How to Play Major Keys on a Keyboard (with Pictures)

2024 Author: Jason Gerald | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-01-19 22:11

Music sounds interesting and has character thanks to the chords. All pianists need to know at least the basic and important keys in the piano. Fortunately, these keys are easy to learn. We'll walk you through this article so you can start practicing right away.

Step

Part 1 of 3: Key Basics

Step 1. Understand about the key

A key consists of three or more notes. More complex chords may use multiple notes, but the minimum note of a chord is three.

All chords discussed here are composed of three notes: a root, a third note and a fifth note

Step 2. Find the root of the key

All major chords are built on a single note called the tonic, or root chord. Keys are named after their root note and are the lowest notes in the key.

• In the key of C major, C is the tonic. This is the lowest note in the key.
• The tonic tone is played by the thumb of the right hand or the little finger of the left hand.

Step 3. Find the third major note

After the root the next is the third major which gives character to the chord. the note can be four semitones, or half-steps above the root of the key. It is called the third note because the key pressed is the third key of the root note.

• For example, for the key of C major, the third note is E. This note is four and a half steps above C. You can count it on the piano (C#, D, D#, E).
• The third note is played with the middle finger, regardless of which hand plays the key.
• Try playing the root and third notes together to get to know the interval between the two.

Step 4. Find the fifth note

The top note of the main chord is called the fifth note because the key pressed is the fifth key to the right of the root note. This tone ties the lock and makes it complete. This note is seven semi-tones above the root.

• For the C major chord, G is the fifth note. You can count the seven semi-tones of the piano root (C#, D, D#, E, F, F#, G.)
• The fifth note is played with the little finger of the right hand or the thumb of the left hand.

Step 5. Know that there are two ways to spell keys

all notes can be written in two different ways. For example, Eb and D# are the same note. Thus, the key of Eb major sounds the same as the key of D# major.

• The notes Eb, G, Bb produce the key of Eb. The tone is D#, F? (F##), A# produces the key of D# Major, which sounds exactly like the key of Eb.
• These two keys are called Enharmonic Equivalents because the sound is the same but the writing is different.
• Some examples of the most common enharmonic equivalents are listed below, but this article only presents the general notation of the major keys.

Step 6. Review the correct hand position

To be able to play the piano well, the position of the hands must be correct and consistent, even during practice.

• Keep your fingers long and curled, as if diving into the keys. Use the natural curve of your fingers.
• Use the weight of your hand and not the power of your fingers to press the keys.
• Play with your fingertips, including the tips of your little finger and thumb, which tend to fall flat if left unattended.
• Keep fingernails short so you can play with your fingertips.

Part 2 of 3: Playing the Keys

Step 1. Use three fingers

Note that you will only be using fingers 1, 3 and 5 (thumb, middle, little finger) to play the three notes on each key. The index and ring fingers may rest, but do not press the piano keys.

Note that your fingers will advance a step and a half (one note) on the keyboard each time you change keys

Step 2. Play C Major

The notes are C, E, G. Remember, C = tonic (0), E = third maror note (4 semi-tones), G = fifth (7 semi-tones).

• The position of the fingers of the right hand is the thumb on C, middle finger on E and little finger on G.

  

• The position of the fingers of the left hand is the little finger on C, middle finger on E and thumb on G.

  

Step 3. Play Db Major

The notes are Db, F, Ab. Remember, Db = tonic (0), F = third major note (4 semi-tones), Ab = fifth (7 semi-tones). The enharmonic equivalent of this key is C# Major. Note that Db can be likened to C#. F can also be written as E#. Ab can be written as G#. The sound of the notes played remains the same even though they are written differently (Db Major or C# Major).

• The position of the fingers of the right hand is the thumb on Db, the middle finger on F and the little finger on Ab.

  

• The position of the fingers of the left hand is the little finger on Db, the middle finger on F and the thumb on Ab.

  

Step 4. Play D Major

The notes are D, F#, A. Remember, D = tonic (0), F# = third major note (4 semi-tones), A = fifth (7 semi-tones).

• The position of the fingers of the right hand is the thumb on D, middle finger on F# and little finger on A.

  

• The position of the fingers of the left hand is the little finger on D, the middle finger on F# and the thumb on A.

  

Step 5. Play Eb Major

The notes are Eb, G, Bb. Remember, Eb = tonic (0), G = third major note (4 semi-tone), Bb = fifth note (7 semi-tone).

• The position of the fingers of the right hand is the thumb on Eb, the middle finger on G and little finger on Bb.

  

• The position of the fingers of the left hand is the little finger on Eb, the middle finger on G and the thumb on Bb.

  

Step 6. Play E Major

The notes are E, G#, B. Remember, E = tonic (0), G# = third major (4 semi-tone), B = fifth (7 semi-tone).

• The position of the fingers of the right hand is the thumb on E, middle finger on G# and little finger on B.

  

• The position of the fingers of the left hand is the little finger on E, middle finger on G# and thumb on B.

  

Step 7. Play F Major

The notes are F, A, C. Remember, F = tonic (0), A = third major (4 semi-tone), C = fifth (7 semi-tone).

• The position of the fingers of the right hand is the thumb on F, middle finger on A and little finger on C.

  

• The position of the fingers of the left hand is the little finger on F, the middle finger on A and the thumb on C.

  

Step 8. Play F# Major

The notes are F#, A#, C# Remember, F# = tonic (0), A# = third major note (4 semi-tones), C# = fifth note (7 semi-tones). The enharmonic equivalent of this key is GB Major, which is written as Gb, Bb, Db. Note that F# is equivalent to Gb. A# can also be written as Bb. C# can be written as Db. The sound of the notes played remains the same even though they are written differently (F# Major or Gb Major).

• The position of the fingers of the right hand is the thumb on F#, the middle finger on A# and the little finger on C#.

  

• The position of the fingers of the left hand is the little finger on F#, the middle finger on A# and the thumb on C#.

  

Step 9. Play G Major

The notes are G, B, D. Remember, G = tonic (0), B = third major (4 semi-tone), D = fifth (7 semi-tone).

• The position of the fingers of the right hand is the thumb on G, middle finger on B and little finger on D.

  

• The position of the fingers of the left hand is the little finger on G, middle finger on B and thumb on D.

  

Step 10. Play Ab Major

The notes are Ab, C, Eb Remember, Ab = tonic (0), C = third major (4 semi-tone), Eb = fifth (7 semi-tone). The enharmonic equivalent of this key is G# Major, which is written as G#, B#, D#. Note that Ab is equivalent to G#. C can also be written as B#. Eb can be written as D#. The sound of the notes played remains the same even though they are written differently (Ab Major or G# Major)

• The position of the fingers of the right hand is the thumb on Ab, middle finger on C and little finger on Eb.

  

• The position of the fingers of the left hand is the little finger on Ab, the middle finger on C and the thumb on Eb.

  

Step 11. Play A Major

The notes are A, C#, E. Remember, A = tonic (0), C# = third major (4 semi-tone), E = fifth (7 semi-tone).

• The position of the fingers of the right hand is the thumb on A, the middle finger on C# and the little finger on E.

  

• The position of the fingers of the left hand is the little finger on A, the middle finger on C# and the thumb on E.

  

Step 12. Play Bb Major

The notes are Bb, D, F. Remember, Bb = tonic (0), D# = third major (4 semi-tone), F = fifth (7 semi-tone).

• The position of the fingers of the right hand is the thumb on Bb, middle finger on D and little finger on F.

  

• The position of the fingers of the left hand is the little finger on Bb, the middle finger on D and the thumb on F.

  

Step 13. Play B Major

The notes are B, D#, F#. Remember, B = tonic (0), D# = third major note (4 semi-tone), F# = fifth note (7 semi-tone).

• The position of the fingers of the right hand is the thumb on B, middle finger on D# and little finger on F#.

  

• The position of the fingers of the left hand is the little finger on B, the middle finger on D# and the thumb on F#.

  

Part 3 of 3: Practice

Step 1. Practice playing all three notes at once

When you're good at playing each key individually, try skipping the ladder with each major key. First play the key of C major, then continue with Db major, then D major, and so on.

• Begin this exercise with one hand only. When it's smooth, continue with both hands at once.
• Listen to a discordant tone. The ratio between notes should always be the same so if a key sounds different, double-check the note you hit.

Step 2. Try doing arpeggios

Arpeggios is when each note is played in sequence from lowest to highest. To play the C Major arpeggios with your right hand, press the C note with your thumb and release. Press E with your middle finger and release. Press G with your pinky and release.

Once you have mastered this movement, try to increase the flexibility. Press and release each note quickly so that it seems as if there are no breaks between notes

Step 3. Practice playing the major chord in different inversions

An inversion in the key uses the same note, but a different note is placed at the base. For example, in the key of C major the notes are C, E, G. The first inversion of the key of C major is E, G, C. The second inversion is G, C, E.

Challenge yourself by making a major chord using all notes on the ladder, in all inversions

Step 4. Look at the keys in the sheet music

When you're good at constructing and playing chords, look for scores that have the chords written on them. Try practicing the major chords you've worked on to the song.