano. The app is available for both Apple and Android devices. It has a bit of everything, including theory, piano history, and popular tunes that you can play on the piano. 

Whether you are a brand new beginner or already have some piano skills, this app can meet you where you are. Master new songs, and add them to your repertoire as you go.

You can use this app with an acoustic piano or a MIDI keyboard. The in-app microphone listens to the notes you play and gives you feedback as you go. This way, you can catch your mistakes promptly. 

The Flowkey app is a perfect supplemental tool to pair with in-person lessons.

5. Perfect Ear

If you already have some piano basics, you may be ready to expand your skill set in new areas. 

The Perfect Ear app focuses less on basic finger placement and on training your ear to discern rhythms and note patterns. Learn to recognize chord progressions, triads, intervals, and more. 

Practicing your listening skills can help you play scales correctly and improve your improvisation on the keys. Whether a beginner or an experienced pianist, you can grow your musical skills with this app. 

Ready to play the piano?

A piano app can give you the structure to build skills and practice what you learn. You can even try free trials of a few different apps before making your final decision. Once you decide which app best suits your needs, download it and start creating music! 

To get a headstart on some piano basics, check out this article on How to Read Sheet Music 101.

Are you ready to play the piano? Let’s go!

FAQs.

The post The 5 Best Piano Apps for Android in 2022 appeared first on Learn to Play an Instrument with step-by-step lessons | Simply Blog.

Learning to play piano notes and chords?
Here’s a quick guide that will help you master the basics.

A keyboard may look vast and confusing to you right now. However, by studying the keys and what they do, it makes perfect sense!

Reading and playing music is way more manageable when you know what all the buttons do!

So here’s a quick crash course to help you get your bearings.

Let’s get to it! 

What’s a piano note? 

A piano note is a symbol that represents a musical sound. A given note refers to a specific key on the piano. Notes are the foundation of sheet music – guiding the song’s rhythm, tempo, and pitch. 

• The rhythm is a robust and repeating beat that dictates a song’s pattern. It’s the foundation of music that guides the timing of the notes you play.
• The tempo is the speed at which you play a song. High energy Piano songs have a faster tempo, and low energy songs have a slower tempo.
• Pitch refers to a note’s frequency. The higher the note’s frequency, the faster the waveform – and therefore, the higher the pitch of the sound.

In sheet music, we use note values to determine the length of time for a particular note. 

The beat dictates the rhythm of a song and works with notes to create unique sound sequences. Eighth notes are a half-beat, quarter notes are one beat, half notes hold for two beats, and whole notes last four beats.

What are the standard piano notes?

Each key on a piano uses seven basic notes (C, D, E, F, G, A, B). These notes repeat themselves all over the keyboard.

The white keys range from A to G, and the black keys are ‘sharper’ or ‘flatter’ in sound than the neighboring keys.

As you can see, they have can have two different names!

While the piano has an alarming number of notes at first glance, there are only twelve of them – seven white and five black keys.

Simple right?

What are piano chords?

Simply put, a chord is playing two or more notes simultaneously. In other words, you form a chord by pushing down on several keys simultaneously. 

A triad is the most common type of keyboard or piano chord. Also known as a three-note chord, a given chord contains a root note and two others, a third and a fifth note.

To identify and play chords, you also need to understand spacing. Between each key is a measurement of a half-step. For example, the space between a white key and the nearest black key is a half-step.

Playing a chord requires building a shell – the root note and the fifth. Complete the trifecta by adding a third. (This is where your middle finger goes.) 

Now that we’ve got that down let’s look at major and minor chords.

Minor chords.

Minor chords are known as sad chords because of their distinct sounds.

We consider them sad chords because of the low pitch they produce. Minor chords can drastically affect the song’s emotion with a darker, gloomy feel. 

Major chords.

You often hear major chords in uplifting music because they make bright, happy sounds. Playing a major chord is just like playing a minor chord. Only there’s one crucial difference. 

Hopefully, you can now see a clear picture of piano notes and how they relate to each other and make chords. 

To an untrained individual, music sounds fluid and intuitive. Behind the beautiful sounds, however, is a precise mathematical structure. Understanding that design will enable you to make beautiful sounds too!

If you found this helpful and want some more, check out piano scales for beginners.

FAQs

The post Quickly Learn Piano Notes and Chords appeared first on Learn to Play an Instrument with step-by-step lessons | Simply Blog.

Independent learning and practice are essential whether you’re taking lessons or not. Here are nine of the best piano books for beginners.  

Writing plays a vital role in the development of society and the human race. Through reading, we can learn about virtually anything.

Reading about the piano can offer insights about the instrument that you may not find anywhere else.

However, there are thousands of piano books. As a student, you want to be effective with your time, so finding the right piano book is vital.

Here are the nine best piano books for beginners.

1. Alfred’s Basic Adult Piano Course 

Alfred’s Basic Adult Piano Course provides piano lessons for beginners. The ‘Alfred’s brand has been publishing piano books since 1922. The series is popular for people of all ages and breaks ideas down into small, easy-to-follow steps.

The book teaches basic techniques and provides beginners with the necessary information to practice correctly.

Additionally, it offers a ton of information about chords–teaching you everything from learning how to form and play them. Additionally, the book provides some sheet music for various well-known songs, including ‘Happy Birthday’ and ‘Greensleeves.’

2. Alfred’s Basic Piano Library

Some of Alfred’s books are for kids. This book, in particular, offers lessons for children as young as five. 

There’s an art to capturing a child’s attention and relaying information. Alfred’s Basic Piano Library presents piano techniques for kids. This book makes learning the piano fun with eye-catching illustrations, simple text, and catchy tunes. 

And should you have a child prodigy on your hands, there are many more books in the series to move on to next.

Handy tip: These books and many others on our list are available on Kindle. Easy on your budget AND portable.

3. Primer Level – Lesson Book: Piano Adventures

Learning to play piano is an adventure, and Primer Level – Lesson Book: Piano Adventures helps you make the most out of it.

This book’s lessons are strategically designed to help you improve your skill. You start with basic techniques and review concepts from the previous lesson, so you can keep moving forward consistently. 

This one is also part of a wide range of piano lesson books created by Nancy and Randall Faber, both respected pianists and teachers in the industry.

These books are also kid-friendly and a great tool to improve your note-reading skills.

4. Piano Scales, Chords & Arpeggios Lessons with Elements of Basic Music Theory

Damon Ferrante is an accomplished composer who has performed in many famous concert halls throughout North America. His book Piano Piano Scales, Chords & Arpeggios Lessons with Elements of Basic Music Theory offers valuable lessons about scales, chords, and arpeggios. 

Ferrante’s book can be a potent tool. It contains 140 lessons and 30 additional classes via video streaming. 
If you’re learning on your own, this is a resource you want to have. However, you don’t necessarily need books to find the necessary information. For instance, there are tons of blogs that go over basic piano techniques. Check out our blog, Quickly Learn Piano Notes and Chords, and get started!

5. Easy Piano Sheet Music for Kids

Another powerful piano book for kids, Easy Piano Sheet Music for Kids, offers a collection of 40 popular songs to learn from. 

Of course, you must convey information in a digestible way to your audience. Easy Piano Sheet Music for Kids does this perfectly! Each note of every song has clear labels, helping kids learn to read sheet music while having fun.

Kids rarely know what they want. This book is ideal because it also covers both piano and keyboard playing–this is a must-have!

6. Piano for the Young Beginner

A ‘best of’ list for books on learning piano is incomplete without the famous name ‘Bastien.’ This piano primer helps children five years or older learn to play. 

It takes them through the basics and prepares them to read and play proficiently. Additionally, the book offers various popular songs for them to learn, and their stunning illustrations keep their exuberant minds engaged.

If your child enjoys the book, the brand has many more on playing piano for beginners. Add them to your collection, so your little Mozart can keep learning.

7. Lang Lang Piano Academy.

Another fantastic book for kids is The Lang Lang Piano Method: Level 1. The series has five books, each more advanced than the last. 

These books get beginners progressing quickly. With clear illustrations of keyboards and detailed descriptions of which notes to play, understanding what you need to do is easy! However, what’s interesting about these books is the illustrations–they merge comic strips with piano lessons (speech bubbles and all). Lang Lang is a superhero pianist, and you, the student, join him on his adventures. 

Overall this book is very active and, therefore, ideal for people looking to be creative. You can learn about music theory, how to play notes and chords, and how to perform.

8. A Dozen A Day.

Sometimes simplicity is what you need. If you already have your bearings and are looking to sharpen your skills, this book is for you. 

A Dozen A Day is an exercise book that offers beginners many fun and easy-to-play songs. However, this book isn’t designed to be your primary source of learning. You can practice your sight reading and test your hand speed and precision.

9. Hanon Virtuoso Pianist.

Hanon Virtuoso Pianist is ideal for pianists at the beginner and professional levels.

A staple in the industry, this book is full of essential information, teaching you everything from the basics to advanced techniques. While the information is incredibly helpful, one of its criticisms is that it can be a bit of a dry read. There are no illustrations, just you and pages of notes about how to play the piano. 

Blandness aside, the book offers students quality techniques they carry throughout their piano journey.

The magic of reading.

Books are powerful companions for learning any skill. We can record essential information and pass it on to readers. As a beginner, you can pick the brains of highly skilled pianists in your home. 

Learning the piano can be a lifelong journey. Your teachers can come in many forms. For instance, in addition to reading a book, you take private lessons from someone who’s been playing much longer, you learn online or from CDs, and you can also learn from apps. 

Simply Piano is an app designed by music teachers. It’s a powerful tool that teaches everything from basic hand techniques and reading sheet music to playing your favorite songs.

FAQs

The post The 9 Best Piano Books for Beginners appeared first on Learn to Play an Instrument with step-by-step lessons | Simply Blog.