Counting the Time

Time Signatures; let’s get to know them better. In the last entry, we tacked a portion of the piano sheet music; the piano notes. Now in this entry let’s discuss more this time about time signatures.

Time signatures play a vital role in proper piano playing. It helps pianists count the music. Count the music? Yes, it’s possible to count the music. Music counting defines the speed and the music rhythm that should be played in a certain piano sheet music. This is the responsibility of Time Signatures.

Time Signatures are like identifiers. It tells what a measure as to both the number of beats and the value of each beat because we divide music into beats. Confusing? Not at all! Just think that time signatures are the pulse or the beat if the music.

So where are they on the piano sheet music? You can read and see them at the beginning of the piano sheet music just after the clefs. They’re signified by numbers or some symbols depending on the time signatures.

The top number represents how many beats is in a measure while the bottom number represents what type of note gets one beat.

You can see a lot of variations of time signatures. All of them have different counts. One of the most common time signatures are the 4/4 count and the 3/4 count. Most piano music and many kinds of music use either of the two as their music rhythm.

The 4/4 time signature is the most popular and most used time signature that you can here in almost every genre of music. It means there are four quarter notes (or any combination of notes that equals four quarter notes) in every measure. Most of the time it is represented by a small bolded letter C which means common time.

The 3/4 time signature is another common time signature that you can see in many piano sheet music. It means that there are three quarter notes (or any combination of notes that equals three quarter notes) in every measure.

A piece in six eight (6/8) might have six beats in every measure, with an eighth note getting a beat. This is also a very often-used time signature. To count  the beat try this: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, etc.

There are also other variations of time signatures. In most cases, they are rarely used or too traditional like a 7/4 count, 8/4 count and even a 5/4 count.

Time signatures are very important in terms of knowing the beat of the music. It will help you understand it more and put more emotions in it. Learn how to play the piano better and easier.

Piano Sheet Music Unraveled

On one of our old entries, we discussed already the piano sheet music. It was all about the Clefs, piano accidentals and time signatures. If you missed it then clickà HERE.

But in this entry we’ll tackle something you always see in a piano sheet music. Some may see it as unique drawings or codes but they’re actually musical symbols. These musical symbols determine something on what you play in a piano sheet music. It is called piano notes.

Piano notes have different beats or counts. It tells how long you will play a certain note. Piano notes are always together with time signatures. They both determine how you play a certain piano sheet music. But in this entry let’s familiarize ourselves on what each easy piano notes beat have.

A whole note or also called a semibreve means you have a piano note will have 4 beats.

A dotted half note or a dotted minim will have 2 beats.

While a crochet or a quarter note will have one beat.

There is also the eight note or a quaver. It means a piano note will have a half beat.

So there you have it. Without these piano notes that determine the beat or pulse of the music, we will be lost while piano playing so be thankful. Understand them because once you do, piano sight reading will be a breeze.

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Reading the Piano

One of the basic steps in your piano lessons is how to read the piano.

Learning and understanding how to read the piano and the easy piano notes are vital keys for success in any piano lessons whether it’s private or online piano lessons.

We’ll start with something simple. Let’s review the piano keys.

The piano keys are the white and black keys in a piano or a keyboard. By hammering or pressing or stroking down your fingers you will be able to create sound. These sounds are definite and exact in terms of reading it. For example, no matter where you play the key C in the piano it will always be a C, be it a lower C or a high C.

The black keys are often called as ebony while white keys are called ivories.

Common pianos have 88 keys. Grand and upright pianos are mostly available in 88 keys. There are other piano and keyboards that have lesser keys. Keyboards are known for having only 76 keys or 69 keys.

Having lesser keys limits what you play on the piano.

If you take a closer look at the image above, you’ll notice that it follows a certain pattern. This pattern is definite and it never changes whichever piano or keyboard you play.

The pattern as it follows: 5 white keys and 7 black keys. This makes up an octave. A piano with 88 keys usually have 7 octave and extra 4 keys.

These piano keys have a designated easy piano notes on each. It’s easy to remember on each octave because it will never change.

It is as follows; A, B, C, D, E, F, and G.

There is no H on the piano. When you stop at G just go back to A.

Get to know your Music Sheets

One of the most important things in piano playing beside the piano itself is the piano sheet music.

The piano sheet music determines what kind of music or what a pianist will play in a piano.

Did you know that some pianists are not capable of piano sight reading? That’s true. They can play piano by ear. It’s a talent that not all pianists have. But what they commonly forgot to learn is to read piano sheet music. It is essential if you’re planning to become a known composer, accompanists or musician.

So let’s get to the basics of a piano sheet music and will tackle piano sight reading next time. So stay tuned.

The staff consists of five lines and five spaces. In here you will see sets of easy piano notes written all over. This allows you to read them correctly and easily.

Most of the times when you download free piano sheet music you can see two sets of staffs and at the beginning of each staff are symbols. These are called clefs. Clefs determine which hand should play the sets of easy piano notes.

The G clef or also called the treble clef is played by the right hand

and while the C Clef or known as the bass clef is played by the left hand.

Beside the clefs you’ll notice some numbers. In most cases you see them as 4/4 or 3/4 or maybe 6/8. These numbers are called time signatures. They indicate the beat or the music rhythm of a piano music. This is often neglected but if not properly understood can hinder your piano playing skills and piano practice.

Now next is a more confusing side of the piano sheet music, the piano accidentals. Piano accidentals are the sharps, flats and the neutrals on a piano sheet music. Sharps keys means a half step semitone higher while flat key means a half step semitone lower and neutral means it should return to the original key tone.

For now, this is what you should know about your piano sheet music. These are the essentials and will allow you to move forwards with other piano lessons.

Piano Lessons: Online or Offline

There are many ways to learn how to play the piano. You can either choose private piano lessons or self-learning through online piano lessons or piano dvds.

Both different methods of piano lessons have its pros and cons. In this entry, let’s try to differentiate them and see which piano lessons suit you.

Private Piano Lessons

Having private piano lessons are perfect for toddlers and kids. It teaches them the essential and basics of piano playing. Teaching piano students at home help both the teacher and the student to focus on the piano lessons. Also learning this way allows the student to ask questions regarding the lessons. Piano beginners can easily understand the lessons because it is real and on the spot.

Although that is said, there are a lot of disadvantages with private piano lessons. First are the distractions. Lessons done at home can be distracted even by just a simple phone call or a dog barking. Another thing, with private piano lessons you could either study at home (with more distractions such as television) or at your piano teacher’s home (less distraction, boring experience).

Another downside of private piano lesson is if you are already an adult. Of course no adult would want to be taught piano sheet music like “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star”. Too childish. Also private piano lessons can be really expensive. It’s almost $100 per month. You can buy groceries with that already.

Self-Learning Piano Lessons

If you don’t have enough time to commit on private piano lessons or don’t have enough money for private piano lessons then there is always an alternative. You can always try self-learning piano lessons trough some modern methods. When you’re already a grown-up these adult piano lessons for beginners will be you solutions.

One of the best things you can try is online piano lessons. A lot of people and companies are now posting free online piano lessons everywhere on the internet. You can always try YouTube piano videos for starters. Or websites that offers free online piano lessons. No matter where you go online piano lessons are a sure hit. It’s free, easy to understand and you can control anytime you take the lessons.

Maybe you want something more reliable, then you can try buying or borrowing from libraries piano dvds. Piano dvds are available on Amazon or on websites that offers piano lessons. You’re just going to pay extra for lifelong piano lessons on your own home.

You can also try piano lesson books. It also has extensive explanations of the lesson without the visual aid which is in most cases very important.

Or you can try something you can always listen or watch wherever you are, PODCASTS. Yes, the great invention of ITunes can now be used as an easier way of learning free piano lessons. Piano podcasts can be played anywhere using your iPhone or iPod devices or even on your own computer.

Conclusion

So what’s the verdict? If you have the time and the money and a quiet place to learn, you can always try private piano lessons.

But if you are an adult already with no free time and enough money for private piano lesson, you can always go for self-learn piano lessons. Same results minus the expense, the pressure and the money.

Learn by yourself! It’s easier and cheaper. Online piano lessons are a great answer to adult piano lessons for beginners and toddlers’ first easy piano notes.

Easy Steps to Compose your Own Piano Music

Want to compose your own piano music but don’t know here to start? Then no more worries. By just following these simple steps I prepared for you can ensure a breezy and fun ways of composing your own piano music.

Even though you only have beginner piano lessons or still taking them, the basic knowledge of the piano chords and the music are the main keys on composing your own piano music.

Step 1
Piano lessons. I might have mentioned before about not much piano lessons but getting at least the basic piano chords and the music theory can be advantageous to anyone. Piano Chords are basically the building blocks of sounds in music. Everything that’s in C Chord will always be the same with other sometimes just in a higher note or octave.

Did you know that a lot of songs are made from the C Major Scale or the C Chord? It’s because that the C Major Scale is the easiest scale to work with.

Step 2
Your left hand does the piano chords or other piano chords progressions and runs while the right hand balances it with the main melody of the music. Remember that not all piano chords will sound good at some certain melodies.

Step 3
Where will you start? Some pianists and composers prefer to start off with the piano chords then add the melody after. To some pianists it works but in most cases, it causes more confusion. So if this is you first time composing your own piano music, then you can try using easy piano notes first then add the appropriate piano chords.

Step 4
Okay, so you’re going to use the C Major, I usually consist of the piano notes G and C as the melody. You can try doing some runs and chord progressions or broken chords to create the beat and the speed you want to create. Just experiment and try as many patterns as you can just make sure it still fits for the earlier melody you created.

Step 5
You can try different piano chords that still has the same mood that may eventually lead up to a whole song. You can start your music at the intro or the chorus or the verses.

Step 6
It’s alright to repeat some piano chords that you’ve already set just make sure that the next one will be a little different than the first pattern so you won’t bored your listeners.

Step 7
Transfer it! You can now try putting it in a piano sheet music. Although this step can be set aside for later if you’re music theory isn’t still broad enough or if you are piano beginner.

Easy right! If you’re still confused you can watch this video on how to compose piano music using piano chords and other more tips to help you compose you own music.

Become a Piano Accompanist

Are you joining a band to perform? Or are you planning on doing a duet like where you see a pianist playing the piano while a singer sings beautifully? Then you want to become a piano accompanist.

A Piano Accompanist is a piano player/a pianist that acts as a background musician for a singer or a band or an orchestra. Piano accompanists are very musically talented because they should be able to accompany and assist another musician or a singer. Although the soloist (singer or another musician) whose being accompanied is highlighted, the performance or the show would not be successful without a talented piano accompanist.

To become a piano accompanist you must be able to sight read music well. Most of the time when performing, some singers or soloist provides a piano sheet music of their own version or key to be played.

While in some occasions such as gatherings or parties, a piano accompanist must know how to play music with ear and piano chords improvisation. You may encounter performances requests from friends and guests. A piano accompanist must be able to know what key does the singer sings. This helps for a great show and performance. It also allows an accompanist showcase his or her talent even if the singer is off-key. It’s all about you, piano accompanist.

There are endless possibilities and careers when you choose to be a piano accompanist. You can play with bands, with a soloist or even with an orchestra. Just harness your piano playing skills and you’re good to go.

Simple tips for piano accompaniment:

• Practice your piano regularly.
• Make sure to practice the piece you're going to play.
• Run-through the piece several times with the singer you're going to accompany.
• Make certain adjustments to your playing to suit the singers' vocal style and technique.
• On the day of the performance be prompt and dress appropriately.

Quick Tips to Sight Read Music

Are you an adult piano beginner or a parent giving your kids easy piano lessons? Then probably you both are having some trouble with sight reading music.

It’s not that rare for people to have some problems with piano sight reading. Training your mind and fingers to read piano sheet music is difficult especially for a beginner.

I often see people asking for piano sheet music for beginners with letters. I guess by having that you can easily learn a new piano sheet music. But honestly by doing so you are actually learning less than you thought you’ll learn. You become very dependent to the letters instead of reading the notes.

So here is my advice. Learn the music theory and piano sight reading. Note values can be expressed by letters that’s why they’re musical notes. Piano sheet music for beginners with letters is very rare. Most of this piano sheet music may be self-published by a pianist or hand-written by a piano teacher then scanned and shared. So you probably only have a 5% chance of getting one online.

If you’re a total newbie, I suggest you take beginner piano lessons, and learn easy piano notes first. Learning them slowly will actually help you sight read music better. For more retention of the musical notes, you can try doing piano finger exercises and reading easy piano sheet music first. Even if you’re an adult piano beginner it’s pretty music the basics for a total newbie.

And lastly, practice. The more you practice the faster you learn and understand it. Learning how to play the piano is like learning a new language. You won’t learn or understand it overnight. Practice it and you’ll be playing like a pro.

How to Play Jazz Piano

Happy New Year!

What’s your New Year’s Resolution? Just curious.

Anyways, mine is to discover new kinds of piano playing styles. One thing that caught my mind is jazz piano. I always dream jazzing up my favorite piano sheet music.

I know how is that possible? Even I at first was very confused on how to jazz it up especially when I have no idea on jazz piano styles. So first I looked it up. There are dozens and confusing styles but you’re in luck this year. I’ll give you the basic jazz piano styles to give you a head start on how to play jazz piano.

Remember that these are all for left had jazz improvisation. Also I’ll include videos on how it is done.

The Walking Bass Style

This is commonly used on guitars. It’s the most widely used jazz piano style. Bass notes are played on beast of a 4/4 time signature. This is usually done by solo jazz pianists and accompanied by a singer.

The Stride Style

Invented and made famous by the legendary Scott Joplin, it's since become part and parcel with playing Jazz. It focuses mainly on the music rhythm using the left hand. Also it plays broken roots, fifths and creating a strong base foundation for the harmony leaving the right hand to improvise.

The Bossa Nova Style

This style is something you always hear and you start dancing. Basic Bossa follows certain rhythms which are as follows:

• dotted quarter note
• eighth note
• dotted quarter note
• eighth note

Pianists such as Brazilian Carlos Antonio Jobim used and popularized this style.

Now you know the style all you need is to know how to do it. I hope you enjoy it and you can listen to one of my favorite piano jazz improvisation of a classical piano sheet music, Fur Elise.

Learn Your Piano Chords: The Easy Way

One of the most important basic music theory knowledge that any pianist should have is the piano chords. It basically forms the moods and creation of new music. In order to know how to form theses chords, you must know what they are as well. So what are piano chords?

Piano chords or chords are three or more notes played together to create sound or melody. There are actually 4 types of piano chords, the Major Chords, the Minor Chords, the Diminished Chords and the Augmented Chords. There are also known as triads. You can use semitones also known as the half-step to form these piano chords.

The most basic and known piano chords are the Major Chords and the Minor Chords.

Major chords are also called the happy chords because of the light mood it makes. It uses 4-3 semitones to form. To build a C major chord on a piano, you will use the C note, the E note (4 semitones from C. Db is the first semitone, D is the second, Eb is the third, and E is the fourth), and the G note (3 semitones from E is G. F is the first, F# is the second, and G is the third).

Minor Chords is known as the sadder chords. It uses a 3-4 semitone formula to form Minor Chords. This formula is the opposite of a major chord's. Using the formula, we can construct/form any minor chord easily. The minor chord can be called the "moody" chord or the sad chord.

Example 1:
F minor chord = F + Ab (3 semitones from F) + C (4 semitones from Ab).

Diminished and Augmented Piano Chords are rarely used or known but are also needed in piano playing.

Diminished chords are traditional piano chords and may sound quite unstable. After playing it either a Major or Minor Chord must be played. The diminished chord can be called the "suspense" chord. It uses a 3-3 semitone form.

For Example:
C diminished chord = C + Eb (3 semitones from C) +Gb (3 semitones from Eb)

Augmented Chords is also a traditional piano chord that serves as a passing chord. When used appropriately, it will make the piano music sounds spectacular.

Example 1:
D augmented chord = D + F# (4 semitones from D) + A# (4 semitones from F#)

Playing piano chords can make piano playing easy and fun. Try piano chords improvisation and create your own music.

Finding the Right Piano Teacher

Piano Playing is a very fun activity for your kids to enjoy. It can really build their musical interest in such a young age and the known benefits are endless.

According to a blog post I read recently, children who are introduced and started piano lessons at a young age shows higher self-esteem and are unlikely to get any degenerative mental diseases such as Alzheimers disease. Piano playing stimulates the mind and keeps it mentally active.

You can give piano lessons for children even at the age of three, but it requires a really great, patient piano teacher. Children this young and a little older have really short attention spans. A piano teacher must give piano lessons for a toddler in around 15 minutes or less. Ages between six to 10 years old are the best ages to teach children how to play the piano. Children around these ages are curious and have an unlimited supply of energy.

Here are some tips on finding the right piano teacher for your kids:

1. Not because the teachers are inexpensive doesn’t mean they’re capable of teaching your kids. Find a piano teacher with an excellent background of piano teaching with kids and a great music background. You don’t want to be a guinea pig for a new piano teacher, don’t you?

2. Private piano lessons or class lessons. Depends on you actually. Some parents prefer private piano lessons for kids because the piano instructor can really focus on the kid’s lessons.

3. Patience is a virtue. Very true especially when they’re teaching kids.

4. What kind of teaching style do they have? Piano teachers are more inclined to teaching classical piano music but some also offers jazz lessons.

5. Recitals. It’s better if the piano teacher also have piano recitals. It helps the children get more confidence and know how to perform in front of an audience so they won’t have and piano anxiety attacks.

But the best way to teach your kids is if you are also active on the music lessons . It helps you understand your kids more and bond with them.

Resource: Play Piano - When Should You Start Learning Piano

Why Learn the Music Theory

They say learning the piano only needs skill, talent and perseverance to be really good at it. But sad to say not all pianist or even musicians know the music theory.

Now here is the question: is it really necessary to a musician, may it be a pianist or a singer, to learn the music theory. Some thought that by learning or “studying” the music theory won’t let them enjoy piano music anymore in which they are very wrong. Understanding the music theory will allow more appreciation to music and will also help increase your knowledge and skill to music.

Music theory basically covers everything from how to read the musical notes and up to how to do piano chords. Not only learning music theory can also enhance your ear sensitivity allowing you to play music by ear. You’ll be able to learn the major scales and the minor scales.

Knowing the music theory well is one of the main requirements to be one great musician. You might end up composing music especially if you plan to be in an orchestra.

Did you know that piano teachers commonly forgot to teach students how to play piano chords? Take it my experience. My teacher didn’t teach me that. So my resort was online piano lessons and I can say that they’re really effective.

So it’s important to know your music theory and even your major scales and minor scales to be one sought out musician of the world.

Chirstmas Carols Revamped!

The Christmas Music

In a couple of weeks the greatest event of the year will happen, Christmas. This is the season where people decorate homes with thousands of Christmas lights, colorful Christmas balls and many more. But what makes the Christmas season merrier is the Christmas carol sheet music we hear every day.

People often just by cds in store or download Christmas Carols in Itunes to listen at. But if you ask me what’s the best way to spend Christmas. Well here is my simple answer: I love sitting in my piano and play those great Christmas Carols Melodies with my friends and families. Enjoying the festive together, singing and enjoying the Christmas Spirit.

But what if you’re looking for the best Christmas Carol to learn? Well, no need to look anymore. Why don’t you try some Christmas Piano Improvisation? It may sound impossible but the best Christmas music you hear on cds are actually improvised version of all-time favorite Christmas melodies.

I always do piano improvisation every Christmas and some other random days. Not only it is fun and interesting, I am able to create new tunes and possibly my own music. Not only that, I’m able to practice my piano playing skills. So how do you really do it?

Well the main secret here is to know your piano chords well. Piano chords with little tips and tricks can create amazing and beautiful sounds. Runs and fillers also create a major difference on how the music will sound. Also your hand coordination is very important. And the most important of them all is practice.

One of my most favorite Christmas piano sheet music that was improvised is Silent Night.

Practicing piano playing and understanding your piano chords will create jaw dropping Christmas Piano melodies that will make you the star of the night, of course next to Christmas.

I can’t wait for more awesome Christmas Carol Sheet Music Improvisation.

Welcome to my blog

Hi All,

Welcome to my blog http://learn-piano-chords.blogspot.com/. This is my first post here just to say hi to all of you. Main objective for starting this blog is to share piano playing tips with you. Here you will find some really interesting articles, video, fakebooks, sheet music.

I hope you will like your stay at this blog in due course of time. Please feel free to bookmark this link and visit later for some interesting stuff.

Regards,
B. Thomas