The piano or keyboard is not an easy instrument to master, and takes some getting used to. We’ve identified some of the common challenges that beginners tend to face, and this post addresses how you can overcome those challenges. So, keep reading and improving your play.

Challenge #1 – Forgetting Key Names

The first of these is pretty common when you first start learning the keyboard – that is remembering the key names. You’re familiar with locating the middle C – find the two adjacent black keys in the centre, go to the left one, and one half-step to the left. And from here the notes in order are C, D, E, F, G, A, B, C.

But getting to a comfort level where you can immediately play a key is easier said than done. What you can do is make a system of calling cards which are basically sheets of paper with the notes written in caps. You can have repetitions with multiple As, Bs, etc. Put these sheets in a bowl, pick one at random, and play the corresponding key.

Initially, you would locate the middle C and navigate in ascending or descending order to the particular key. But the point of this exercise is that, after a while, you will know where the notes are and would be able to instantly locate the right key without having to go from C each time.

Challenge #2 – Flying Fingers

The next common problem beginners face is finger lifting and flying fingers. There are a few checks you can put in place to prevent this. Firstly, and this is fundamental, make sure your fingers are curled and not flat on the keys. Secondly, use your left palm to cover the right-hand fingers while you’re playing. This will help you immediately push back downwards the fingers that tend to fly.

Finally, ensure you have a good vision of your fingers at all times. You can practise the scales in piano (p) and forte (f) to train your fingers. As a beginner, your fingers are sure to fly in forte (loud). This is fine, just keep at the practise and it will improve.

Challenge #3 – Disjointed Notes

Another issue you might face is disjointed notes rather than connected notes. You need to ensure you’re smoothly transitioning between keys/notes – basically the time interval of the switch between notes needs to be constant.

There’s a musical term for this called legato which is nothing but that smooth, fluid motion and switching of notes. As opposed to this, there is another term staccato which is basically a bouncy feel to the music. As a beginner, stick to legato and perfect it through practice.

Challenge #4 – Finger Control

Coming to finger control, when you play a chord, your fingers may have a tendency to fly or you might do a flam (not playing it together as a block chord). To correct this, start by playing only finger 1, then add the next note (finger 3), and then the final note (finger 5) to play the entire chord. You can do this in reverse order as well, starting with 5, then 3, and 1. When you practise step by step like this, your finger control will automatically improve.

Challenge #5 – Finger Clawing

When you’re playing the chords in a scale (either in ascending or descending order), there’s a clawing motion with your fingers that you need to absolutely avoid. You can use the random pick exercise (calling cards) with chits in a bowl that was discussed earlier, to get rid of this common challenge as well.

These are by no means an exhaustive list of the problems faced by beginners. But the important thing is to practise your scales, arpeggios, and dynamic controls regularly, using the metronome. If you are patient and practise consistently, there’s no doubt you will see these beginner constraints vanishing and your skills improving in no time. In the next post, we touch upon the seventh note in major scales. Continue reading and expanding your knowledge.