What is the easiest key to learn piano chords in?

The video recommends learning in the key of C Major because it primarily uses the white notes on the piano, making it simpler for beginners. You can use transpose functions on websites like Ultimate Guitar Tabs to convert songs to this key.

How do I play basic chords on the piano for singing?

Start by learning major triads, which are typically played with three notes (e.g., C, E, G for a C major chord). You canGoogle how to play these on the piano. The video shows how to maintain a consistent hand position for these triads.

What's the difference between playing a piano chord and an arpeggio?

Playing a chord means striking all the notes of the chord simultaneously. An arpeggio involves playing the notes of the chord one after another, creating a flowing, harp-like sound, which is introduced in Level 6 of the tutorial.

How can I make my piano playing sound more complex?

To sound more advanced, you can learn to arpeggiate chords with both hands, incorporate the fifth note into your left-hand playing, and learn to 'spam' notes within the chord structure. Mastering chord inversions also allows for smoother transitions and a more professional sound.

What are chord inversions and why are they useful?

Chord inversions are different arrangements of the same notes within a chord. They are useful because they allow you to play chords with minimal hand movement across the keyboard, leading to smoother transitions between chords and a more fluid playing style.

Can I learn to play piano and sing without formal lessons?

Yes, the video demonstrates a 10-level system using online resources and practice that can take you from beginner to playing and singing songs, suggesting formal lessons are not strictly necessary to achieve a good level of proficiency.

Key Moments

How I Learnt To Play Piano and Sing

Ali Abdaal

Education3 min read26 min video

Feb 7, 2021|176,316 views|8,761|1,027

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Key Moments

TL;DR

Learn to play piano and sing in 10 levels using chords, octaves, and inversions.

Key Insights

You can learn to play piano and sing simultaneously without formal lessons by following a structured approach.

Ultimate Guitar Tabs is a useful resource for finding song chords and can be transposed to C major for simplicity.

The learning process progresses from playing single notes to octaves, triads, rhythmic chords, arpeggios, and finally inversions.

Combining left-hand octaves with right-hand arpeggios significantly enhances the complexity and richness of the music.

Inversions allow for smoother transitions between chords by minimizing hand movement on the keyboard.

Spamming notes within the allowed chord structure in the left and right hands adds flair and sophistication to the playing.

INTRODUCTION TO PLAYING AND SINGING

This video outlines a 10-level system for learning to play piano and sing simultaneously, aiming to make the process accessible even for beginners. The creator emphasizes that piano and singing can appear more intimidating than they are, and with a few formulas, a helpful website, and practice, one can achieve a surprisingly competent level. The approach focuses on practical application rather than deep music theory, using the key of C major as a starting point for simplicity.

LEVEL 1-2: BASICS OF NOTES AND OCTAVES

Level one involves using Ultimate Guitar Tabs to find chords for a song and transposing it to C major, restricting play to only white notes. The task is to sing the song while playing only the single note indicated by the tabs. Level two advances this by introducing octaves, where the same note is played at a higher or lower pitch, typically using the pinky and thumb of the left hand, while still singing along.

LEVEL 3-4: TRIADS AND RHYTHM

Level three introduces playing triads with the right hand, which are combinations of three notes (root, third, fifth) that form a chord. In C major, these are C-E-G, F-A-C, and G-B-D, with A minor being A-C-E. The focus is on maintaining a consistent hand shape for these chords. Level four builds on this by adding rhythm, where the triads are played on the beats of the song, following the timing indicated by the tabs.

LEVEL 5-6: COMBINING HANDS AND ARPEGGIOS

Level five integrates the two hands by playing the octave in the left hand simultaneously with the triad in the right hand. This creates a fuller sound. Level six introduces arpeggios, where the notes of the triad are played individually and sequentially instead of all at once. This technique, applied with the right hand while the left hand plays the octave, adds a flowing, melodic quality to the accompaniment.

LEVEL 7-8: ADDING THE FIFTH AND SPAMMING NOTES

Level seven enhances the left hand by adding the fifth note of the chord to the octave. For example, when playing a C octave (C-C), the G (the fifth of C major) is occasionally struck. This adds a subtle harmonic richness. Level eight involves 'spamming' or randomly playing the allowed notes of the left-hand chord (root and fifth) in a seemingly improvisational, yet reasonable, order, further developing the LH accompaniment.

LEVEL 9-10: NOTE SPAMMING AND INVERSIONS

Level nine escalates by 'spamming' notes in both hands, using the triad shape in the right and the octave/fifth in the left, creating a more complex and visually impressive performance. This is applied more intensely during choruses. Level ten introduces inversions, which are different arrangements of the same chord notes (e.g., starting on the third or fifth instead of the root). Inversions are crucial for smoother transitions between chords, minimizing large hand movements and making playing more fluid and professional.

PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER AND BEYOND

The final stage involves applying all learned techniques, particularly inversions, to create smooth and sophisticated piano playing while singing. By utilizing resources like Ultimate Guitar Tabs and practicing these 10 levels, anyone can reach a proficient level. The creator shares a demonstration of 'Perfect' by Ed Sheeran, showcasing how these techniques combine to create a full musical performance, encouraging viewers to explore music further.

Mentioned in This Episode

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10 Steps to Playing Piano and Singing

Practical takeaways from this episode

Do This

Use Ultimate Guitar Tabs to find chords for songs.

Transpose songs to the key of C Major for simplicity.

Focus on learning the white notes first (C, D, E, F, G, A).

Practice playing octaves with your left hand.

Learn major and minor triads for your right hand.

Combine the left-hand octave with the right-hand triad.

Introduce rhythm by playing chords on the beats of the song.

Practice playing arpeggios with the right hand.

Incorporate the fifth note into left-hand octaves.

Experiment with arpeggiating and alternating notes in the left hand.

Spam notes from the chord in both hands for advanced playing.

Learn chord inversions to minimize hand movement.

Sing along while practicing piano techniques.

Use a consistent hand position for triads if possible.

Practice regularly to build second nature.

Avoid This

Don't worry about complex music theory initially.

Don't try to play black notes early on.

Don't overcomplicate chords by playing them too fast.

Avoid excessive hand movement by using inversions.

Don't be afraid to start with simple single notes.

Don't get discouraged if it sounds difficult at first.

Common Questions

You can start by using online resources like Ultimate Guitar Tabs to find song chords. Then, follow a structured progression of 10 levels, beginning with single notes, then octaves, and gradually building up to playing chords, rhythms, arpeggios, and inversions with both hands while singing.