How to learn piano by yourself?
Taking piano lessons with a teacher is great, but we understand that some people prefer to learn independently. If you want to learn piano by yourself and have access to Google and YouTube, we have good news for you - it definitely is possible! In addition, you can always choose the best method for your own learning - if you're a visual learner, you can watch a video and try to replicate it, but if you're a textual learner, you can read about the basics of learning the piano.
In this article, we'll compare the positives and negatives of learning the piano by yourself, give you step-by-step tips on where to start, which mobile apps can help you and how to maintain regular practicing.
Teach yourself piano at home: an easy method
The piano is a versatile instrument, and self-learning can be a bit more challenging for you. But, if you are determined and committed, this will be a great opportunity to polish your skills, and you can become an experienced player quickly!
Are you interested in knowing how to learn piano by yourself? We have compiled six easy-to-follow steps to make your learning more effective and interesting. You can follow all of these steps following your ease and convenience. So, what are you waiting for?
1. Get your piano
The very first step is to purchase the best quality instrument for yourself. Set your budget and start looking for the best quality keyboard or piano in that range.
Being a beginner, you don't need to get a high-quality piano - any piano available at an affordable price will do just fine. Acoustic pianos are a great option in many ways - the sound and feel they offer are usually great. However, the weight and size could be an issue for many as it is hard to carry and you will need multiple friends to get the piano to your home. Compared to the acoustic piano, digital pianos are the cheaper options and make the best alternatives for the piano.
If you have a restricted budget, renting a piano may be a better option than buying one. Always look if anyone in your family is interested in music - you can also borrow it from them.
2. Learn the basic keys of piano
You should begin with the basics, as taught by any competent piano instructor. If you’re just learning how to learn the piano on your own, start here.
Find the middle C if you don’t know where it is. To learn piano, you must start at the key of C in the middle of the keyboard. It is the white key to the left of the two black ones in the center of the keyboard. Learn how to use the keyboard by memorizing the shortcuts.
The naturals, often known as the white keys, are C-D-E-F-G-A-B. When pressed, the black keys on an instrument’s keyboard produce a note that is either flat or sharp. For example, find the white G key on your piano. Press the black key on the right side which is next to the G key - that is the G-sharp. Now, press the black key on the left side, right next to the G key - that is the G-flat.
Study the musical language. It’s a great idea to polish up your musical terminology. You can learn the basics of music terminology for free with Khan Academy’s Musical Glossary.
3. Choose what to play
There are so many songs to choose from! Learning a classical piece may be the most common first step if you're learning with a piano instructor, but you can learn whatever you want! We recommend starting with popular and trendy songs because they are usually easy to learn, easy to sing-along to and they will certainly entertain your friends the best if you decide to play the song to them. Here is our short tutorial on Uptown Funk by Bruno Mars.
Choose a song that has 4 chords at most - starting out with 5 or 6 different chords may be too much for a beginner. Here you can find recommendations for easy songs. Start with a song that has a slower tempo and has a distinguishable form - you can clearly tell where the verse and the chorus starts and ends.
4. Get to know the patterns in music
Musical patterns are the building blocks of all songs. When you have chosen a song you want to start with, the next question is - do you want to learn the melody or the chords?
In a melody, you have to play one key at a time; however, playing melodies is usually harder for a beginner as they tend to replicate the human voice and are not as repetitive as chords.
A chord means that you have to play multiple keys at the same time. But, lucky for you, most popular songs have chords that repeat multiple times. So, you just have to learn a certain chord pattern and repeat it! But don't worry - you don't have to analyze the chord progressions all by yourself - technology can help you! Solfeg.io is a mobile app designed specifically for beginner piano players where you can learn how to play easy popular songs. Download it here!
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5. Learn where to place your fingers while playing piano
You must know which fingers to use on the keyboard to play well. In most instructions, the fingers are numbered - 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. The thumb is usually the 1st finger, and the pinkie - the 5th finger. It is always easier to learn to play with one hand at first. Start with your dominant hand and only then add the other.
6. Practice what you have learned
Learning to play the piano requires practice, just like learning anything else. Consider dedicating a half-hour or so of practice time each day to your musical efforts. If your schedule doesn’t permit daily practice, commit to doing so at least three times each week.
As a result, you’ll be able to identify keys more easily, master finger placement, and play the piano with more ease. By using Solfeg.io mobile app, you can learn and practice more than 150+ popular songs. The app includes many easy-to-understand and straightforward lessons with the help of which you can practice the chords.
Technology offers you a great way to learn piano
If you are interested in learning to play songs but not becoming a professional pianist, then downloading the Solfeg.io mobile app is a great way to go. It is the best way to self-teach piano even if you have a tight budget. It is a great option because of multiple reasons, for instance:
- The app provides you with step-by-step guidance, thus making it a great place to start for complete beginners;
- There are different challenges, programs and classes in accordance to your skill level;
- There are 150+ songs available to practice on.
So, you can learn piano by yourself online - it is possible with a mobile app like Solfeg.io!
Tips To Make Your Learning More Effective
Sitting down at the piano and not knowing where to begin may be frustrating. Being a good piano player requires a significant amount of practice. To maximize your practice time, keep these pointers in mind.
1. Keep Yourself Motivated
One of the most potent motivating tools you have is anticipating the next session and the desire to demonstrate how far you’ve come to your instructor. The very thought of paying an instructor serves as a practical encouragement to sit down and practice.
The risk of losing motivation if you’re self-teaching is relatively high. You can only offer yourself so much encouragement before you start to lose your motivation. A teacher, on the other hand, has the power to get you back on track.
2. Record Video And Notes Of Your Practice Session
The greatest method to evaluate your playing is recording it and playing it again. For the most part, you can use the microphone on your smartphone. On the other hand, video cameras are the most useful since they allow you to see yourself while you play.
It’s extremely simple to sit at the piano with bad posture when you don’t observe an instructor. Watching a video may assist you in identifying and correcting this problem. Hand placement is similar in this respect. When we are under the influence of adrenaline, we tend to hurry through a performance; therefore, the tempo is essential.
3. Maintain Correct Pacing
Regardless of your talent level, you may be eager to dive into music that is far out of your league. A difficult song may irritate you to the point where you stop trying. A good instructor will know how to pace you so that you’re always pushing yourself, but not to the point of total frustration. So, try to stay away from difficult songs in the beginning to get the best results possible and not lose the love you have for music.
4. Follow Videos And Tutorials
It is easier to learn if you can see what you need to play exactly. That is why visual materials are crucial if you are learning the piano by yourself. Solfeg.io mobile app is full of video tutorials for many popular songs and will help you to get the chords exactly right. After playing a chord, you will get immediate feedback and know if your chord was played correctly. So, this way, every learner can get an idea about their musical abilities and know where to improve!
5. Play With Other People
A nice suggestion is to locate other people to practice with. If you wish to learn the piano from someone with more expertise, ask if they want to get together and practice or know of any resources that helped them learn.
Once you’ve made some progress, put on little “performances” for family and friends. Depending on their experience, they’ll be able to tell you which parts sound fantastic and which might need some fine-tuning.
6. Always Set A Practice Goal
Decide what you want to achieve as a piano player. Playing for an audience is one thing, but what about learning a song you love to play? Decide what you want and and how are you planning to achieve that objective. With a goal in mind, you’ll be more motivated and focused throughout the process.
How Long Does It Take To Learn Piano?
You’ve taken the first step, but what happens next? This question has only one answer: “it depends.” In other words, no matter how long you play, you’ll always be learning new things. Here’s an approximate idea of where you’ll be after a given period. Figures are based on an adult novice who has never played the piano or any other musical instrument before.
- Beginner: Generally, it takes a month to feel confident about the basics of piano;
- Intermediate: After a few months of practice, you should be able to reach this point.
- Advanced: This level should be expected to be reached after a minimum of a year of practice.
