Practice Routine for Absolute Beginners 📝

Are you a beginner piano player? If so, welcome to piano! Some of the most common questions we get include “where do I start?” and “what should I practice?” Well, this lesson will answer both questions!

In this practice routine, I’ll walk you through some essential beginner skills you can start practicing right away. We’ll go slowly so you can play along!

• Step 1: Keyboard Familiarity
• Step 2: Five-Finger Scale
• Step 3: Shell Chords
• Step 4: Mini Chord Progression
• Extra Support

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Step 1: Get to know your keyboard

First, let’s build some keyboard confidence by getting to know how this thing works!

You’ll notice that the keyboard has groups of two black keys and groups of three black keys.

We can use these black keys to help us find certain notes. For example, the white key to the left of the group of two black keys is always C. Play these black and white keys a few times to get comfortable with them. Then, try the same thing in a different octave—that is, move to a new set of two black keys!

Now try this with your left hand. We’ll use our middle, ring, and pinky finger for this. And if it feels weird, that’s normal! These fingers are often the toughest to train.

Step 2: Practice the five-finger scale

Next up, we’ll learn how to play the five-finger scale: C-D-E-F-G. This will help you get to know the next few white keys.

We’ll step one note up at a time on the keyboard. If your fingers feel like they’re about to smush together, that’s a common thing among beginners, so don’t worry! With more practice, you’ll feel more comfortable with these movements. It helps go slow and to keep your wrist up (rather than flat).

Try this with your left hand too, starting on the pinky finger:

If this starts to feel easy, try closing your eyes. This will help you learn to trust your fingers 🙂

Hands Together!

Ready for the next level? Try playing your five-finger scale with both hands together.

Now, learning how to play hands together is one of the most challenging steps in learning piano. So take this slowly! Make sure you’re comfortable with hands separate first.

Make sure you take breaks and stretch out your hands. Oh, and make sure to laugh. Practicing shouldn’t be a chore and you shouldn’t put too much pressure on yourself. Laugh at yourself—it helps!

Step 3: Try shell chords (fifths)

Next, I’ll teach you how to play fifths. First, let’s review how notes are laid out. Notes are named after the letters of the alphabet, but we stop at G.

Now line your fingers up with the keys like you did with the five-finger scale. Then play the note under your thumb (C) and the note under your pinky (G). This is a fifth because the notes are five notes apart. It’s also called a shell chord.

Then, shift your hand one step to the right and play D and A. Then play E and B. You’re essentially climbing up the keyboard in fifths!

This exercise will help build strength and dexterity in your fingers.

The Left Hand

Now try the same exercise with your other hand. On our left hand, we’ll play the C with our pinky and G with our thumb. Then shift upwards like we did on our right.

If you feel crowded as your hand starts crossing your body, try shifting back a little on your bench. This should give you more space to play.

Ready for a challenge? Try this walking fifths exercise with both hands:

Step 4: Try a mini chord progression!

In this step, we’ll play what is technically a chord progression!

First, practice rocking through the fifths in your right hand. Then play them in this order: C-G, F-C, G-D, F-C.

Try this with both hands too. Rock your body with the movements to get used to the motion. You can also play and hold the shapes.

Now try holding the notes in your left hand and playing the notes apart in your right:

By the way, congratulations! You’re playing a I-IV-V-IV chord progression!

Need some extra support?

The best way to get better at playing piano is to learn with a teacher. If you need some extra support and want to connect with real teachers, try Pianote with a seven-day trial, just for you. You can then connect with us and we can offer personalized feedback on your playing!

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