How To Read Piano Notes
If you are planning to learn the piano, you are in for a smooth ride. It is not as hard as it looks. Before you start with playing the piano, you ought to know how to read the notes. When it comes to reading piano notes, you basically learn a pattern. Usually, piano notes are named after certain letters. There is a “musical alphabet” that is relatively shorter than the original English one. The notes start at A and end at G. Then there is a repetition. For instance: A, B, C, D, E, F, G, A, B, C, D, etc.
It is essential to learn about the 2 “clefs” before you learn the piano. These clefs, namely the Treble Clef and Bass Clef are nothing but 2 signs that direct you in knowing which note to play, whether it is a high note or a low note. As a rule, one should use the right hand to play the notes in the treble clef, as they are the higher notes. Likewise, one should use the left hand for playing the lower notes (the bass clef).
Musical notes in piano are written on lines and spaces – also known as the staff. When are go up the musical alphabet (such A, B, C, D), you alternate space -line – space – line – space. For instance: A would be line, B would be space, C would be line, and D would be space. This is basically for the piano notes that are exactly next to each other on the piano keyboard. To learn and read the piano notes better, you can learn certain sayings that are easy to remember. Following are the clefs with their respective line and space pattern.
Spaces (Treble Clef) – The letters denoting the spaces on the treble clef form the word – FACE wherein F is the lowest space situated on the treble clef, and the E note is the highest.
Lines (Treble Clef) – The letters on the lines ranging from lowest to highest are - E G B D F. that aptly denotes the saying - “Every Good Boy Deserves Fudge.” If you do not find any of the given sayings appropriate, you are free to make one as per your choice. Note that the lowest line – E – is subsequent to the lowest space –F.
Spaces (Bass Clef) – The saying, “All Cows Eat Grass.” is apt for the bass clef spaces.
Lines (Bass Clef) – For lines in the bass clef you can use the saying - “Great Big Ducks Fly Away.”
These are the fundamentals for how to read piano notes. What are you waiting for? If you still need more information on the various types of piano notes and the flats and sharps refer to various reference material and books on piano or consult a piano teacher.
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