Piano for Beginners 6th ED - 2016 UK

03 Play with the left hand
Let’s try the same technique with the left hand. Place your left thumb on Middle
C. Now play B with your index finger, B with your middle finger and then A with
your thumb. Practise until it feels natural. Now your thumb is on A, it frees up the
rest of your fingers to play lower notes, both black and white.

04 A quick scale

Let’s attempt a scale. Starting with your index finger on your right hand and,

working from C to F, see if you can play the white and black keys in a fluid

motion. Use your thumb for D, and end with your fourth finger on F. Once

you’ve mastered that, go back down again using the same fingers.

Learn the names Let’s make sure we know what the black keys are called

“Black keys to the left of

white keys are flats”

White keys

If you need help, remember the

three white keys around the two

black keys are C, D and E, while the

other four are F, G, A and B

Sharps

Any black key to the right of a white key

is a sharp. From Middle C up an octave

these are C #, D#, F#, G# and A#

Flats

Black keys to the left of white keys

are flats. From C down an octave

these are B , A , G , E and D

C#

D

C#

D

D#

E

D#

E

F#

G

F#

G

G#

A

G#

A

A#

B

A#

B