Piano exercises for beginners

Learning to play the piano requires a mix of consistent practice and learning new techniques to add to your toolbox of skills. To become a good pianist, you should dedicate plenty of time to practicing more technical exercises that put your skills to the test.

As a beginner, your ability to learn new songs and play them confidently will improve in leaps and bounds once you start practicing skills like hand independence, rhythm, finger strength, speed, and chord progressions. Follow in the footsteps of advanced players and pick up some essential piano exercises to add to your repertoire.

1. Five-finger scale with one hand

This five-finger pattern will help you feel more comfortable playing different keys while strengthening your fingers and improving hand coordination. Instead of playing all the notes on the full piano scale, start by practicing this five-note variation that you can play with all five fingers. These are also known as pentascales, as they contain only the first five notes of a minor or major scale. Start with simpler patterns that you can play with just the white keys.

Instructions:

• Start with the C major pentascale. Place your right hand in the C position (thumb on C, also known as middle C).
• Play C-D-E-F-G from left to right. Once you’ve reached G with your pinky, start descending again, ending with your thumb on middle C.
• Repeat with your left hand. Start with your pinky finger and work your way up to playing G with your left thumb.
• Practice scales in different keys using the five-finger pattern, such as G major (G-A-B-C-D) and A minor (A-B-C-D-E).

If you find yourself playing the wrong notes, use the graph below to locate the white keys on the piano keyboard.

2. Finger independence and strength exercise

Develop finger independence and strength while improving coordination with this exercise. Finger independence means that the fingers of one hand can play different notes regardless of what the other fingers are doing. Knowing how to use your different fingers individually is a prerequisite for playing with both hands simultaneously.

Instructions:

• Place your left hand on the keyboard with your pinky on middle C and play C-D-E-F-G (the five notes under your fingers from left to right) one at a time, using each finger.
• Repeat this pattern in the same direction with the right hand, starting with your thumb on C. Try to make the transition from your left hand to your right hand as smooth as possible. Make sure there’s no pause between the last note of your left hand and the first note of your right hand.
• Once you’ve reached G on your right hand and played all ten notes in the pattern, repeat the pattern in reverse, starting with the right hand.
• Pay close attention to the sound and timing of each note. Ensure that you press and release each key independently. When you can play it comfortably, increase your speed.

If you’re not sure where “Middle C” is, you’ll find it to the right of three black keys and to the left of a pair of black keys, as pictured below:

3. Broken chords (Arpeggios)

Chords are multiple notes that are played simultaneously. A broken chord, on the other hand, means that you play the individual notes of a chord one after the other rather than simultaneously. A broken chord is also known as an arpeggio. An arpeggio results in a flowing, melodic effect that adds texture and movement to your piano playing. Practicing broken chords (or arpeggios) develops hand coordination and agility. This piano exercise also familiarizes you with chord transitions and different chord shapes.

Instructions:

• Place your right hand on C-E-G (C major chord) with your thumb on middle C.
• Play C, E, G, E, and C in a broken chord pattern. Repeat with the left hand, starting with your pinky on C.
• Practice with different chords (for example, G major and F major).

4. Piano exercise for hand independence

Improving your coordination when playing with both hands is important. However, focusing on both hands might be difficult if you’re not used to doing different tasks simultaneously. You might be able to play chords and series of notes with one hand while the other does nothing. However, if you play something with your other hand, you might lose control of both hands! This exercise works on your hand independence, or in other words, using both hands regardless of what the other is doing.

Instructions:

• Start by practicing each hand independently, and then combine both hands to play chords and arpeggios simultaneously.
• Right hand: Start by playing a simple arpeggio in C major (C-E-G).
• Left hand: Play the C major chord (C, E, G) and hold it for four beats. Then, move to the next chord in the progression after four beats (such as G major).
• Once you’re comfortable with this exercise and can play it cleanly in C major, move on to different keys to further enhance your hand independence and familiarity with the keyboard.

Tips for improving your piano playing

• As with any other skill or hobby, consistency is key. Try to dedicate some time every day to practicing songs, theory, and piano exercises. If you miss a day or two, don’t worry! Long-term consistency matters most when trying to improve your piano technique.
• Avoid strain and injuries by paying attention to your posture and hand position. Warm up before you practice and stretch to get the blood flowing.
• Use a metronome to keep a steady tempo when you practice. Using a metronome will help you stay on beat, and it’s a good indicator of your progress.
• Gradually increase speed and difficulty as you progress. Advanced piano playing isn’t simply about speed, so be sure to introduce more complex chord progressions and patterns to your practice routine.
• Choose simple beginner-level sheet music or interactive learning resources that are appropriate for your skill level. Move to technical exercises for more advanced pianists only once you have mastered the basics.
• Start by playing through a song or a piano exercise slowly, focusing on correct notes and rhythm. See what your hands are doing and practice hand independence to play more complex patterns simultaneously with both hands.

Look for new piano exercises and slowly build your arsenal of drills and workouts. The so-called Hanon exercises (named after Charles-Louis Hanon, who wrote a famous book called The Virtuoso Pianist in 60 Exercises) are one great way to improve your overall technique, including your finger strength, dexterity, and agility. Pianists of all levels use Hanon exercises to improve their skills.

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Piano exercises to stretch and warm up

Just as you would do before hitting the gym, take time to warm up and stretch each time you play the piano, whether it’s practicing the exercises above or playing some of your favorite songs. Stretching helps release tension and prevent injuries, while also improving your flexibility and enhancing comfort. If you already have some time-tested stretches and warm-up piano exercises as part of your routine, use those as well.

Here are some additional warm-up exercises and stretches to support your piano playing. Do some of these before sitting down at the keyboard:

• Wrist stretches: Extend your arm in front of you with your palm facing up and use the opposite hand to pull your fingers gently toward you. Hold for 15-30 seconds.
• Finger stretches: Hold your hands together in a praying position and spread your fingers apart as far as you can. Hold for 10-15 seconds and relax.
• Shoulder and neck stretches: Sit or stand with good posture and roll your shoulders forward in a circular motion ten times. Then, roll your shoulders backward ten times.
• Neck stretch: While maintaining good posture, tilt your head gently to one side and bring your ear toward your shoulder. You can even use your other hand to stretch even further – just remember to be gentle and not force the stretch. Hold for 15-30 seconds and repeat on the other side.
• Hand and finger warm-up: Shake your hands gently for 10-15 seconds to loosen them up. Follow up by interlacing your fingers and rotating the wrists one way and then the other. Finally, place your hands on a flat surface, such as a table, and tap each finger on the surface one at a time. Start with the thumb and move finger by finger to the pinky. Repeat this exercise a few times to get your fingers moving.