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 to Employ Effective Equalization on Your Song
Do you want to know what the word equalization means? Do you want to know how to EQ your song mix? Equalization (EQ) is a potent means for creatively sculpting the sound of your song’s mix. However, if you want to be really good at applying EQ to a mix, you need to train your ears to hear what the mix needs. Keep reading “How to Employ Effective Equalization on Your Song” to improve your listening skills. Estimated reading time 3 minutes.
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How to Sing Powerful Vowels and Consonants
Your performance isn’t just about hitting your notes. It’s also about performing with precision: so that your vowels are powerful and resonant, and your consonants are clean and crisp. This in turn will impact your ability to add emotion to your performance. Keep reading “How to Sing Powerful Vowels and Consonants” to learn more. Estimated reading time 2 minutes.
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How Do I Organize a Recital Concert?
Are you a music teacher? Are you organizing your first music recital? Whether you’re doing a classical recital, Christmas piano recital, a mini recital, or a chamber music recital, these musical recitals will all be organized basically the same way with just a few variations. Read more to answer the question, “How do I organize a recital concert?” Estimated reading time 4 minutes.
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What Are Some Elegant Examples of Polyphony?
Are you confused about what polyphony is? Do you want to know how to write counterpoint? Elegant can mean tasteful, but it can also mean well-designed, which these example pieces are. Counterpoint and polyphony appear in arrangements in many different styles and will enhance your writing skills no matter what type of music you write. Keep reading “What Are Some Elegant Examples of Polyphony” to learn what it is and how it works. Estimated reading time 3 minutes.
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