If learning the keyboard has been a long-time dream of yours or even if you’re looking to learn a new productive skill or hobby, then this might be the perfect place to get started. The keyboard is a fascinating instrument loved by students of all ages all over the world. The possibilities to create and play music on the modern keyboard are endless with the abundance of various features and new additions in the form of tones, styles, fills, loops and so much more. In fact, all of this may even seem a bit overwhelming for beginners. However, even though the keyboard can seem like an extremely complicated instrument for some, the basics are very simple and common for everybody who's looking to get started with the instrument.

Here are a few things to keep in mind for beginners looking to begin learning the Keyboard.

• The right posture

One of the first and most important things for learning any instrument is getting into the right posture. Before you begin to play the instrument, it’s important to learn how to sit in front of the keyboard and how to keep your body and fingers positioned properly. Begin by sitting on a bench in the middle of the keyboard. Make sure your knees are under the keyboard and the bench is at a comfortable height so that your forearms are parallel to the ground once your hands are placed on the keys. Make sure you relax and sit straight up and place your fingers on the keys while your palms are curved up hanging off the keys as if you were holding a ball in your palms. 

• The Musical Alphabets

There are 12 different notes in music across all instruments. These 12 notes are represented by white and black keys on the keyboard. Of these 12, 7 are alphabets A B C D E F G which are represented on the white keys whereas the remaining 5 are represented as sharps and flats on the black keys. These notes are repeated again throughout the keyboard at different registers/octaves. The left side of the keyboard is for the lower register keys whereas the right side of the keyboard is for the higher register keys.

• Finding notes on the keyboard

There is a pattern of black keys on the keyboard. If you notice you will see a repeated pattern of 2 and 3 black keys throughout the keyboard. Find a set of 2 black keys and the first white key before a set of 2 black keys is called C. Now that you have found C, all the other alphabets are in subsequent order on the keyboard. Hence, the following white keynotes will be D E F G A B C D E F G A B C…. and so on.  The C right at the middle of your keyboard is called Middle C and is an important note position to remember. 

• Note values

There are 3 basic note values that you can get started off with. These note values tell us how long each note should be played in terms of beats or counts. The first is called the Whole note or Semibreve, which is an empty round note head. This note is to be played for 4 counts. The second is called the Half note or Minim, which looks like the whole note but has a stem attached to it as well. This note lasts for 2 counts. The third note is called the Quarter note or Crotchet. This note lasts for 1 count. The note head for a Crotchet is filled in the black and it has a stem attached to it as well.

• Finger Numbers

To play on the keyboard, each finger is denoted a number in both hands. These finger numbers are important to help you develop the right technique and learn pieces accurately and efficiently. In both hands, the thumb is finger number 1. The index finger is finger number 2. The middle finger is finger number 3. The ring finger is finger number 4. The little finger is finger number 5. It’s important to note that it’s the same order for both hands. Getting yourself familiarized with these finger numbers will help you in the future as well.

• Simple 5 finger exercise

Now that you are familiar with the right posture, musical notes, note values and finger numbers,  you can begin by familiarizing yourself with the keys with a simple 5 finger exercise. It’s best to first begin with only the right hand and then the left hand and then hands together. 

For this exercise, you simply need to start by putting your right-hand thumb or finger number 1 on the note Middle C. Then subsequently let your other 4 fingers rest on the other 4 white keys. Hence, finger 1 on C, finger number 2 on D, finger number 3 on E, finger number 4 on F, and finger number 5 on G. Now, simply play each note from C to G individually for 4 counts each at a very slow and comfortable pace. The goal is to ensure that your palms are curled up, each note is playing individually (don't let 2 notes be pressed simultaneously), and that your fingers are accurately aligned with the relevant notes. Now play C through G and back for about 3 to 5 times continuously and then take a break. You can now try the same thing with your left hand. However, for the left hand, the little finger will be placed on C whereas the thumb on G. Hence, Finger number 5 on C, finger number 4 on D, finger number 3 on E, finger number 2 on F, and finger number 1 on G. In a similar way to the right hand, play from C through G and back for about 3 to 5 times counting 4 counts for each note and making sure you play one note at a time. Once you feel confident to play hands separately and you can feel your hands and fingers play with a little more independence, then you can try this exercise hands together at the same time. While playing both hands at the same time, ensure that your right hand is positioned on Middle C whereas your left hand is positioned on the lower octave C. 

As a beginner, these few tips will help you in your online keyboard class journey. Finding the right teacher for the right guidance is an important part of learning the instrument as well. At FSM Buddy you can be assured to get access to trained and experienced music educators who will guide you through this journey and ensure that you learn in a fun and engaging way. As you move along you will be introduced to learning to read staff notations, playing chords, playing scales, learning the various functions on the electronic keyboard, and so on. It may seem like a lot at first, but if you can ensure regular practice and dedication, then the sky's the limit! So go ahead and dive into the magical world of online keyboard classes and begin your first class with FSM today!