  {"id":79180,"date":"2025-12-12T12:28:28","date_gmt":"2025-12-12T11:28:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/edwinm29.sg-host.com\/?p=79180"},"modified":"2026-01-13T09:07:31","modified_gmt":"2026-01-13T08:07:31","slug":"piano-tutorial-chopsticks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.skoove.com\/blog\/piano-tutorial-chopsticks\/","title":{"rendered":"&#8220;Chopsticks&#8221; easy piano tutorial for beginners"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"col-6\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-79300 size-medium\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Euphemia-Allen-293x300.jpg\" alt=\"Euphemia Allen\" width=\"293\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Euphemia-Allen-293x300.jpg 293w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Euphemia-Allen-768x786.jpg 768w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Euphemia-Allen-640x655.jpg 640w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Euphemia-Allen.jpg 916w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 293px) 100vw, 293px\" \/><\/div>\n<div class=\"col-6 pl-30 pr-30\">\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\"><em>Interesting fact<\/em><\/h2>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span style=\"font-size: 16px;\"><em>The \u201cChopsticks\u201d piano song wasn\u2019t always called \u201cChopsticks\u201d. When it was first published in 1877, it was named \u201cThe Celebrated Chop Waltz\u201d and was written by a 16-year-old British composer, Euphemia Allen. She used the pen name Arthur de Lulli, and this ended up being the only piece she ever published.<\/em><br \/>\n<span class='maxbutton-5-container mb-container'><a class=\"maxbutton-5 maxbutton maxbutton-contact-us\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Go to the lesson\" rel=\"noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.skoove.com\/en\/promotions\/1m-blog-npd?utm_source=blog&#038;utm_medium=song-pages&#038;utm_content=gotolesson\"><span class='mb-text'>Go to the lesson<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The &#8220;<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Chopsticks&#8221;<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> piano song is short, catchy, and built from just a few repeating notes. At Skoove, we love playing &#8220;<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Chopsticks&#8221;<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> with beginners because it keeps your hands close to the middle of the keyboard and simple and the repeating pattern helps you build a steady sense of rhythm. &#8220;<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Chopsticks&#8221;<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> works well for adults, parents and kids learning together at home. In this step-by-step guide, we\u2019ll show you the notes and keys you need, a clear pattern you can follow to play the whole song and simple practice ideas to make it sound smooth and confident. Let\u2019s get going!<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Video tutorial<\/b><\/h2>\n<div class=\"ast-oembed-container\"><iframe title=\"Chopsticks | EASY Piano Tutorial\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/63jJc4hInuE?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Want to learn how to play &#8220;<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Chopsticks&#8221;<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> on the piano? In this video, we\u2019ll guide you through:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The starting &#8220;<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Chopsticks&#8221;<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> piano keys<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The simple two-finger pattern you\u2019ll repeat<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How both hands move together<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Find the full beginner arrangement of &#8220;<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Chopsticks&#8221;<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> by Euphemia Allen<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0on piano. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.skoove.com\/en\/auth\/register_promotion?coupon=7d-blog-npd\">Start a free trial today<\/a>!<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>&#8220;Chopsticks&#8221; piano notes and keys: your step-by-step guide<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In this part, we\u2019ll keep things very simple. You\u2019ll learn:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Which &#8220;<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Chopsticks&#8221;<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> piano keys you need<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How to place your fingers<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A step-by-step pattern you can repeat to play the whole &#8220;<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Chopsticks&#8221;<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> piano song<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Let\u2019s have a look at what each hand will be playing and where.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Step 1 \u2013 find the right place\/notes on the keyboard<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">First, let\u2019s find the area where you\u2019ll play.<\/span><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Look for the group of two black keys near the middle of your piano.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The white key just to the left of that group is called <a href=\"\/blog\/middle-c-on-piano\/\">middle C<\/a>.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The white key two to the left (to the left of the pair of the two black keys) of that is your starting note, along with the next white key along the F.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-79184 size-shareaholic-thumbnail\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Chopsticks-e1766061255787-640x323.png\" alt=\"Chopsticks piano notes\" width=\"640\" height=\"323\" srcset=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Chopsticks-e1766061255787-640x323.png 640w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Chopsticks-e1766061255787-300x151.png 300w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Chopsticks-e1766061255787-1024x517.png 1024w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Chopsticks-e1766061255787-768x388.png 768w, \/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Chopsticks-e1766061255787.png 1373w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/p>\n<h3><b>Step 2 \u2013 hand position and finger numbers<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We\u2019ll use the <\/span><b>thumb<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (1) and <\/span><b>index fingers<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (finger 2). This feels natural for kids and adults.<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Right hand<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Put your thumb (1) on E <\/span><b>index finger (2)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> on F.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><b>Left hand<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Put your <\/span><b>thumb (1)<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> on <\/span><b>D<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (the white key to between the two black keys)<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This is the starting position for the whole tune.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Step 3 \u2013 learn the basic rhythm<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Now we\u2019ll learn the first tiny pattern. Your hands will take turns:<\/span><\/p>\n<ol>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Play E and F with your right hand<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Then play D with your left hand<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Repeat: Together E, F and D then just the right hand E and F together twice. This should make an \u2018um\u2019 \u2018pa\u2019 \u2018pa\u2019 rhythm. This pattern repeats most of the way through the song.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Count <\/span><b>\u201c1\u20132\u20133\u20132\u20131\u20133\u201d<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> as you go. &#8220;<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Chopsticks&#8221;<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is a waltz written with a <a href=\"\/blog\/time-signatures-explained\/\">3\/4 time signature<\/a>. This means that each measure has 3 beats.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Step 4 \u2013 turn it into real music<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Now you can make it sound like the &#8220;<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Chopsticks&#8221;<\/span> piano song<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, not just an exercise. To get a more in depth walkthrough of this song be sure to check out the Skoove app.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>How to practice &#8220;<\/b><b>Chopsticks&#8221;<\/b><b> on piano?<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Now that you know the basic pattern of the &#8220;<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Chopsticks&#8221;<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> piano song, the real magic comes from how you practice it. You don\u2019t need long, serious practice sessions. Short, playful moments at the piano are enough to make your &#8220;<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Chopsticks&#8221;<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> piano sound smoother every day.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Here is a simple lesson plan from Skoove that will help you during your learning.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Step 1: listen to the opening verse<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Take a moment to listen to the &#8220;<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Chopsticks&#8221; <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">all the way through. Pay attention to the steady, calming feel of the song and <a href=\"\/blog\/rhythm-in-music\/\">how the rhythm goes<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Step 2: practice the &#8220;<\/b><b>Chopsticks&#8221; <\/b><b>chords\u00a0<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Start by playing the right hand chords used in the first lines of the song.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Step 3: learn the left hand accompaniment pattern<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Once you\u2019re comfortable with the melody, it\u2019s time to bring in the left hand. Start with the basic accompaniment pattern by playing one bass note per chord.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Step 4: play both hands together<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Once you&#8217;ve practiced the melody and the left-hand accompaniment separately, it&#8217;s time to bring them together. Don\u2019t rush, take it slow and let the song flow naturally. Inside the Skoove app, you can loop small sections, slow the tempo and get real-time feedback to help both hands lock together comfortably.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>What\u2019s next? Learn with Skoove<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">You found the keys, built the pattern, kept your hands moving together, and turned a simple idea into something you can share with your kids, your family or just enjoy on your own. That\u2019s exactly how we like to teach at Skoove: one clear, friendly step at a time, until the piano starts to feel like home. If you\u2019re ready to turn this first win into many more, open the Skoove app, find the &#8220;<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Chopsticks&#8221;<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> lesson, and let us guide you through your next songs with interactive practice, real-time feedback, and a whole library of music waiting for you.<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"ast-oembed-container\"><iframe title=\"Skoove\" src=\"https:\/\/player.vimeo.com\/video\/479012867?dnt=1&amp;app_id=122963\" width=\"500\" height=\"231\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"autoplay; fullscreen; picture-in-picture; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\"><\/iframe><\/div>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><span class='maxbutton-1-container mb-container'><a class=\"maxbutton-1 maxbutton maxbutton-christmas\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"Start free trial\" rel=\"noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.skoove.com\/en\/auth\/register_promotion?coupon=7d-blog-npd\"><span class='mb-text'>Start free trial<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Author of this blog post:<\/strong><br \/>\nSusana P\u00e9rez Posada<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong><img decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-6965 aligncenter\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/01\/Susana-Pe\u0301rez-Posada-1.png\" alt=\"Susana P\u00e9rez Posada\" width=\"179\" height=\"184\" \/><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">With over seven years in piano education and a deep passion for music therapy, Susana brings a unique blend of expertise to Skoove. A graduate in Music Therapy from SRH Hochschule Heidelberg and an experienced classical pianist from Universidad EAFIT, she infuses her teaching with a holistic approach that transcends traditional piano lessons. In her writings for Skoove, Susana combines her rich musical knowledge with engaging storytelling, enriching the learning experience for pianists of all levels. Away from the piano, she loves exploring new places and immersing herself in a good book, believing these diverse experiences enhance her creative teaching style.<\/p>\n<div class=\"editorSection\">Edited and fact-checked by Matthew Dickman, composer, arranger, educator and multi-instrumentalist whose works have been performed by orchestras around the world.<br \/>\nPublished by the Skoove team<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Interesting fact The \u201cChopsticks\u201d piano song wasn\u2019t always called \u201cChopsticks\u201d. When it was first published in 1877, it was named \u201cThe Celebrated Chop Waltz\u201d and was written by a 16-year-old British composer, Euphemia Allen. She used the pen name Arthur de Lulli, and this ended up being the only piece she ever published. The &#8220;Chopsticks&#8221; &hellip;<\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more\"> <a class=\"\" href=\"\/blog\/piano-tutorial-chopsticks\/\"> <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">&#8220;Chopsticks&#8221; easy piano tutorial for beginners<\/span> Read More &raquo;<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":92,"featured_media":79292,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_seopress_titles_title":"How to play Chopsticks on piano?","_seopress_titles_desc":"Play the Chopsticks piano song today! 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