Estimated reading time 3 minutes
Table of Contents
Introduction
Can’t read piano music? (Or does your child have difficulty reading music?) Color coded notes and rhythms can help! Keep reading to learn about playing the piano with color coded rhythm, fingering, and notes.
Don’t have a keyboard? This online keyboard will help:
This post uses music terms. For definitions, see the Glossary at the end of the article.
Playing the Piano with Color Coded Rhythm, Fingering, and Notes: 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 play the piano with color coded notes or rhythm, you need to know where your hand goes on the keyboard. In this post, you’ll use the right hand (RH) in C position.
The C position diagram above shows the placement for both hands. However, you’ll just play the notes to the right side of the diagram using this fingering:
- First Finger: The thumb goes on the C (orange) key
- Second Finger: The pointer finger goes on the D (gray) key
- Third Finger: The middle man goes on the E (red) key
- Fourth Finger: The ring finger goes on the F (pink) key
- Fifth Finger: The pinky goes on the G (green) key
If you get confused on your fingering, you can also apply colored stickers to color code the fingers:
Pop Goes the Weasel and Playing the Piano with Color Coded Rhythm, Fingering, and Notes
First, try counting and clapping the rhythm:
- Red = clap
- Blue = don’t clap
- Brown = rest = opposite clap
In Pop Goes the Weasel you’ll have three counts per bar. For more information on color coded clapping:
Try to play the piano with the color coded notes and rhythm:
- Say the note names while playing, going from left to right.
- Then, play the melody while counting the rhythm.
- Next, play and say the finger numbers – the black numbers.
- Do your best to keep a steady pulse.
I’ve made a soundtrack that shows you how Pop Goes the Weasel should sound.
- DON’T LISTEN TO THE SOUNDTRACK BEFORE ATTEMPTING THE SONG.
- Instead, listen to the soundtrack afterward to make sure you’ve played the song right.
Once you have Pop Goes the Weasel down, you can then try reading the quiz below. Remember to say the note names as you play.
Pop Goes the Weasel Arrangement:
Playing the Piano with Color Coded Rhythm, Fingering, and Notes: Notes Quiz
Final Thoughts on Playing the Piano with Color Coded Rhythm, Fingering, and Notes
The more you play the piano with the color coded rhythm, fingering, and notes, the better you’ll get at playing.
- This multisensory teaching strategy will help any reluctant reader to interact with the score better.
- In addition, color coding is my go-to strategy when teaching kids with ASD, LD, ADD, and special needs.
When ready, a student can begin the process of graduating from the colors. These posts give you a step-by-step guide to learning how to read a color-free score:
- How to Graduate from Color Coded Music Notes: Part 1
- How to Graduate from the Color Coded Sheet Music: Part 2
- How to Graduate from the Color Coded Music Score: Part 3
- How to Graduate from the Color Coded Music Notation: Part 4
Have fun playing!
Related Posts:
- Color Coding Music for Success
- Playing the Piano with Color Coded Notes
- Playing Piano with Color Coded Left Hand Notes
© 2023 Geoffrey Keith
Join me for in-person or online lessons today!
Glossary
What Is the Basic Idea of Tempo in Music?
“What does the word tempo mean?” The tempo is critical for interpreting a piece of music. However, it’s a somewhat overlooked aspect of playing. Keep reading “What Is the Basic Idea of Tempo in Music?” to learn more about what it is and how it works. Estimated reading time 2 minutes.
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On the Electric Keyboard Can You Play Dynamics?
On the electric keyboard can you play dynamics? Well, that depends on the type of keyboard that you buy. In music, dynamics refers to the volume and intensity of sound, ranging from very soft (pp = pianissimo) to very loud (ff = fortissimo). Not all keyboards can play loud and soft through the keys though. Click to learn what you need to think about when buying an electronic keyboard. Estimated reading time 2 minutes.
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Color Coded Hand Icons for Music Learning with Special Needs & LD Students
Does your student have a problem telling the right hand from the left? Many LD and special needs students have problems with left hand/right hand confusion. On piano this can be a real issue. Read more to learn how to color code hand icons in music scores. Estimated reading time 2 minutes.
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Singing with the Kodaly Rhythmic Syllables
Do you struggle with singing accurate rhythm? This post expands your rhythmic flexibility, which makes singing melodies more fun. Click to learn how to sing with the Kodály rhythmic syllables. Estimated reading time 3 minutes.
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