Best
Piano for Beginners
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Overall: Boasts A Graded Hammer Standard (GHS) Keyboard With Matte Keytops For A Realistic Piano Feel
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Best Feature: MIDI enabled and has a USB-B connection, allowing you to plug it into a computer
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TedScore™: 10/10
Best
Budget Piano
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Overall: With An Extra Sleek Profile For A Modern Aesthetic And Added Portability
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Best Feature: Authentic Keyboard Action Encourages Correct Technique
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TedScore™: 8/10
Best
Piano for Pros
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Overall: Comes With A Superb Fully-Weighted Keyboard Action
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Best Feature: Improved Action With New Responsive Hammer Compact Action
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TedScore™: 9/10
The piano is one of the most versatile instruments. You can play music for fun, for pleasure, or even for a career.
It’s no wonder pianos are found in every music lover’s home and schools. Besides playing music, the piano also helps develop your motor skills, hand-eye coordination ability, and sense of rhythm.
I actually think it’s a miracle instrument!
Playing piano is about more than just hitting the right keys. If you’re a beginner pianist or an intermediate pianist looking to take your playing to the next level, the proper technique is key.
In this article, I’ll discuss the essential piano techniques to help you play the piano like a pro. And as I studied piano at the Royal College of Music in London, my piano technique developed massively over that time.
I’ll also throw in some tips on practising to get the most out of your piano sessions.
Without further ado, here are some of the best piano learning techniques you should know!
What are Some
Common Mistakes When Playing the Piano?
There are many common mistakes made while playing the piano. One of the most common mistakes is failing to pay attention to fingering and control considerations. For instance, playing a chord or passage with different fingerings can result in inconsistent playing and poor tone quality.
Not revising pieces thoroughly is another common mistake. It’s tempting to play the same passage again and again, especially if you can play it. However, that doesn’t help the rest of the piece get learnt!
By practising correct piano techniques, such as hand positioning, pedal technique and finger movements, pianists can learn how to play the piano more efficiently and effectively.
Playing Piano Techniques Like a Pro
If you’re looking to play the piano like a pro, it’s vital to practice the right piano-playing techniques.
Legato and staccato are direct opposites as a skill, and they are two of the most common piano-playing techniques.
The legato technique is done by smoothly connecting your fingers across the keyboard, while the staccato technique involves sharply touching and releasing the keys.
Both legato and staccato play an important role; and they can be useful techniques for even practicing scales, arpeggios, and sections of pieces. If you usually play something legato, why not try mixing it up and making it staccato? Anything to engage your brain will help solidify your neurons, and make you learn quicker.
When you practice piano playing techniques, it’s essential to take your time and be deliberate with each note. Before you play a piece on the piano, it’s essential to familiarize yourself with it mentally. This will help you develop a strong sense of music and help you improve your piano skills easily.
Plus, check out these quick tips to help you practice piano-playing techniques regularly to improve your music skills and become a professional pianist!
1. Correct Body Posture
To play the piano correctly, it’s vital to maintain good posture– this includes sitting upright with a straight spine, relaxed shoulders, and avoiding craning the head down to look at the keys. To play the piano effectively, your hand position is also key.
Palms should be facing downward with wrists relaxed and slightly above the keyboard. When setting up the piano bench, ensure it’s at the correct height to suit your build, and sit up straight but relaxed.
Another important mistake to avoid is “the wings”; keep elbows comfortably at your side while playing to avoid “the wings.”
2. Correct Hand & Finger Position
When learning piano, you must first learn proper hand position, which is crucial for piano playing.
The right and left-hand fingers are numbered in a piano sheet music, with the right-hand thumb (finger 1) on middle C and the pinky (finger 5) on the G above. The left hand is the same, just in the opposite direction.
Hand position is important for piano playing and should be taught with palms down and relaxed wrists and fingers slightly extended.
It’s also important to play with the force of the entire hand and not just individual fingers, as this will enable you to play powerful and dynamic passages. Playing with consistent accuracy requires practice and patience from both teachers and students.
3. Learning Minor & Major Scales
Learning major and minor scales is an important step in your piano journey.
Almost every piece of music has hidden scales – and if you know how to play them, you’ll find playing your pieces easier.
And for some reason, we always throw more weight to major scales. I never understood this, as minor scales are just as important!
4. Playing with Octaves
Octaves are an interval of eight notes on the piano keyboard. To play octaves, you must press two keys simultaneously. So octave scales are a technique that involves focusing on hand and body position while keeping the hand, wrist, and forearm relaxed.
Effective practice of octaves involves is important to help develop a relaxed wrist capable of producing powerful sounds.
Playing octaves can be a part of many pieces, such as piano rag and classical piano songs. And before I forget, if you can’t reach an octave yet – don’t worry. One day you will!
5. Using Pedals
Pianos have several different types of pedals used to create different sounds. Different pianos use different pedal configurations.
The most commonly used piano pedal is the sustain/damper pedal, which is used to sustain or hold a note after it’s been played. This is always the right pedal.
The left pedal (officially called the Una Corda – meaning one chord/string) is used to play quiet passages even quite.
Lastly, if your piano has a middle pedal, and it’s an upright piano, then it’s most likely a ‘Practice Pedal’. This lowers a piece of cloth over the strings, so it makes each note sound more mutes; ideal for practicing when you need to the sound to be quieter without having to have the sensation of playing quietly!
If you’re middle pedal is on a grand piano, or a digital piano, it’s more than likely going to be a sostenuto pedal – meaning it will sustain/hold the specific notes that are press whilst the pedal is activated – but any other notes remain unaffected by the pedal.
Practice Tips for a Beginner Pianist to Remember
If you’re interested in learning piano, it’s important to get professional tips and piano advice from the experts. This can help you focus on meaningful improvement and develop the proper piano technique necessary to become a pianist.
Make sure to follow these practice tips to take your piano playing to the next level!
It's Good to Have a Practice Schedule
Having a consistent practice schedule is vital if you want to maintain your skills and progress as a pianist. By having a set practice routine, you can prepare for playing in public with confidence. It’s also important to commit to a certain amount of practice time each week so that pianists can improve their playing abilities over time.
Practising away from the piano can help improve muscle memory when playing the piano. This can help with playing the piano without relying on memory too much.
It’s also helpful to record your practising from time to time and listen back; you’ll learn from it and improve your playing technique.
Additionally, it’s good to have some quiet time after practice to reflect on your practice and work on any technical challenges you’ve encountered.
Having a Clear Goal in Mind During Practice
It’s essential to have a clear goal in mind during practice if you want to become a successful pianist. It’s important to plan what pieces, exercises, and techniques you want to work on each day.
By having a clear goal in mind, you can stay motivated and focused during your practice time. It’s also important to be patient with yourself and not be too hard on yourself if you make mistakes.
Instead, learn from your mistakes and strive for improvement each time you practice.
Ask for Feedback from Professionals
Start by asking for feedback from piano experts. Whether it be from a teacher, online piano community, or YouTube video, ask for feedback on your technique.
Remember to be self-critical and use tools such as a mirror, recording yourself while playing, or having an observer listen in while you play.
Use these techniques to evaluate your technique and improve your play over time. Remember to take notes and analyze your performance, so that you can learn how to get better at playing the piano.
Recommended Pianos for Beginners
PERFECT FOR: New musicians
FEATURES: A teacher's favourite for learning with graded hammer action keys
OTHER INFO: With a graded standard hammer keyboard and sustain pedal for an authentic playing feel
Yamaha P45 Digital Piano
When you check the price above, you’ll see there are loads of great places to buy this item. Our personal favorite is Gear4music.
It is the largest music retailer in the UK and fast becoming the most respected online music shop in the US too. Their customer service is excellent, they have competitive prices, really fast shipping, and usually have the longest guarantee.
Most professional musicians use Gear4music, so there is no reason why you shouldn’t too!
- Legendary Yamaha quality
- Includes three months of Flowkey Premium
- You'll need to purchase a stand and bench separately, which can add to the overall cost
The professional musician who wrote this article combined many things,
from the product build, manufacturer’s reputation through to feedback
from other users, to create our famous TedScore™.
PERFECT FOR: Learning at home
FEATURES: 88-key digital piano ideal for living spaces
OTHER INFO: Synthetic ebony and ivory keys provide that premium grand feel
DP-12 Compact Digital Piano by Gear4music
When you check the price above, you’ll see there are loads of great places to buy this item. Our personal favorite is Gear4music.
It is the largest music retailer in the UK and fast becoming the most respected online music shop in the US too. Their customer service is excellent, they have competitive prices, really fast shipping, and usually have the longest guarantee.
Most professional musicians use Gear4music, so there is no reason why you shouldn’t too!
- Play with expression with a three-pedal unit and 128-note polyphony
- Get creative with 32 voices and a two-track playback recording
- With a sleek and stylish appearance
- No Bluetooth available
The professional musician who wrote this article combined many things,
from the product build, manufacturer’s reputation through to feedback
from other users, to create our famous TedScore™.
PERFECT FOR: Beginners
FEATURES: SuperNATURAL Piano technology from Roland provides world-class sounds
OTHER INFO: Can connect with Bluetooth and transmit MIDI or audio
Roland F107 Digital Piano
When you check the price above, you’ll see there are loads of great places to buy this item. Our personal favorite is Gear4music.
It is the largest music retailer in the UK and fast becoming the most respected online music shop in the US too. Their customer service is excellent, they have competitive prices, really fast shipping, and usually have the longest guarantee.
Most professional musicians use Gear4music, so there is no reason why you shouldn’t too!
- With a slim and space-saving design which fits any contemporary living space
- Extend your piano's functionality with the Roland Piano App
- The keyboard's lid folds up and acts as a sheet music stand
- More expensive compared to other beginner pianos
The professional musician who wrote this article combined many things,
from the product build, manufacturer’s reputation through to feedback
from other users, to create our famous TedScore™.
PERFECT FOR: Beginners
FEATURES: Improved action with new Responsive Hammer Compact action
OTHER INFO: Comes with a superb fully-weighted keyboard action
Kawai ES120 Digital Stage Piano
When you check the price above, you’ll see there are loads of great places to buy this item. Our personal favorite is Gear4music.
It is the largest music retailer in the UK and fast becoming the most respected online music shop in the US too. Their customer service is excellent, they have competitive prices, really fast shipping, and usually have the longest guarantee.
Most professional musicians use Gear4music, so there is no reason why you shouldn’t too!
- With 192-note polyphony
- Bluetooth audio allows for streaming device audio through piano speakers
- Comes with an extra speaker size and brand-new spatial headphone audio
- No USB functionality
- Built without a screen
The professional musician who wrote this article combined many things,
from the product build, manufacturer’s reputation through to feedback
from other users, to create our famous TedScore™.
PERFECT FOR: Beginner to progressing players
FEATURES: Authentic keyboard action encourages correct technique
OTHER INFO: With an extra sleek profile for a modern aesthetic and added portability
Casio CDP S110 Digital Piano
When you check the price above, you’ll see there are loads of great places to buy this item. Our personal favorite is Gear4music.
It is the largest music retailer in the UK and fast becoming the most respected online music shop in the US too. Their customer service is excellent, they have competitive prices, really fast shipping, and usually have the longest guarantee.
Most professional musicians use Gear4music, so there is no reason why you shouldn’t too!
- MIDI-enabled for a world of opportunities
- A great student instrument, ideal for taking you through your grades
- Can easily fit into any practice space
- Some more experienced players might find it a bit limited in terms of preset sounds
The professional musician who wrote this article combined many things,
from the product build, manufacturer’s reputation through to feedback
from other users, to create our famous TedScore™.
Piano Techniques
Summary
To get your piano playing skills to a pro level, it’s important to practice regularly.
However, practising alone isn’t enough. You must always remember the different playing techniques, avoid common mistakes many players make, and get feedback from someone knowledgeable about the piano.
These will help you identify your strengths and areas for improvement.
Practising the piano requires patience and practice. It takes time to master playing the musical instrument and building a technique that works for you. The learning curve is really high; so keep practising and playing the piano regularly!
Do you have a different or unique piano playing technique?
I’d love to hear from you!
And don’t forget… my new 14 Accessories For The Piano can help get you setup for motivated practice!
FAQ's
The best and most important piano technique is to get started correctly with proper posture and hand position.
Regarding the most difficult piano technique, many experts agree that the Polyphonic style is the most challenging. This style requires a pianist to play multiple melodies simultaneously, and only the most skilled and experienced pianists can do it with ease
Your posture, hand position, and touch all play a role in creating beautiful piano music. When you sit down at the piano, ensure your hands are relaxed, your wrists should be flexible and free to move, and focus on using arm weight to produce a rich, full sound.