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Piano: Most Popular Articles

These articles are the most popular over the last month.
Piano Notes
There are only 7 full piano notes to remember. Notes of the black keys are easy to find once you learn the notes of the white piano keys. Learn how to find the notes of the piano with helpful illustrations and tips.
Key Signature Quiz - Musical Tests and Quizzes
You need a good understanding of how key signatures are built, so you can read, play, and create music more instinctually. Test your knowledge of key signatures, musical scales, and accidentals with this key signature quiz. Choose from 5-20 questions, and correctly identify each key signature in this illustrated musical quiz!
Piano Notes Quiz - Musical Tests and Quizzes
Test your knowledge of the piano keyboard with this colorful quiz. Identify notes of the white and black piano keys, and see how well you're learning piano so far! Choose from 4-12 questions in this beginner piano quiz, then test your skills with more musical tests and quizzes!
Sheet Music Intro: Part 1
Music Notes Notes are the symbols written on the staff that express the pitch and duration of a sound:
Piano Staff Notes
Memorize piano treble staff notes with visual help and mnemonic devices.
Piano Fingering
What Is Piano Fingering? Piano fingering refers to finger placement on the piano keyboard , and the hand
Major and Minor Scales
Major and minor scales are built similarly, but have a few distinct characteristics. Learn how major and minor scales are formed, and play common major and minor piano scales.
Sheet Music Intro: Part 2
Musical Dynamics Musical dynamics control the volume of a song, and may be signified by words, symbols,
Musical Symbols - Sheet Music Terms and Musical Symbols
View the musical symbols of piano sheet music, including music notes and accents; foot pedal marks; accidentals; dynamics commands; bar lines; time signatures, and tempo commands. Some musical commands are abbreviated in sheet music (like 'sfz' and 'fff') -- learn the essential musical symbols and terms written in piano music, with clear illustrations and simple explanations.
Treble Note Quiz - Musical Tests and Quizzes
Test your ability to read notes on the treble staff with this beginner quiz. Get help memorizing the treble staff notes, and learn how to read accidentals. Identify the notes on the staff in this illustrated musical quiz!
How to Read Piano Music
Learn how to read and play piano music. This lesson teaches you how to play the C major and G major piano scales; introduces you to simple piano chords and melodies, and guides you with helpful illustrations. Learn how to read piano music once and for all.
Sad Piano Songs
These sad, beautiful piano songs will sympathize with the brokenhearted. Pain has inspired great music, and listening to it reminds us that even legends are not immune to heartache.
Find a Piano's Value
Many factors decide the value of your piano; one of the biggest factors being its overall condition. To find your piano’s value on your own, you need to do some legwork. This guide will teach you how to determine the value of your piano, and spot some common signs of damage.
Yamaha P95
Hands-on review of Yamaha's P95 digital piano. Learn its pros & cons, features, voices & effects, price, speaker-quality, and more. 88-keys - Rating: 4 stars.
Fingering Walk-Through
Learn which fingers touch which keys when playing the piano. This illustrated walk-through lets you practice fingered scales, while explaining basic finger techniques used for both white and black keys.
Left Hand Piano Fingering
To play piano, the left hand has to match the right hand in strength and dexterity. Knowing the correct piano fingering for the left hand improves playing speed, and eases the formation of piano chords. Learn about left hand piano fingering, and enhance your playing.
Learning Piano vs. Keyboard
When it comes to learning and playing piano, there are some clear differences between acoustic and electric instruments that you’ll want to consider. For practical reasons, you should also figure out which will be easier for you to own and maintain. Learn the differences in learning on an acoustic piano versus learning on an electric keyboard, and choose which is best for you and your playing style.
Time Signature Quiz - Musical Tests and Quizzes
Test yourself on time signatures, measures, note-lengths, and how they all work together. This intermediate quiz challenges you on the mathematical side of music, and tests your rhythmic sight-reading abilities. Choose from 5 to 25 questions.
Major Piano Triads
G maj chord: G B D. Major chords are built with a root, a M3, and a P5. Learn to play easy piano triads with illustrated keyboard fingering and treble staff notation.
Easy Piano Chords
It's best to start out with triads (3-note chords) to get a feel for chord positions and fingering. Learn how to form each inversion with illustrated keyboards, and exercise sight-reading with treble and bass staff notation.
Grands vs. Baby Grands
The most obvious difference between ‘regular’ grands and baby grands is size. Actually, these are just two of the many standard grand piano sizes, and the exact measurements can vary by manufacturer or location. Voices of the best baby grands are almost indistinguishable from those of proper grands; but this becomes less so as the size of the piano decreases.
10 Important Jazz Pianists
Jazz music wouldn't be what it is today if it weren't for these 10 piano masters. Learn what they did to change jazz forever.
Understand Diminished Chords
Diminished chords, like major and minor chords, occur naturally in every key , and each key has only
Illustrated Middle C Guide
Are you wondering where the middle C is on your smaller keyboard? These illustrations will help you find it on each of the four standard keyboard sizes.
Piano Lesson One
Free, printable piano lessons for the beginner and beyond: Learn how to sight-read piano music and practice the various techniques used to successfully master piano-playing. View files directly on your screen, or download them in printable JPG, PNG, and PDF file formats.
Cleaning Piano Keys
To clean or disinfect your piano keys, you must follow some rules to avoid causing serious damage -- learn how to clean piano keys, and keep your keyboard healthy and bright.
Shopping for a Keyboard
Buying a musical keyboard is not easy these days; digital pianos come with seemingly endless options, sizes, and controls. Get a breakdown of your options, and get tips on what to look for when buying an electric keyboard.
Piano Keyboard Layout
The piano keyboard is arranged in a pattern that will help you find notes easily. Learn how to navigate the piano keys with helpful illustrations and tips. Both the C and F notes begin groups of accidentals, so you need to memorize which is which. There are few easy tricks to help...
How to Find Middle C
You’re going to hear a lot about middle C (also called C4 ), so it’s important to know how to find it.
Minor Piano Triads
A min chord: A C E. Minor chords are formed with a root, a minor third, and a perfect fifth, and have a blasé, melancholy sound. Learn easy piano triads with illustrated keyboard fingering, chord inversions, and staff notation.
Key Signatures (Sharps)
The key of A major / F-sharp minor has three sharps: Illustrated map of the sharp key signatures with relative minors. View key signatures on the treble and bass staves; memorize the order of the accidentals, and learn the chords of each musical key.
The Three Piano Pedals
Only two piano pedals are universally standard; the third pedal has become misunderstood and forgotten. Learn about the three piano pedals; their histories, and how they're marked in piano music.
Whiten Piano Keys
Many people still don't know that they can whiten piano keys themselves. The most effective (and ivory-safe) methods for whitening piano keys involve everyday household items; learn how to whiten piano keys, and brighten up your instrument.
Ritardando
: Ritardando (or rit. ) is an indication to gradually decrease the tempo of the music (opposite of accelerando
How to Buy a Used Piano
If you're buying a used piano, you must know what to ask the seller before you purchase it. Learn 8 questions to ask before buying a used piano, so you can bring home the best instrument for you or your child. Before you visit a used piano, you can learn about its background. Ask the seller about the brand, model, year of manufacture, and if possible, the piano’s serial number; learn how to find the age and value of a used piano.
Sforzando
: Sforzando ( sfz ) is an indication to make a strong, sudden accent on a note or chord . Sforzando means
D.S. al Coda
: D.S. al coda , or dal segno al coda , literally means “from the sign to the coda mark.” D.S. al coda
Minor Piano Triads (b)
Bb min chord: Bb Db F. Minor chords are formed with a root, a minor third. Learn easy piano triads with illustrated keyboard fingering, chord inversions, and treble staff notation.
Yamaha P85
Get a review of Yamaha P85 musical keyboard. Learn about features, sound libraries, and read the pros and cons of this 88-key digital piano. Rating: 4 stars.
Upright vs. Grand Pianos
Grand pianos have their cons, just as upright pianos have their pros. It’s common to assume (thanks to price) that it’s the other way around. Compare upright and grand pianos; learn the sizes, timbres, and costs of vertical and horizontal pianos, and find out which best suits your playing needs.
Major Piano Triads (#)
C# maj chord: C# E# G#. Major chords are built with a root, a M3, and a P5. Learn to play easy piano triads with illustrated keyboard fingering and treble staff notation.
Recital Dress Code
Remember that when dressing for a piano recital, you’re dressing to perform. Some clothing and accessories can turn into annoying distractions on stage and prevent you from playing your best. Avoid surprises by practicing in your piano recital clothes at least one time before your performance date, and always choose clothes in which you’ll be physically and mentally comfortable!
Casio - WK-200
Review of Casio's 76-key portable keyboard model WK-200. Rating: 4 stars
How to Clean a Piano
You must clean a piano properly to avoid costly (and annoying) damage. Learn how to clean your piano, and avoid some common piano cleaning mistakes.
Cut Time
: Cut time (or “cut common time”) is a 4 /4 time signature that’s been rhythmically “cut” to manipulate
Minor Piano Triads (#)
F# min chord: F# A C#. Minor chords are formed with a root, a minor third. Learn easy piano triads with illustrated keyboard fingering, chord inversions, and treble staff notation.
Casio PX-130
Hands-on review of the Casio Privia PX-130 digital piano. Learn its pros & cons, features, voices & effects, price, speaker-quality, and more. 88-keys - Rating: 4.5 stars.
Korg SP170
Hands-on review of the Korg SP170 digital piano. Learn its pros & cons, features, voices & effects, price, speaker-quality, and more. 88-keys - Rating: 5 stars.
Music Note-Length Quiz - Musical Tests and Quizzes
Test yourself on music note lengths and values. Identify whole notes, half notes, quarter notes, eighth notes & more! Choose from 5 - 15 questions, or take quiz in U.K. English.
Piano Lesson Book - Printable Piano Lesson Book
Free, printable piano practice lessons available in several file formats and sizes. Each lesson targets a specific technique, and ends with a practice song to perfect your new skills and exercise your sight-reading abilities. Start from the beginning, or pick up where you feel comfortable!
Sharp
A sharp (♯, but also # in type) is a musical symbol that modifies the pitch of a note by the smallest Western interval: a half step. Learn more about sharps, flats, and other accidentals; and see how it's used in piano music.
Piano for Lovers
These romantic piano songs are for creating the perfect ambiance for love. Whether you prefer soft and romantic, or mysterious and sultry, add these to your play list and watch your lover melt.
Recital Etiquette - Musicians
If you plan on performing in a piano recital, you need to understand some universal rules of recital etiquette. This list of dos and don'ts will show you how to interact with your audience; avoid distracting your fellow musician, and the best practices when performing in an ensemble. Avoid musical faux pas: Learn more about Piano Recital Dress Code & Etiquette.
Articulation
Musical articulation is one of the first things you will learn about as a new musician. See how articulation is marked in sheet music, and learn how it affects piano music.
Texture
Musical texture is a way to describe the complexity of a musical composition. Texture can be described in a few common ways; learn about musical texture, and see how it applies to piano music.
Smorzando
: The Italian musical command smorzando (often abbreviated smorz. ) is an indication to gradually slow
Ideal Piano Conditions
Learn the Best Piano Conditions for Acoustics and Health: What is the best room for a piano? Certain environments are detrimental to piano health, and the best room conditions for an acoustic piano are not always ideal for an electric piano. Room furnishings should also enhance the piano's voice; learn easy ways to adjust piano room acoustics and climate, and create the best room for your piano.
Keyboards vs. Digital Pianos
Sometimes, these two terms are used interchangeably. While the term “electric keyboard” can be used to
Key Signature Tables – Outline of the 15 Key Signatures
Complete table of the fifteen key signatures and their relative minors. Learn how many accidentals are in each key; which key signatures have enharmonic equivalents, and which keys only exist in theory. This breakdown of the circle of fifths will help you better understand the diatonic scale, and improve your knowledge of the sharp and flat key signatures.
Rallentando
: The Italian musical term rallentando (lit. “slowing down”) is a gradual decrease in speed similar to
Playing Musical Triplets
How to Count Triplets in Piano Music A triplet is a group of three notes played inside the length of
Major 7 Chords (b)
Bbmaj7 chord: Bb - D - F - Ab. Learn major seventh and dominant 7 chords with illustrated keyboard fingering and treble staff notation.
Bass Staff Note Quiz - Musical Tests and Quizzes
Test your ability to read notes on the bass staff with this beginner quiz. Get help memorizing the bass staff notes, and learn how to read accidentals and chords. Practice identifying notes of the grand staff with this two-part illustrated quiz!
Ritenuto
: The Italian musical command ritenuto , often abbreviated riten. , is an indication to suddenly (and
Major Piano Triads (b)
Eb maj chord: Eb G Bb. Major chords are built with a root, a M3, and a P5. Learn to play easy piano triads with illustrated keyboard fingering and treble staff notation.
Scientific Pitch Notation - Keyboard With Scientific Pitch Notation
'Scientific Pitch Notation,' or SPN, is one of several octave-naming systems, and is used primarily in the U.S. SPN provides a quick way to reference a specific pitch using a combination of note-letters and numbers; for example middle C is written C4. View a complete piano keyboard labeled with scientific pitch notation and key frequencies, and learn the different formats in which SPN may be written. The Acoustical Society of America was responsible for the creation of SPN in 1939.
Casio CDP-100
Hands-on review of Casio's CDP-100 digital piano. Learn its pros & cons, features, sound libraries & voices, price, speaker-quality, and more. 88-keys - Rating: 3.5 stars.
Tie
: A tie is a curved, horizontal line that connects two music notes of the same pitch (as opposed to legato
D.C. al Fine
: D.C. al fine , or da capo al fine , means “from the head [beginning] to the end.” D.C. al fine is an
Counting Musical Tuplets
Length of the Triplet Note-Grouping A triplet is a group of three notes played in the length of two of
Korg SP250
Hands-on review of the Korg SP250 digital piano. Learn its pros & cons, features, voices & effects, price, speaker-quality, and more. 88-keys - Rating: 5 stars.
Root Note
: The root note is the pitch upon which a chord is based; the fundamental note on top of which the intervals
When Do I Tune-Up?
How often do I tune my piano? Staying in-tune is important, but do you know when you should tune your piano? Read on to learn how often your piano needs to be tuned, and learn how to make your piano tunings less costly.
Pitch Notation
Pitch Notation Systems Pitch notation identifies frequencies using letters, numbers, and/or symbols,
D.C. al Coda
: D.C. al coda , or da capo al coda , literally means “from the head [beginning] to the coda.” D.C. al
Fermata
: A fermata is an articulation mark that allows a note or chord to be held for as long as desired. A
Major 7 Chords
Fmaj7 chord: F - A - C - Eb. Learn major seventh and dominant 7 chords with illustrated keyboard fingering and treble staff notation.
Double-Sharps
A double-sharp is a musical symbol that makes a note's pitch higher by two half steps -- but what is the point of a double-sharp? Learn how double-accidentals are used in music; why they're necessary, and the symbols used to mark double-sharps on the staff.
Controlling Stage Fright
Stage fright is a challenge for musicians of all skill-levels. There are techniques you can use to calm your nerves before a performance, and ultimately gain control over your stage fright.
Dim 7 Chords
B°7 chord: B - D - F - Ab. Learn diminished seventh, half-dim, and dim-MAJ piano chords with illustrated keyboard fingering and treble staff notation.
Diminuendo
: The Italian musical term diminuendo (abbreviated dim. ) literally means “diminishing,” and is an indication
Black Piano Keys
Black piano keys are sharps or flats, and the black piano keys' notes can be identified by its surrounding white keys. Learn more about sharps and flats of the piano with helpful illustrations, and clear explanations of the black piano keys.
Enharmonic Keys
Technically, any scale or key can go by two names; but the enharmonic key signatures are used in everyday music theory. These completely identical scales (enharmonic equivalents) are seen in both the sharp and flat key signatures. Learn which keys are enharmonic equivalents, and why they're even necessary in music theory. Let's look at their scales' notes: You'll notice each keynote points to the same note on the piano keyboard. These notes are enharmonically equivalent.
Timbre
: Timbre is the unique quality of an instrument’s sound; its “voice.” Timbre describes the difference
Akai Pro 88
Akai's MPK88 has been surrounded by much anticipation in the world of keyboards, and little info can be found considering it's fairly recent release. Get a complete, professional review of Akai's MPK88 Professional MIDI Controller - learn its pros & cons - and find out how its features compare to those of other keyboard controllers around today.
Key Signatures (Flats)
The key of F major / D minor has one flat: Illustrated map of all the flat key signatures with relative minors. View key signatures on the treble and bass staves; memorize the order of their accidentals, and learn the chords found in each key.
Yamaha NP-30
Hands-on review of Yamaha's NP-30 digital piano/portable keyboard. Learn its pros & cons, features, voices & effects, price, speaker-quality, and more. 76 keys - Rating: 2.5 stars.
How to Polish a Piano
Pianos usually come in one of two wood finishes: Lacquer or polymer. Different pianos must be polished differently to avoid damage and undesirable results. Learn how to properly polish a piano, handle common problems with lacquer or polyester piano finishes.
Yamaha Piaggero NP-V80
Hands-on review of Yamaha's Piaggero NP-V80 digital piano. Learn its pros & cons, features, voices & effects, price, speaker-quality, and more. 76-keys - Rating: 4 stars.
Double-Flats
A double-flat is a musical symbol that makes a note's pitch lower by two half steps -- but what is the point of a double-flat? Learn how double-accidentals are used in music; why they're necessary, and the symbols used to mark double-flats on the staff.
Flat
A flat is a musical symbol or note whose pitch has been modified. Learn about flats and other accidentals, and see visual examples of musical symbols. Browse musical terms A - Z.
Piano Lesson Two
Free, printable piano lessons for the beginner and beyond: Learn how to sight-read piano music and practice the various techniques used to successfully master piano-playing. View files directly on your screen, or download them in printable JPG, PNG, and PDF file formats.
4 Rules for Piano Health
Piano care goes beyond cleaning; some everyday habits can cause serious damage to a piano. Learn about dust and mold prevention; ideal temperature and humidity levels for a piano, and learn about simple, everyday piano care.
Anacrusis
: The anacrusis is a note or series of notes that comes before the first complete measure of a composition;
Beginner Bass Chords
Learning to play bass chords on piano is a great way to enhance your piano music and strengthen your playing skills as a beginner. Playing the piano chords in the key of C lets you to learn major, minor, and diminished chords without having to play any black piano keys. Get tips on chord fingering, bass staff notation, and listen to audio samples of the chord inversions.
Mässig
: The German musical command mässig indicates that a section or piece is to be played at a moderate tempo
Accidental
What is an accidental in music? Accidentals modify musical notes, and they come in three forms. See illustrated examples of accidentals in sheet music, and learn how they affect piano music.
Minor 7 Chords (#)
F#min7 chord: F# - A - C# - E. Learn minor seventh, min-MAJ7, and flat five piano chords, with illustrated keyboard fingering and treble staff notation.
Rinforzando (rfz)
: The Italian musical term rinforzando (abbreviated rfz ) is an indication to play with gradual emphasis
10 Piano-Buying Tips
When shopping for an acoustic piano, you have a lot to consider. Learn 10 crucial tips to use when shopping for a new or used acoustic piano, and learn what you need to know before buying a piano.
Octave
An octave is a large musical interval that separates two of the same notes. There are 12 semitones in the chromatic scale, while the diatonic scale has 7 unique notes (but spans 8). Learn more about octaves, note-frequencies, and learn multilingual synonyms and abbreviations for the musical term octave.
6 Worst Places for a Piano
Learn 6 of the worst places to put a piano. To keep your instrument healthy, you must avoid placing your piano in detrimental room conditions. Room size and furnishings also affect the sound of your piano; read more to learn about the best and worst places to put a piano.
Piano Lesson Three
Free, printable piano lessons for the beginner and beyond: Learn how to sight-read piano music and practice the various techniques used to successfully master piano-playing. View files directly on your screen, or download them in printable JPG, PNG, and PDF file formats.
Key Signature
What is a key signature? A key signature is the written indication of sharps or flats in a scale. Learn more about key signatures, accidentals, and relative keys, and browse images of all key signatures.
Augmented Piano Triads
C Augmented Triad Inversions | Switch to Bass Chord View ◊ Root Note : C ◊ Major Third : E ◊ Augmented
Adagio
: The Italian musical term adagio is an indication to play slowly and calmly; at ease. Adagio is slower
6 Signs of Piano Damage
How to buy a used piano: If you're buying a used piano -- or you want to gauge the health of your own -- you should learn how to detect both internal and external piano damage. Learn six warning signs you can spot for yourself, inside and out.
Third
: A third is an interval equal to three scale degrees that is most often major or minor*: Major Third
Yamaha YPG-235
Hands-on review of Yamaha's YPG-235 'Portable Grand' keyboard. Learn its features, voices & effects, price, speaker-quality, and more. 76-keys - Rating: 3.5 stars.
Measure
A measure is the space in which musical notes are written. Learn the meaning of a musical measure, and see how they're used in piano music. Measures are sections of a staff, separated by barlines; get the definition for measure, and browse musical terms A - Z.
4 Sneaky Piano Sales Tricks
Before you buy a piano, you must be informed. Sales tactics are used in every trade, but the piano’s cost and complexity allows some dishonest piano salespeople to take advantage of customers who aren’t “in-the-know.” Don’t fall victim to their schemes; learn sneaky piano sales tricks used by both professional and private piano sellers, and avoid getting ripped-off.
Relative Key
A major key and its relative minor key consist on the same exact notes. Learn about relative keys, relative majors, and relative minor scales; browse musical terms A - Z, or learn more about key signatures and notation.
Natural
: A natural is: A symbol (♮) placed before a note that cancels out a previous accidental ; used in two
Accent
: A musical accent can refer to: A symbol that changes the way a note sounds. For example, a staccato
Minor 7 Chords
Dmin7 chord: D - F - A - C. Learn minor seventh, min-MAJ7, and flat five piano chords, with illustrated keyboard fingering and treble staff notation.
Piano Finger Placement
It's common for beginners to wonder which fingers touch which piano keys; and if you don't learn about piano finger placement now, you might be left wondering for years to come. Learn where your fingers go on the piano keyboard
Bridge
A bridge is a building block of a musical composition. Learn the purpose of a musical bridge, as well as common synonyms.
C Major Piano Scales With Fingering
C Major Piano Scales With Fingering The key of C major / A minor has no accidentals in its scale. Chords
Diminished Piano Triads
B° chord: B D F. Learn easy diminished piano chords, with illustrated fingering, staff notation, and inversions. Dissonance refers to a lack of harmony within a chord, and can be heard in both dim and aug chords.
Espressivo
: The Italian musical term espressivo is an indication to play expressively, and may also encourage physical
Major 7 Chords (#)
F#maj7 chord: F# - A# - C# - E. Learn major seventh and dominant 7 chords with illustrated keyboard fingering and treble staff notation.
Beat
A musical beat is an essential element of rhythm and tempo. Learn about beats; how they're organized by a time signature, and how they're indicated in piano music.
Ledger Line
: A ledger line is a horizontal line used to accommodate notes that are too high or too low to be written
Stage Fright - Symptoms
Not all musicians enjoy the “rush” of performing. Shaky hands, clumsy feet, and a rapid heart rate can
Major Piano Scales - Practice Piano Scales in Major
Find piano practice scales in the major keys; and browse by keynote, mode, or type of accidental. View major piano scales with or without piano fingering -- and learn the chords found in each scale. A major scale is built on the diatonic pattern; and the specific placing of intervals that makes a scale major is in the first position, or Ionian mode. Continue reading to go in depth.
Common Time
: Common time (also “imperfect time”) refers to the 4 /4 time signature , which signifies four quarter-note
Warming Up for a Recital
Actually, for some pianists, knuckle-cracking is part of a warm-up routine -- not because it's beneficial to their playing, but because it has simply become habit. Not doing so would be a distraction. But most pianists rely on the old standbys: arpeggios, scales, and other various warm-ups; and in addition to keeping fingers agile and ready for motion, there are a few more tricks you might want to keep up your sleeve for recital day.
Mezzo Forte
: The Italian musical command mezzo forte (or mf ) literally means “half strong,” and is an indication
Rubato
: The Italian musical command rubato , which literally means “robbed,” indicates that the performer may
Andante
: The Italian musical term andante is an indication to play with a moderate tempo ; to play in a light,
Dim 7 Chords (#)
F#°7 chord: F# - A - C - Eb. Learn diminished seventh, half-dim, and dim-MAJ piano chords with illustrated keyboard fingering and treble staff notation.
Wrist & Arm Positions
The first rule of piano posture is to feel relaxed and in control of your movements; never rigid. The second rule is to avoid having to adjust any part of your body mid-song. Learn proper wrist, arm, hand, and finger positons for playing piano; how to avoid wrist strain and injury; and get tips on how you can use certain piano postures to enhance your control of the music's dynamics.
Time Signature
A time signature is a large fraction written at the beginning of a musical staff after its clef and key signature. It explains the meter of a song; the top number shows how many beats are in a measure, and the bottom number specifies the length of the main beat. Learn more about time signatures; which are most commonly seen, and the difference between simple, compound, and complex musical meter.
Polish a Lacquer Piano
Piano polishings should always be kept to a bare minimum, and lacquer pianos have special polishing needs. Learn how to polish a lacquer piano, and tackle a few annoying issues unique to lacquer finishes.
Sitting at the Piano
Correct piano posture involves sitting correctly on the piano bench, which you may have to tweak to suit your height and shape. Learn how to find the right piano seating; adjust non-adjustable piano benches; and how you can easily settle into a good posture at the piano keys! Adjustable piano benches are a great option for growing children, or anyone sharing a piano. Sit at the right height for your shape and size to achieve good arm and wrist positions.
Used Pianos Pros & Cons
Learn the pros and cons of used pianos: Piano value depends on many factors, and used pianos have a longer list of factors to consider. “Used” doesn’t always mean economical, so it’s best to set a budget while getting a good idea of what you want in a piano.
Crescendo
: The Italian musical term crescendo (abbreviated cresc. ) is an indication to gradually increase the
Arpeggio
: An arpeggio is a type of broken chord whose notes are played quickly in order as opposed to simultaneously;
Staccato
: Staccato, which means “detached,” is an indication to make notes brief; to detach notes from one another
Melody
Melody is the outcome of a succession of notes. Learn more about melody, harmony, musical texture, and how it's applied in piano music. Get the definition of melody, and browse musical terms A - Z.
Used Pianos: Interior Damage
Not sure what to look for in a used piano? You can inspect a used piano before you buy, and get a heads up on any damage to the instrument. It's always best to consult a registered piano technician before you buy. These three internal warning signs of a low-quality used piano will tip you off, so they don't rip you off.
Half Step
: A half step is the smallest interval in Western musical scales : D sharp is one half-step higher than
C Major ‘Climbing’ Piano Scales
C Major ‘Climbing’ Scales for Piano The key of C major / A minor has no accidentals in its scale. Chords
Understanding Stage Fright
Musical Performance Anxiety: The Cause & Effect of Stage Fright - Whether we're socializing performing, if we're comfortable and at ease, our actions flow naturally. There's no scrutiny; no pressure. But when we feel as though we might be criticized – which can be a threat to our self-image – we begin to operate on a different level. We become too aware of even our most trivial movements, and that natural flow is disrupted.
Chord
A chord is a group of two or more notes, although piano chords tend to have at least three. Learn about different types of chords found in piano music.
Dotted Note
A dotted note (not to be confused with staccato) is a note with a small dot to the right of its note-head, which increases its length by 50%; half of its original value. Double and triple-dotted notes are less common, but are seen in piano music. Learn how to count dotted notes and music rests easily, and how they're written on different parts of the staff.
Accelerando
: The Italian musical command accelerando (often abbreviated accel. ) is an indication to gradually increase
Subito
: The Italian musical term subito , which means “quickly; suddenly,” is used alongside other musical

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