| Reading piano notes is far easier than many beginning | | | | succession as notes within the staff. For example, |
| pianists think it is. Ultimately, piano note reading is | | | | the invisible line one space below the treble clef staff |
| simply a matter of memorization and repetition. In | | | | -- a note that you will see very, very often -- stands |
| other words, once you learn the basics, all you have | | | | for middle C as it is one space and one line below the |
| to do is put them into practice, and to do so as | | | | E represented by the first line. |
| many times as it takes to completely internalize your | | | | The bass clef, which looks like a backwards "C" with |
| note reading skills. | | | | two dots around the second line from the top, has |
| No doubt, you've seen what's known as the staff -- | | | | this configuration: The five lines stand for G B D F |
| the system of five lines and four spaces upon which | | | | and A, while the four spaces stand for A C E and G. |
| musical notes are organized. In music notation, at the | | | | Again, there are many mnemonic devices to |
| far left of a staff you will always see a clef, which is | | | | remember these, but it's always best to make up |
| basically a symbol that indicates how the notes on | | | | your own. |
| the staff should be read. | | | | With many piano songs, especially those for |
| There are many different types of clefs, but | | | | beginners, the left hand plays the notes in the bass |
| fortunately for beginning pianists, the vast majority | | | | clef, while the right hand plays the notes in the treble |
| of piano music deals only with two clefs, the treble | | | | clef. The two areas meet up at middle C, which is |
| clef and the bass clef. The treble clef is usually used | | | | two notes below the lowest line in the treble clef |
| to notate the first few octaves to the right of | | | | staff, and two notes above the highest line in the |
| Middle C, while the bass clef is usually used to notate | | | | bass clef staff. |
| the few octaves to the left of Middle C. | | | | Beyond this basic memorization of notes represented |
| In all staffs, no matter what the clef is, successive | | | | by lines and spaces, piano note reading also involves |
| lines and spaces represent ascending notes of the | | | | some knowledge of what is meant by various |
| scale. For example, in the treble clef, the lowest line | | | | symbols. Most commonly you will see the symbols |
| represents E. Thus, the space just above the lowest | | | | for sharp and flat. The symbol for sharp, which |
| line represents F, the line just above that represents | | | | closely resembles the number symbol (#), indicates |
| G, the space above that is A, and so on. | | | | that the note which it accompanies should be raised |
| In the treble clef, which looks sort of like a | | | | one half step. Meanwhile, the flat symbol looks like a |
| backwards "S" with a few extra curly-cues thrown in, | | | | lower case "b," and indicates that the accompanying |
| and centered on the second line up, the notes are as | | | | note should be played one half step lower. Also, once |
| follows: The five lines, from bottom to top, stand for | | | | you start to learn more keys and scales, you will |
| E G B D and F, while the four spaces stand for F A | | | | need to know the natural symbol, which cancels a |
| C and E. All beginning pianists must memorize these | | | | sharp or flat is dictated by the key. Also, it's |
| very early in the learning process. FACE is an easy | | | | important to remember that when you see a sharp, |
| acronym to remember, while EGBDF lends itself to a | | | | flat, or natural symbol, that symbol remains in effect |
| variety of mnemonic phrases, which you can make | | | | throughout the measure. |
| up yourself. For example, when I took my lessons, I | | | | From this point on, things become more complicated. |
| was forced to memorize, "Every Good Boy | | | | But don't sweat it. Learning how to read piano notes |
| Deserves Fudge." | | | | is a baby-step process. Try not to learn everything |
| Often, when reading music, you will see additional | | | | at once. Instead, focus on one thing at a time, and |
| "lines" added above or below the staff. These are | | | | practice until it comes as easily as breathing. As |
| merely extensions of the staff, and follow the same | | | | always, this is the key to learning piano. |