How To Play Piano for Beginners, Lesson 4 || The Left Hand And The Scale Of C Major

This is the fourth episode in my How To Play Piano for Beginners series. Obviously, when you play piano you use both hands, and the music for each hand is usually written on separate staves, most often with treble clef for the right hand and bass clef for the left hand. So in this tutorial I look at the bass clef, how it's different from the treble clef from a pianist's point of view, and why it's important to learn how to read bass clef just as well as you can read treble clef.

Bass clef helps us notate the area of the piano keyboard where our left hand spends most of its time - that is, the octaves below middle C. The tutorial includes a full explanation of the lines and spaces of the bass stave and (in the accompanying PDF) an exercise to help you learn them.

Then I move on to covering the scale of C major in both right and left hands. Pianists (like most musicians) often complain about scales - and they can seem dull and pointless to learners - but they are incredibly important, because they help both physically and in understanding and internalising music theory.

#pianolessons #pianotutorial

[rhondahagarty]

I wanted to let you know that my 20 year old son discovered your lessons March 2020 . He was out of sorts after we brought him home from University due to Covid - He lacked purpose and found online school difficult. He decided he would learn to play piano, he bought a keyboard and started your classes playing everyday. He has finished all the beginner sessions . Your courses helped him through a difficult time in his life and wanted to thank you. Will be sending a donation to you. All the best

[ruthkulikowski]

Hi. I'm 68 and decided I wanted to learn how to play the piano. There are SOOO many options out there. I consider it divine intervention that I came across you. I spent a lot of time on the early lessons...as you have recommended. I review them all daily. Still get frustrated when I look at a note and know what it is but stumble to play it quickly. That being said, I've decided it's time to move on to Lesson 4. Excited to see what is in store. I'm LOVING this journey. Thank you!!!

[AdamSanford]

I was raised by two Keyboard Arts teachers. They NEVER taught me how to play scales - supposedly because their program was aimed at 4- and 5-year-olds, whose hands simply aren't big enough to do that crossover thing. So I ended up doing a lot of "1-2-1-2-1-2-1-2" finger runs to complete scales, for a long time. 

But now, at almost 53, I'm stunned by your lesson on scales here, and how simple it is, and how much more sense it makes than the way I had to learn haphazardly, on my own. I am going to retrain my hands until this is muscle memory, and I feel somewhat cheated that this was never a part of my piano learning before. Thank you for creating this course - even for those of us who've been playing for 50 years, there's still something new to learn.

[prismdrop]

I was gifted a piano recently and lessons near my house are extremely expensive. I wouldn’t have attempted to play or progressed so well without these lessons. I don’t mind paying money once I have some experience but it’s still a new hobby. So thankful for these print outs and exercises.

[ScubarooB]

I haven't played in forever, and it was incredible how my hands just knew what to do when playing the scale. Guess all those hours of playing scales ad nauseum as a kid weren't for nothing!

Thanks again for making these. You're a great teacher.

[milonmitra]

I am 67 years old and piano bug has bitten me. I tried to throw out its intoxication since last few months. But couldnt. And youtube helped in increasing my intoxication. I subscribed to many piano tutorial channels. And I brought a yamaha p-225. I am a laughing stock before my children, grandchildren and myself. But it has gone deep in my head. Only few said that it is God given, something coming from above. Yes, it is my mental disorder coming from above. Many local teachers turned up to take my tuition. But I refused to take their brain mapping. Finally I found your channel explaining sheet music. I have come to lesson 4. Meanwhile I am practising Major and Minor scales with both hands. Thanks. For the records, I started on 1st March 2024.

[mariamakrealtor]

I studied playing piano lessons for couple of years on and off, I must say your teaching method is excellent.

[RAYSEEME]

thank you, you are a giver, invaluable .

[MAGUMBAANTONYBABISEMU]

Thank you so much. You are a good teacher.

[karenc]

Thanks for another really helpful tutorial Bill. You're a great teacher. I'm a complete beginner at 47 and actually making progress! ☺

[davidmarks]

Excellent lesson. I am new to keyboard having come from classical guitar. I have Yamaha keyboard, has a nice sound and touch so you get soft and loud notes, only 66 keys, but I think that's ok to get started with. I love the sound of organs and piano accordions. My wife wants a piano as that's what she is used too. We did have a nice piano before, but it need a lot of money to fix it. I think 3k to 5k too much for an old piano. We have looked at electronic pianos, but the wife doesn't like the keyboard action. .I am hoping the lessons I learn here can be transferred to any instrument that uses a piano styled keyboard.

Thanks for these good starter lessons. Much appreciated.

[garyfostertkd]

Thanks Bill, love your clear style and thorough approach to teaching. I have been working through your printouts and videos and it is definitely making a difference. Many thanks Sir.

[blizrav]

simply piano couldnt teach you to play piano like this, great tutorial

[nickg]

As a beginner, this is where it’s starting to become a bit more complicated but I’m just so glad that you’re an awesome guide who is making this way less intimidating.

[davidmarks]

I love playing scales once I get to middle C I switch to my right hand and play the two octave C major scale then I reverse and go the other way and, in a back and forth motion. I love it! I am looking forward to playing a two hand piece :)

[johnjohnson]

John M Johnson Fantastic for beginners---best I'v seen. Just as good or better for those which haven't played the piano for years. Highly recommended for all piano players. Thanks Bill.

[quillablack]

Thank you soo much Bill i'm going step by step

[gamersrejoice]

oh boy this lesson is going to be a toughy i can tell

Letss gooo I think I'm ready to finally move on. very exciting

[semacahill]

I have just discovered your lesson on you tube. All the on line sources were lacking of clear and precise explanation.Thank you very much. I would like to access your teaching classes. Can you please send me a link?

[RolledInARaw]

Thank you so much for your time and I will finish this course. NO MATTER HOW LONG !