Learn To Play The Keyboard

The Keyboard is a musical instrument and the piano is the most common, used in almost every form of western music. Some of the other widely used keyboard instruments are several types of organs and other electromechanical, electronic and mechanical instruments.

Commonly, it is used for referring to keyboard-style synthesizers. If you go back in time, many people used to learn to play the piano. It was only for aristocrats. Today not many people play it and find the task of sitting in front of the keyboard rather daunting.

The Basics

There are in total 88 keys on a piano keyboard, whereas electronic keyboards have fewer keys. The white keys are whole notes and keys in black are flats or sharps. There are twelve keys in each octave which are grouped in a set of 2 black keys followed by a space then 3 black keys. This particular grouping is to help you find 'C'.

The first exercise would be playing on octave on white keys. It consist of 8 keys starting with C and ending with C. To begin you start with your thumb.

Hold your arms horizontall, and point your fingers directly down touching the white keys. Play the first 5 notes with all fingers, then passing your thumb under you little finger to setup your fingers to play another 5 notes. Once you have mastered this technique try it with you left hand. Next play from left to right with any hand and then in the opposite direction right to left. Once you attain easy movements with both hands, up and down in scale, try to play an octave with your hands together. Begin with your right hand in the treble clef which is in the middle of the keyboard. Then place your left hand on the bass, which is an octave below the middle of keyboard.

When you are able to play up and down an octave with your hands, you can start learning the chords. Each main chord consist of only 3 pressed keys. To play the 'C Chord' place you right thumb on the 'C' note, your middle finger on the 'E' note (2 keys above the c note) and your little finger on the 'G' note (4 notes above the c note). Press 3 keys down simultaneously to play the 'C Chord.'

Try this with your left hand until you are familiar with both hands. You have finally mastered the basic 'C Chord' and all you need to do now is master the rest of the chords.