I am trying to learn piano and would like to get advise from people that have some general experience playing piano,

I have started out learning all the keys on the piano and then moved on to learning the c major scale , then I decided I should started to learn to read music now I can play very slow with my right hand but when ever I try to add the bass notes with the left hand I get mixed up and confused about what the notes are .

I have also been looking in to getting some good books I have noticed there are a lot of grade books like ABRSM exam grade 1 to 8 books dose anyone recommend them or any other type a books for learning .

Here is a reply that I posted a few months ago.

Over the years I have had many, many students. The fact that you have some musical knowledge is a great start. At some point you will more than likely need the help of a profession teacher as their is a lot more to music than just playing notes on a written page. You can begin by printing off some of the beginner music that is currently on 8 notes, then move up to "easy", "intermediate" and etc.

Learn to play "all" the major scales and get them under your hands. Not just one octave, but be able to play 4 octaves with both hands at the same time. Learn their chords and their progressions. I know that sounds boring but the sooner you the get keys under you fingers the faster you will progress!!

"USE A METRONOME" and count out load! If you don't you will start playing songs that sound good to you, not what is written. You can listen to many of the songs that are available on 8notes by listening to the midi file that is associated with it. There is also a metronome on 8notes.

There is nothing more horrible than practicing a mistake.

Now comes the hard part, "practice". Set aside a time each day where you can be totally free of interruptions and begin practicing. Each day start with your scales and chords for 5 - 10 minutes. Learn one scale at a time and get it to the point where you can play 4 octaves, both hands together, with the correct fingering, with your eyes closed. Set you metronome slow and play 4 notes/beat, then gradually increase the speed.

Work on no more than 2 -3 songs at a time. As you master one, more onto another. The amount of time you practice will determine your success. A minimum of 45 minutes/day is a good place to start. At some point you will also need to start memorizing them as well. Another great tool for learning is to record yourself, then listen to it. DO NOT use any pedals. they should only be used sparingly, and at a much later date.

When I was younger I would practice 3 hours/day. Even though I had a full time job and a family, I would get up a 0500 and practice for 1 1/2 hrs, then another 1 1/2 in the evening.

Finally, I recommend that you learn on an acoustic piano as opposed to a digital piano, the feel of an acoustic instrument is totally different than a digital instrument.

Another suggestion that may help you is to learn both hands separately, then play one measure at a time, hands together, then keep adding additional measures.


Good luck!
Bill

Just some general advise needed for someone that wants to learn piano, I have started out learning scales and chords and have much more to learn on them, I have also just started to learn to read music but find it a very slow process and find it hard to remember the notes in there order on sheet . My question is this there seems to be two ways to play the piano 1. By ear 2. Sheet music, now I am just wondering is it a good idea for a beginner to learn or try to learn by ear or should this be done after a few years of playing by sheet music? I guess I am asking this is because I would love to play by ear more so than use sheet music

Learning to read music is no different than trying to learn a new language, and the first steps are always the hardest. You cannot expect to learn a new language if you cannot read it or write it. The sooner you learn the basic (reading music) the sooner you will progress! Remember, you are only as good as you want to be.

Like any skill worth learning, playing the piano takes effort, and I'm afraid that your play-by-ear repertoire is going to be quite limited.


Start with a very simple piece, and work on only one measure at a time. Practice each hand separate, then together. Once you mastered your first measure, move onto the next. Download one of the 'beginner' pieces from 8notes.

Hang in there & good luck!

Bill

Hello. I have taught piano by ear to students over the years. I myself am a music director/piano and keyboard player and band leader for my church. I personally suggest learning some basic chord theory. Learn how to built all your major primary chords in each key. The three major chords are the 1 4 and 5. I suggest getting a piano encycopedia of chords. Starting with a basic song as " Mary had a little Lamb", This song,as well as many others, can be played with the three basic primary chords 1,4 and 5.As a general rule for now, always know that every song starts on the 1 chord, it will then go to the 4 chord many times, then sometimes it will go to the 5 chord.Many times it may go back to the 1 chord after playing the 4 chord. You will discover that all songs are just "progressions" in a certain order. These same progressions can be heard in many other songs. Once you learn to identify these familiar progressions it will become easy to play that song, that perhaps you have never played before in the past.