Herman Schmerdley FREE PIANO PLAYING TIPS

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The piano keyboard is made up of black and white keys. The black keys are divided into groups of two and three. Anyplace on the keyboard where you see two black keys grouped together be aware that the white key immediately to the left of the two black keys is called "C." Anyplace on the keyboard where you see three black keys grouped together  you will know that the white key immediately to the left of the three black keys is the "F" key.  The white key between the two black keys is the "D" note. The white key to the right of the two black keys is the "E." Each white key has a letter name A,B,C,D,E,F and G. Then it starts again with A. The white key to the left of C is B and the white key to the left of the B is A . The G is the white key between the  F and the A. The black keys are named after the white key that is directly next to the black key. The black key immediately to the right of the C note is called C sharp (C#). The black key immediately to the left of  the E note is the E flat (Eb).  Take your time and learn the names of the keys. That will make it possible to play the right notes when someone tells you to play a C chord.

We will begin with the C chord. Play the C and the E and the G notes all at the same time anywhere on the piano. That is a C chord. Practice plink plink plink with those three notes all at the same time. Now learn the A minor chord. That is the A note plus the C note plus the E note all at once. Now the G chord. That is the G note plus the B note plus the D note all at the same time. Now the F chord. That is the F note plus the A note plus the C note together. Now try the left hand. Play a low C note then follow that with a right hand C chord higher up on the keyboard. Then a left hand G note then a right hand C chord. Over and over. Left C right C chord left G right C chord. Do that 4 beats then do the left hand A note right hand A minor chord left hand E note right hand A minor chord another 4 beats then left hand F note right hand F chord left hand C note right hand  F chord. Then left hand G note right hand G chord, left hand D note right hand G chord. Keep repeating until you drive your neighbors insane. 4 beats C chord, 4 beats A minor chord, 4 beats F chord then 4 beats G chord. That is a 50s pattern that will let you sing while playing You Send Me, Dream, Earth Angel, Blue Moon, Last Kiss, even Monster Mash, etc.

copyright 2000, 2001, 2002 tom willett

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Tom Willett has been a recording artist since the 1950s. No hits yet. Tom Willett aka Herman Schmerdley is an inductee into The Rockabilly Hall of Fame. There are two Tom Willett recordings available at Barnes and Noble. Use the link to the right of the picture of the microphone above. First go to bn.com then MUSIC then enter GHOST GALLERY or STEELIN THE HITS. Thanks.