Now we’re going to have our first two-paw’d... err, I mean two-handed lesson for piano.
Welcome to Get Piano Lesson 7.
Here we will begin to combine the right-hand melodies we have previously learned with a supporting rhythm or bass line in our left hand.
When it comes to playing piano pieces with both hands, it’s always better to concentrate on learning one hand first, and then learn the other hand later.
This is especially true if you’re playing a more complicated piece of music, where the left hand might be required to jump back and forth between lower bass notes and higher left-hand chords.
Or the right hand may be performing similar acrobatics while the left hand is playing supportive chord arpeggios (more on that “advanced stuff” later ... much later).
Of course, a true concert pianist can just pick up a piece of sheet music and play it straight out without even needing to rehearse it.
(That’s what it takes to work at Carnegie Hall)
But for all us “moderate” piano players, we have the luxury of taking our time and enjoying a more relaxed learning process.
So don’t worry, I won’t ask you to do anything I wasn’t willing to do during my first two-handed lesson for piano.
But before we get started...
Check Out this Introductory Video to Learn More
About How to Play the Piano with Both Hands:
First, let’s get both our hands in their proper position on the piano keyboard. At this point, I’m sure you’re already familiar with Middle C and where it is located on your keyboard instrument.
So, we’re going to start off with all five right fingers in the Middle C position. Then we’ll place all five of our left fingers in the C position just below Middle C.
Take a look at this diagram to see exactly how you should have all your ten fingers set up on the piano keyboard. Both our hands are each in the “C position” (also called “first position”).
Also remember that during our previous lesson for piano we learned a numbering system for our right and left hand fingers. Hopefully you’ve learned these numbers well by now, because you’ll really need them to continue with the following two-handed lesson for piano.
As I said earlier, when you play the piano with both hands, it’s best to learn one hand first and then the other hand later. So in order to make this first assignment a little easier, we’ll be working with the same right-hand notes we already learned in a previous single-handed lesson for piano.
This way, the only new notes we’ll need to learn for this first exercise are the left-hand notes. So without further delay, let’s take a look at our first blackboard assignment...
In this online lesson for piano notice how there are two parallel lines of numbers written across a blackboard. One line of numbers is directly on top of the other. However, there are only 8 numbers in the lower line compared to 15 in the upper line of numbers.
The upper line of numbers represent notes on our piano keyboard we will play with our right hand, where as, the lower sequence of numbers represent notes we will play with our left hand. We will read and play this sequence of numbers from left to right, in the same manner we read text in a book or newspaper.
Also notice that I have divided this lengthy stream of numbers into eight short sections. This way you can concentrate on just one short section at a time, and the entire exercise as a whole doesn’t seem too overwhelming.
Notice that within each divided section there is only one left-hand note for every two right-hand notes (except for the last section). This allows you focus your attention mainly on your right hand since it will be the busier of your two hands.
It’s important to understand that each right-hand note should be played for a count of “one”, while each left-hand note should be played for a count of “two”.
This makes the left-hand notes twice as long as the right-hand notes. That’s why, in each section, there are two right-hand notes for every single left-hand note.
If that sounds a little confusing, you can press the “Play” button underneath the blackboard to see and hear how this lesson for piano should be played. But I’d like you to try playing it on your own first.
You can begin by practicing the right-hand part first or by practicing the left hand first. But try to get the hang of each hand individually before you try to combine both hands together.
When you practice with both hands, go slowly and steadily. Play your left-hand note at the same time you strike your first of two right-hand notes. But hold that left note for the entire time both right notes are playing (within each short section).
If you mess up in one section, just start over from the beginning until you can play past that particular section. Then play on to completion of all eight sections.
When you can play this first blackboard exercise smoothly and with no mistakes, continue on to your next two-hand lesson for piano.
Was that cool... or what?
What a difference it makes to play piano with both hands for a change! Were you surprised at the luscious harmonies you were able to produce? Well, be proud of yourself... you just made music!
So what do you say we try that again?
Let’s resume our double-handed “C positions” on the piano keyboard and take a look at our next two-handed lesson for piano...
Once again, we’ve got a double sequence of numbers that represent notes we’ll play on our piano keyboard. The upper line of 15 notes will be played with our right hand, while the lower line of 8 notes will be played with our left hand.
I’ve also divided this lesson for piano into eight short sections to make it easier on the eyes and more comprehensive to read.
Take your time. Learn one hand at a time first. Then slowly combine both hands by playing one left-hand note for every two right-hand notes within each divided section.
Press the “Play” button directly above the blackboard’s eraser to see and hear how this lesson for piano should be played. Also, by now you may have noticed that all right-hand notes will appear as blue on the blackboard, while all left-hand notes are green.
So, when you feel comfortable with this two-hand lesson for piano and can play both blackboard assignments without any mistakes, Click ahead to Get Piano Lesson 8 where we will begin to train our left hand to take the lead!