• Welcome to your beginner musician lessons

    Considering you’ve clicked on the “beginner lessons” link, I’ve listed some lessons and articles below that I think will really help you the best.

    Now, because "beginner" or "intermediate" means different things to different folks, feel free to explore other recommended lesson groups below as well.

    There are over 1000 pages of information on this site so I recommend that you bookmark it right now or use one of your favorite social bookmarking sites like delcious.com, digg.com, or reddit.com.

    https://www.hearandplay.com/categorylistings1.jpgYou can also use the category links on the top and right-side of this website to go directly to sections that interest you. Of course, there’s a search box that’s pretty efficient in giving you relevant results.

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    Ok, I think I’ve said enough. Here are the lessons I’ve automatically generated based on what you’ve told me. Again, if they’re too easy or too hard, check out the other lesson groups I’ve taken the time to organize.

    And leave me comments! I thrive on feedback, especially for future topics.

    All the best,

    P.S. – Bookmark this convenient lesson group as the links will carry you to other areas of the site. If you want to come back here, either press your back button or choose it from your favorite places.

     

     

    Here’s your personalized lesson plan…

     

    Start here if you don’t know a thing about the piano:

     

    Introduction to the notes on the piano: This will get you acquainted with all the notes on the piano.

     

    Sharps & Flats: After figuring out the white keys, now it’s time to learn the black keys.

     

    Whole steps & half steps: Distance is a big part of music. Knowing how far notes are apart and being able to measure intervals is important. Whole steps and half steps are the basis of this.

     

     

    Here’s the foundational section. Understanding how to form scales is very important. Study these lessons and you’ll be a master in no time!

     

    Major scales workshop #1: This simple exercise takes you through all your scales.

     

    Major scales workshop #2: When I originally taught this, I broke it up into two e-mails. This is simply the second half of the exercise.

     

    Major scales crash course: I’ve been teaching online for 8 years so I have tons of material. This is just another lesson on scales. It’ll be good for review.

     

    Another look at major scales: If you’re an overachiever, then view one more approach to playing scales. This one may be the hardest to grasp but the most rewarding because it introduces you to the circular way in which music flows.

     

    Major scale fingering: Ok, so you know your scales now. Here’s the fingering so you play them correctly. The right fingering will help you to play them fast and smoothly as you practice more.

     

    Minor scales crash course: We’ve got the major scales out the way. What about minor scales? This lesson will get you playing them quickly.

     

    Another minor scales lesson: You already know… I’ve been teaching for years and want to give you all angles. Here’s another lesson I created. Use it as review if the first lesson did its job already.

     

    Why the circle of fifths is so important when learning scales: Yup, another approach.

     

     

    So you did it! Pat yourself on the back!

     

    This next section is going to get you playing chords. But if you don’t know your scales yet, I wouldn’t move on until you’ve mastered the lessons above. Let’s go…

     

    Major chords workshop #1: Like the major scales workshops, these exercises will show you how to play major chords, the most common chords heard in music!

     

    Major chords workshop #2: The second half of the last exercise…

     

    Very cool piano chord tool: Now that you’re into chords, check out this online tool that allows you to look up any chord. It will show the chord right on your screen!

     

    Perfect and Major intervals: I know this is backwards but now that you know the quick way to form chords, let’s study the theory behind the intervals the create these famous major chords.

     

    Short review on intervals: You got the big lesson above. Here’s the quickie version.

     

    Inverting chords: Ok, so you know how to form major chords. Now let’s talk about how to play different versions of the same chord by moving around notes.

     

    The basics of chord inversion: Another lesson on inverting chords.

     

    Seventh chords: You may or may not be ready for this. If not, come back later or visit my other lesson groups in the future.

      You should only be reading this if you’ve finished the left column.

     

    Let’s move even further and start putting to use what you’ve learned.

     

    The ABCs to playing piano by ear for starters (audio): Now that you have a decent foundation, listen to this 2-hour teleclass I conducted which takes you through one of my basic processes to playing without sheet music. It will cover a lot of what you learned but take you even further.

     

    Incorporating scales and chords: This will show you how to use chords and scales in your actual playing.

     

    12-bar blues pattern: Heard of the 12-bar blues? Now’s your time to play it!

     

    Playing songs and that kind of stuff…

     

    The first step to playing songs: Put your knowledge of major and minor chords to the test. Here’s the first step.

    The second step to playing songs: Once you understand step 1, move on to this one.

     

    Here’s the last two steps to playing songs: These last two steps will put the icing on the cake. Ready to play songs by ear?

     

    Another lesson on harmonizing melodies: Like step two from above, this lesson will delve deeper into harmonizing melodies.

     

    How to harmonize melodies to create full-sounding songs part 1: A full length lesson on harmonizing melodies.

     

    How to harmonize melodies to create full-sounding songs part 2: The second half of this comprehensive lesson.

     

    Quick and easy strategies for playing by ear: This lesson covers one of the required skills an ear musician has to have. Do you have it?

     

    How to determine the key to any song (audio): This is a recording of an audio teleclass I presented several years ago. It will really delve into how to find the key center of any song. This is a required skill for ear musicians.

     

    An easy way to build your ear skills: Here’s a strategy many people have found success with. Try it out for yourself.

     

    Unlocking the ear: Here’s a simple lesson that’ll get you started hearing the subtle differences between chords.

     

     

    You may be ready for this section (or you may not be). Let’s study chord progressions!

     

    Using 5-1 chord progression to enhance your playing: One of the most commonly uses progressions, the 5-1 will show up at the end of almost every song. Learn how to play it.

     

    Variations of the 2-5-1 chord progression: The 2-5-1 is the next step up from the simple 5-1 progression.

     

    The famous 2-5-1 chord progression: Another 2-5-1 progression you can outright steal!

     

    Opening and closing your songs with 2-5-1 progressions: Just like it sounds, learn how to incorporate 2-5-1 at the beginning and end of your songs.

     

     

    Miscellaneous

     

    How Guitar Hero can make you a better musician: Is it true? Click and find out.

     

    How to transpose stuff: Once you’ve learned a song in one key, here’s how to move it to any of the other 11 keys.

     

    I hope you enjoy!

    Now, if any of these lessons are too hard or too easy, click one of my other lesson groups below to explore other lessons. Like I said, there’s over 1,000 pages of information on this site. Don’t forget to bookmark us.

     

    Other lesson groups

     

    Beginner lessons: If you brand new, click here   Gospel beginner lessons: If you’re just getting started in playing gospel music, click here
         
    General ‘piano by ear’ lessons: These don’t focus on a particular style of music but playing in general.   Gospel intermediate lessons: Here are tips and techniques for musicians with some experience.
         
    Advanced lessons: These are for more experienced players.   Gospel advanced lessons: If you’re really playing and want to get to the next level, check these out.
         
         
    Jazz beginner lessons: If you’re just getting started in playing jazz, click here    
         
    Jazz intermediate lessons: If you’re already playing, check out these lessons