Piano & Keyboard How-Tos
How To: Improvise the blues scale on the piano
Pete Sears shows you how to improvise a blues scale in A. Great practice for aspiring blues pianists!
How To: Play nine chords on the piano
Warm up those fingers and get ready to practice! Here Pete Sears teaches you about playing nine chords and intervals. The second video continues with variations on practicing the C9 chord.
How To: Play the piano well
Learn some tips on good piano playing vs. bad piano playing.
How To: Play a C minor chord on the piano
Pete Sears shows you how to play the C minor chord perfectly on your piano or keyboard. It's derived from the major chord, so if you know how to play major chords, it's easy!
How To: Play chords on the piano or keyboard
Pete Sears teaches you all about the chords you'll be using when playing the piano or keyboard. This is a great beginners video.
How To: Play blues scales on the piano
Pete Sears gives you a lesson on blues scales for the piano. Get ready for the blues! You should have a good understanding of regular scales first.
How To: Play melodic minor scales on the piano
Pete Sears teaches you about melodic minors - how to play ascending and descending melodic minor scales on the piano. He demonstarates with C, but you can do the same in any key.
How To: Play a harmonic scale on the piano
A Harmonic scale is basically the same as the natural minor but with a chromatically raised seventh degree. Pete Sears shows you how to play it on your piano.
How To: Play minor scales on the piano
Minor modes use the same set of key signatures as major modes; whichever signature corresponds to the step pattern of the natural minor scale is considered the key signature for that minor mode. Here, Pete Sears explains how to play minor scales on the piano.
How To: Play major scales on the piano
Major piano scales are composed of a series of five whole and two half steps in this sequence: whole step, whole step, half step, whole step, whole step, whole step, half step. This video starts by showing you how to play a C major scale.
How To: Begin playing piano
Before you can start playing piano, you need to understand how the piano is set up, and how to read music. Pete Sears explains the alphabetic representation of the different piano notes, and discusses octaves and the relationship between notes. Then he teaches you everything about full steps, whole steps and half steps, as well as a dramatic scale. In the last video he explains sharps and flats.
How To: Experiment with chords while playing piano
Pete Sears teaches you how to experiment with your chords while playing the piano. This is a great way to begin learning how to improvise.
How To: Play electric piano
Pete Sears explains about learning to play with an electric piano or keyboard. It's a bit different and you'll need to take a different approach.
How To: Play "Piano Man" on the piano
Learn Billy Joel's great song Piano Man and how to play it on the piano. You should already know how to play the piano to follow along.
How To: Prepare to play piano
Learn the first three steps to begin playing the piano. Wash your hands, sit straight, and use proper positioning.
How To: Play "Yankee Doodle' on the piano
Yankee Doodle Dandy is a simple song and a great one to learn if you're a beginner piano player. This video breaks everything down for you.
How To: Play Twinkle Twinkle Little Star on the piano
Learn how to play Twinkle Twinkle Little Star on the piano - this is a great video for kids or beginners with finger positions and counting.
How To: Play Old Macdonald on the piano
Learn how to play Old Macdonald on the piano. The video starts with an overview and then gives finger positioning and timing breakdowns.
How To: Play Ode to Joy on the piano
Learn Beethoven's masterpiece "Ode to Joy" and how to play it on the piano. Full tempo and finger position breakdowns are given.
How To: Play Big Ben on the piano
Learn the famous Big Ben song and how to play it on the piano. Easy to learn with a numbered overview of finger positions.
How To: Make your own music on the piano
If you're bored and don't feel like practicing from sheet music, improvise instead! This video gives some tips on how to make your own music on the piano.
How To: Play "Hang On Sloopy" by The McCoys on piano
Here Scott and his guest, Dave Powers, discuss how to play the rock tune "Hang On Sloopy" by The McCoys.
How To: Play "Crazy" by Patsy Cline on piano
Here Scott and his guest pianist, Bradley Sowash, demonstrate how to play Patsy Cline's timeless country hit entitled "Crazy."
How To: Play "Lean On Me" on the piano
Learn how to play 'Lean On Me' by Bill Withers on the piano. This is a fun song for beginners.
How To: Play a boogie riff on the piano
Learn how to play this boogie woogie riff on the piano.
How To: Play salsa piano
The first part deals with a latin bass on the left hand along with latin montuno on the right hand. Part 1 of 4 - How to Play salsa piano.
How To: Play 'We Wish You a Merry Christmas' on the keyboard
Learn how to play the Christmas song 'We Wish You a Merry Christmas' on the piano or keyboard.
How To: Do beginning keyboard and synthesizers
In this video tutorial you'll get tips on how to use the various controls of a synth keyboard, including how to use attack, release, cut-off, pitch , modulation, sustain and more, as well as how to amplify your keyboard, and the best way to create a workspace for all of your gear so you can start composing and constructing electronic masterpieces.
How To: Teach kids to play piano
In this series of free piano lesson videos, our expert teacher Hope Wells helps you troubleshoot the music education process. She demonstrates easy ways to reinforce concepts such as counting and note-reading to children. You will also learn how to encourage your young student to learn the keys of the keyboard and play with both hands.
How To: Play the Korg Triton Studio keyboard
Now that you know the power of the music, in this video series, learn how to use a Korg Triton Studio synthesizer to create songs and melodies of your own. Our synth expert, RT Ouk, will explain many of the basic functions in detail, including how to use the different modes on the Triton keyboard, such as the Combination Mode, the Program Mode, the Sequencer, the S. Play Mode, the Sampling Mode, and the Global Mode. Also get tips on often used buttons like Disk, Compare and Menu, which allow ...
How To: Do sequencing on Korg Triton keyboards
Now that you know the power of the music, in this free video series, learn how to sequence your own beats on a Korg Triton Studio keyboard. Our synth expert, RT Ouk, will explain the basic sequencing process in detail, including how to use the function tabs on the keyboard (program, mixer, play loop, sampling, preference, top edit, and menu), how to set the tempo, how to select individual tracks, quantize input resolution, record a song, edit a track, insert and master effects—and even how to...
How To: Do reggaeton beat sequencing
In this video series, learn how to sequence Reggaeton beats on a Korg Triton keyboard. Our synth expert, Ryan Larson, will explain the basic sequencing process step by step, including how to use samples, setup and create loops, choose and add effects to tracks, record instruments like a thumping bass drum, crisp hi hat cymbals, tight snare hits, and other percussion, add bass lines, keyboard melodies and horns, how to mix tracks, and even how to play the sequencer for a live performance.
How To: Play hip hop beats on piano
Our synth expert, Ryan Larson, will explain the basic sequencing process step by step, including how to use samples, setup and create loops, choose and add effects to tracks, record instruments like a thumping bass drum, crisp hi hat cymbals, tight snare hits, and other percussion, add bass lines, keyboard melodies and horns, how to mix tracks, and even how to play the sequencer for a live performance.
How To: Play piano scales in B for beginners
In this video series you'll learn how to play improvisational piano in the key of B major. Expert Ryan Larson shows you the major scale, harmonic minor scale, and 7th scale on the piano. He'll take you through a song measure by measure, reading the sheet music, and showing you some great improv bebop and blues progressions.
How To: Play piano scales in G for beginners
In this video series you'll learn how to play improvisational piano in the key of G major. Expert Ryan Larson shows you the major scale, harmonic minor scale, and 7th scale on the piano. He'll take you through a song measure by measure, reading the sheet music, and showing you some great improv bebop and blues progressions.
How To: Play piano melodies in C major
In these jazz piano lessons on video, pianist Ryan Larson teaches us not only how to improve our freestyle technique, but also how to read and write music—since you are only able to improvise with what you know. Keyboard lessons include how to play 5th chords, how to do chord progressions in the key of C major, how to use sharps, flats and intervals, how to play bass lines, how to change chord voicings, and how to play different melodies on the piano.
How To: Play piano melodies in E flat
In these free jazz piano lessons on video, pianist Ryan Larson teaches us not only how to improve our freestyle technique, but also how to read and write music—since you are only able to improvise with what you know. Keyboard lessons include how to play 5th chords, how to do chord progressions in the key of Eb major, how to use sharps, flats and intervals, how to play bass lines, how to change chord voicings, and how to play different melodies on the piano.
How To: Play piano in Ab major
In these jazz piano lessons on video, pianist Ryan Larson teaches us not only how to improve our freestyle technique, but also how to read and write music—since you are only able to improvise with what you know. Keyboard lessons include how to play 5th chords, how to do chord progressions in the key of Ab major, how to use sharps, flats and intervals, how to play bass lines, how to change chord voicings, and how to play different melodies on the piano.
How To: Play piano in B Major
In these jazz piano lessons on video, pianist Ryan Larson teaches us not only how to improve our freestyle technique, but also how to read and write music—since you are only able to improvise with what you know.
How To: Play piano in Bb Major
Keyboard lessons include how to play 5th chords, how to do chord progressions in the key of Bb major, how to use sharps, flats and intervals, how to play bass lines, how to change chord voicings, and how to play different melodies on the piano.