Interested in learning how to play the piano? In this complete beginner’s guide you’ll learn about playing notes, scales, chords, progressions and full songs.
PLUS, we’ll give you free chord + scale cheat sheets and a daily practice plan at the end!
If you follow this guide you’ll have:
- a full understanding of playing piano properly
- better playing technique
- different chord progressions and songs to play
- a full practice plan to help you become a better pianist
If you really want to level up your piano playing and turn into a true pro, check out our top picks on the best online piano lessons around.
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We are going to start with the fundamentals, show you proper technique and get into advanced stuff that will take your playing to another level.
Bottom Line – you don’t need to be “born with it” to be a phenomenal pianist.
You can make yourself better, regardless of your current skill level or “talent.” And we can help.
Article Table of Contents
1. How to Play the Piano
- 1.0 Steps to Playing
- 1.1 Posture While Playing
- 1.2 Notes
- 1.3 Intervals
- 1.4 Scales
- 1.5 Chords
- 1.6 Chord Progressions
- 1.7 Playing Full Songs
2. Additional Tips for Beginners
What Great Players Focus On
Just like any other instrument out there, playing piano isn’t “easy.” To be a great pianist you have to focus on a lot of things, like:
- Music Theory – notes, rhythm, time, etc
- Piano Intervals, Scales and Modes
- Triads and Seventh Chords
- Chord Extensions
- Piano Rhythm Patterns
- Chord Voicings and Voice Leading
- Chord Progressions
- Posture and Finger Placement
- Finger Dexterity
- Much More
That’s a ton of stuff to worry about… So let’s get started. We won’t go into things like sight reading and rhythm in detail. And we’ll start with the most important part of teaching yourself how to play piano – the practice…
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The Fundamentals
How to Play Piano Step By Step
Time needed: 30 days
Here’s an overview of the steps involved in learning to play a piano:
- Learn Proper Technique
It’s important to learn the proper technique of playing. This includes things like posture and hand movement, finger technique and more. It’s much easier to learn how to play if you can master the basics of how to play.
- Practice the Rudiments
Next you want to learn and practice the rudiments of piano. This includes things like notes, intervals, scales, chords and chord progressions. If you master these, you’ll be able to play music and make your own music easier.
- Learn Songs
Rudiments are great, but that’s only part of a good education. You also want to learn songs – whether they’re classics or modern popular songs, learning how to play them gives you a lot of insight into how music works and is made.
- Perfect Rhythm and Dynamics
When you practice the songs and rudiments you learn, make sure you use a metronome to help your overall rhythm and timing. You should also work on the dynamics of your playing – how hard/soft you play through a piece of music.
Playing Correctly
Before we move further, we need to go over playing correctly. If you start your journey with good playing habits, it’ll just be that much easier to get better and better over time. We’re talking about posture and finger positions.
Posture While Playing
When you’re sitting at the piano with your hands on the keys, make sure you’re paying attention to the following:
- Sit up straight
- Don’t slouch
- Don’t tense up your shoulders or elbows
- Keep your neck and wrists loose
The keyboard/keybed itself shouldn’t be too high or too low. When your hands are on the keys, your wrists should be even/straight – your hands shouldn’t be bending down or up.
Finger Positions (Correct Fingering)
The next thing we need to worry about is which fingers play which keys. A lot of this depends on what key/scale you’re playing in (more on this later). But we start by numbering our fingers:
Right + Left Hand Finger Numbering
- thumb = 1
- index = 2
- middle = 3
- ring = 4
- pinky = 5
Now keep that in mind when we talk about what scales are. We’ll tell you the ideal piano fingering for each scale. The reason we do this is because it’s the most efficient way for your fingers to reach notes. It’s natural or ergonomic.
Notes
Learning the different notes is an essential first step in mastering the instrument. These notes are the building blocks of everything else you’ll do when playing a song.
Each note has a specific pitch. The pitch of a note is how high or low the notes sounds when played relative to another note on the keyboard.
It’s important that you memorize these different notes before moving on to the next section as you’ll be using them constantly. You also want to memorize where they each appear on the keyboard.
Start by taking a look at the piano keys. You’ll notice that there’s a pattern to the notes and it just repeats over and over again
The White Keys
There are 7 different main notes that you need to focus on to begin with. These are the white keys. These white keys each correspond to a letter of the alphabet from A through to G. These 7 different notes (A, B, C, D, E, F, G) are repeated over and over again all across the entire keyboard, regardless of the total number of keys your piano has (i.e. 24, 49, 61, or 88 keys).
Here’s a graphic to help you find the right keys:
When you play these keys what you will notice is that the different “C” notes on the keyboard, for example, all sound almost entirely the same except for how high or low the note is. This is the pitch of the note. When you move from one low C to a C note higher on the keyboard, it’s called a higher octave. Middle C Is the C note that sits (usually) in the middle of the piano.
The Black Keys (Sharps & Flats)
Now if you’re ready to move onto the black keys, just know that they share the same letter names as the white keys, but with special modifiers called “accidentals,” attached to them.
These accidentals are known as “flats” and “sharps,” and they slightly alter the pitch of the notes. So take the “D” note (a white key) as an example. There are two black keys that surround the D.
If you move UP the keyboard (towards the right) then we would say the note is a “Sharp.”
If you move DOWN the keyboard (to the left) the note is “Flat.” So the black key to the right of D is a D-Sharp (written as D#). And the black key to the left of D is a D-Flat (written as Db). But now take C as an example – it only has a black key to the right of it.
In the last example this same key was called a D-Flat (Db). But when we’re talking about a C (instead of a D like in the last example) this is known as the C-Sharp (C#) key.
So basically each black key will have two separate names. It is sharp or flat relative to the note that you’re talking about.
Here’s a little image to help you visualize what I’m talking about. So in total, there are 12 separate keys/notes on a piano – 7 white keys and 5 black keys. And that’s that – you’ve learned them all.
It’s a good idea to memorize all these notes and their positions to help you learn scales in the next step.
Intervals
An interval is basically a space between two different notes. It’s a bit more advanced of a topic, but you should know about them now. Different intervals have different sounds. So an interval would be the “sound” (or change in sound) that happens when you move from C to E. That type of interval is called a third. Whereas a move from C to G is called fifth.
There can be major intervals and minor intervals. They can also be called “perfect” intervals and even something called a tritone. For example, a C to an E is a major third while a C to an Eb is a minor third. You count intervals in terms of “semitones” or “half steps.” That just means moving from one note, directly to the next note beside it. So going from C to C# is a semitone or half step.
Octaves
The one thing you’ll notice about the keyboard is that it’s the same set of 12 notes (7 white, 5 black) that just repeats over and over again for however long the piano is. That’s where octaves come into play. An octave is a type of “interval” (more on those later) that is 12 steps (or semitones) away from the starting point.
So if you were to start on the key of C (the white key directly to the left of a set of 2 black keys), and move RIGHT 12 keys, you have moved an octave UP. Guess what note that is? It’s a C! Because it’s the same note, just higher in pitch. The lower C and the higher C are an ctave apart. That goes for all 12 keys, across the entirety of the keyboard. So, you only really have to learn 12 notes, not 88.
Middle C
Middle C is the C note that is roughly in the center of the keyboard. It’s just a way to denote what’s playing the “bass” and what’s playing the “melody” or “chords.”
Middle C is also called C3 (in the music production world). If you move an octave up to the next C, it’s called C4 and so on. If you move down an octave you get to C2, and so forth. Normally Middle C is the invisible dividing line between what your left and right hands will play (with exceptions, of course).
Scales
You need to be familiar with scales – different series’ of notes that sound good when played one after the other. Each key on the piano has it’s own set of scales, which start and end on that particular note. The notes in between determine what scale you’re playing. There are two main types of musical scales to learn first. These are the Major scales and the Minor scales, and they’re found in most western music you’ll hear. Since there are 12 keys on the keyboard, there are 12 Major scales and 12 Minor scales to learn in total.
Figuring Out Scales
It’s based on intervals (i.e. how many notes are between two specific notes) and “half steps” and “whole steps.” A half step is when you move from one key directly to the next key beside it. For example, moving from C to C# is a half step. A whole step is when you skip one key in between. So moving from C to D is a whole step.
Using half-steps and whole-steps (W = Whole Step | H = Half Step) we can build all of our scales.
A C Major Scale would be: C – D – E – F – G – A – B – (C). A C Minor Scale would be: C – D – Eb – F – G – Ab – Bb – (C)
If you’re paying attention you’ll notice that both scales are the same, except the THIRD, SIXTH and SEVENTH notes in the minor scale are flattened (i.e. lowered a half step). That means if you take ANY major scale, and flatten the 3rd, 6th and 7th notes, you end up with a minor scale!
Scale Modes
Thought we were done with scales? Not even close… An advanced topic is something called “scale modes.” These are scale variations that are also based on specific patterns of half steps and whole steps. They totally change the emotional impact of the scale you’re playing in.
These modes are called:
- Ionian (i.e. the Major Scale)
- Dorian
- Phrygian
- Lydian
- Mixolydian
- Aeolian (i.e. the Minor Scale)
- Locrian
We won’t get into how you find these modes, because it’s an advanced topic. But you should know about them.
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Other Scales
One thing we mentioned was that the major and minor scales are what you find in most of western music. But there are hundreds of musical scales out in the world. And some of them are SO FIRE! Here’s some scales that you should also look into once you’ve mastered the Major/Minor scales.
- Blues scale
- Arabic scale
- Indian scale
- Pentatonic scale
- Japanese scale
There are so many more, but… we gotta crawl before we walk!
Piano Chords Primer
A piano chord is a set of two or more notes played together at the same time. These aren’t just random notes played together, though. Which notes you use together, has a lot to do with the scales and intervals we learned above, so make sure you are familiar with them, or you’ve got our cheat sheets handy.
There are lots of different chords you can play, and below we’ll show you the basics of how to find them. You won’t get EVERY SINGLE chord possible, but courses like HearAndPlay go into them pretty well. Here you’ll learn all about triads, seventh chords, chord extensions and more.
But if you want to quickly play your first chord, play the notes C – E – G together – that’s a C Major Chord. Major chords are built on intervals called “thirds.”
To add to the confusion, chords can also be played as “inversions” (changing the order of notes being played) to offer even more texture to our sound.
Be sure to check out our full guide on basic and advanced piano chords to get all the details on how to build and play them. We’ve also got a guide on piano chord inversions.
Chord Progressions
You know how a scale is a series of notes that sound good together? Well, a chord progression is a series of chords that sound good when played one after another. These patterns are the basis (building blocks) of full songs. So how do you figure out which chords go together? We have to go back to scales and the number system.
We match numbers to the notes in a scale, and those numbers can also tell us which chord corresponds to each note in the scale.
Read our complete guide to piano chord progressions to learn more.
Playing Full Songs
You made it! Now that you understand the fundamentals, let’s get into the real reason you’re here. PLAYING SONGS. Below are some easy songs you can start to learn and play today as a beginner! We’ll also go over reading sheet music, so you can use both video and written tools to help you learn!
Easy Piano Songs for Beginners
Here’s a list of some really great songs you can learn to play easily as a beginner:
- Let It Be – The Beatles
- Yesterday – The Beatles
- Lean on Me – Bill Withers
- Clocks – Coldplay
- All My Life – KC & Jojo
- All of Me – John Legend
- Billie Jean – Michael Jackson
- If I Ain’t Got You – Alicia Keys
If you’re looking for a great library of sheet music and tutorials for songs to play on the piano, check out Flowkey!
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Practicing
The most important part of your piano study isn’t what you learn – it’s how often you practice and how you structure your practice sessions. It’s literally the difference between being ok and being great at your instrument.
The biggest thing you should keep in mind is that consistency is KEY. You don’t need to practice for hours per day to become a good player.
All you need is 10 minutes and consistency. If you practice 10 minutes every single day (and I mean EVERY. SINGLE. DAY) – just 10 minutes – you’re going to see HUGE improvements in your playing.
Here’s our guide to the best piano practice tips and plans.
More About Your Instrument
Parts of a Piano
If you’re sitting in front of a piano, you’re going to notice a couple of main things. Obviously the “keyboard” has a series of black and white keys – we’ll get into this in a bit. But depending on the type of piano you have there will be different parts. Some of the more common stuff among these different types are the pedals underneath.
The main one we’re concerned with is called a “sustain” pedal. This pedal, when pressed, lets the notes you play “ring out,” instead of stopping right after you stop pressing the key. Each individual instrument may have other controls or features as well, but the main ones you need to worry about for now are the keyboard and the sustain pedal.
Choosing Your First Piano
If you’re already got a piano, you can skip this section. If you’re still decided on what to buy, here’s some stuff to consider. First off, how many keys do you want? You can buy one with 88 keys (full length) or in variations of 64 keys, 49 keys and, in some cases, 25 keys. If you’re serious about playing like a pro, always go for an 88 key model.
The second thing to consider is the weighting of the keys. Semi-weighted keys are easier to press/play while fully-weighted ones feel more like a real grand piano. If you want to be able to play with the nuance of a real pro player, it’s best to choose fully-weighted models.
Various Types of Instruments
There are 4 main types of instruments you can use to learn how to play: digital, electric, acoustic/grand and MIDI. It doesn’t really matter which you choose in terms of actually playing. But they all have some benefits and shortcomings in how they work that may affect your choice. Here’s a quick break down.
Digital Pianos
Digital pianos are probably the most common in households. These are the compact and contain a speaker to play the sound and often have lots of extra controls. You usually get a few different types of sounds you can play, a volume control, a metronome (to help you keep proper time/rhythm), and more.
Digital models are great for most people because they’re affordable and easily moved around. You can get them in a variety of key sizes and both semi- and fully-weighted keys. You will usually have to buy a sutain pedal separately most times, but that’s not a big deal. For most students, I highly recommend buying a digital piano that has 88 fully-weighted keys.
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Electric Piano
Electric pianos are like their digital counterparts, but they create a different sound. It’s commonly called an “E-Piano” and you hear it a lot in jazz, soul and R&B records. They sound gorgeous, but if you’re trying to learn traditional piano with a traditional sound, it’s not the best choice for you. They aren’t meant to sound like an acoustic grand. They’re meant to sound electric, often with a lot of sustain. They’re hard to find, but amazing to have.
Acoustic Upright/Grand Piano
Now in an ideal world, everyone could own a real grand piano. They look and sound beautiful. But damn are they expensive, and difficult to maintain/move. That’s why I don’t recommend looking into a grand piano until you’re a proficient pianist and have a lot of money saved up.
But if you’re using another model (like an upright), you’ll notice that the sound comes from the actual strings and “hammers” in the main body. Electric and digital varieties generate the sound and play it through a speaker.
Unfortunately, you’ll only get one sound from an acoustic model, and no metronome or other controls. But.. if you’ve got one, consider yourself lucky.
MIDI Keyboards
Finally, MIDI keyboards are like digital pianos, but they don’t make any sound on their own. Huh? They’re used mostly by beat makers and music producers. You hook the keyboard up to your computer, and you can use a synth software to generate the sound and use the keyboard to play out some harmonies and melodies.
If you’re not familiar with this already, don’t worry about it. It’s a very specialized piece of equipment. If you are a producer/beat maker looking to learn the basics but not play full concertos or something, we recommend using a SEMI-weighted midi controller. It’ll be better suited towards producing various instrument parts.
As for generating sounds, we love the sample instrument “Alicia’s Keys” by Native Instruments. The sound is Alicia Keys’ very own piano. It’s great.
Prices and How Much to Spend
Piano prices can be expensive. Especially the acoustic variety. That’s because they’re mechanically based and take a lot to make. So if you’re looking to buy an acoustic model, be prepared to spend thousands and thousands of dollars. But if you’re buying a digital one, the prices can vary widely.
You can get an ok digital option for about $500-600 with 88 fully weighted keys. You don’t have to spend more than that if you don’t want to. If you want really nice feeling keys and some extras like more sound options, better sounds, etc. you can end up spending $1500+ on a really nice one.
Best Place to Buy a Piano
Pianos can be purchased from a lot of great places. It’s a good idea to find a music store in your area so you can get a feel for type you’re looking at buying. But you don’t have to.
There are a ton of options for you to buy your instrument online. Here are some good options:
- Amazon (affiliate link)
- Sweetwater (affiliate link)
- Long and McQuade
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Essential and Optional Accessories
Once you’ve got your main instrument, there are a lot of accessories you can buy.
Essential Accessories:
- A Sustain Pedal (if you’re on a digital model)
- Keyboard Stand (if you’re using digital)
- Metronome (if you’re on a grand piano)
- Bench (to sit on)
This is stuff you should definitely have in addition to the actual instrument itself. Digital pianos usually have their own metronomes and acoustic acoustic ones already have pedals with them.
— Related Content: Learn How to Use Piano Pedals Correctly —
Optional Accessories:
- Music stand (to hold your sheet music/books/notes)
- Note stickers (to help you when you’re starting out)
- Headphones (for digital pianos – so you can practice without annoying others!)
Frequently Asked Questions
Learning any new skill can be difficult at first. But playing piano is something that can be learned by anyone. It may take some time to get your fingers used to the movements, and for your brain to wrap it’s head around some of the concepts. It requires practice to really get good at playing it. But that doesn’t mean it’s “hard” to learn, it just takes time.
If all you want to play is a main melody of a song, you don’t need both hands. But the piece will sound bare, or not like a full song. In order for a song to really come to life you have to play with both hands. That’s because one of your hands provides the harmony (the emotional movement and mood) while the other often provides the melody (what the song is saying over the mood created by the harmony). You’re also able to do much more when using both hands than just one hand.
Learning to play music is one of the most beneficial things you can do for your life. It provides so much benefit to your mental health, it’s no wonder music used to be an integral part of early education. When you learn to play piano you have a hobby that translates to better mood, more focus and a better ability to learn and use your brain. It’s very well worth it to learn.
No, it’s never too late to start learning any instrument. It is true that the younger you are, the faster you’re able to pick things up, but that doesn’t mean older people aren’t able to learn new things. Quite the opposite. You’ll be able to pick up the concepts and movements involved in piano, it just may take a little extra time to really internalize them.
It’s very difficult to develop limb independence, especially when you’re a complete beginner. Your brain isn’t used to having to do two distinct and different things at the same time with your limbs. It takes a lot of practice to really get the hang of it. The more time you spend working on it, the better you’ll become. There are also some specific exercises you can do to help you increase your limb independence.
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Wrap-Up
Phew.. That was a long-ass guide on the fundamentals of playing piano for beginners.
It will take some time to really get things down, so don’t feel the need to rush. Your fingers will likely need time to adjust to all the new movements you’re practicing.
Don’t get disheartened, and just keep working on it.
Be sure to download the free cheat sheets and practice plan above, but make sure you actually practice. Even doing 10 minutes a day will help you progress far.
If you really want to level up your piano playing, there’s nothing better than learning your favorite songs. So I highly recommend you try out FlowKey – the best online piano song library around.
And there you have it y’all, a guide on learning how to play piano on your own. Thanks for reading!
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