Piano for Beginners

164 Pages·2014·34.99 MB·English

by  Hudson Fiona (Ed.)

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PianoFREE DOWNLOADS
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Audio files, sheet music and more!
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Everything you need to know
Master musical notation
to start playing the piano
Record your compositions
Play in different genre styles
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Welcome to
Piano
Making the decision to learn a new instrument can be a whim or a long-standing ambition. Either
way, picking up an instrument for the irst time is a daunting feeling, as the scale of the task sinks in.
This is particularly true if you have never learnt to play an instrument before, with all those technical
terms, scales and notation marks to decipher before you have even played a single note. This new
edition of Piano for Beginners is therefore an essential guide for piano and keyboard irst-timers.
Simplifying the process through step-by-step tutorials, this bookazine will help you lay solid
foundations for years of enjoyment. From the correct way to sit at the piano to reading notation,
we start with the basics before expanding your musical horizons with easy home recording and
genre-speciic tutorials. With a glossary of essential terminology, a list of chords and even access to
free online resources such as audio iles, Piano for Beginners really is your go-to guide as you get
acclimatised to the musical landscape and hone your piano-playing skills.

Piano
Imagine Publishing Ltd
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(cid:8) [phone]
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Aaron Asadi
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Fiona Hudson
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James Sheppard
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Disclaimer
The publisher cannot accept responsibility for any unsolicited material lost or damaged in the
post. All text and layout is the copyright of Imagine Publishing Ltd. Nothing in this bookazine may
be reproduced in whole or part without the written permission of the publisher. All copyrights are
recognised and used specifically for the purpose of criticism and review. Although the bookazine has
endeavoured to ensure all information is correct at time of print, prices and availability may change.
This bookazine is fully independent and not affiliated in any way with the companies mentioned herein.

Piano for Beginners Fifth Edition © 2016 Imagine Publishing Ltd
ISBN 9781785462481
Contents
Guiding you every step of the way and providing you with everything you need
to start learning to read music and play the piano
Give it a try
Look out for this logo on each page,
as it means that an audio file is
available online to help you master a
certain tutorial.
Getting started Understanding
theory
10 T he ultimate guide to
the piano 40 I nterpret key signatures
30 What is musical notation?
Unleash your musical talent Why they are needed and how to read them
20 How to sit correctly at The symbols that affect the way we play a piece 42 L earn about ledger lines
the piano 32 Introducing the staves Get to grips with these essential parts of notation
Perfect posture is an essential task to master The five horizontal lines that enable us to read music 44 C hange note lengths
22 Learn the white keys 33 Notes and their values Learn how the duration of notes can be modified
Understand the natural keys on your piano Some of the different types of notes you’ll find 46 A lter a note’s pitch
24 Learn the black keys 34 How to read musical notation with accidentals
Get acquainted with the world of flats and sharps Learn which notes go where Learn what these quirky symbols mean
26 Using the piano’s pedals 38 Understand time signatures 48 N avigate music notation
Advance your playing style Explaining beats and bars Time to get score savvy and stay on track
6 Piano for Beginners
Notes Darker highlights Middle C Lighter highlights
and keys
Throughout this book,
you will see top-down
images of a keyboard with
the keys highlighted. The
darker highlights show the
keys played in the image,
while the lighter highlights
show the keys that need
to be played in the step
50 Control the volume 74 L earn about intervals
with dynamics
Playing two notes at the same time
Inject more personality into your music 78 U nderstanding chords
52 Set and change the tempo
How to construct and play common chords
Ensure your jigs are jolly and your ballads are slow 80 Using inversions
54 Add articulations to notes
Achieve a different take on chords
Play notes with character and style 82 Major chords
55 Use musical ornaments
An essential tool for budding pianists
Learn about these extra decorations 84 Minor chords
The mood-swingers of your chord repertoire
Playing the piano
86 Suspended chords
58 Warm up your hands Shake things up and add some variation
88 Augmented chords
Limber up before you practise
60 Introducing musical scales Add a bit of spice to your chords
89 Diminished chords
Understand how scales are formed
62 The C major scale How to use them properly
Play in the style of
90 D ominant seventh chords
A great first step for beginners
66 T he F major scale Introducing four-note chords We outline the various musical genres and sounds that
92 M ajor seventh chords can be achieved on your piano
A scale that contains a black key
68 T he G major scale A warm, jazzy-sounding chord type 118 Pop
The major scale that has one sharp 93 M inor seventh chords Pleasant progressions and simple melodies
69 T he D major scale How to transform a plain minor triad 120 Blues
Discover the scale with two sharps 94 U se chord progressions A broad genre with a few defining characteristics
70 The A minor scales The irst step towards writing a song 122 Jazz
The scale with three formats 96 L eft-hand patterns A passionate and diverse genre
72 D minor scales Use your left hand to support a melody 124 The Classical period
A minor scale with a lat 98 L earn arpeggios Rich, obvious melodies and simple patterns
Break up chords to make your music low 126 The Romantic period
mouth Expressing freedom and creativity
Music Is Life, Bourne 1T0h2e n Geet txo gtr ipsst weithp recording 128 CFuosinngt celamssicpal oanrda proyp piano music
Location courtesy of 104 PHStoaloartk yr ue pcto htordr aion PgCu y ogoru Mhr av cae rt yoc faoircscmte msspa nsuetewtrp esioeruc neds 1R3e2fe r Heelpndecske
106 Record on a Mac Answering common queries
Record concertos from the comfort of your Mac 142 Glossary
110 Record on a PC Musical terms explained
Learn about Audacity 144 E ssential scales
114 Improve your technique All the scales you need to know
with apps 152 C hords list
Get creative with an iPhone or iPad All the chords that matter
Piano for Beginners 7
8 Piano for Beginners
Getting started
Our ultimate guide and step-by-step tutorials will teach you all the basics, from
choosing the right piano and sitting correctly to playing your first melody
Give it a try
Look out for this logo on each page,
as it means that an audio and/or
video file is available online to help
you master a certain technique.
“Learning to play
an instrument is a
rewarding journey
and the piano is a
great place to start”
10 T he ultimate guide
to the piano
(cid:116)(cid:1)
Choosing the right piano
(cid:116)(cid:1)
Dif erent ways to play
(cid:116)(cid:1)
Taking care of your piano
20 H ow to sit correctly at
the piano
22 Learn the white keys
24 L earn the black keys
26 U sing the piano’s pedals
Piano for Beginners 9
Getting started
The ultimate guide
to the piano
Unleash your musical talents and learn how to play scales,
songs and masterpieces on the piano
D
eciding to take the first step towards to play the piano is the same on all three, but you’ll find
discovering your musical talents is worthwhile some may offer more or fewer features than others,
at any age. Learning to play an instrument although this won’t have a dramatic effect on how you
is a rewarding journey and the piano really is play while you’re still developing your skills. Regardless of
a great one to start with. Although you’ll need plenty which instrument you’re using, you can still pick up the
of time, practice and patience, the piano is a relatively basics in this beginner’s guide.
easy instrument to master, which is why it’s a popular So whether you want to be able to play the odd tune,
one to try to learn first. Many musicians find that after learn a particular song or compose your own musical
conquering it, the idea of learning other instruments isn’t masterpiece, you’re in the right place. Join us and discover
as daunting. what the piano has to offer. In the following pages we’ll
The piano has come a long way since it was invented, introduce you to the different types of pianos that are out
and alongside the traditional acoustic varieties, there are there and help you get started in front of the keys. You’ll
now digital pianos and portable keyboards. Learning also discover how to read music and play with >>
Notes and keys
Throughout this book, you will see top-down images of a keyboard with the keys highlighted.
The darker highlights show the keys played in the image, while the lighter highlights show the
keys that need to be played in the step. The star shows where Middle C is.
Darker highlights Middle C Lighter highlights
10 Piano for Beginners