A melody is the sequence of notes that create a musical phrase, often the most memorable part of a song. Whether you’re listening to a pop song or a classical piece, the melody is what often sticks with you. Melody doesn’t exist in isolation—it’s closely linked with other musical elements like rhythm and harmony. While …
What is melody in music explained clearly Read More »
Few composers in the history of western music have achieved the same level of fame and musical honors as Ludwig van Beethoven. Beethoven’s music is so ubiquitous that he finds himself as a member of the “3 B’s of Classical Music”, Bach, Beethoven, and Brahms. Ludwig van Beethoven composed for a wide range of instruments …
Famous Beethoven songs, concertos, and symphonies Read More »
AT A GLANCE Piano pedals are foot-operated levers that shape a piano’s sustain, tone and volume. Most pianos have three pedals: sustain (right), sostenuto (middle) and soft (left). PEDALS SustainSostenutoSoftpositioned right to left EFFECT HoldsSelectsSoftenscorresponding to each pedal above Not every piano includes a true sostenuto pedal, the middle pedal sometimes functions as a practice …
What do piano pedals do? A complete beginner’s guide Read More »
In music, tempo markings such as allegro, andante and moderato are crucial for determining a piece’s speed. These terms indicate both the original tempo and any changes throughout the composition. Historically, tempo markings were used to denote specific dance styles or as titles, but their role has evolved to become a fundamental aspect of musical …
Tempo markings in music: what tempo really means Read More »
Finger positions are the key to learning to play the piano quickly and well. They allow you to learn difficult music quickly, avoid injury, and master playing fast and at tempos and key signatures that you could never imagine before. Here we cover many techniques to learn piano positions, and apply them to your own …
How to harness the power of piano finger positions Read More »
The best part of learning to play the piano is when you can finally find piano chords for popular songs and work them out yourself. There’s great joy in playing a fun song with a simple piano arrangement, or looking through simple chord charts and making something up. Finding songs to play on the piano …
5 piano songs with easy chords to impress friends and build knowledge Read More »
“Do re mi fa so la ti da” is an instantly recognizable refrain. This is especially true if you have ever watched “The Sound of Music”. This is an example of solfege patterns being used to help teach a musical scale. For most musicians who take up an instrument, one of the first things you …
Solfege in music – What is solfege and how can you use it? Read More »
Musicians are often practicing groups of notes played one at a time in order, on their instruments. This is a very common way to develop speed and skill, hand independence and practice playing at slow or fast tempos. These notes musicians are often practicing are called Scales, which are actually called diatonic and chromatic scales. …
Understanding all seven diatonic scales Read More »
If you’ve ever played all the right notes but felt that your performance sounded flat or mechanical, articulation is likely the missing piece to the puzzle. Articulation in music refers to how notes are connected, separated, emphasized or shaped. It’s one of the most important tools for adding expression and character to your playing. Music …
What is articulation in music? A beginner’s guide for piano players Read More »
Learning the blues is an integral part of modern music making. The power and influence of the style can be felt in most forms of contemporary popular music and the music carries historical lessons and legacies that are vitally important. Particular scales have emerged out of the music called the blues scales. You might be …
A guide to the piano blues scale for beginners Read More »
Learning to play an instrument is a series of small victories. First you learn how to create sounds, then press keys accurately. Soon you’ll know the names of all the notes, and how octaves are just the same notes but played higher or lower. Eventually you start playing chords and playing with two hands at …
Learn to play the A major scale for piano Read More »
The more time you spend around musicians, the more words you will hear that have only to do with music. A very common term said by musicians is “major scale”. Major scales are incredibly common, and are one of the first steps to learning about music in a sophisticated way. Scales related to music of …
The beginner’s guide to the F major scale on piano Read More »
Combine the Skoove self-learning app with online, 1-to-1 lessons with real teachers!
Get a 7 day trial of Skoove Premium piano lessons
