This is a quick way to learn how to read and recognize notes written on the staff and on the piano. However, there is no replacement for learning how to sound smooth and pretty on the piano than with step by step instruction and with songs that allows gradual progress.
Recognizing the names of the bass and treble clef notes can be fun and rather simple. All you have to do is memorize a word for each note, like this.
Bass clef space notes: A C E G (All Cows Eat Grass)
Bass clef line notes: G B D F A (Good Boys Do Fine Always)
Treble clef space notes: F A C E (This spells “face”)
Treble clef line notes: E G B D F (Every Good Boy Deserves Fudge)
Now the fun begins. Here are some simple and fun ways to memorize these notes.
1) Speed Run: See how fast you can say the names of the notes. Try doing it first with the words, and then with the letter names only.
2) Reverse Speed Run: Now see how fast you can practice saying the letter names in reverse. This is a great way to see just how well you know the letter names.
3) Say-n-Play: While sitting at your piano, say the letter name out loud and then play it on the keyboard. If you are using flashcards, mix them up so that you can select a card at random and do the same activity. This is a very good memorization activity.
4) Play Them All: Now comes a fun way to test your knowledge. Say out loud the note then play all of those notes on the entire keyboard. For example, you have selected the note “A.” Play all the “A” keys on the entire keyboard.
The sooner one can memorize the names of the notes and recognize where they are found on the keyboard, the more enjoyment that can be found playing the keyboard. Just like you learned the ABC’s for reading you’ll be a great success at learning your ABCDEFG’s for the keyboard. Enjoy!
For more information and some video tips on how to learn piano properly, visit:
http://www.LearnPianoOnline.com
11 Responses
Lisa –
This is a great tip! Thanks so much. As the songs get more complex I get confused big time especially when the fingering starts away from the home C keys. I think the tips will help me know what it what in addition to more practice of course.
Dear Liza:
I Believe with all my heart that your course is easy
to understand and I will pass the note to my friends
about your course. I will buy it very soon.
Your Student
Brunilda Davila
I made up some flash cards and that helped a bunch too. even the act of making them helped.
Hi Lisa
I had read about the ‘FACE’ and ‘Every Good Boy Does Fine’ in http://www.pitt.edu/~deben. I also thought that was a a good way to memorize the spaces and lines on the Treble Clef.
I would like to mention here that I have come up to Lesson 7 and am doing (ha) good! My goal is to learn to play ‘Nobody Answers When I call your Name’ (Vince Gill); and ‘Mother of Mine’ sung by Donny Osmond – this was also sung by Neil Reid. Ido not have the music notes but it can be heard on Youtube.
I lost my mother last year in July and wish to play these songs in memory of her.
Thanks for your lessons, never thought I would even learn to play “Mary Had a Little Lamb’.
Hi Lisa
I had read about the ‘FACE’ and ‘Every Good Boy Does Fine’ in http://www.pitt.edu/~deben. I also thought that was a good way to memorize the spaces and lines on the Treble Clef.
I would like to mention here that I have come up to Lesson 7 and am doing (ha) ‘jitteringly’ good! My goal is to learn to play ‘Nobody Answers When I call your Name’ (Vince Gill); and ‘Mother of Mine’ sung by Donny Osmond – this was also sung by Neil Reid. I do not have the music notes but it can be heard on Youtube.
I lost my mother last year in July and wish to play these songs in memory of her.
Thanks for your lessons, never thought I would even learn to play “Mary Had a Little Lamb’.
Answers so Challenge
1. The challenge holding me back is probably a few issues, money for lessons. Without a teacher pushing me, I get frustrated and push aside lessons. There have been times where I actually thought of selling my piano because I feel I’ll never play well enough. I WOULD TOTALLY REGRET THAT…….. I love my piano, just not my playing.
2. Mainly the teacher issue and my own self-discipline to practice without driving everyone out of the house.
3. I love to play classical and Christmas songs.
4. Music is and always has been a great joy for me. I love listening to a really good pianist. The greatest benefit would be from me being able to play through a song in its entirety and not stumble over fingers and/or timing or my inadequacy. Playing a piano well would be a good escape from reality. One can get lost in a beautiful piece of music. I really long to play well.
> > > >Debbie H.
Hi Lisa,
Do you have any note recognition games, and other music games that can be printed out. I would flash cards also. Thanks
I come here everyday and I find more and more learning help, like this “all cows eat grass” and “good boys do fine always”, these sentences will help me remember those hard to remember bass notes, thanks lisa..mylove…patri
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