If you already play guitar, you have a big advantage when it comes to learning piano.

 

You can do exactly the same thing on piano.

You don’t always need to play the melody or have both hands moving all over the keyboard. You can simply play chords and use them to accompany a singer — or yourself.

In fact, this is very similar to the way Pianoforall begins.

Why Guitarists Learn Piano So Quickly

If you play guitar, many of the things you’ll learn on piano will already be familiar.

You understand chords. C major is still C major. The notes and the way you play them are different, but the chord itself is the same.

You understand rhythm. If you’re used to strumming different rhythm patterns on guitar, you can apply exactly the same idea to piano.

You’ll recognise chord progressions. You’ve probably played the same familiar chord changes in dozens of different songs.

So you’re not really starting again. You’re learning how to use musical ideas you already understand on a different instrument.

Playing Piano Like a Guitarist

One of the first things I teach in Pianoforall is what I call Rhythm Style Piano.

The idea is very similar to strumming a guitar.

You learn a few simple chords and then learn different rhythm patterns that you can use with them.

Start with C, F, G, Am and Dm, for example.

Play the chords simply at first.

Then try playing them with a rhythm.

Then gradually add different patterns, bass notes, broken chords and little fills.

Each new exercise adds something to what you can already do.

And because these are skills rather than individual songs, you can use them with hundreds of different songs.

Piano Makes Chords Easy to See

Another thing I like about piano is that everything is laid out very clearly in front of you.

On guitar, the same note can appear in several different places on the fretboard.

On piano, the notes simply run from left to right and repeat in the same pattern all the way up the keyboard.

That makes chords, scales and the relationships between notes very easy to see.

If you’re interested in songwriting or arranging, that can be particularly useful.

Do You Have to Learn to Read Music?

Not to begin with.

If you’ve learned guitar mainly from chords, listening and playing along with songs, you’ll probably feel quite at home with the way Pianoforall starts.

We begin with chords and rhythms and learn mainly by listening, watching and playing.

Reading music is introduced gradually as you progress.

So you can start making music on the piano without having to go back to square one and spend months learning notation before you’re allowed to play anything.

You Don’t Need to Start From Scratch

If you already play guitar, I’d make use of what you know.

Take a chord progression you can already play on guitar and find those same chords on the piano.

Then try playing them with a simple rhythm.

You’ll probably be surprised by how quickly it starts to make sense.

And once you’re comfortable with that, you can gradually add new rhythm patterns, ballad styles, blues, improvisation and eventually reading music.

If you need a keyboard first, this guide will help:

Choosing a Keyboard or Digital Piano

Try Pianoforall

The Free Test Drive is a good way to see how Pianoforall teaches chords and rhythm.

You can try some lessons, download the free ebook and get access to The Piano Lounge.

Try the Free Pianoforall Test Drive

Start your free trial here

If you play guitar, you can play piano. And it’s a lot easier than you think.

 

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Check out this great video of ‘Hozier’ perfoming The Parting Glass. Notice how the pianist just ‘strums’ the chords. No fuss – just a perfect accompaniment to the gorgeous vocals. (And in Pianoforall this is one of the songs you will learn.)