Mikes Music Room – Music Articles

As a piano player, there are various ways that you can learn new songs. You can use sheet music or you can use piano tablature. If you want to learn a new song quickly, the best way is to use piano tabs. This article will give you a simple introduction to piano tablature.

Piano tablature is a system of musical notation that uses letters and numbers. Letters that are lowercase denote the white keys, while uppercase letters denote the black keys.

The numbers used in piano tablature are used to denote the octave of the note. All octaves begin on the key of C. Octave 4 is used to indicate the middle C, which is the C that sits in the middle of the piano.

Now that you know the basic system of piano tablature, let’s use it to write out the notes of the D major scale. The D major scale consists of the notes D-E-F#-G-A-B-C#-D. In piano tablature, this would be d2-e2-F2-g2-a2-b2-C3-d3.

For the next example, we will write out the notes of the F major scale using piano tablature. In case you don’t already know, the F major scale consists of the notes F-G-A-Bb-C-D-E-F. Using the piano tab system, this would be written as f2-g2-a2-A2-c3-d3-e3-f3.

For our last example, we will use piano tablature to write out the notes of the Eb major scale. The Eb major scale consists of the notes Eb-F-G-Ab-Bb-C-D-Eb. In piano tablature, this would be D2-f2-g2-G2-A2-c3-d3-D3. This system is very simple once you become familiar with it.

Piano tablature is a great way to learn new songs quickly. There are many sites on the internet that use this system of musical notation. Some of these sites have an extremely large archive of piano tabs. Now that you know how to read piano tablature, you can use them to learn your favorite songs very easily.

If you would like to receive six free piano lessons, make sure you stop by http://www.supreme-piano.com today.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=D_Swain

Tags: middle c, musical notation, octave 4, octaves, piano player, piano tablature, piano tabs, tablature piano

Fur Elise Is a very popular piano solo by Mozart. It is fairly advanced to play for a beginner. In this piano lesson you will learn a simplified version of the melody without sheet music.

Piano tabs

Instead of using piano sheet music we will use a form of piano tabs that show you with letters and numbers what piano keys to press down to play Fur Elise.

First you have to learn a few notes on the piano. The note C4 is the middle C on your piano. You will find it immediately to the left of two black keys.

In some piano tabs it is called number 1. The number 4 indicates that the C is in the fourth octave of an ordinary piano keyboard with 88 keys.

Actually there can be pianos and other types of keyboards with a less number of octaves but the C in the middle of the keyboard is still called C4.

Fur Elise part 1

Now we will start to play the first notes on Fur Elise. Here is the first little melodic phrase:

E5 D#5 E5 D#5 E5 B4 D5 C5 A4/A3

E5 is the E in the octave that is to the right of the middle octave with the note C4. D#5 is the black key immediately to the right of the note D5. A4/A3 means that at the same time as you play the A in the middle octave you will play the note A3 with your left hand as a bass note.

A3 indicates that you play an A in the octave to the left of A4.

Let us continue with Fur Elise:

C4 E4 A4 B4/E3 E4 G#4 B4 C5/A3

G#4 is the black key to the right of G4.

E4 E5 D#5 E5 D#5 E5 B4 D5 C5 A4/A3

I guess the best way to learn the melody is to memorize it one line at a time. Here are the next piano tabs.

C4 E4 A4 B4/E3 E4 C5 B4 A4/A3

This was the first part of the melody.

Fur Elise part 2

The next part has a contrasting melody:

B4 C5 D5 E5/C3 G4 F5 E5 D5/G3 F4 E5 D5 C5/A3 E4 D5 C5 B4/E3

Now it is time to play the first melody again:

E5 D#5 E5 D#5 E5 B4 D5 C5 A4/A3

C4 E4 A4 B4/E3 E4 G#4 B4 C5/A3

E4 E5 D#5 E5 D#5 E5 B4 D5 C5 A4/A3

C4 E4 A4 B4/E3 E4 C5 B4 A4/A3

This was a portion of Fur Elise written with piano tabs. As I mentioned above the best way to learn this very simplified version of the composition is to memorize it one line at a time. You will then have access to it whenever you are asked to play piano for your friends!

Peter Edvinsson invites you to download a free easy piano version of Fur Elise as a high quality pdf music sheet and more free piano sheet music at http://www.capotastomusic.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Peter_Edvinsson

Tags: fur elise, melodic phrase, middle c, notes on the piano, octaves, piano keyboard, piano keys, piano lesson, piano sheet music, piano tabs, sheet music piano

In this piano lesson you will learn to play the melody to the popular song Happy Birthday To You. You do not have to read sheet music. Instead we will use a form of piano tab notation to play the melody.

We will start with the note C4 or the middle C on a piano or keyboard. The number 4 indicate that the note is played in the fourth octave of a piano or grand piano.

If you have a small piano keyboard the note will obviously not be in the fourth octave but nevertheless C4 will be the middle C on that keyboard.

Here is the melody with the corresponding lyrics written above. In the lyrics I have written the chords that can be played with your left hand. This is optional of course. I will write down the chords later in this lesson. Maybe the best approach is to learn the melody by heart first and then include the chords:

Happy (F)birthday to (C7)you

C4 C4 D4 C4 F4 E4

I will now write down the chords you need if you want to use your left hand:

F: C3 F3 A3

C3 means that you play the note C in the octave to the left of where you play the melody. Play this note with your left hand pinkie, the note F3 with your index and the note A3 with your thumb.

C7: C5 E3 Bb5

Play C5 with your left hand pinkie, E3 with your middle finger and Bb5 with your thumb. Bb is the black note immediately to the left of the note B.

Let us continue with the melody:

Happy (C7)birthday to (F)you

C4 C4 D4 C4 G4 F4

Happy (F)birthday dear (Bb)Lisa

C4 C4 C5 A4 F4 E4 D4

Time for the next chord:

Bb: Bb2 D3 F3

You can use your left hand pinkie, middle finger and thumb to play this chord.

Remember, the note Bb is the black key immediately to the left of B.

Happy (F)birthday (C7)to (F)you

Bb4 Bb4 A4 F4 G4 F4

I suggest that you practice and memorize one line at a time. If you want to include the left hand chords it is a good idea to practice them without the melody part until you have mastered them. Then it is time to practice them with the melody one line at a time.

The piano notation I have used are only meant to be an aid for you as you learn the melody by heart. This melody is really worth learning. Birthdays are not uncommon things!

Peter Edvinsson invites you to download your free piano sheet music and free piano lessons at http://www.capotastomusic.com

---

Learn How to Play with step-by-step piano lessons

Supported by video and audio files. Rocket Piano is organized into 3 high quality books taking you on a journey from beginner to advanced in your gospel piano playing.

Click here to find out more

Tags: c4 c5, d4, e4, finger and thumb, grand piano, hand chords, middle c, middle finger, piano keyboard, piano lesson, piano notation, piano tab, tab notation