“What has keys but can’t listen to the beauty it unlocks? A piano.”- Jarod Kintz

The piano is arguably the most versatile instrument there is. It has the ability to emulate just about any instrument in any genre of music. Whether its R&B, country or pop music, the piano is where the magic begins. Even rock music, which is mostly based around guitars and drums, has some worldwide hit songs in which the main instrument used was the piano.

One of the most famous examples is “Bohemian Rhapsody” by British rock band Queen. ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ was a game changer in rock music because of its classical piano influences. Freddie Mercury himself grew up playing classical piano.

It’s evident that learning the piano can be extremely useful for aspiring musicians of all styles and genres.  The piano has a wider range of notes than any other single instrument and it gives musicians a good foundation of reading music that can be later extended to other instruments. However, you should know that learning piano can be quite challenging. It requires effort and focus from the learner. If you want to be successful in learning to play the piano, it’s essential that you first learn to read piano notes. Here’s a guide to help you learn how to read piano notes.

Familiarize Yourself with the Treble Clef

Getting familiar with the treble clef is the first step in learning how to read music. This is the staff that signifies the notes that are to be played with your right hand. Beginners should first familiarize themselves with the letter names of the lines and spaces. The lines on the treble clef are to be labeled E, G, B, D, and F starting from the bottom line going to the top in that order. The spaces between the lines are to be labeled as F, A, C and E starting from the bottom space going to the top in that order. Now pick up a song you want to learn, and write the letter names underneath the music notes in the treble clef.

 Move on to the Bass Clef

After memorizing the treble clef, it’s time to move to the bass clef. The bass clef includes all the notes on the lines and spaces that will be played by your left hand. It starts on the ‘F’ line. The spaces on the bottom of the page are to be labeled as A, C, E, G and B and the lines as G, B, D, F and A (in those orders). Memorize the notations and transfer the letter names under the notes in the bass clef of any song you want to play.

Use Music Notation Software to Make it Easier

In the old days, people learning to read music only had paper and pencil as tools and used boring learning techniques like “Every Good Boy Deserves Fudge”. These techniques made learning the piano seem like a chore, and turned people off it. However, now we have music notation software like Music Jotter that saves you the hassle of writing down music. Our software has features which make the process of music writing significantly easier and it comes with a user friendly interface.

Download the free demo for Music Jotter and see for yourself how sheet music notation software can greatly enhance your piano learning experience!