Content

• To step
• Method 1 of 8: History
• Method 2 of 8: The keyboard
• Method 3 of 8: Learn
• Method 4 of 8: Learn to read sheet music
• Method 5 of 8: Play by ear
• Method 6 of 8: The Workstation
• Method 7 of 8: Make choices
• Method 8 of 8: More?
• Tips
• Warnings
• Necessities

Do you also think it's so impressive to see a top keyboardist at work? His keys fly over the keys with his face in utmost concentration. Reading this article won't immediately turn you into a wing virtuoso, but it will give you an idea of ​​how to develop in that direction.

To step

Method 1 of 8: History

1. Get to know your instrument. Whether you want to become a concert pianist or keyboard wizard in a rock band, the basics are the same.
2. Learn the terminology. Every keyboard instrument, despite all its variations and names, has the same interface: the keyboard. A history lesson:
   • Harpsichord. One of the earliest keyboard instruments. The strings were plucked, just like a guitar, but by means of a fingerboard. There was no difference whether you hit hard or soft, the tones always sounded the same loud.
   • Piano. A refinement of the process: a hard felt hammer, activated by a key, strikes the string. In this way, the player had total dynamic control. He could play very softly as well as very hard (and everything in between).
   • Electric Piano. Despite its beautiful and rich sound, a piano is difficult to take to gigs. When, in the 1950s, musicians started playing amplified, they looked for something as portable as a drum kit: the birth of the electric piano (and the electric organ).
   • Synthesizer. After 300 years of harpsichords and pianos, musicians had become familiar with the keyboard. Synthesizers were performed with a keyboard, but the players could no longer be called a "pianist" or "organist". For an instrument that could produce everything from cat howls to symphony orchestras, the term "keyboardist" was more appropriate.
3. Now you know it. Time to practice!

Method 2 of 8: The keyboard

Look at the keyboard. Whether you're playing on a virtual vintage synth, workstation, or concert grand piano, all keyboards, except maybe the number of keys, look roughly the same. [[Im

1. There are 2 types of keys: Black and white. Perhaps confusing at first glance, but some clarifying information below.
   • There are only 12 base notes. These notes are repeated over and over, up or down on the keyboard.
   • Each white key is in the scale of C major.
   • Each black key is called -is and is an increase of the note below (C-sharp, Dis, F-sharp, G-sharp, Ais) or -es and is a decrease of the note above (D-flat, E-flat, Ges, As (exception), berry).
2. Look again. Do you see the pattern? It starts on C (that key to the left, with a "belly" to the right). The next, D, has a bulge on both sides, and the next, E, has a belly to the left.
   • This block consists of 3 white and 2 black keys alternately.
   • The next block looks similar, but with alternately 4 white keys and 3 black keys. These white keys are called F, G, A, B.
3. Find the following C. From that C the pattern is the same, just like for each subsequent octave.
4. The C, roughly in the middle of the keyboard, is called C3. The C's above that are called C4, 5, 6 etc. and the C's below that are C2, 1, 0.
5. Play a melody. It's that easy! Starting on C3, play all the white keys step by step until the next C (C4). This is the basic principle of making music: play certain notes in a certain order in a certain time. Here's what you just played on sheet music:
   • Play the melody again, just look for each note on the sheet music and "read" the melody from left to right. Now you can play and read!

Method 3 of 8: Learn

1. Do it your way. Below are a few examples of how you can learn to play:
   • Learn to read sheet music. You can do this yourself or you can take lessons. Reading sheet music is extremely useful if you want to learn to play an instrument.
   • Learn to play by ear. Sometimes it is easier to listen to a song and then playfully find out what is being played on the keys. Over time you will quickly become more adept at playing by ear! An additional advantage: you don't have to worry about all those black dots and stripes.

Method 4 of 8: Learn to read sheet music

1. Buy sheet music. Go to your music store and explain that you are a starting musician and are looking for a good textbook in your style. They can probably recommend a handy book.
   • They may recommend a teacher to you. If you want to become good, it is wise to take this advice to heart.
   • The sheet music has numbers that indicate where to put your fingers: 1 = thumb, 2 = index finger, 3 = middle finger, 4 = ring finger, and 5 = little finger

Method 5 of 8: Play by ear

1. Train your ears. Like any other way, this will not happen automatically. You need a lot of practice to find the right notes on the keyboard. The good news: any top musician can do it, so it will benefit your life. Start as follows:
2. Learn solfège (pronounce "sol-fe-zje"). You can probably sing "do, re, mi", and probably do, re, mi, fa, so (l), la, ti, do. In the key of C, these notes correspond to C, D, E, F, G, A, B, C (all white keys starting from C).
3. Try it. Start on C again and play all the white keys step by step. Sing the corresponding note with each subsequent key. It doesn't matter if it's not worthy of "The Voice", it's about the idea of ​​associating sounds with notes. And then the black notes.
   • These are all notes, including the black ones: do-di-re-ri-mi-fa-fi-sol-si-la-li-ti-do. Just play that and listen. Does anything sound familiar yet?
4. Practice intervals. Instead of do-re-mi, try small jumps too: do-mi-re-fa-mi-sol-do. Make your own combinations, write them down and sing them. Then play them and check if you were around singing.
5. Once you get the hang of this, try a simple song. A well-known hit, or a children's song. Instead of "Father Jacob", try to sing the notes "do-re-mi-do".
   • The more you develop this, the better you can sing the notes of any song and play them on the keys later.
   • The more you do this, the better you get at it.

Method 6 of 8: The Workstation

1. See the memory of this keyboard in 3 "brains": Every brain has a certain kind of memory.
2. The first type is the sound memory, the "sounds": Piano, strings, flute and all kinds of other (homemade) sounds.
3. The second type is the rhythmic memory, "rhythms" or "styles". You will probably find drum kits, bass guitar, etc. This is a kind of "backing band", which you play with your left hand while you play the melody with your right hand.
4. The third type is the storage memory where you can record all your creations. For example, you can first record a bass line with your left hand, after which you record a melody with your right hand while listening to the bass line. Then you add synths, for example, to build an entire piece of music.

Method 7 of 8: Make choices

1. Choose between keyboards and (acoustic) piano. Consider the following:
2. An acoustic piano is big, heavy and loud! And you can't plug in your headphones in the middle of the night and start jamming. A digital piano is then a good option.
3. Classical music sounds much nicer on a real piano than on a keyboard. A digital piano is now also an option, but depending on the sample quality, there may be a loss of sound.
4. A keyboard plays easier and lighter. Just go behind a real piano and press the lowest key first, then the highest key. Can you feel the difference?
   • Try the same thing on a keyboard: all keys feel equally heavy (or light). Suitable for playing for a long time!
   • Most keyboardists do not play the entire keyboard and can therefore use a smaller keyboard. And if you fall short, you can "transpose" with the push of a button, giving you an extra octave high or low.
5. The digital keyboard can be useful in a band. The amount of sounds makes you very multifunctional, and you can, if a band member is unable to, even pick up other people's parts.
6. And last but not least: Although keyboards will never be used in classical music, they are indispensable in light music (jazz, rock, reggae, pop, punk, etc.).

Method 8 of 8: More?

1. Challenge yourself once you've mastered the basics: start a band!
2. Find musician friends (or musical friends) and start playing songs that you all like.
3. Play as long and often until it sounds the way you want.
   • When you are done: record a new song. Don't stop until you have a world star as support act!

Tips

• Practice with rhythms on your keyboard to learn to play tight.
• Don't get frustrated. Just keep playing and it will come naturally.
• Playing the piano and playing the keyboard is the same principle.
• Dare to make mistakes, even the best do. Maxim: If you don't make mistakes, you aren't working hard enough.
• Believe in yourself.
• Take compliments as well as constructive criticism to heart.
• Practice, practice, practice.
• Do you make a mistake: just keep trying.
• You can learn to play from a book, but sometimes it is better to take lessons. A teacher can tell you if you are doing well and help you overcome dead points.
• Listen to and learn from people who understand it.

Warnings

• Don't expect to be able to play right away. Even Mozart and Beethoven had to learn. So practice!

Necessities

• Keyboard
• Sheet music (No need to learn to play)
• A good teacher
• Enthusiasm
• Patience and lots of practice