Piano Lessons for Beginners: Part 1 - Getting Started! Learn some simple chords 

For those of you who wonder about C major being "G C E" and not "C E G": they're both C major chords. "C E G" is the root position, "G C E" is an inversion. One is not "simpler" or "better" than the other, and I chose to teach the "G C E" form because it fits in better with the other chords. If you want to learn more about chords, inversions and basic theory, check out my Piano Quickie series: ru-vid.com/group/PLP9cbwDiLzdKY0kV1hPE4zNosvz_Ur7wD

I need a beginner version of this beginner version

C major = G C E F major = A C F G major= G B D A minor= A C E

Hey, might want to throw some tips here when I start playing piano with my teacher long time ago... Here's how to easily place your hands on the board for any chords... For Major Chords: Example for C Major (C, E, G) - You will realize that the distance between C and E notes is 3 tiles and between the E notes and G notes is 2 tiles. Basically every basic major chords they have a distance of 3 tiles between the first two notes and 2 tiles between for the last two notes. For Minor Chords: Example for C Minor (C, D#, G) Basically almost the same like major chords but this time the spaces between the tiles just get inverted... 2 tiles between the first two notes and 3 tiles for the last two notes. Hope this helps. Cheers.

I don't play the piano and don't owe one. But I'm attracted to the sound. Was born in a poor family where money was spend on survival needs. Your lessons are truly helping me to learn about piano. One day I wish to owe one and eventually play it. Thanks.

any guitarists here that wanna learn piano to expand their music theory knowledge?

I have a deep appreciation for people who take their time to teach something and even more for those who do so for the love of spreading knowledge without any secondary interests. Thank you very much for these lessons, they will be very useful!

Thank you. I'm a guitarist who has had an accident and can no longer play that instrument and this video has been a great help. Thanks.

2:42 C Major ( G C E ) 3:25 F Major ( A C F ) 3:43 G Major ( G B D ) 3:52 A Minor ( A C E ) 4:11 Bass Note

I have this as a response to another comment, thought I would put it as its own comment: For those of you who are total beginners, and possibly confused or overloaded (no need to reat the whole thing, but the concepts work off of eachother as you read on), some basic theory is super useful: -SCALES (often used interchangeably with "key" even though they are slightly different things): -Before looking at chords, we should be looking at what a "scale" is. Scales will have 7 notes in them (with some rare exceptions). The first note (lowest pitch, furthest left on the keyboard), is referred to as the "tonic" or "root" and it will determine the name of the scale (e.g. C Major). The 8th note is referred to as the "ocave." The octave is the same note as the first, but an "octave" higher. -Ex: The key of C major are the notes C,D,E,F,G,A,B. It repeats on upward, starting at the next C. Each time it starts again at C, it is in the next "octave." It works the same way going downward (to the left) -You can also think of these 7 notes as numbers, 1,2,3,4,5,6,7 (with 8 being the octave) Place your right thumb (for this beginner lesson, we're using ONLY the right hand) on the white key immediately to the left of two black keys. It doesn't matter which set of two black keys. This note is always a C. Now put each of your other fingers in order on the white keys following. Your fingers are now on C,D,E,F, and G (1,2,3,4,5) -- thumb, index, middle, ring, pinky Practice Exercise:s 1). Place your right hand as above, 1,2,3,4,5. Play up and down from thumb to pinky, then pinky and back: -1,2,3,4,5...5,4,3,2,1 (aka C,D,E,F,G...G,F,E,D,C). -This works best if you play with a metronome, starting at a slow tempo (60 bpm) and increasing it in increments of 5 or 10 each time you are 100% comfortable. 2). Now, with your hands starting in the same spot, we will play all 7 notes in the C Major scale (and the octave). You will play with your thumb, index, middle first (C,D,E, -- 1,2,3), but instead of using your ring to play the 4th note (F), you will cross your thumb underneath and use it instead. Your hand will now be shifted with your thumb on the 4th note (F), and your index, middle, ring, pinky fingers will now play the 4th,5th,6th, 7th, and 8th (octave), notes - aka F,G,A,B,C(octave). 3). Once you have the above down (practicing to a metronome as above will help you to advance in skill more quickly), you will be able to descend in reverse in a similar fashion You will start in the position you have ended on in the previous exercise. Pinky on C, descending C,B,A,G,F (8,7,6,5,4) -- pinky, ring, middle, index, thumb. Play all those notes in that order. To play the last 3 following notes, descending, you will now cross your middle finger over the top and play the next note down (E, 3rd note of the scale), followed with your index and thumb on D,C (2,1). -Now practice going back an forth between exercise 2). and 3). -Now onto CHORDS, Yay!! (in this case, triads, the most basic chord that consist of 3 notes): -Now with all the fingers on your right hand on 5 adjacents notes, starting with the C (immediately to the left of two black keys), Press down the key with your THUMB, MIDDLE, and PINKY. You are now playing a C chord (in this case, C Major or CM. We'll get to minor later). The name of the chord is based off of the lowest note (aka, the "root." The term "tonic" is not used for chords, only scales) -The notes you are pressing are also referred to as "1," "3," and "5," - you leave out the 2nd and 4th notes when playing a basic chord (also called a triad, because there are 3 notes) -This shape, [1,3,5,], [thumb, middle, pinky] works as a chord (triad), no matter where you start on the white keys. Wherever your thumb is determines what the chord is called (e.g. C Major). Again, we'll get to major/minor later. -In the video he plays a C chord, an F chord, and a G chord. (as he said, if you don't say major or minor, just the letter, it will be a major chord by default). -He is playing them in a more advanced way, called inversions (not important yet) -The simple way to play them would be to place your thumb on C, and use your thumb, middle, pinky on C,E,G (1,3,5). -Now for F, thumb on F (immediately left of the 3 black keys), and use thumb, middle, and pinky on F,A,C (1,3,5) -G: thumb on G, middle, and pinky on B,D (3,5) When he plays multiple chords in order like this, it often repeats, and is referred to as a CHORD PROGRESSION. Often times chords are referred to as numbers, written in roman numerals. In the case of the above progression, C,F,G, it would be referred to as a: I, IV, V progression, because C is the 1st note of the key, F is the 4th, and G is the 5th. No matter what octave you play each chord in, it would still be called a "I, IV, V" progression. -(a more advanced concept: in any major scale/key the chords go in order as: I,ii,iii,IV,V,vi,viio, with lower case being minor, and the "o" (which is supposed to be small superscript) meaning it is a diminished chord. This pattern is referred to as CHORD ORDER. -Now for INTERVALS! yay!: -Now we are going to add black keys into the mix. -if you play every key (including the black keys) you will end up with a pattern of 12 notes repeating the 13th being the octave. Moving one adjacent key up or down (right or left), INCLUDING black keys, you are creating a HALF STEP (aka semi-tone). If you move two keys adjacent (including black keys) it is a WHOLE STEP (aka whole tone). -All twelve notes, including the black keys, is referred to as "chromatic." Using C as a starting point, the chromatic scale looks like: -C, C#, D, D#, E, F, F#, G, G# ,A , A#, B, and C (octave). The "#" symbol is referred to as "sharp" (not hashtag, ha). Which means one half-step or semi-tone higher (to the right on the keyboard). The sharps are the black keys. This can also be written as: -C, Db, D, Eb, E, F, Gb, G,Ab, A, Bb,B and C (octave). The "b" symbol is referred to as "flat" which means one half-step (aka semi-tone) lower (leftward). -Also can be thought of in numbers, 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12, and 13(octave) -The notes B to C, and E to F, do not have a sharp (#) aka flat (b) because there is no black key between each pair. TBC!!!!

I’m about to turn 21. I’ve wanted to play piano since I was a little kid. I wanna buy a keyboard asap and start learning. Wish me luck :)

I took lessons for ten years as a kid/teen and remember notes but I don’t remember how to play. Your course is great. I’m so glad I found it. Thanks so much. Lynne😊

I like the way you teach calmly, others talks too fast to the point that I can't keep up with them. Thank a lot for this.

Notes: Chords: C major - G C E F major - A C F G major - G B D A minor - A C E Left hand : base note : name of chord

here I am watching a piano tutorial without actually owning one

Thank you Mangold Project. I'm 37 and just decided to learn my first instrument. Use the pause button and chew a bit for everyone saying that they need a beginner lesson for the beginner lesson, LOL. He said he's going to release a lesson every couple of months so that's time to get skilled at transition between notes, and look up songs with these cords.

Yay! Thank you so much for this! 🙏🏻🙂 I've wanted to play keys for a long time, and have felt overwhelmed as to where to begin. I'm so excited to continue following your lessons 🥰

I'm 13 and I never really had interest in piano when I was young. But recently I've been wanting to know how to play the piano cause it's so calming and helps with personal problems. So thank you for making this vid! I still need to learn certain notes but I'll keep watching your videos. Thank you!

Thanks so much! On my brother’s side of the family, his grandma bought him a keyboard many years ago. He left a couple years ago, and now I fully had the keyboard to myself. As he stayed home, he never played the keyboard, I never saw him do it. (Never) He said that I could play the keyboard any time I liked because he hasn’t played it in years. I wanted to learn the basics of keyboarding, since I had an interest, but now that he’s been gone for about a year, I am practicing now! This was very helpful, thank you! 🤗

Great tutorial. Very good pacing. I’m only watching it and not playing the piano but it feels like I did. I can’t wait to get on a piano and do this. Thank you! Looking forward to more of your videos.

I had to google 'What is a chord' Thats how beginner I am

View count Part 1: 5,1M Part 2: 800k Part 3: 400k *Looks like most people lost their faith in the beginning* 👀

Great info. I started playing 3 years and now I’ve started performing. Thanks for sharing.

Respect for the creator of these Lessons

I really appreciate this lesson my mom was a musician she played multiple instruments. I’ve been told she was born gifted and I’ve always wanted to play like her. She’s gone now but I’m practicing everyday now that I’m not working and your simple instructions have been so helpful. I look forward to all your lessons Thank you.

I am a drummer of 50 years, I have always wanted to learn piano,. For decades I thought it was too complicated and never took the time. You explain it so well,? Thank you. I’m getting something to start on tomorrow. My body will not allow the drums anymore, but I can still learn something. Thank you again.

who's in here keep watching event don't have a piano?

I went through the comments and was shocked that some people find it difficult! It is by far the greatest beginner piano lesson that I have came across while browsing on RU-vid for Piano lessons! I just bought my piano and was following along, and the explanations are so simple and straight to the point that I'm filled up with joy bc I'm able to do what he was teaching without any prior piano lessons! Thank u sir! I already subscribed and want to follow just you for my piano lessons! I'm still on lesson one, started yesterday!

recently turned 67 and bought some keyboards online to finally learn and scratch off my bucket list...your video was excellent and you are a great teacher...i learned a lot and hope I can find your subsequent ones..thanks

I lost you at “Hi”

thank you so much, im 24 this year and being able to play a piano has became my dream since I was 6. we were too poor back then and now, I'm so excited to learn!

Me beginner: Super excited Piano teacher: These are the notes Me: 😴

I found it a bit difficult as a beginner

A couple of years ago I gave up learning piano and I sold my piano. And I'm thinking to learn it again. Your explanation is awesome

I honestly could not figure out chords and piano before this. This video is a lifesaver!

I remember 3 years ago i watched this vid i was awkward like idk what to do now im playin piano everywhere and makin my own songs big thanks to you and you too guys if you love it you will do it just believe in ur capabilities

I just can't believe lockdown and quarantine got me to realize that I'm not a guitarist but I'm a pianist

I appreciate all them musicians who have invested their time in learning music and teaching others❤

I just started my piano lessons today. I pray for strength to finish well cos it’s some I really love to do

Me: Watching a piano tutorial while holding a ukulele Ukulele: Am I a joke to you?

U’re a brilliant teacher; never played or read music before, but u just simplified it all in a less boring way. Thanks! 👍🏾

You have been THE BEST I’ve found here in RU-vid yet! Thank you 🙏🏽 I am learning thanks to you ❤

I definitely miss playing the piano, but I've forgotten the major and minor chords all I know are the basic chords. I'm very grateful to this video for helping me remember the chords because, after 7 years I have completely forgotten how to play the piano.

Anybody else used to play piano but quit and wanna restart again 🙋‍♀️

I like the fact that he says piano playing career

I finally understand how to put my left fingers to the right chord. I have this confusion for years how to explain my problem with chords. Problem solved now. Thank you, Sir!

thank you so much. This helped me go from confusion to playing a simple rhythm. Hallelujah!

I have just got my first keyboard for my birthday and I’m so lucky that this is the first video lesson that I clicked on. It’s excellent. Really informative, great visionary and a great pace. Perfect for getting me started. Thanks for taking the time to teach people like me. I’m looking forward to trying this and finding more of your lessons too. Great stuff.

How in the world does this guy get 4.4k dislikes? He has good thumbnails telling which lesson for ease of access, his lessons are simple and clear, and last but not least unlike many other teachers he's doing it for free.

Great to have these introductory lessons for students!

Brutal tutorial for a beginner. Makes me want to give up without trying.

A very talented lesson, I am a professor of physics, and here I do understand how this professor can make a beguinner sound like a real pianist, I loved this lesson, If you follow him and write down in a paper, you just learn a lot in one single step. these informations are clear and just need to be written then to practice them. thank you and please send us more!!!!!lovely

Ever since I was a little girl I’ve always wanted to learn how to play the piano, but back then piano lessons were too expensive so my parents couldn’t pay them.. later on in middle school I learned how to play the trumpet, then the violin but I never learn how to play the piano… I’ll be trying to learn how to play the piano by my own with your lessons :)

This was AMAZING. I took a few piano lessons as a child but never did chord study. I hope you have videos for all the other chords!

Thank you so much. This help me a lot. I couldn't afford for a piano class. But now I can learn from you. God bless you!

Why i am watching this, I dont even have a piano☹️

I have been wanting to learn to play the piano for as long as I can remember and today I finally got a keyboard and stumbling across your tutorials have been the best. thank you so much!!

Whoever this man is i just want to say that I'm very grateful to you for making this video. THANK YOU

Thank you so much! I've always wanted to play better at the piano, and I was a bit afraid I was gonna give up until I saw this video. Pretty interesting lesson, it helps a ton! 😄

Thank you so much my online teacher and this is what I have understanded: ------------------------------------------------ "C" always in begins at 2 black key notes. and note on the keyboard from begin side is ab cd efg abc and ahead ------------------------------------------------ 1)chord is c major, f major, g major amd a major and each letter called note. 2) C major: (thumb)G, (Index)C, (ring)F F major: (thumb)A, (index)C, (nickle) F G major: (thumb)G, (index)B, (ring)D A minor: (thumb) A, (index)C, (ring) E p/s: keep practice those and you will be in fluent in it ------------------------------------------------ this is left hand: F:pinkle G: ring A: middle C: thumb pedal: just press longer to make sound ringing!

this is the fastest way to getting started. I myself had started off learning guitar by directly getting into the chords and i have to tell you i learnt more quickly than my counterparts who started with me but it took them around three years to be able to play the guitar properly because they wasted much of their time learning notes and notations and other stuffs.

Thank you so much! I have always wanted to play a instrument like my dad but I never tried and knew how I'm liking the video, nice work!

Just bought my very first keyboards last night and today is my first day of lesson!

If you skip this guy's lessons you are doom forever. Keenly follow his lessons and you will call him a savior of beginner Piano lessons. I play Piano much better now, after several years of struggling to find lessons like this. Thanks bro.

you're watching this in quarantine right

I started piano in 2019, and made some progress but gave up quickly, now I'm back and hopefully this time I'll make it. Thanks for the video!

Wow thank you so much! I recently bought a midi keyboard and I didn't really know the basics just pushed notes that sounded good. Now I know some beginner chords and notes to help me write songs. Also knowing where the C notes are will help me remember where the other notes are too. I will continue to watch these videos to learn more! Thanks again!

Learning your finger positioning is like learning how to hold chopsticks for the first time.

I don’t know if I’m considered a beginner (I learned basic notes and fingering, I learned what a triad is as well, over 5 years ago) but this really helped me learn the chords that I wasn’t taught. I don’t see why it is difficult.

You taught me more than I've be able to just from playing around on the piano it may help me to watch your videos I can be greater

Hi I found found you yesterday, I thank you for teaching me the right way to play the piano , only just started ,, and playing with two hands Thank you

i’m a drummer and guitarist, and im trying to expand my musical knowledge in piano :) recently got a casio keyboard and i’m trying to learn for the first time. thank you so much!!

Thankyou so much for your help. My mom said " if you learned the piano chords i'll buy you your own piano soon". Im so excited

Thank you:) i recently inherited my grandmother's piano and i want to learn how to play it properly

What is so ingenious about this first lesson is that hes immediately teaching the fingerings for the major and minor chord inversions right from the start!

Beginner here (no background or haven't played keyboard before) and I got the chords right away! Thanks!😊

Just want to tell you from the bottom of my heart that I really appreciate this and your other videos!!!! I have always wanted to learn piano ever since but did not find the time back then, but now during pandemic, I have decided to study. THANK YOU SENPAI!

This is easiest piano lesson I could find on RU-vid. Thank you so much sir!

.......... -Brilliant lesson, thanks so much, I'm a total beginner on piano and I understood this very well

This is fantastic. Haven't played piano in years and recapping on my music theory, fingering and following you is amazing... nice and clear... and easy to follow and apply practically. THANK YOU!

He is not a bad teacher. He covers EACH step pretty well being very detailed. Best part he is NOT rushing the lessons. . He does drills at a SLOW pace!! 🍧🫑🍧🫑🍧

That was a very interesting post, here are a few more tips on how to play the piano… Try practicing about an hour each day, or 30 minutes if you have a busy schedule. Do extra practice whenever you have more time. For example, on weekends you can do more than 1 hour, like two or 3, or even more. This is very helpful because it pulls you out of the routine of piano playing, and lets you practice more and perfect the pieces you play. Listen to the song or piano piece you are playing. For example, if you are taking piano lessons and are about to play a new piece, you could try searching on the internet for videos or songs and hear how it sounds. This can be very helpful because it teaches you how a song is played and lets you recognize the 'emotion,' the piece is giving off. Try not to look at the dynamics in a piece, as rules you cannot break. For example, if the piece starts with an 'mp' (mezzo-piano) it only means 'moderately soft' these dynamics don't have specific volume levels. If you are practicing, you don't need to play accordingly and then have a difficulty hearing yourself, you should only play as it tells you when you are actually trying to play it properly. Practice sight-reading and don't worry about making mistakes. This can be very helpful, because it's almost like scanning a paragraph and looking at the picture. It helps you to understand what the passage is trying to convey before you actually read it and lets you know what comes next. This is the same with music, and it can help you stop making mistakes. Pay close attention to your mistakes. Don't look at them as a burden, but instead as a pat on the back informing you what to avoid next time. (I read about these and more on Denelle piano lesson site )

I just started playing piano, i appreciate you for sharing your teaching, helped soo much

Trying to pick back up what I learned over 20 years ago. Great videos keep up the good work 👍

Omg. I got a keyboard yesterday. And I just watched your tutorial now. Even though I am not really good with keyboard. I am learning the 4 basic chords now. My hands are still hard to move if I am gonna transfer to other chord. I won't forget my first day of tutorial. Thank you so much sir!

Thanks! This is exactly what I needed: Some chords to practice and a lesson on hand position to practice so that playing can begin to feel more natural over time.

I don’t know nothing about piano, but I have this emotion when I hear one, and I wanna learn piano just because I look at it like a transporter of emotions 🥲

Simple, clean and fun to learn. Thank you for sharing this video. :)

Simply toooo good, I just wanna show my gratitude to the person who made this video 🙏

I just want to say thank you for the lesson l have not been playing for over 30 years and now just bought a new keyboard and hope to hear more from you regards Allan UK

First 10seconds into watching this video and am loving it already,,, thank you for this free tutorial piano lesson. God bless you sir.

Thank youuuu!!!!! made my heart feel better. I recently am going through a break up and it is extremely devastating to the point that I almost took my life. Gladly I survived and I dont want to go through the thing AGAIN so I bought a piano and this actually works!!!.

Thank you so much! Cant wait to work with you more!

Whoaaaa!!! This is my very first piano lesson and I really, really enjoyed it!!! I feel so blessed to have found this channel. Thank you, Teacher!! My deepest respect for your generosity in sharing your wisdom. Lots of love and see you again💕

I really doubt that showing second inversions of chords as a first lesson is the most accurate way of making begginers understand what they are doing

For all who are confused about the C major and F major chords: What he is playing is called an Inversion of a chord, which should come later. Not sure why this is the way it's being taught here A C major chord consists of three notes : C E G A C major chord in its root position is: C E G. (Starting with root note C. So if you start with the middle C, both E & G would be to the right of middle C) An Inversion to this would be the same notes but in different order ie G C E (If this Inversion is for a C chord at middle C, then E would be the right of middle C and G would be at the left of middle C), which is being played in this video

I'm a complete beginner and I loved this lesson. Thank you so much for it. I was feeling completely lost as I didn't know where to start from but now I have a way. Thanks again!❤️

Amazing. I was able to follow through with the video and can't wait to start the next lesson. Best online tutorial I have found so far.

You made me achieve knowing the basic in 2 hours while i couldn't in 2 weeks.. thank you so much

Thank you very much for explaining the complicated subject in a simplified version.