Piano Lessons for Beginners

Lesson 2

Begin today to teach yourself to play piano with free piano lessons for beginners! Lesson 2 continues from the first lesson by teaching you to play piano by ear.

In this lesson you will get more acquainted with the piano keyboard, learn how to keep a proper hand posture, about how the fingers are numbered and the names of the seven basic notes that you can find on the white keys of the piano. You will also teach yourself to play "Ode to Joy" only by reading finger numbers!

Here is what you will learn in this video piano lesson:

You will learn how to quickly and easily find the right hand position at the piano, and how to keep the correct hand posture when you play.

You will also learn and practice the note names on the white keys. The basic notes are named after the first seven letters of the alphabet; A B C D E F G.

Practice playing in five finger positions in D-minor and C-major, as well as how to play chords (triads) D minor and C major in root position. This exercise will help to strengthen your fingers, and make your hand posture more secure.

You will learn about how a melody only can move in steps, repeats and skips (or leaps). This will also be helpful to know when you start with learning how to read notes.

You will learn a couple of easy finger strengthening piano exercises. Make sure to practice them every day!.

Finally, you will learn how to play the famous tune "Ode to Joy", the theme from L. van Beethoven's 9th Symphony, with two hands, while reading finger numbers and practicing your piano fingering at the same time!

Play Beethoven's "Ode to Joy" with finger numbers:

Here is how to practice "Ode to Joy":
Right hand finger numbers in C position (only white keys): Place your right hand thumb (nr1) on middle C, finger two on D, three on E, four on F and five (Pinkie) on G:

3 3 4 5 5 4 3 2 1 1 2 3 3 22

3 3 4 5 5 4 3 2 1 1 2 3 2 11

2 2 3 1 2 34 3 1 2 34 3 2 1 2 5

3 3 4 5 5 4 3 2 1 1 2 3 2 11

Now practice your left hand: Place your finger five on bass C, finger four on D, three on E, two on F and one (thumb) on G.:

3 3 2 1 1 2 3 4 5 5 4 3 3 44

3 3 2 1 1 2 3 4 5 5 4 3 4 55

4 4 3 5 4 32 3 5 4 32 3 4 5 4 1

3 3 2 1 1 2 3 4 5 5 4 3 4 55

Try both hands together now! The right hand plays the melody. Follow the finger numbers as you learned above.

Your left hand will be playing the accompaniment; follow the note names. Play C (with finger 5) and G (with finger 1). The bold number and note on top of each other should be played at the same time:

3 3 4 5 5 4 3 2 1 1 2 3 3 22
C------G------C------G

3 3 4 5 5 4 3 2 1 1 2 3 2 11
C------G------C -----G--C

2 2 3 1 2 34 3 1 2 34 3 2 1 2 5
G------G-------G-------G

3 3 4 5 5 4 3 2 1 1 2 3 2 11
C------G------C -----G--C

Get serious about learning the Piano