Play Your First Song on Piano

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90 minutes

5 steps

·Beginner

After 90 min: You can play a complete recognizable song from start to finish on piano.

What you need

Piano or keyboardSheet music or chord chart

The 90-Minute Plan

Find your starting position0–12 min

Sit at the piano with proper posture. Locate middle C (the C closest to the center). Place your right hand with thumb on C, index on D, middle on E. Play each note slowly to hear the sound.

Learn the melody12–30 min

Choose a simple 8-bar melody like 'Twinkle Twinkle Little Star' or 'Happy Birthday'. Play it slowly with your right hand only, one note at a time. Repeat until you can play it without looking at your hands.

Add basic left hand chords30–50 min

Use your left hand to play simple two-note chords (root and fifth). Start with just C major (C-G) and F major (F-C) for every 2 bars. Coordinate left hand rhythm with right hand melody.

Build consistent speed50–75 min

Gradually increase tempo from very slow (40 bpm) to moderate (80 bpm). Practice hands together 20 times without stopping. Focus on keeping steady rhythm over perfect accuracy.

Perform your song75–90 min

Play the complete song at comfortable speed without stopping. Record yourself on your phone. Listen back and identify 2-3 spots to improve next practice session.

Pro Tip

Use a metronome from the start—it's much harder to fix bad rhythm later than to build good rhythm habits now.