Learning to play Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star is the rite of passage for all new pianists it is also a popular English nursery rhyme by 19th-century English poet Jane Taylor and was published in 1806 as “The Star.” but sometime later the poem was set to the melody of “Ah, vous dirai-je, Maman.” Here’s how to teach yourself to play it right now.
There are 52 white keys on a modern piano– 6 of those keys will produce the melody for Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star.
6 keys doesn’t sound too difficult, right? It’s not!
We get it. You are learning how to play a beginner piano. You’re staring at 88 keys wondering how to make sense of what notes come from which keys and how to properly move your fingers from key to key.
Learning how to play Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star on the piano is a good place to start. It’s a melody you already know by heart. You can even tell your friends you’ve learned a variation of Mozart.
This particular piece of music also uses 6 of the 7 keys used to create a scale, making it a great first introduction to piano.
Some related nursery rhyme/children’s songs are baa baa black sheep, happy birthday, and London bridge which are great for young beginners and have free piano sheet music.
What is a Tab?
A tab on the piano lays out the groundwork for which white keys correlate with which note they play. For this piano lesson, we will only be discussing the C Major Scale.
Once you become more advanced you will learn more about the difference between major and minor scales.
While learning how to play Twinkle, Twinkle you will need to know this basic scale on your piano: C, D, E, F, G, A, B.
Looking down at your piano you will notice the black keys change from sets of 2 to sets of 3. The C key is the white key located directly to the left hand of the set of 2 black keys. From there it follows the scale above and repeats.
Twinkle, Twinkle uses Middle C. This is the C key located nearest to the center of your piano keyboard.
(A helpful tip for beginners is to label each key with a sticker to its corresponding note!)
Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star on Piano
Now that you know where your keys are– it’s time to learn how to turn those notes into a melody!
For the tune of this easy piano music, you will use keys C, D, E, F, G, and A.
For the very first verse of the song, we will be using Middle C, G, and A.
Remember, C is located to the left hand of the 2 black keys, G is located 4 keys to the right of C and A is the key directly to the right of G.
Using your right hand, place your fingers over these keys:
C: Thumb
G: Ring Finger
A: Pinkie Finger
Perfect! You’re ready to start playing!
For the first line, you will play CC, GG, AA, G. Start slow and don’t be afraid to sing along if it helps you remember the melody!
How I Wonder What You Are
You’re doing great! Once you’re comfortable with the first line, let’s move on to the second.
For the second line, we will be using keys C, D, E, and F. Just like it looks, D, E, and F are the first, second and third keys to the right of the C key.
Using your right hand again, move your fingers over these keys:
F: Ring Finger
E: Middle Finger
D: Index Finger
C: Thumb
Our second line goes like this: FF, EE, DD, C.
Can you hear that? Now you’re playing!
Practice this line a few times before moving onto the next, if you’re comfortable try to play the first and second line together!
Up Above The World So High
You’ve already played 2 of 6 lines! Didn’t we tell you this was going to be a piece of cake?
The next two lines each use the same key progression.
For the third and fourth lines of the song, we use the D, E, F, and G keys.
Still using your right hand, place your fingers over:
G: Pinkie Finger
F: Ring Finger
E: Middle Finger
D: Index Finger
Playing two times in a row, the third and fourth line goes like this: GG, FF, EE, D.
Getting the hang of it? Try starting from the top and slowly play the first 4 lines of the song together.
Now Repeat
Got those lines down? Now we repeat! The fifth line of the song is identical to the first.
C: Thumb
G: Ring finger
A: Pinkie finger
Follow the same pattern as the first line: CC, GG, AA, G.
For the last line you repeat the second line:
F: Ring finger
E: Middle finger
D: Index finger
C: Thumb
End the song with FF, EE, DD, C.
All Together Now
Can you believe how easy piano music that was? Let’s break it down into one fluid song.
Using your right hand and left hand with the same finger technique:
Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star
CC GG AA G
How I Wonder What You Are
FF EE DD C
Up Above The World So High
GG FF EE D
Like A Diamond In The Sky
GG FF EE D
Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star
CC GG AA G
How I Wonder What You Are
FF EE DD C
Try starting slow and work towards a faster pace.
Where Do I Go From Here?
You did it! You’re playing Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star on the piano! Not as difficult as you expected, was it?
But where do you go from here?
We know it takes a lot of work to go from little tykes piano songs to playing in a symphony. Work that has been shown to have more benefits than impressing your family at holiday dinners. Some of these benefits are hand-eye coordination, advanced language skills, and stress relief.
Once you’ve made the decision to start playing or have a child who is eager to learn, it all begins with the right instrument. A piano book that fits your style and needs.
If you want to learn more about choosing the right piano, the difference between a Grand and a Digital, or simply want to fine-tune your skills contact us here at Merriam Pianos.
Hi everyone, and welcome to another piano video here at Merriam Pianos. Instead of a review video, today we’re going to go over some cool tips to help get people improvising on the piano for the first time.
We’re going to look at the basic 12 bar blues form, as this is a great starting point to get people playing without any sheet music for the first time.
If this is the first time to the Merriam Pianos channel, please subscribe, we’d really appreciate the support.
It can be really intimidating and daunting to try and figure out where to start when it comes to improvising. It’s easy to get discouraged, as it takes years to become highly proficient as an improviser. This is why starting with the 12 bar blues form is such an effective way to get into this stuff. For one, when you’re starting to improvise, your brain is overloaded with information so it’s important to focus on a simple structure that you won’t forget. It’s super easy to internalize the 12 bar blues form and make it feel instinctual, which frees you up to focus on building the necessary skills for improvising, with the 12 bar blues form as the vehicle.
Even if you have no interest in playing the blues, this form is highly malleable and applicable to all sorts of styles of music.
The 12 bar blues form consists of only 3 chords. If we’re in the key of C, the chords are C Major, F Major and G Major. Watch as Stu takes the viewer through the 12 bar structure, how to form the chords with the left and some ideas as to what to play with the right hand.
Thanks so much for watching! Please like, subscribe and leave us a comment!
Jazz piano songs are smooth and soulful pieces of music. But that’s no reason to be intimidated by the genre. Here are some easy and beautiful jazz songs you can learn on the piano.
Are you new to piano but are beyond the beginner stages?
You’re probably interested in learning advanced songs. If you’re a fan of jazz sheet music, you may think learning jazz piano songs is difficult. But there are great jazz piano songs for all piano players to learn.
There are certain jazz songs that are easy piano play and are remembered by everyone. You can easily jam them yourself and team up with other musicians to play them. And of course, these songs are extremely fun to play.
Whether you’re taking jazz piano lessons or are self-taught, here are the 12 jazz piano songs you should learn now. These songs will improve your piano playing skills while you learn your favorite jazz songs, watch a few of the piano tutorial videos to help you out a bit.
1. Snow White – “Someday My Prince Will Come”
You probably know this song from the Disney movie Snow White and the Seven Dwarves. But this song was reinvented in jazz form by many jazz musicians.
You can easily take the vocal leads and convert them to the piano, such as what Chick Corea did.
The striking feature of this song is the melody. But hearing the Disney version, you can tell the varying notes isn’t an easy song to sing. Therefore, it’s quite difficult to play on the piano.
The lead melodies captivate anyone who hears this song. But unlike the Disney song, the jazz piano version gives this song more complexity. This makes this song fun but challenging.
2. Ella Fitzgerald – “All the Things You Are”
If you’re unsure where to start with jazz piano, always start with the classics. “All the Things You Are” is a perfect starting piece. Dating back to 1939, this song was played by Jerome Kern.
This song is the epitome of classic jazz composition. Chord progressions and other dynamic changes make this song challenging. But everything flows so naturally, so it’s complex yet beautiful.
Most beginners find the intro difficult. But once you get past the challenging beginning, you get a better feel for the song. After you practice this song, the chord changes and other dynamics make more sense.
3. Herbie Hancock – “Dolphin Dance”
You can’t say “jazz piano legends” without mentioning Herbie Hancock. This is why his tune “Dolphin Dance” is on this list. Hancock is an influential pianist for his complex but individualistic writing style.
This song goes through a variety of chord changes but always manages to keep its melody. You’re completely hooked throughout the song because it’s unpredictable. There are also many intricate parts and parts that slow down.
Practicing this song not only enhances your piano playing skills but also improves your songwriting.
4. Bill Evans – “Waltz for Debbie”
“Waltz for Debbie” is one of the most beautiful jazz piano pieces in history.
Performed by Bill Evans, this song is a classic. This song is perfect for a beginner and is constantly revisited by expert pianists.
This song doesn’t do anything too complex but the song is enjoyable enough to play. The secret is the tune. The tune is so strong that it sticks with you. This makes this song easy to get stuck in your head so you’ll recognize each note.
Last but not least, this song is still fresh today. This is why Evans was such a notable pianist for his time. This song is an example of modern jazz.
5. Thelonious Monk – “Round Midnight”
Thelonious Monk is one of the most influential jazz pianists and composers.
“Round Midnight” is one of his most well-known songs. This song has been covered by just about every great jazz pianist. And it’s a perfect song to learn on piano.
“Round Midnight” isn’t as complex as other jazz piano songs. It has a strong melody that you can easily follow. This song is very calm but has enough complexities to challenge a beginner piano player.
From the beginning to the end of the song, “Round Midnight” follows a distinctive but infectious tune. After playing this song, you can understand how Monk has influenced many pianists.
6. Red Garland – “On a Clear Day”
This song is recommended for beginner jazz pianists because it isn’t your traditional jazz song. There’s a lot of swing influence that makes this song a lot of fun to play. The swing influence gives this classic tune a fun and upbeat vibe.
Legendary jazz pianist Red Garland performs this song and is a timeless tune.
The groove of the rhythm section and the fun piano melodies makes this song intoxicating.
This song is relatively simple to play but is fun enough for advanced jazz pianists.
This song is easy to learn for beginners but is challenging enough to improve their skill.
7. Ray Brown Trio – “Sweet Georgia Brown”
Back in 1925, Ray Brown Trio performed “Sweet Georgia Brown” with Gene Harris on piano. This song gives jazz its classic sound but makes the genre more fun.
Even with a dominating rhythm section, Harris’ piano melodies stand out. This song is completely upbeat but still relaxing. It’s an easy song to play but it’s easy to get sucked into the song as you play.
The piano parts are polished and you’ll feel great as you learn to play this song.
In this song, Harris uses piano styles from swing, gospel and blues to create a unique feeling. This makes “Sweet Georgia Brown” one of the most unique songs in jazz. If you want to excel as a jazz pianist, this song is a must.
8. Duke Ellington – “Take the “A” Train”
The famous jazz standard “Take the “A” Train” was written by Billy Strayhorn, and was performed by Duke Ellington, who regularly performed it with his orchestra.
This song was also recorded by countless other artists, including Ella Fitzgerald. The song is about the new subway in New York in the 1930s!
9. Dave Brubeck – “Take Five”
This song was composed by Paul Desmond for the Dave Brubeck Quartet during 1959, in which he uses saxophone. Two years later it became a surprise hit and the biggest-selling jazz single ever.
The quartet recorded the tune in two takes, and when it was done, Paul Desmond thought the song was a throwaway — so much so that he once joked about using his entire share of royalties from the song to buy a new electric shaver. The title “Take Five” was Brubeck’s idea which became the A side of a 45 record.
10. Erroll Garner – “Misty”
The pianist and composer who came to fame during what is often called the swing era of Jazz in the 1940s was Erroll Garner with his style of piano playing encapsulated the stride technique of earlier pianists but it was Garner’s abundant virtuosity and lyrical fluency that characterized his performances.
Misty is a jazz standard written in 1954 by pianist Erroll Garner. He composed it as an instrumental on the traditional 32-bar format and recorded it for the album Contrasts (1955).
11. Duke Ellington – “Satin Doll”
This song was also written by Duke Ellington last 1953. Its chord progression is well known for its unusual use of chords and opening with a ii-V-I turnaround.
Duke Ellington used “Satin Doll” as the closing number in most of his concerts. Wherein it makes as a modest hit, entering the pop charts in June and rising to number twenty-seven.
12. Joseph Kosma – “Autumn Leaves”
This is a 1945 popular song and jazz standard composed by Joseph Kosma with original lyrics by Jacques Prévert in French, and later by Johnny Mercer in English.
This song was listed as a number 1 best-seller in the US Billboard charts of 1955 by an instrumental version of the pianist Roger Williams.
Time to Learn These Jazz Piano Songs
If you want a unique challenge to your piano playing abilities, learning jazz piano is an enjoyable way to improve your piano skills. If you’re unsure which songs you should learn, these jazz songs are perfect for any piano player to learn. Jazz piano makes ample use of improvisation, polyrhythms, syncopation and swung note, as well as aspects of European harmony, American popular music, the brass band tradition, and African musical elements such as blue notes and ragtime.
These songs are all fun to play but offer unique challenges. They’re well-rounded and can help you improve on many areas of piano playing. From complex chord progressions to simple melodies, all of these songs are different but amazing.
Do you need piano lessons? Take a look at our piano lessons.
Seeing the best dueling pianos live is a great night out for any music lover. Most dueling piano songs are in the rock and country music genres. Generally, the performers are operating with the goal of encouraging audience participation, rather than directly battling one another. Here are the best piano bar songs to remember to request the next time you’re out on the town.
Even if it’s hard to find anyone among your friends who feels comfortable singing in public, nearly 60% of people sing in the shower. Among those who are willing to sing in the shower, even more, will be inspired to sing along when they hear the best piano bar songs being played in a crowd. When you’re headed out to see live music at a piano bar, you should have a few requests in mind that you know you and your friends will have fun singing.
Here are 30 of the best songs to request at a dueling piano bar.
1. Elton John – “Your Song”
Elton John is, along with Billy Joel, an absolute master of crafting great songs on the piano. There are about 10 different Elton John songs that would be perfect for any piano bar crowd, but there are few that can really make people feel something.
“Your Song” has the classic emotional humor that runs along the edges of the most painful pop songs. The entire bar will be belting out “I hope you don’t mind” over and over, with a smile on their face, regardless of how conflicted the narrator of the song really is.
One of his songs is also Tiny Dancer(1971), Rocket Man(1972) and Benny and the Jets(1973) which are also related to Bar Songs.
2. Biz Markie – “Just a Friend”
The Biz’s classic tune “Just a Friend” is a simple rhyme scheme rapped over a simple melody. This tweaks the balance of emotion and humor from Elton John’s songs and makes it a little bit funnier.
Biz Markie is one of the best rappers of all time and this 1989 interpolation of “You Got What I Need” helped to solidify his genius to a mainstream audience. People love to really give it their all for this one. You’ll be a piano bar hero for requesting this one.
3. Alicia Keys – “Empire State of Mind”
For the bold and brassy belters out in the crowd, the chorus of “in New Yo-o-o-o-o-ork” has become an iconic melody of the 21st century. Whether you live in New York, Florida, or Omaha, the aura of New York lives and breathes in this song.
Whether anyone in the crowd knows the Jay-Z portion of the tune, the bar will be on fire when the chorus hits for the final time. People will be shouting like their life depends on it.
4. Prince – “When Doves Cry”
While there are plenty of other Prince songs with a much more robust piano portion, “When Doves Cry” is still one of his biggest hits of all time. During those later hours when the night starts to turn sultry, Prince is the perfect accompaniment for two partners to sing to one another.
This off-kilter melody will be fun for the piano player as it should mix up the standard bits of show tunes and constant requests for “Sweet Caroline”. A little bit of Prince will spice up your night.
5. Grease ST – “You’re The One That I Want”
Probably one of the most memorable and fun songs from any musical in the 70s, “You’re the One That I Want” is iconic. Most people imagine John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John singing it in their classic 1950s costumes.
Grease songs are always upbeat and a great shot of energy into any piano bar. You’ll find every member of the crowd tapping their feet and singing along when you request this classic.
6. 4 Non-Blondes – “What’s Up?”
While there are some die-hard 4 Non-Blondes fans out there, most people don’t know much about their career beyond this one hit they had in the 1990s. It captures the vibe of the Generation X grunge era with a whole lot of attitude. Second only to the attitude is the melody, perfect for belting out after a drink or two.
Since the chorus is “Hey-ay-ay-ay, what’s going on?”, there’s little chance anyone will have trouble singing along. Even haring it once, the infectious melody will stick with you.
7. Journey – “Don’t Stop Believing”
“Don’t Stop Believing” is one of those songs that you either love or hate. It’s hard for most people to name any other Journey songs, but that doesn’t stop the band from selling out stadiums.
When the first few notes of this song play, watch for the energy in the room to start to boil. People will be on the edges of their seats, excited to sing along.
8. Michael Jackson – “Billie Jean”
Much like Prince or Elton John, Michael Jackson has plenty of tunes that would be fun to sing along to at a piano bar. Few people would know all the words like they would to Billie Jean.
This strangely dark tale of Michael Jackson being extorted for child support for a chile that wasn’t his has one of the best melodies of any MJ song.
People will be doing their favorite Michael Jackson moves in the aisles of the bar and singing their hearts out from start to finish during this song.
9. Roberta Flack – “Killing Me Softly”
Whether you’re thinking of the Fugees or the Roberta Flack version, this song has been in the cultural lexicon for nearly 50 years now. People from all over the world know this painful and beautiful pop song.
Whether partners will be singing this to one another or solo bar attendees will be singing it to a long-lost love, everyone in the bar is sure to sing along. While the song seems so sad, it’s actually one of the loveliest melodies of any great piano ballad.
10. Queen – “Bohemian Rhapsody”
It takes a skillful and imaginative pianist to showcase the wonder of Bohemian Rhapsody, a classic rock tune that’s about as funky music and inventive as a progressive rock song can get. When talented musicians at piano bars bring this song to life for audiences, people love it and will request it as often as they can get it. Bohemian Rhapsody is included on the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame’s list of the 500 Songs That Shaped Rock and Roll.
11. Neil Diamond – “Sweet Caroline”
If you’re a baseball fan, you’ve probably heard Sweet Caroline enthusiastically sung by fans at games, which will also give you some idea of its strong popularity at piano bars. Whether at baseball games or piano bars, audiences can’t resist singing out “dum, dum, dum” in the chorus of this soft rock song. In 2014, Sweet Caroline was digitally downloaded two million times.
12. Garth Brooks – “Friends in Low Places”
Friends in Low Places is a demanding song to sing since its melody requires a two-octave vocal range. Low notes and high notes are no obstacle for fans of piano bars, though, who consistently request the appealing country song in droves for heartfelt sing-alongs. Friends in Low Places won the 1991 Single of the Year award from both the Country Music Association and the Academy of Country Music.
13. Sir Mix-a-Lot – “Baby Got Back”
A comical and risqué rap song about female anatomy would seem an unlikely candidate to morph into a favorite at piano bars, but there’s simply no denying the popularity of Baby Got Back with audiences. This one’s a real crowd-pleaser when performed by a pianist with musical skill and showmanship. Baby Got Back is listed as number seventeen on VH1’s list of the 100 Greatest Hip Hop Songs.
14. Bob Seger – “Old Time Rock and Roll”
There’s no doubt about it; you can’t beat Old Time Rock and Roll, whether it’s the song or the genre, and Bob Seger’s classic rock tune has become one of the most commonly made requests in piano bars. The song lends itself well to showmanship at the piano, and audiences couldn’t resist singing along even if they tried. Old Time Rock and Roll are included at number 639 on Rock n Roll America’s list of the Top 1000 Classic Rock Songs.
15. Meatloaf – “Paradise by the Dashboard Light”
“Paradise by the Dashboard Light” is a most notable song written by Jim Steinman which was first released in 1977 on the album Bat Out of Hell, with vocals by the American musician Meat Loaf alongside Ellen Foley. The song has its unique structure and length and has become a staple of classic rock radio.
16. Jimmy Buffet – “Margaritaville”
With its catchy tune and mellow lyrics about a fellow who is seriously indulging in an alcoholic drink, you can’t beat Margaritaville as a bar song, especially a piano bar song. It’s a country tune that audiences tend to know by heart, and it pops up on numerous lists of songs that people like to request. Margaritaville was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2016.
17. Lynyrd Skynyrd – “Sweet Home Alabama”
A staple of the Southern rock genre, Sweet Home Alabama has found its way into piano bars across the nation and consistently ranks as a perennial audience favorite. With its infectious chorus, this song is irresistible as a piano bar sing-along, especially when sung at top volume. Ultimate Classic Rock puts Sweet Home Alabama in the number two spot on their Top Ten Southern Rock Songs list.
18. Van Morrison – “Brown Eyed Girl”
With its captivating melody, Brown Eyed Girl is a classic rock song you’ll want to request on your next trip to a piano bar. Performers who entertain at piano bars regularly cite the song as a favorite with their audiences, largely due to this tune’s croonable chorus with its liberal doses of “sha la la tee da.” In 2007, Brown Eyed Girl was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.
19. The Beatles – “Twist and Shout”
Made famous by The Beatles, Twist and Shout is a singable and danceable classic rock song that’s such a consistent hit with audiences at piano bars that it was included in The Rollicking Piano Bar Songbook. Its rhythm is downright contagious, and the simple, catchy melody will make you want to twist and shout all night. The Beatles’ version of Twist and Shout reached number two on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1964.
20. Three Dog Night – “Joy to the World”
Joy to the World is so singable that even Jeremiah the Bullfrog himself might enjoy croaking along with it at a piano bar. With its catchy tune and silly but lovable lyrics, this classic rock hit is guaranteed to make people sing. Joy to the World spent six weeks at the top of the Billboard Hot 100 in 1971.
21. Billy Joel – “Piano Man”
“Piano Man” is based on Joel’s real-life experiences as a lounge musician in Los Angeles from 1972–73, which he had decided to pursue in an effort to escape his contracted New York-based record company at the time, Family Productions, Joel played under the name Bill Martin, which explains why the patrons in the song call him Bill. Martin is his middle name. Following the poor commercial performance of the album Cold Spring Harbor. Joel describes various characters, including a bartender named John and a “real-estate novelist” named Paul, all based on real-life individuals.
22. Def Leppard – “Pour Some Sugar on Me”
Piano purists might consider Pour Some Sugar on Me, a heavy metal song associated with squealing electric guitars, decidedly off-kilter as a song for tickling the ivories. “Pour Some Sugar on Me” is a song by the English rock band Def Leppard from their 1987 album Hysteria. Piano bar audiences, as well as the pianists themselves, would clearly disagree since the song is included on numerous lists of best piano bar songs. In Rolling Stone’s reader poll of the best hair metal songs of all time, Pour Some Sugar on Me sits proudly at number one.
23. Wilson Pickett – “Mustang Sally”
Rhythm and blues is another genre that works well at piano bars, as evidenced by the popularity of Mustang Sally, a well-loved song with a seductive, bluesy hook. The chorus, with its easy musical groove and lyrical repetition, is a great one for gathering around the piano and crooning all night. Mustang Sally made it to number 441 on Rolling Stone’s list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.
24. Bon Jovi – “Livin’ on a Prayer”
Back in the 1980s, Livin’ on a Prayer was one of the most successful songs of that decade, and its legacy continues. Today it’s still a hit in piano bars all across the country. Pianists report that audiences love to sing this iconic hard rock song, and people also love to see how its guitar-driven style will be reproduced on the piano keyboard. Livin’ on a Prayer hit the top of the Billboard Hot 100 in 1986 and is widely regarded as Bon Jovi’s signature song.
25. Eric Clapton – “Wonderful Tonight”
“Wonderful Tonight” is a ballad written by Eric Clapton. A fixture at proms and weddings, Eric Clapton wrote “Wonderful Tonight” in 1976 while waiting for his girlfriend (and future wife) Pattie to get ready for a night out at Paul McCartney’s annual Buddy Holly party. They were going to a Buddy Holly tribute that Paul McCartney put together, and Clapton was in the familiar position of waiting while she tried on clothes.
26. The Righteous Brothers – “Unchained Melody”
Unchained Melody is a 1955 song with music by Alex North and lyrics by Hy Zaret. The Righteous Brothers version was a huge hit, but it was recorded with far more modest expectations. Phil Spector considered it album filler and released it as a B-side. The single had “Unchained Melody,” with no producer credit on the label, as the flip to Gerry Goffin and Carole King’s “Hung on You,” but many DJs preferred “Unchained Melody” and played that one instead. This infuriated Spector, who subsequently left no doubt as to which side of a Phillies single was the A-side. According to the song’s publishing administrator, over 1,500 recordings of “Unchained Melody” have been made by more than 670 artists, in multiple languages
27. Hank Williams Jr. – “Family Tradition”
American country music artist Hank Williams Jr wrote a song titled “Family Tradition”. It was released in May 1979 as the fourth and final single and title track from his album of the same name. It has sold 909,000 digital copies as of April 2016. The song is a Williams’ statement of rebellion, not only in his lifestyle and living out the lyrics of his songs, but of his musical identity and direction.
28. Johnny Cash – “Ring of Fire”
Ring of Fire is uncommonly iconic. The song was recorded on March 25, 1963, and became one of the biggest hits of Cash’s career, staying at number one on the country chart for seven weeks. It was certified Gold on January 21, 2010, by the RIAA and has also sold over 1.2 million digital downloads. The 1963 country music hit became synonymous with the Man In Black for the rest of his career, topping the country chart for seven weeks and spawning myriad covers in Nashville and every other genre over the next 50 years. Saying it’s one of the greatest hits of Cash’s career is an understatement.
29. Outkast – “Hey Ya”
A song performed by the American hip-hop group Outkast and André 3000 was Hey Ya. Along with “The Way You Move”, recorded by Outkast’s other member Big Boi, “Hey Ya!” was released by LaFace Records as one of the two lead singles from the duo’s fifth album, Speakerboxxx/The Love Below. This was a huge crossover hit, getting lots of play on hip-hop, Top 40 and R&B radio stations. It went to #1 on the Hot 100 December 13, 2003, and stayed for nine weeks. In which, they made a double album, with each member contributing half on 2003.
30. Tina Turner – “Proud Mary”
A rock ’n’ roll song written by John Fogerty and first recorded by his band Creedence Clearwater Revival was “Proud Mary”. It is the Best of Ike & Tina Turner features some of Ike & Tina’s greatest hits from their formation in 1960 until their separation in 1976 that makes this song became a major hit in the United States, peaking at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 in March 1969, the first of five singles to peak at No. 2 for the group.
The Best Piano Bar Songs Get The Crowd Going
While you might want to show off your taste by requesting the best piano bar songs of the night, your goal should be to pick something you’ll have fun singing. Not every request will get chosen but if you choose a song that is fun enough to sing, the piano player will be sure to include it.
Has learning to play the piano always been a dream of yours? Well, don’t let price get in the way! Here’s how much do an average cost for piano lessons and how to prep for your first lesson.
Are you interested in learning how to play the piano?
You can do it by finding a piano teacher and enrolling yourself in classes. After taking just a few beginner piano lessons, you’ll learn some of the basics and see why playing the piano has become so popular among people of all age groups.
On average, piano lessons cost anywhere from $30 to $60 per lesson. But the cost of your specific piano lessons can vary depending on a number of important factors.
Let’s take a look at some of the things that might affect how much your piano lessons cost. It’ll help you prepare yourself for your very first lessons.
HowExperienced Is Your Piano Teacher?
The experience level of your piano teacher will play a big part in how much your piano lessons cost.
If you work with a piano teacher who simply dabbles in music and doesn’t focus on it full-time, the cost associated with your piano lessons will likely be on the low end of the spectrum.
However, if you work with a piano teacher who has been playing piano for years now and makes a living teaching other people how to play, you’ll likely need to prepare to pay a little more.
Prior to signing up for your first piano lesson, speak with your good teacher about how much experience they have. If you dream about becoming a serious musician yourself, it might be worth paying a little extra to take lessons from someone who knows what they’re doing.
Where Will You Be Taking Your Piano Lessons?
There are some piano teachers who will come to your home and teach you how to play the piano there. There are others who will only provide you with lessons if you come to their music lesson school.
The location of your piano lessons is pretty important and will determine how much your piano lessons cost to some degree.
If you take lessons at home or go to the home of your piano teacher for lessons, you’ll likely pay less money per lesson than if you signed up to take lessons at a school. That being said, you’ll be responsible for obtaining a piano studio for your home if you go this route, which might negate any savings you would experience.
At a school, you’ll also get access to a high-quality piano that has been tuned and maintained properly. It’s something new students need to consider when deciding where to take their piano lesson plans.
What Style of Piano Playing Do You Want to Learn?
Is your goal simply to learn how to play “Chopsticks” on the piano? Or do you dream about one day playing piano professionally and wowing audiences?
These are obviously two completely different paths and will require different types of piano lessons. The piano lessons that you choose to take will factor into the total price of those lessons.
If you have your sight-reading set on learning the basics of playing the piano, you probably won’t have to spend a fortune taking lessons. But if you want to graduate to more advanced lessons, you’re going to pay a little extra for them.
Be upfront with your piano teacher from the start about what you want to accomplish by playing the piano. Many piano teachers will base the price of their lessons on your individual aspirations.
Are There Any Hidden Fees?
When you’re trying to figure out how much piano lessons cost, it’s important to remember that you’re probably going to have to pay for more than just the lessons themselves.
In many cases, you’ll cap off a string of lessons by taking part in a recital with other piano players. There could be fees connected to the recital that you’ll need to pay, it could be an hourly rate but it depends on the lesson length if it will be good for an hour lesson or half-hour lesson.
There are also music books you’ll need to purchase in order to be able to sit down at a piano and play songs. The cost of those sheet music books won’t usually be included in the cost of your lessons.
There’s also a chance you’ll need to invest in a piano of your own to practice playing at home. Pianos could cost as little as just a few hundred dollars or as much as several thousand dollars.
Keep these fees in mind when you’re calculating the cost of piano lessons. It’ll help you choose the best teacher and piano equipment for your specific situation.
How Long Are You Planning on Taking Piano Lessons?
Do you want to take one or two lessons just to get feel for playing the piano, or are you committed to spending the next year or two learning everything you need to know about the piano?
If you’re only going to take a couple of piano lessons, your piano teacher will likely charge you their regular rate. But if you commit to taking a certain number of piano classes such as group lessons or group classes over the course of the next couple of years, they might be willing to cut you some slack. They could offer you a discount since they know you’ll continue to come back to them. This is where young students will develop their skills even further and immerse themselves deeper into learning the ins-and-outs of the piano and keyboard through private lessons, group rehearsals and live performances on stage.
Consider how long you’re going to plan to play the piano before you start calling around to different music teachers and music schools. It’ll increase your chances of getting the best rate possible on your piano lessons.
Learn More About How Much Do Piano Lessons Cost Today
Figure out how much piano lessons cost by getting into contact with qualified teachers and schools in your area. Shop around until you find a price that makes you most comfortable.
Once you start learning how to play the piano, you’ll enjoy all the benefits that come along with it. Playing the piano will teach you how to read music properly, and it’ll teach you the value of practicing over and over again. Additionally, it’ll enhance your memorization skills and teach you how to problem-solve on the fly.
Check out our blog to see some of the other ways of playing the piano can change your life. Make sure you check out some of the questions you need to ask prior to purchasing a piano.
Being able to sit down at any piano and play starts with mastering proper piano hand position. Check out these tips to help you practice and perfect your hand positioning.
If you are a beginning baseball player, you need to learn baseball mechanics. To do so, you repeat fielding and hitting drills.
The same is true for the piano. We all want to play beautiful music full of emotion. To do so, however, you must master basic technical skills such as piano hand placement. Without it, you can’t play much of anything, let alone play something beautifully.
Are you a beginning piano player struggling with your piano hand positioning? Would you like to be able to play faster and with more agility?
If so, you’ve come to the right place! We’ll go over basic piano hand placement tips and then show you some exercises to help you improve yours! Read on for more information.
Learn all the scales with proper fingering. Scales are one of the basic building blocks of music, and if you practice scales with proper fingering, your fingers will automatically know where to go when you see parts of a scale in a piece of sheet music.
The Reasons for Working on Your Piano Hand Position
Why do we care about a good piano hand position? Does it really matter? The answer is yes. Below we’ll explore several reasons why.
First, using improper technique creates tension. That doesn’t sound like a big deal, but if you’re practicing and performing with constant tension, it won’t be long before you feel aches and pains. Of course, playing with pain will negatively affect your piano playing and could hurt you.
It’s best, then, to learn proper piano technique, including correct hand position, early on, and continue to use it while you play.
Second, piano teachers don’t want you to use proper hand techniques because they’re trying to annoy you. The truth is, it’s actually easier to play with good technique.
For example, take two pianists. One has worked hard at their hand positioning, and the other hasn’t. No doubt the first player will be able to play not only faster but also more expressively. That’s because they’re not struggling with technical issues like the second one surely is.
For all these reasons, then, it’s a good idea for you to know where to place your hands on the piano keys. In the next section, let’s go over how to place your hands on the piano keys.
Place your right-hand number with one finger (your right thumb) on Middle C. Now place your right number 2 finger (your index finger) on the white note directly to the right of Middle C position. Your left hands and right hands are mirror images of each other, even if they’re moving in different directions or playing different patterns.
Where to Put Your Hands on the Piano: A Small Guide
After all, this, then, how should you place your hands on the piano? The first thing to consider is: how far away are you from the instrument?
Avoid those situations by adjusting your piano bench. The height should allow you to place your arms at a piano level. It’s also okay for them to be a little bit higher than the instrument.
In addition, make sure your piano bench is far enough back. Your elbows need to be in front of you. And, your arms must also extend easily in front of you, with your fingers resting on the piano keys.
It’s important not to collapse your wrists. Instead, hold them steady in a relaxed and comfortable manner.
Finally, allow your fingers to curve slightly over the piano keys. This is one of the best ways to avoid tension. It also allows you to play more efficiently as you progress.
That is a lot to remember, isn’t it? But, there are exercises to help make piano hand position as natural as eating or sleeping. Let’s see what they are in the next section.
Some Basic Exercises to Improve Your Piano Hand Placement
All pianists practice their scales, chords, and arpeggios. Is there anything else you can do, though, to improve your hand positioning?
It turns out there are some standard exercises to help with curving your fingers. They are suitable for musicians of all levels and have the added benefit of being fun.
Play longer keys with your shorter fingers. If you look at the keyboard, you’ll see longer white keys and shorter black keys. Your shortest fingers are your thumb and your pinky(little finger), and typically they will only play white keys and if you’re playing music with sharps or flats, you’ll need to play the shorter black keys with your long fingers.
Play Catch!
In this first exercise, you’re going to use a ball to practice curving your fingers properly. It’s important, though, to use a ball that fits your hand. Either a golf ball or a tennis ball will work, depending on your hand size.
If you have a friend available, have them throw the ball to you. Otherwise, you can throw it up against a wall yourself.
As you catch the ball, curve your fingers only against the top part. Take note of their correct position. That’s how they should curve over the piano keys.
Shake Someone’s Hand Today
It’s possible to do this exercise alone, but it’s better with a partner. What you’re going to do is shake their hand (or, if you’re alone, pretend to shake their hand).
After a bit, let go of your partner’s hand, making sure you keep your hand in the same position. Then, turn your hand over so your palm faces down.
Take note, because this is the hand position you need to use for piano playing. All the basic elements are there:
curved fingers
firm knuckles (you don’t want them collapsing!), and
a C-shape between the thumb and index finger position
After a while, these elements will become second-nature, and you won’t have to go around shaking everyone’s hand any longer.
Have a Drink
This exercise is similar to the preceding one, only you don’t need a partner.
Take a glass, and hold it in one hand. Again, the glass needs to be the right size for your hand. Otherwise, the exercise won’t work. If you need to, experiment with glasses of different sizes until you find one that feels comfortable.
Notice how your fingers curve around the glass. Then, put the glass down, but, again, keep your hand in the same position.
Flip your hand over so your palm faces down, and place it over the piano keys. The result should be a position of your hands that’s pretty close to the one you’d normally use for piano lessons.
Make sure your fingers are curved and take note of the distance between your thumb and index finger.
Conclusion: Piano Hand Placement
Give some of these fun exercises a try. They might be just what you need to improve your piano hand placement. And, you never know, maybe someday you’ll be performing a difficult work like Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 3. Why not?
In the meantime, if you are interested in learning more about the piano, check out our blog! It’s filled with articles that are sure to help beginning and experienced pianists alike.
When you’re ready to start learning piano, you may not be ready to start taking lessons right away. Here’s how you can start to teach yourself the basics at home. Eager to start learning piano? Start right at home! Learn how to teach yourself piano with these proven tips and tricks.
With 88 keys to memorize and about 45,000 pounds of tension to deal with, playing the piano is no doubt both physical and mental work. All that hard work is worth it though, once the pianist hits those notes and produces beautiful sounds.
That’s not all that makes piano amazing though. According to a study, learning piano can help boost children’s language skills. There’s also the fact that pianists’ brains have a different (and impressive) brain capacity.
So you want to learn how to teach yourself piano, but don’t know where to start.
Fortunately, you only really need 2 things: a piano, and a willingness to learn. You can worry about things like sheet music later.
The following guide will walk you through the learning process of acquiring, familiarizing, and practicing your piano.
How To Teach Yourself Piano in 10 Steps:
Remember that learning any instrument takes a commitment to practicing regularly. So if you’re ready to learn, and committed to practicing a lot, let’s get started!
1. Get A Piano/Find Yourself a Keyboard
The obvious first step is to acquire a piano for yourself. Set a budget, do your research on different types of pianos, and look online and in your community for deals.
Some things to consider:
Many music stores rent keyboards. If you want to rent before you’re sure the piano/keyboard is right for you, this might be a good place to start.
If any of your friends or family are involved in the music world, reach out. They may know someone dying to sell an old instrument that isn’t getting used for half what it would cost coming out of a box.
If you’re unable to find a piano, a keyboard is a great alternative. They’re affordable, never go out of tune and have lots of sounds and features that can enhance your music. Not to mention, they’re a lot easier to move around and don’t take up much space. A learning keyboard is a great tool for a beginner. These specialty instruments light up in a specific order to help you learn songs more quickly. Typically, they come with books and videos that will help you learn musical notation. You can always start out on a keyboard and then upgrade to a piano.
Keyboards generally cost less than pianos do. On the plus side, keyboards never go out of tune and take up much less space than a piano will. Wherein, acoustic pianos typically range in price from $2,000 to $10,000 or more for some high-quality concert grand pianos.
2. Get Familiar with Your Instrument
Now that you have your piano or keyboard, spend some time getting familiar with it.
To accomplish this task:
Listen to your new piano. Is it in tune? You might consider having someone tune it for you for the first time. If you went with a keyboard, you can skip this step.
Learn about the keys and their names. If your piano came with a book or you chose to buy one, the keys should be in the piano book. If not, this 5-minute tutorial will walk you through an easy way to learn the keys.
Make sure you understand what proper hand posture looks like. Really listen to each of them, and note how they are different from the others. Keep practicing until you can tell the difference between them. You want to form good habits from the beginning!
3. Train Your Arms and Hands with Proper Positioning
The first step on how to teach yourself to play the piano is to ensure your arms and hands maintain the right-hand position. That’s the “C Position,” which is the natural cupped-shape they form when left hanging to your side. You will also be able to read a selection of notes from both the bass and treble clefs, and you will be able to play some simple piano chords in the left hand.
It’s the same position you need to keep when you put your arms and hands on top of the keys. While doing this, ensure your wrist and forearms remain straight.
Play five-finger patterns all over the keyboard, and in many different keys. Use a lot of black keys! First without notes to learn the geography of the keyboard, and then with notes using “landmark notes” to find your way.
It’s crucial to follow the proper hand and finger positioning since it helps prevent repetitive stress injury. Also, we understand that you’d like to learn how to learn piano fast, but know your limits and don’t over-practice.
4. Know Your Notes
Learning piano means learning a new type of language – that of music. It’s much like how you first learned the alphabet, but in this case, it’s noted that you’ll memorize. With constant practice, you’ll have these committed to memory soon enough.
A good way to start is with the Do-Re-Mi tune (yes, the one from The Sound of Music). Each of these represents a note on the piano, starting with note C. It’ll help you get the notes’ pitch while also learning which keys to press on the piano.
Do – Note C
Re – Note D
Mi – Note E
Fa – Note F
So – Note G
La – Note A
Ti – Note B
To locate C, look for a pair of black keys (accidentals). Right to their left is C. There are several Cs on the piano, and they’re always eight notes (octave) apart.
F is another keynote to know the placement of by heart at the beginning. It’s the key to the left of a trio of black keys.
Memorizing your Cs and Fs right away makes it easier to memorize the location of the rest of the notes.
5. Familiarize Yourself with Sharps and Flats
The black keys play either sharps (#) or flats (b). They come in either pairs or trios.
When you see a # on a piece, that means you have to play the next higher key. A b, on the other hand, means you need to play the next lower key.
To start, look at the center of the piano. Do you see that group of one pair of blacks and a group of three? That’s where you’ll find the middle C note.
As mentioned above, all Cs appear to the left of two blacks. F to the left of three blacks. So, these ones you find in the middle of your piano are the Middle C and Middle F.
When you press the black key right above and beside the Middle C note, it produces either a C sharp (C#) or a D flat (Db). The black key beside it plays the D# or Eb. As for the black key beside Middle F, it plays F# or Gb.
Do you see the pattern now? Always remember that black keys are always either sharps or flats, but white keys can also play sharps or flats.
6. Set A Practice Goal
Begin with your end goal in mind. You want to learn the piano, but what do you want to play? How long do you want it to take?
What material will you be focusing on? Is that material online or from a book you bought?
What keys or scales do you want to be able to play? What’s your favorite song that did you picture yourself playing when you first started thinking about learning how to teach yourself piano?
What will you be able to play on the piano in seven days? What about 14 or 30? You are just starting to learn how to teach yourself piano, so you probably don’t need goals beyond a month just yet. Focus on the first 30 days!
How long will you practice each day?
7. Start Practicing
The first three parts were leading to the most important step, which is this: Do you really want to learn how to teach yourself piano? Then practice, every day!
Some tips for your practice sessions:
Stick to your goal. If you need a break from the same few scales or chords, try some finger speed exercises.
Practice chords and scales. These will form the foundation of your piano playing, so be sure to do these each day. Start with the major and minor chords!
Learn the major keys. If you want to eventually play by ear and identify the sounds you make, this is important. Easy songs like “Mary Had A Little Lamb” are perfect for this!
As you start playing by ear, also begin noticing patterns. All songs are composed of musical patterns. You’ll want to start identifying and learning these patterns as you work towards your eventual goal of playing songs on the piano.
The internet can be your friend when you’re ready to learn songs. Many sites will allow you to download some of their sheet music for free!
8. Practice Your Fingers
Now that you’ve got your basics down, next is to apply them with your fingers. This way, you can train your fingers to know right away without fumbling. When you are first learning to play the piano, fingering is key. You must know where your fingers are supposed to go when you are starting to play the piano.
A good place to start is the pentascale approach. Pentascales are any scale that has five (Penta) notes. Since you already know by now where the Middle C is, you can begin your finger practice with the C Major pentascale.
To begin, put your thumb on the Middle C note, index on D, middle on E, ring on F, and a pinky on G. Those five notes make up this pentascale.
This is one of the easiest finger practicing techniques since it trains up all your fingers. Now, you want to start slowly, so apply the whole note approach (count four beats before pressing the next key). From here, you can move on to half notes and then quarter notes.
Once you feel more comfortable, you can move up the practice ladder to taking it two notes at a time. That means using two fingers since you’ll press two keys simultaneously. It’s a bit more complex, but it’ll help you prepare for more advanced pieces.
9. Get Your Timing Right
Every note has a count – the length of time you should keep it pressed. In music sheets, you’ll find three most often used, which include the following:
Whole notes (with four beats)
Half notes (with two beats)
Quarter notes (with one beat)
The white circles you see on a music sheet are whole notes. When you see these, it means you have to keep the note for four full beats (as in one-and-two-and-three).
Half notes are also white circles, with a stem attached to them. You hold these notes for two beats (one-and-two).
Quarter notes look much like half notes, except they have shaded circles. They represent one beat.
10. Play With Other People
After some time, it’s a good idea to find other people to practice around or with.
Ask a more experienced piano player if they want to get together and practice, or if they have any resources that helped them learn.
Once you start making progress, do mini “performances” for people, even if it’s your family. They will be able to tell you what sounds great and what could use a little tweaking.
Last, consider taking piano lessons with a piano instructor. An instructor will give you hands-on coaching, accountability for learning the instrument, and teach you how to correct pacing. Plus, if you teach yourself the basics, a piano teacher will help expedite the process to you playing some simple songs you really want to learn!
One good set that many adult beginners have used is the Alfred Self-Teaching Adult Piano Beginner’s Kit. While you might only want to learn how to play current popular music, a piano teacher might introduce you to other genres such as classical music or jazz music.
Wrap Up
In truth, playing the piano requires only two things: having the instrument readily available to you, and dedication to the practice.
How to teach yourself piano can be summed up like this:
Begin by setting a budget and find the instrument that is right for you. Then, get familiar with your new instrument.
After you read through and watch tutorials on things scales and chords and finger posture, decide what you’d like to learn, and how quickly. Set a goal for your piano playing!
Last, start practicing — every day if you can swing it. To accelerate your learning, set a goal of playing around people after a couple of weeks. Even if it’s family, it will give you feedback on what you’ve learned and motivate you to keep working.
There are also piano courses and google resources through youtube videos and online courses that can help you to learn how to play the piano.
If we can help you on your journey to learning the piano, from buying a new one to working with a piano teacher, don’t hesitate to contact us. Now, start practicing!
There’s nothing more romantic than serenading someone by playing a beautiful song on the piano. Here are the best piano love songs that will make anyone swoon for you.
Some piano love songs resonate deep into your soul. Take John Legend’s All of Me that took the radio waves and YouTube by storm. With over 1.3 billion views on Youtube, All of Me is the raw emotional serenade we all identify with.
Nothing is more romantic than playing a love song for your special someone. Whether you go for bubbly pop or dark romance, your special someone will be swooning over your piano playing serenade.
We’ve gathered the ten most swoon-worthy songs to play for your love. Take a look!
1. MY HEART WILL GO ON
From the 1997 blockbuster movie Titanic,
this love ballad was originally sung by Celine Dion. Composed by James Horner, it achieved international number one status.
You will recognize the prominent flute melody at the beginning and throughout the piece. The original arrangement features strings and rhythm guitars as backing.
This emotional and demanding power ballad encompasses the movie’s epic romantic yearning and desire. While you may risk the cheese factor, you can’t argue with the overtly romantic message.
2. A THOUSAND MILES
Vanessa Carlton wrote and recorded A Thousand Miles for her debut album Be Not Nobody in 2002. It is Carlton’s best performing song reaching number one in Australia and in the top five in the US and Ireland.
The pop song heavily features a light piano riff in the key of B Major. While the melody gives it a light pop feel, it has a complexity that lends to repeated listening.
With a mix of fantasy and reality, the song conveys a longing for lost love. It is a great song for those who have felt a love they would do anything for.
3. ALWAYS
One of the great power ballads of the ’90s. Always was originally recorded by Bon Jovi on their 1994 album Cross Road.
The song became an instant hit selling millions of copies worldwide. It topped charts in the United States, Canada, Australia, UK, and Germany.
Due to the demanding vocals of the original version, it is more commonly heard in its acoustic version. Follow in the footsteps of Bon Jovi and easily lower the key to fit your singing voice.
4. ALL I ASK OF YOU
From the masterful Andrew Lloyd Webber comes this iconic melody featured in the Phantom of the Opera. The lyrics of this operatic pop song feature a duet of commitment and romance.
As one of the most epic greatest love songs on the piano, it has been performed by Barbara Streisand, Josh Groban, and Kelly Clarkson. While never reaching major success on the charts, it has become a lasting declaration of love.
5. MY IMMORTAL
Those who are familiar with the American rock group Evanescence will recognize this haunting and sad love song. This slow tempo ballad heavily features the piano.
Set in common time at 80 beats per minute, it’s one of the easy romantic songs on the piano. This song is perfect for the pianist who enjoys a love song with a darker side.
6. YOUR BODY IS A WONDERLAND
John Mayer is known for his ability to write romantic and easy feeling love songs. Your Body Is a Wonderland was inspired by that excitement of first love from Mayer’s youth.
The lyrics take you to that easy Sunday spent wrapped in blankets with your love. While the barroom style instrumentals provide an easy swaying melody.
While not a hit with critics, it has enjoyed success with fans. It also earned Mayer a Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance in 2003.
7. A WHOLE NEW WORLD
Anyone who is a fan of Disney movies will recognize this song on the list. From the movie Aladdin, A Whole New World focuses on the discovery of new possibilities together in love.
The song is the only one from a Disney animated movie to top the US Billboard Hot 100 list. It also received an Academy Award for the Best Original Song.
8. ALL OF ME
John Legend’s love song to his wife shook up the radio and peaked at number one in 2014. It has since been remixed for electronic and country versions of the song.
The simple and modest lyrics with delicate playing portray an honest devotion. Master this song’s slow 63 beats per minute tempo in the key of A-flat major.
9. SHAPE OF YOU
Written and recorded by Ed Sheeran in 2017, The Shape of You is a dance-hall pop song about a budding romance.
It infuses a tropical house feel with the lyrical rhythm of TLC’s No Scrubs. Originally written in a key of C# minor with the upbeat tempo of 96 beats per minute.
Released with instant popularity, it has become the all-time third best selling single in the UK. Spotify has declared it their most streamed song with over 1.7 billion plays.
10. TO A WILD ROSE
The light and airy feel of this classical piece make it one of the sweetest piano songs. While not a chart-topper or pop hit, the lack of lyrics doesn’t diminish the romantic nature of this song.
To a Wild Rose is a part of Edward MacDowell’s Ten Woodland Sketches. First published in 1896 it has become the composer’s most well known and praised pieces.
WRAPPING UP ON PIANO LOVE SONGS
Learning piano love songs is a unique and romantic way to express your best love songs for that special someone. Nothing is more swoon-worthy than being serenaded too.
You can choose a famous song from movies such as “My Heart Will Go On” or “A Whole New World”. If you feel your singing is up for the challenge, try “All I Ask of You”.
For a slower more romantic feel play “Always or All of Me”. If bubbly is more your style select “Shape of You” or “A Thousand Miles”.
For a classical feel, “To a Wild Rose” is a perfect choice to express love lyrics free. For those who prefer a darker kind of romance, “My Immortal” is a perfect choice.
Purchase your next piano and start romancing your loved one today.
Learning to play a musical instrument producesmental and physical benefits. The piano in particular not only improves memory but can also boost linguistic skills. Moreover, it reduces stress and anxiety.
You’re never too old or too young to learn how to play the piano. However, the beginning stage of the process can be quite intimidating, especially if your goal is to master Mozart or Beethoven.
If you have just started your piano journey and feel like you are struggling with motivation, learn how to play some popular songs! These are not boring pieces, but rather popular pop songs and beautiful classics that can be easily learned and played in no time.
If you’re interested in learning what these easy piano songs are, follow along! They will provide a solid foundation for more complicated, technical pieces and keep you motivated to learn more.
Easy Piano Songs You Can Learn This Week
Before you can start playing the piano, it’s important to learn the basics. This includes the proper piano posture and hand positions. You will also want to know all the basics when it comes topiano notes.
Attending amusic school is an important process of learning to play an instrument and read sheet music. It’s a must if you’re serious about your new hobby.
1. All About That Bass – Meghan Trainor
If you’re looking for easy piano songs that have topped the charts this year, look no further. Meghan Trainor’s hit “All About That Bass” is a perfect beginner’s song. Surprisingly, it’s very easy to play on the piano.
There are only four chords in the song, which are played for two bars, and the entire progression is eight bars. This progression is repeated throughout the song, so if you can master it, you’ve learned an entire song!
If you want to push yourself a bit more, learn the bassline with your left hand and teach yourself the melody on the right. Here is aplay-along tutorial that may be helpful!
2. Someone Like You – Adele
This is the perfect song for anyone who loves to sing. You are bound to impress anyone if you can sing and play this song at the same time.
Playing an instrument and singing at the same time can be hard, but practice makes perfect!
This chart topper was a massive hit in countries all around the world. You can play it by playing four repeated chords: A, E, F#min, and D throughout the song. There are numerous play-along tutorials online if you’re stuck or need extra help.
3. Clocks – Coldplay
Although this song might seem complicated, it’s just a repetition of the signature arpeggio pattern, a bridge, and a verse. It is a very recognizable song from 2002 with which you’re bound to impress other people.
If you’re interested in learning how to play it, check out thispopular tutorial! It is explained well and will help you learn the basics of the song.
4. Ave Maria – Schubert
This is more of a classic song, rather than a popular pop song. However, if you’re looking for a more sophisticated piece among a list of easy piano songs, this beautiful piece will do the trick. It’s ideal for a winter party or a wedding, so give it a try!
This is a must for all piano beginners. Learning it is not a complicated process, especially when following this handyonline piano lesson.
5. Fur Elise – Beethoven
Beethoven was a master of music, and although his pieces may seem intimidating, some of them are remarkably easy to learn. This is the perfect piece for someone who is lacking motivation and needs a little extra boost of confidence.
Here is a veryhelpful tutorial on how to master this beautiful classic. If you practice, you’ll learn in no time.
6. The Swan Lake Theme – Tchaikovsky
Tchaikovsky is an intimidating but brilliant artist. Yet again, some of his most popular songs are actually easy piano songs.
This is the romantic anthem everyone knows, and it has a surprisingly easy rhythm. Learnhow to play it now!
7. Billie Jean – Michael Jackson
This is another song that may seem hard to play, but it’s not terribly complicated.
It can be a challenge if your hand movements are not quite as fast as you’d like them to be, or if you’re still having trouble with independent hand movements.
However, this is the perfect challenge for someone who has already mastered other easy piano songs. Also, it’s incredibly fun! If you’re interested in learning how to play this one, check outthis play along.
Moving Forward
Now that you’ve mastered these songs, you are officially an easy piano songs expert! However, learning songs using play-alongs will not get you too far if you’re serious about learning this instrument.
It can be detrimental to learn an instrument improperly by yourself and carry out those mistakes as you move forward. That is why it’s always recommended to learn from an expert.
Learning from a professional will make your technique impeccable. It’s also a great way to make sure your form is perfect and your potential is explored to the maximum.
While attending music school, you could learn how to read sheet music and eventually, how to play the hardest songs on the piano.
Wrapping Up
Learning how to play the piano can positively impact your stress levels and your happiness. Your mental capabilities and social skills will improve too. Making the leap from easy piano songs to more intricate pieces will enhance the benefits.
If you’re currently in the Toronto area and looking to improve your musical instrument abilities,contact us! We have numerous locations throughout the city and would be more than happy to help you master the piano.
Many people think it belongs to the string family, but because it actually produces sound by hammers hitting strings (the hammers are controlled by the keys), it’s part of the percussion family.
It’s important to remember this when reading piano notes because they tell you not only the pitch of the note, but also its rhythm. To learn how to read and play the pitch and rhythm of piano notes, try out the seven tips below.
#1: Labeling Piano Notes
One way to learn how to readpiano notes is to label the treble and bass clefs. By labeling the spaces and the lines — and using mnemonic devices to remember them–you can begin memorizing which notes fit where.
For the treble clef, begin by labeling the spaces “F-A-C-E” from the bottom to the top. “Face” is the mnemonic device for the notes that fill the spaces in the treble clef.
Label the lines “E-G-B-D-F” from the bottom of the top of the treble clef. The mnemonic device for these notes is “every good boy deserves fudge.”
Look at the piece of music you want to play and label the notes in the treble clef. Note that this isn’t a good long-term practice, because you want to train your eye to read the notes and not the labels. But when you’re new to reading piano notes, labeling them can help.
Next, you’ll work with the bass clef. Label the spaces “A-C-E-G-B” and think about the mnemonic device, “all cows eat grass” –then just add a B at the end.
Next, label the lines “G-B-D-F-A.” You can remember these with “good boys deserve fudge always.” Again, label the notes in the piece you want to learn.
#2: Reading Piano Notes by Labeling Fingers
If mnemonic devices don’t work for you, or if you want to augment the note-labeling practice, you can label fingers. Start with the thumb of each hand and label one through five.
You can find a hand diagram or trace your hand onto a piece of paper so you don’t actually have to write on your fingers.
Middle-C, which occupies the middle space of the treble clef, will be the number one. Label two through five for the notes above and below. It’s best to pick a beginner piece that only includes five notes in each direction of the staff.
Place your thumbs on the middle C of the keyboard and play the tune according to the numbers.
#3: Flipping Your Music
Did you know people didn’t start thinking about polyphonic music until theeighth or ninth century? Polyphonic music is when there are two or more lines of music with independent melodies.
Polyphony is why reading piano notes can seem confusing at first–because your left and right hands feel like they’re playing two different songs.
But, if you flip your music clockwise, it might help you to identify the chord units stretched out (arpeggiated) across the bass and treble clefs. Then you’ll be reading your music vertically, or polyphonically.
#4: Sight Reading Piano Notes
Sight reading a piece of music is one of the best ways to acquaint yourself not only with the note pitches, but also with the rhythm.
Follow these steps to successfully sight-read a piece of music:
Begin by practicing time signatures. For example, a time signature of 4/4 means there are four beats to every measure, and each beat is worth a quarter note.
Next, look at the key signature. If there are sharps, move a half-step above the last sharp to get the key signature. If there are flats, the second-to-last flat is the name of the key signature (excepting the key of F Major/D minor, which only has one flat–a B-flat).
Practice scales in the piece forward and backward.
Tap out the rhythm of the piece with a metronome.
Look through thesheet music and note any areas where you’re changing keys, slowing down, playing quietly (piano), repeating measures, etc.
Sing the piece to yourself before you even touch the keys.
Now you’re ready to try to play through the music.
#5: Hunt for Patterns
Music isn’t written haphazardly, but rather in patterns. Chords, arpeggios, harmonic structures, and scale runs are just some of the common patterns in music.
By learning to recognize these, you don’t even have to read every single note. For example, if you have a scale run starting on a low E in the treble clef that goes up to a middle E and back down, you don’t need to read every note in between to play every note in between.
#6: Train Your Ear
It may not seem like training your ear to hear notes will help you to read piano notes, but in music, auditory and visual cues must work together.
A great way to get started training your ear is to find a piece of music that you have the sheet music to and a way to listen. Search the internet for piano performances of the sheet music you have, then follow these steps:
Listen to the piece without looking at your sheet music once through.
Listen to the piece again, this time following along on the sheet music.
Listen a third time, and mark the sheet music where you have difficulty following along.
Listen to the areas of difficulty until it’s easy to follow.
Listen, look at your sheet music, and try to play along on your piano.
Training your ear takes a lot of repetition, but for auditory learners, it can be the most effective way to learn to read piano notes.
#7: Train Your Hands
Muscle memory can help you read piano notes by allowing you to focus on the sheet music without worrying about where to place or how to move your fingers.
Playing scales and arpeggios over and over again is the best (albeit somewhat boring) way to train your muscle memory in your hands.
Finishing Touches
Learning to read piano notes involves learning pitch, rhythm, dynamics, music theory, and so much more.
Give yourself the time you need to learn these wonderful skills, and if you have any questions,drop us a line. You can also subscirbe to our newsletter.
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