5 Days to Learning Piano: Your Beginner's Guide

by Arthur Bird March 3, 2025

Have you always wanted to play the piano but didn’t know where to start? Welcome to 5 Days to Learning Piano! In this step-by-step guide, you’ll learn the basics of piano playing and even play your first song by the end. No previous experience is required—just a keyboard or piano and a willingness to have fun!

Let's get started!

Day 1: Getting to Know the Piano

The Keys, Notes & Finger Placement

Before you can start playing, it's important to familiarize yourself with the piano layout.

Understanding the Keyboard

Notice that the keyboard consists of black and white keys.
The black keys are grouped in twos and threes, helping you navigate the notes.
The note “Middle C” is a great reference point to start. This is where you want to centre yourself at the piano whilst sitting.
The piano uses the first 7 letters of the alphabet: A, B, C, D, E, F, G.

Piano Drill

Position your fingers on C-D-E-F-G.
Keep your fingers curved and relaxed.
Practice playing up and down from Middle C (C-D-E-F-G) with your right hand, then your left hand, then both.

Day 2: Time to Start Playing

Learning Fifths (5ths)

A 5th is an interval between two notes that are five steps apart. Learning 5ths helps you create beautiful sounds instantly.

Place your right hand on C-G. This is a 5th.

Practice Exercise:

Place your right hand on C-G. Try playing it over and over.
Now try counting in groups of 4.
Using 5ths now try playing this progression: C – F – Am – G.
Use your left hand to play the same notes one octave down to the left (8 notes) as an accompaniment.
If you have a sustain pedal, press it to let the notes ring out.

Day 3: Hand Coordination

When you start learning piano, both hands tend to move together. To develop hand independence, try this drill.

Using 5ths in both hands (C-G) play X4 in your right and X1 in your left:

Now, apply this drill to the C – F – Am – G chord progression from Day 2.

💡 Pro Tip: Use the sustain pedal to connect the notes, but reset it between each chord to avoid merging the sounds.

Extra Challenge:

Try breaking up the right-hand notes into patterns instead of playing them all at once.
Play slowly at first, then gradually increase your speed.

Day 4: Understanding Chords

Chords are when you play two or more notes together. You’ve already played 2-note 5ths, but today we’ll introduce triads (3-note chords).

Major vs. Minor Chords:

Major Chords sound happy. Example: C Major (C - E - G).
Minor Chords sound sad. Example: C Minor (C - E♭ - G).

Chord Progression Practice:

Try this simple yet powerful progression: C – G – Am – F.

All four of these chords use the same shape. You can find them by adding a 3rd. Notice that there is also a two single white key seperating each of the 3 keys.

Rhythm Challenge:

Play the right-hand chords twice per measure/bar.
Play the left-hand root notes once per measure/bar.

🎹 Tip: Start slow, and increase speed as you get comfortable. This will help you transition smoothly between chords.

Day 5: Play “Let It Be” by The Beatles

You’ve built a solid foundation—now let's put it all together to play Let It Be by The Beatles!

Chords & Rhythm:

Play the C – G – Am – F progression using the same rhythm pattern from Day 4:

Right Hand: Play each chord twice per measure/bar.
Left Hand: Play the root note once per measure/bar.

The play a 1 bar on C, 1 bar on G, the the famous piano melody line:

     C                          G     
When I find myself in times of trouble     
 Am                  F                
Mother Mary comes to me     
  C                          G                    F Em Dm C     
Speaking words of wisdom, let it be     

    C                       G     
And in my hour of darkness     
        Am                        F     
She is standing right in front of me     
 C                           G                    F Em Dm C   
Speaking words of wisdom, let it be     

         Am            G       F          C     
Let it   be, let it be, let it be, let it be     
                             G                    F Em Dm C     
Whisper words of wisdom, let it be.

Practice these chords slowly at first, then gradually increase your speed. Before you know it, you’ll be playing Let It Be!

You can watch the full video version of this lesson here:

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