Estimated reading time 2 minutes
Table of Contents
Introduction
Would you like to introduce your kid to piano? (Or are you a music teacher who has a student with learning difficulties?) Multisensory teaching methods will help! Read more to learn about playing piano with color coded left hand notes and rhythm.
Don’t have a piano? This virtual keyboard will help:
This article uses musical terms. For definitions, see the Glossary at the end of the post.
Playing Piano with Color Coded Left Hand Notes and Rhythm: The Hand Position
Mobile users: for best results reading the music, tilt your screen 90o to the right.
Hand Icon (churien.deviantart.com/art/hand-template-blank-272630198) by Churien is licensed under CC BY (creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0). Modified by Geoffrey Keith.
Before you can use your left hand to play piano with color coded notes and rhythm, it’ll be necessary to put your hand in the right place on the instrument.
The above diagram illustrates C position for both hands. However, we’ll be focusing on playing the notes on the left side of the diagram. Use your left hand with the following fingering:
- First Finger: The thumb goes on the G (green) key
- Second Finger: The pointer finger goes on the F (pink) key
- Third Finger: The middle man goes on the E (red) key
- Fourth Finger: The ring finger goes on the D (gray) key
- Fifth Finger: The pinky goes on the C (orange) key
Students often become confused by the fingering. However, color coding the fingers will help:
Lightly Row and Playing Piano with Color Coded Left Hand Notes and Rhythm
Use your left hand to play the piano with the color coded notes and rhythm. Start with the notes and fingering:
- Play and say the notes, tracking from left to right on the page.
- Then, say the finger numbers (the black numbers) while playing.
- Make sure you keep a steady pulse as you play.
Next, count and clap the rhythm:
- Red = clap
- Blue = don’t clap
- Brown = rest = opposite clap
For more info read:
I’ve created a soundtrack that demonstrates how the melody for Lightly Row will sound.
- DO NOT listen to the track before playing the song.
- Instead, listen to the soundtrack afterward to see if you played it accurately.
Once you have mastered Lightly Row, you can test yourself with the quiz provided below. Remember to play and say the notes.
Lightly Row Arrangement:
Playing Piano with Color Coded Left Hand Notes and Rhythm: Notes Quiz
Final Thoughts on Playing Piano with Color Coded Left Hand Notes and Rhythm
Many students find left hand sight reading more challenging. However, the more you use your left hand to play the piano with the color coded notes and rhythm, the better you’ll get at playing.
If you want to do more color coded reading, check out the other posts in the Playing Piano with Color Coding series:
- Playing the Piano with Color Coded Notes
- Playing Piano with Color Coded Left Hand Notes
- Playing the Piano with Color Coded Rhythm, Fingering, and Notes
Have fun playing!
© 2023 Geoffrey Keith
Join me for in-person or online lessons today!
Glossary
How Do I Get the Music and Lyrics to Match Together in My Songwriting?
Frustrated that you can’t get the mood of your music and lyrics to match? Do you have problems getting the syllables of your lyrics to work with the music? If you answered, “yes,” you have problems with prosody in your songwriting. Read more to answer the question, “How do I get the music and lyrics to match together in my songwriting?” Estimated reading time 3 minutes.
Read More
How to Play and Tune Parlor Guitar Style
Have you just bought a parlor guitar and thought it’d be cool to learn parlor guitar style? The guitar’s tuning impacts how it sounds and what styles will sound good on it. Read more to learn how to play and tune parlor guitar style. Estimated reading time 4 minutes.
Read More![Is Singing Solfege Helpful for Learning to Hear Intervals by Ear - Children Singing - Sing Silent Night with Shape Note Solfege - Deck the Halls (Lyrics and Song) - Angels We Have Heard on High: A Powerful Carol of Joy [Words]](https://successmusicstudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Is-Singing-Solfege-Helpful-for-Learning-to-Hear-Intervals-by-Ear-Children-Singing-300x225.png)
Is Singing Solfege Helpful for Learning to Hear Intervals by Ear?
Is singing solfege actually helpful for learning to hear intervals by ear? Sort of. In some contexts, solfege can be useful for hearing how the intervals sound so you can sing in tune. In others, solfege won’t help at all. Click to answer the question, “Is singing solfege helpful for learning to hear intervals by ear?” Estimated reading time 4 minutes.
Read More
How Do You Sing Eastern European Vocal Harmony in 2nds by Ear?
Have you ever wondered how Eastern European vocalists sing polyphony in parallel 2nds? Do you want to know how world music works? Understanding world music involves stepping outside your own perspective and seeing from the world musician’s point of view instead. Click to answer the question, “How do you sing Eastern European vocal harmony in 2nds by ear?” Estimated reading time 3 minutes.
Read More
thank you for the article