Many Casio keyboards have a small LED near the power button. When the keyboard is on, this light turns on to indicate it has power. [1] X Research source If your keyboard isn’t turning on, check the power cord. The keyboard won’t turn on if it’s unplugged or the cord is loose. If your keyboard is battery powered and it won’t start up, you may need new batteries. Replace these and see if the keyboard turns on. [2] X Research source
Most keyboards will have an instrument directory written somewhere near the keypad. This will list instrument names (like organ, trumpet, and so on) and their number. [3] X Research source If your keyboard doesn’t have an instrument directory, look up the instrument numbers in your manual. If your manual is missing, Casio offers free electronic manuals online. [4] X Research source
Programmed lessons often make use of a keyboard light-up feature, where keys change color to indicate which you’re supposed to press to play a song. Auto-chord features will make simple chords off a single note. This can be a fun way to learn simple chord structure.
The record button on most Casios is red and will be labeled with “Rec. ” Generally, press this button once to start recording and again to stop. Recording features will vary from model to model. Your keyboard may even have memory so you can save songs you’re really proud of. [5] X Research source
Moving up the keyboard, the next white note after G is A, but then the pattern continues normally (A, B, C, D, E, F, G, A, B…) and vice versa when moving down. One of the easiest notes on the keyboard to locate is C. Look for a grouping of two black keys (there will probably be several). The white key to the immediate left of these black keys is always C. The C at the center of the keyboard is called middle C. The C directly above is high C, and the C directly below low C. This pattern holds for other notes, too.
1 represents your thumb. 2 represents your pointer finger. 3 represents your middle finger. 4 represents your ring finger. 5 represents your pinkie. [6] X Research source
Keep your back and neck straight and in alignment. It may help you improve slouching if you set up a mirror to the side of your keyboard. [7] X Research source You should be sitting high enough that your elbow and upper arm hang freely from your shoulder with your forearm parallel to the floor. Adjust your distance from the keyboard so that your elbows are a little in front of the center line of your body when playing.
Some keyboards may not change volume when keys are pressed soft or hard. This feature is generally referred to as “key action” or “weighted keys. ”[9] X Research source Even if your keyboard doesn’t have action, you should practice proper key attack anyways. This way, when you sit down at a keyboard with weighted keys, you’ll still sound great.
In most beginner music, the leftmost area of the top set of lines will have a symbol that looks like an “&” sign. This is called a treble clef. Similarly, the bottom is usually marked with a backwards “C” and called the bass clef. Treble clef lines, from bottom to top, are E, G, B, D, and F. Starting again from the bottom, spaces represent the notes F, A, C, and E. [10] X Research source Bass clef lines are G, B, D, F, and A, starting from the bottommost line. Moving up from the bottom space, the notes are: A, C, E, and G. [11] X Research source
Spread your fingers so each is on a single key, with your thumb on middle C. Press the keys smoothly. When you release one key, follow with the next white key up. When you reach the third note up (E), tuck your thumb under to play the next white key (F). Scale up, pressing notes until you reach your pinkie (high C). Move down from high C. At your thumb (F), cross your middle finger over to the next key (E). Finish the scale at middle C. [12] X Research source
Arrange your fingers one finger per key, with your pinkie starting on low C. Scale up, pressing keys one at a time until your reach your thumb (G). Cross your middle finger over your thumb to play the next white note (A). Stop scaling up at your thumb (middle C), then move down one white note at a time. At your third finger (A), tuck your thumb under to play the next white key (G). Scale down until you end at your pinkie (low C). [13] X Research source
Coordinating the motions of two different hands, even when those motions are similar like in this song, can be difficult. Sing along to help your rhythm. [14] X Research source It may be too difficult at first to play both hands together. Even talented pianists practice difficult music by playing hands separately, when necessary.
Right hand fingering: 1 / 1 / 5 / 5 / 5 / 5 / 5 (you’ll have to stretch your pinkie to A) Left hand fingering: 5 / 5 / 1 / 1 / 1 / 1 / 1 (you’ll have to stretch your thumb to A)[15] X Research source
Right hand fingering: 4 / 4 / 3 / 3 / 2 / 2 / 1 Left hand fingering: 2 / 2 / 3 / 3 / 4 / 4 / 5[16] X Research source
Right hand fingering: 5 / 5 / 4 / 4 / 3 / 3 / 2 Left hand fingering: 1 / 1 / 2 / 2 / 3 / 3 / 4[17] X Research source
