Just like learning the alphabet was the key to reading words, understanding music notes is your first step to playing the piano. Remember when letters seemed like strange symbols? Now you read effortlessly. Music notes will become just as familiar with practice. They are the ABCs of music, and soon you’ll be sight-reading them just like you are reading these words right now.
Let’s begin with a familiar tune, the “Do-Re-Mi” song from “The Sound of Music”. You know it, right? Sing it aloud! In music, notes are named by the letters A, B, C, D, E, F, and G. This song will help you grasp the pitch of these notes and understand the piano keys.
Take a look at the music notes on the grand staff shown below.
This note right in the center of the staff is Middle C. Find your spot in the middle of your piano. Let’s locate Middle C and start learning the piano keys.
Here’s a helpful tip: The notes on the Treble Clef (the top part of the grand staff) represent higher pitches, while the notes on the Bass Clef (the bottom part) represent lower pitches. The treble clef notes, being higher, generally correspond to the keys to the right of Middle C and are often played with your right hand, unless a piece of music indicates otherwise.
If you want more guidance on learning piano, you can explore resources like Piano Expert.
