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Piano vs. Keyboard: Can you learn to play piano on a keyboard?

7 Mins Read

Quick answer is Yes!!

Any songs you learned to play at a keyboard can be directly transferred to a piano, since the size and layout of the keys are exactly the same between both instruments.

The small differences of sound and touch will not affect you playing “Happy Birthday” or “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star”. Though you might need some time to get used to these small differences.

In general, if you are an adult, have never taken piano lessons before, starting with a keyboard is a good alternative if you don’t have access to a piano.

Does Keyboard and Piano Sound The Same?

They both sound like “piano”.

The real piano is an acoustic instrument and it produces sound in real-time. Pianists control the sound color and the volume with their hands and feet(on pedals) while playing.

On the contrary, keyboards are electronic instruments. The “piano” sound is already pre-recorded and engineered to the instrument; pianists can not change the sound quality or color while playing a keyboard. The keyboard sound is produced and delivered through a speaker or to a headphone. The volume can be adjusted through a volume switch. If the keyboard has a pedal and weighted-key function, players can play with different dynamics – relatively loud or soft sound while pressing down a key with different pressure levels. Besides the piano sound, most keyboards have a variety of sound effects to choose from, such as organ, strings, choir, synthesizers, etc.

Are Keyboard Keys Easier to Play Than a Piano?

True. Many beginner pianists feel that the keyboard keys are lighter and piano keys are heavier. They need to press down piano keys with extra weight.

This is because piano keys are triggered by mechanics: each key controls little hammers inside the piano to strike the strings and produce sounds. As an acoustic instrument, piano sounds are produced and amplified by the pianists physically through touch and pedaling. This pressure-resist system, or “heavy” touch, is designed to provide subtle and versatile multi-layer sound through playing.

Keyboard mechanics are based on electronics and made of plastics, the keys are just easier to be pressed down.

Weighted Action Keyboards

To imitate this pressure-resist function of a piano touch, advanced model keyboards usually have this function called “weighted key” or “weighted action”. The goal is to make players feel like playing the actual piano keys. The keys have a resist downward motion when being pressed down. This motion allows a player to play different dynamics – loudly or softly based on how heavy you strike the keys.

Without the weighted key function, the keyboard is unable to produce loud or soft when pressing down a key. These keys kind of feel like keys from a computer keyboard, with only one tier output – type a key, one letter comes out. Usually these kinds of keyboards are in the low budget range, and cheaply made.

If students, especially adult beginners, started to learn piano on a keyboard without weighted key function, they most likely will have a really difficult time playing on an actual piano – the keys will feel very heavy and hard to press down. In addition, students will not establish the sense of producing dynamics through their fingers – playing loudly or softly, which is the most basic form of musical expression.

Which Keyboard Model to Get

To summarize previous points, I recommend getting a full-size 88 keys weighted-action of any recognizable brand, usually within a budget of $500-700 (if buy new).

As explained earlier, weighted-keys are a must-have function for beginners to start with, otherwise it will be difficult to play on a real piano.

As for 88 keys, which is defined as a full-size keyboard, just because the real piano has 88 keys. Some people may argue that beginners do not need the full range of the keyboard, they may get a 61 keys or 76 keys keyboard instead.

However, if the learning goal is to easily transfer knowledge playing a keyboard to a real piano, then the beginner should have a 88 keys keyboard.

For beginners, playing and listening to a full-sized keyboard will be beneficial to establish a good sense of low or high pitch and a full range of register. Some keyboards that have less than 88 keys do not cover the full piano keyboard range.

Other Benefits of Keyboard

Portable

Compared to an acoustic piano, a keyboard is usually much lighter in weight, one strong person can move it. Some models without a keyboard stand (or after disassembling the stand) can easily fit in a four-seat car.

Moving a real piano is much more complicated than moving a keyboard. An upright piano on average weighs 200 to 1000 pounds, and hiring a professional piano mover is highly recommended. Unlike moving furniture, the piano is delicate. Without professional awareness of its structure and move with care, the piano could be permanently damaged during moving.

Quieter or completely muted

An acoustic piano delivers full frequency of sounds with vibration, the sound level ranges from 60 to 80 decibels. As a reference, a regular vacuum cleaner is around 55 decibels. The piano is indeed very loud! Many upright pianos have a mute pedal, which is the middle one between its three pedals (some pianos only have two pedals which means there is no mute pedal installed). When holding down the mute pedal, the sound level is much softer however not completely muted.

In contrast, a keyboard has the option to mute completely – you just need to plug in a headphone. Without headphones, a keyboard is still much quieter than a piano, it produces much less sound and vibration through its speaker, and you can use the volume switch to control the volume level.

Tuning & maintenance.

An acoustic piano is made of wood and steel. It needs professional tuning at least once or twice a year because the humidity and temperature slightly changes the inner balance of a piano. Without tuning, it will gradually sound out of tune over time.

Keyboards, mostly made of plastic, do not need tuning. If there are some keys broken, which happens very rarely, you might need to take it to a local service location to fix it. There is no other routine maintenance you need to do to a keyboard, except for keeping it clean.

Sounds Like Keyboards Are So Perfect, Why People Still Buy Piano

Different people have different needs, which is defined by their knowledge and skill levels.

To beginners, a full size 88 keys keyboard with weighted-key is sufficient to start with learning piano. Because for the first few years of taking piano lessons, beginners will stay at the basic skill level: studying reading notes, playing basic hand positions and fingerings, counting simple rhythm, playing simple arrangements of songs, etc, all of which can be done on a piano or keyboard and the beginner will not feel much of a difference.

However, a professional classical concert pianist, who plays highly complicated piano music and practices extensively on a daily basis, may find keyboards too “plastic”, the keys too “light”, and there is not much room for subtle change of sound color through playing. It is not possible to maintain her craft on a keyboard due to a higher level of demand for the instrument. She needs a good grand piano, a keyboard is not good enough.

Back to the original question, keyboard vs piano, which one to choose? Once again, for beginners, it is totally ok to play a keyboard.

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Did Mozart Play Piano?

6 Mins Read

Did Mozart play piano? Yes! Mozart did play the piano. In fact, the piano is one of the instruments he was most famous for. He started by playing the organ, then later moved on to other instruments. However, at the time of his death, the fortepiano is what he played the most.

Johannes Chrysostomus Wolfgangus Theophilus Mozart, otherwise known as Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart or simply Mozart, is one of the most celebrated composers and musicians in all of music history. He was considered a child prodigy and finished his first composition at the age of five.

Mozart is widely known to play all sorts of instruments, which led some to ask whether or not the piano is one of them. Well, it’s time that we know the answer to the question once and for all. Here are some things you need to know about Mozart.

Mozart started with a Woodwind Instrument

Technically, Mozart started playing and making music using a woodwind instrument. No, we’re not talking about saxophones or clarinets or flutes. What we’re talking about is the organ. His talents on the instrument later earned him the opportunity to play in various churches like the Cathedral of Antwerp, the Church of St. Thomas, the Church of the Holy Ghost, and the Church of St. Bavo.

He showcased his skills by improvising progressions and turning various parts of Christian worship compositions into complex pieces. Despite being a woodwind instrument, organs have keys, which somehow make them almost similar to pianos in terms of appearances and how they’re played.

The String Instruments

While improving his organ-playing skills, Mozart also became prolific in string instruments, most especially the viola and the violin.

Viola

Out of all the instruments he could play, it’s rather popular that Mozart preferred the viola. He produced compositions where instruments like pianos, clarinets, and violins were involved. However, he especially gave a lot of attention to the viola segments. He even goes on to maximize the entire range and musical capability of the instrument.

Violin

All the while learning the viola, Mozart also focused on the violin. He wrote plenty of chamber music for the instrument, but he also made sure to include it in compositions where a larger ensemble is involved. The most famous of them is the “Eine Kleine Nachtmusik” or “A Little Night Music.”

The Harpsichord/Clavichord

Upon traveling to Paris, Mozart reignited his love for the organ and dedicated a lot of his musical life to keyboard instruments. This was when he learned the clavichord and the harpsichord. He preferred performing with the harpsichord because of how diverse the styles and genres he could play and compose on the instrument.

While the clavichord was more dynamic than the harpsichord, Mozart had a hard time including it in his performances because it was rather quieter. Nonetheless, he was still able to compose pieces on it, with the most famous one being the “Klavier.”

The Fortepiano

Mozart kept playing the harpsichord and clavichord while he was in Vienna. As soon as the fortepiano was developed, he switched them up a bit and played on any of these three instruments. Between 1782 and 1785 is when Mozart created a vast majority of his compositions, and all of these were when he used the fortepiano.

So, Did Mozart Actually Play the Piano?

A lot of people will argue that Mozart couldn’t have been able to play the piano because Mozart died in 1791, and the piano was developed in the early 1800s. Well, the operative word there is “developed.”

Technically, the first upright piano, called the fortepiano, was around somewhere between 1698 to 1700. Ergo, when Mozart was composing keyboard pieces from 1782 to 1785, the fortepiano has been around for more than 80 years.

However, if we’re going to be strict about it, then no, Mozart didn’t play the piano we know today because he wasn’t around when the instrument was developed. What he played was the fortepiano, which later evolved into the modern piano.

If we aren’t too technical about what piano means and only refer to it as a keyboard instrument, then Mozart was already playing a keyboard instrument ever since he was a child. That’s because an organ, harpsichord, clavichord, fortepiano, piano, and grand piano all use keys.

They are all played in almost the same manner. They just have varying dynamic ranges, and the principle by which they produce sounds also differs. However, all of Mozart’s compositions that use any of these keyboard instruments can be played on the piano that we know today.

Fortepiano vs. the Piano

So, what’s the whole deal between the fortepiano and the piano? Are they actually different? If yes, does it really discredit Mozart from being able to play the piano? Well, not necessarily. Fortepiano is simply an umbrella term for a lot of keyboard instruments.

Basically, a fortepiano is an early piano, and the piano we know today is just the result of hundreds of years of evolution from the first fortepiano. It’s kind of like how we call different types of guitar a banjo, electric, acoustic, nylon-string, steel-string, folk, and classical. In essence, all of them are guitars. So, if you know how to play one of them, you are most likely to be able to play the other ones, albeit with a few adjustments.

Most Famous Piano Pieces From Mozart

We don’t need to prove that Mozart was a prolific pianist. However, if you wish to get a glimpse of his mastery of the instrument, try listening to or learning some classical piano pieces like the following: Rondo Alla Turca – Sonata No. 11, Don Giovanni: Overture, Minuet in F Major, Eine Kleine Nachtmusik – Serenade No. 13, Non piu andrai, The Marriage of Figaro, Lacrimosa – Requiem in D Minor, and Allegro – Sonata No. 16 in C Major.

Conclusion

Wherever you go in the world, you will find someone who knows the name Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Even people who don’t listen to classical music or are not invested in the history of music know his name. That’s a testament to how prolific of an artist he is.

So, if you’re asking us whether or not Mozart played the piano, we’d still and always will say yes. No matter what other people say, Mozart will always be one of the best keyboard-instrumentalists to have ever walked this planet.

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Does Ryan Gosling Play Piano?

7 Mins Read

Does Ryan Gosling play the piano? To put it succinctly, Ryan Gosling did play some, mostly by ear. But for his role in La La Land, the actor trained for 2-3 hours a day, 5-6 days a week, for more than 3 months to carry out his role.

“It’s conflict and it’s compromised. And it’s just… It’s new every time. It’s brand new every night.”

If you’ve ever got the chance to watch 2016’s La La Land, you have surely got this line stuck to your mind. The quote was uttered by Ryan Gosling’s character Sebastian with immense emotions and passion toward Jazz music.

This scene made Sebastian more human on the big screen and made the audience understand what fuels him.

Such passion and determination displayed is only the tip of the iceberg – and there is so much more to witness behind the scenes.

As a musician yourself (or maybe just a curious somebody), you might be wondering the extent of Gosling’s involvement in the film’s musical scenes.

How did he prepare? And did he actually play the piano?

Ryan Gosling in Character

It may be common knowledge to everybody that Ryan Gosling’s trek to stardom kick-started from Disney’s The Mickey Mouse Club. And guess what? He was only 13 at the time.

Since then, he starred in multiple films in the 90s and early 2000s – from 1995’s Are You Afraid of the Dark to 2003’s The United States of Leland.

Before the late 2010s, he may be most famous for his role in the romantic blockbuster The Notebook (2004) – in which he even became one of the youngest nominees for an Academy Award for Acting.

Fast forward to the recent present, Gosling played a role in one of the most critically acclaimed films in 2016—commercial hit, and Golden Globes Best Motion Picture, La La Land.

No wonder Gosling got an Oscar nomination for his role in the movie: he literally spent three months getting a grasp of playing the piano prior to filming!

What’s interesting is that there’s a double prepared to play for the scenes. But still, the question of whether or not Gosling actually played the instrument in front of the camera remains something that we will answer later.

In fact, it is not new in Hollywood for actors to have their instrument-playing scenes dubbed. A good example would be Bradley Cooper’s guitar scenes in A Star Is Born (2018). In this film, Bradley Cooper plays a rock star, Jackson Maine. To prepare for the role, Cooper trained for six months so he could effectively execute the scene where he sang and played the guitar. In the end, though, his guitars lines were dubbed by a professional guitarist.

Going back, Gosling’s effort for his character did not end in the preparation phase. Unseen footage from Variety has revealed several clips of the actor rehearsing in-between scenes.

It is not the first time that Gosling went to the extremes to do a role justice. Other notable examples would be his role for The Notebook (where he spent a couple of months to immerse himself in the movie’s actual town of setting) and The Lovely Bones (where he had to swiftly gain 60 pounds).

This method acting style paid off for Gosling, as he is considered one of the greatest (albeit underestimated by some) actors of his generation, garnering honors and nominations from major award-giving bodies.

Did He Actually Play the Piano in the musical La La Land?

As easy as many would make it seem, learning to play the piano is far from a walk in the park. Though it is true that there are free ways to learn it, you’d still need to invest a lot of time and effort to get the basics down.

Just like Ryan Gosling, himself, spending three to four months of piano training to prepare for La La Land (as we’ve mentioned earlier). But the question still stands—did he actually play the piano in front of the camera for the film?

Let’s take it from the flick’s director, himself, Damian Chazelle: “It’s all Ryan.” He then backed this up by saying, “There’s no piano double at all in any shot of the movie.”

Not to mention, the film required lengthy shots so CGI can never be an option.

Gosling’s character is a jazz musician – and we know surely that jazz music demands some serious skills. Jazz is not an easy genre to learn! The actor’s intense training was done to make sure that he makes this character as convincing as possible.

Some of his training videos were even made public!

Of course, his hard work was not left unrecognized. Gosling even impressed John Legend, whom he played with during the filming of the movie. “I was like, ‘Have you played before?'” Legend jokingly remarked in an interview. “’Cos you can’t be this good right away.”

Jazz music boasts immense intricacies that you cannot simply tame in the span of 12 to 16 months (Some jazz artists can be a testament to this). To get there as quick as Gosling did, you’d have to have some good pair of ears, flexible wrists, and a bucket load of time and determination.

But Did He Play Piano Before?

As we’ve said earlier, a few months would not be enough to master jazz music on the piano. Does this mean Ryan Gosling has prior experience with regard to playing the instrument?

When asked this very question in an interview, Gosling answered, “nothing like the ability to play the jazz piano you see in the film.” It was true that his piano skills were not a blank canvas to begin with; he only knew how to play by ear.

Hence, this is why the actor’s grateful for the role—he had a chance to revisit and nourish an old talent!

How about jazz music? Did he ever have any experience with it?

Prior to filming for the movie, jazz was not a familiar face for Gosling. To give him a crash course on the genre, he devoted time to watching a PBS documentary on jazz music by Ken Burns.

As we also know, piano-playing was not the sole thing Gosling had to work for. His and Emma Stone’s dance sequence under the moonlight was surely an iconic scene from the film and, obviously, getting that down perfectly took immense practice.

As almost similar to his endeavor in mastering the piano, practicing for the said number also took nearly three months!

In case you’re wondering, here’s the video clip from the movie where Ryan Gosling played the piano:

Final Thoughts

Being an actor takes more than just preening and looking good for the camera, and Ryan Gosling’s commitment to his role is a living testimony.

In this article, we brushed through Gosling’s month-long preparation for his roles in some notable movies, his piano-playing skills and how they transcended through the big screens, and the actor’s experience with the piano and jazz music prior to filming the critically-acclaimed flick.

You don’t have to become Gosling to learn and conquer the piano. It is true that such endeavor may be challenging, but the actor’s display of determination displayed what truly matters—lots of patience, focus, and a little elbow grease. If you put your mind to it, you can do it, too!

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Does Charlie Sheen Play The Piano?

7 Mins Read

Does Charlie Sheen play the piano? Charlie Sheen does not know how to play the piano. Most of his scenes in Two and a Half Men were dubbed. Nonetheless, he says he knows where his fingers should be when pretending to play the instrument, and he says he actually wants to learn it.

Carlos Irwin Estevez, more famously known as Charlie Sheen, is one of the most popular actors from the early 2000s. His most famous role is portraying Charlie Harper in Two and a Half Men, and he’s the highest-paid actor on the show.

In this show, we frequently see Charlie Sheen behind the piano, composing jingles and just playing the instrument. This led a lot of people to question whether it was, in fact, Charlie Sheen who was pressing the keys and playing the melodies on the show.

If you’re one of these people, we’re here to answer your question and more.

Who Played the Piano in Two and a Half Men?

Unfortunately, it wasn’t Charlie Sheen. He hasn’t had any musical training in his background, especially in playing the piano. Nonetheless, it was a real person playing the piano that we hear on the show.

His name is Grant Geissman, and he’s also the composer for almost all of the piano scenes and pieces on Two and a Half Men. Ergo, whenever we see Charlie Sheen behind the piano, he’s actually playing on the instrument but with a dead keyboard.

During production, the music is then layered into the scene so that it appears that Sheen is the one playing it. That’s why most of the scenes do not show Sheen’s fingers actually on the keys.

Why Didn’t Charlie Sheen Learn the Instrument?

A lot of actors would invest their time, money, and effort into learning the different skills of the character they play. Considering the fact that Sheen was on the show from 2003 to 2011, fans would simply assume that he must have had a lot of time to actually learn how to play the piano, but why didn’t he?

First, Sheen says that while the show was ongoing, he had two kids to take care of. This means he doesn’t really have the luxury of time that we all thought he did. It might either be that being a parent takes a lot of time or that he’d rather spend his time with his kids instead of going to piano classes, and that’s totally fine if you ask us.

Additionally, Sheen did not, in fact, think it would be a wise investment of his time and effort. Don’t get us wrong. We’re not saying that Sheen didn’t value the show. It’s just that he hadn’t had the faintest idea whether or not the show, Two and a Half Men, would keep going. Because of this, he didn’t know if he should enroll in piano classes and learn the instrument, only to find that the show wasn’t renewed for another season.

Lastly, he was told that when you get older, it’s harder to learn how to play the piano. Well, we can’t argue with that because even younger people would find the instrument challenging. He says that this idea is somewhat frightening to him and that he’s used it as an excuse not to learn it.

Nonetheless, Sheen eventually learned where his fingers should be when pretending to play the instrument, which we believe is a good place to start. That’s why there’s one scene in the 3rd season, episode 17, where we can actually see Sheen’s fingers on the keyboard.

Are There Other Instruments Charlie Sheen Could Play?

Unfortunately, as we’ve mentioned, he doesn’t have any musical background. So, he doesn’t know how to play any instrument, for that matter. All of the scenes in the show or in his other movies where he plays a musical instrument were dubbed.

Nonetheless, Sheen is a world-class actor. That’s perhaps where his skills were poured onto. While we’re not certain where he stands in the musical department, we can say with confidence that he’s a phenomenal artist when it comes to acting. His awards and nominations are testaments to that.

Would Charlie Sheen Have Learned the Instrument if the Show Kept Going?

Well, we mentioned that Charlie Sheen was part of the show from 2003 to 2011. However, Two and a Half Men was actually on air up until 2015. It’s just that he was removed from the show in 2011 after the 8th season and was replaced by Ashton Kutcher.

We can’t say for certain if Sheen would’ve learned the instrument if the show kept going. After all, his statements about wanting to learn the piano were made in 2005, just two years after the show piloted. This means that even though the show went on for another six years after his claims, he still didn’t learn the instrument.

We guess it’s safe to say that director Chuck Lorre would’ve just let Grant Geissman compose with and play the instrument offstage with Sheen pretending to play it on-screen.

Why Was Charlie Sheen Replaced in Two and a Half Men?

Unfortunately, Charlie Sheen had a few negative encounters with illegal drugs and alcohol. He dove into these so deep that CBS, the network from which Two and a Half Men aired, deemed that his behavior is dangerous and self-destructive.

He wasn’t immediately removed. In fact, the show paused production amidst the 8th season to allow Sheen to attend rehabilitation. This is approximately a year after he’s had numerous incidents involving alcohol and drugs.

The show was supposed to resume production on the 2nd month of 2011. However, Sheen went on a rampage in Alex Jones’s radio station and called Chuck Lorre a “charlatan” and a “clown.”

Less than a month after the incident, Warner Bros. Television, the show’s distributor and producer, cut ties with Sheen. This is also following felony offenses, as Warner stated, that Sheen was not only obtaining illegal drugs but was actually providing them to other people.

What Happened to Two and a Half Men?

The production for the show’s 8th season never resumed. Instead, it returned in September of 2011 for season 9. So, being one of the main characters of the show, how did the show continue? Charlie Sheen’s character in the show, Charlie Harper, suffered an incident where he fell off the train tracks in Paris and was met with demise.

He was then replaced by Ashton Kutcher, who played the role of an internet billionaire named Walden Schmidt. Walden bought Harper’s beach house in the show. Charlie Harper’s death in the show might seem like an intense burst of vengeance from the writers and Chuck Lorre, but it doesn’t end there.

As the show went on for another three seasons, it was revealed that Harper was alive, but he was kept as a prisoner in the basement of a house his ex-girlfriend purchased. Harper was able to escape and attempted to return home, but as he rang the doorbell, a piano fell on him carried by helicopter.

The show came to a conclusion with Chuck Lorre sitting in the center of the frame, looking to the camera, and saying “winning” before another piano fell on him. Both of these are edited, of course, as destroying a piano is relatively expensive, let alone moving it from one place to another.

Conclusion

The show Two and a Half Men is full of ups and downs, with awards and controversies surrounding the people who made it. As for Charlie Sheen’s behavior, we leave it to the fans and creators to decide.

However, when it comes to him playing the piano, we can say he convinced a lot of people that he could play it. After all, he is a good actor. Who knows? Maybe Sheen will learn the instrument in the next years or so. He doesn’t even need to attend piano classes because people can learn the instrument on their own.

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How Can I Learn Piano For Free?

9 Mins Read

Wise words a beginner often hears from an expert of any field is about finding the right teacher. The road taken by first-timers is not easy; it can be seen as a path full of challenges that will thwart their progress and a hundred other things that may demotivate them.

Having a teacher that would guide you and be there with you during the process is ideal. But then, lessons or appointments can cost a lot of cash.

We could not ignore the fact that some instruments are harder to learn than others. Instruments such as violin, oboe, or french horns are typically found on the top list of hardest musical instruments to play. These skill-demanding instruments need assistance from a professional in order to learn, because without one you’d probably give up.

Some, however, are hard but manageable, such as guitars, ukuleles, and piano. The fundamentals of playing these instruments are not as complicated as the ones previously mentioned, in such a way that you can learn how to play them on your own.

Yes, that is true. In fact, did you know that some music legends, such as the likes of Prince and Elton John, are totally self-taught?

So, how can I learn piano for free? Instruction books are good, but if you want to enjoy more interactive learning, you might want to check out free lessons through websites and apps.

Learning to Play the Piano on Your Own

Once in our life, we’ve always wanted to become that type of performer; the one who sits on a piano stool and plays one chord after the other smooth as spreading butter on a knife.

We all know how elegant and smooth the fingers of a pianist are as they move across the black and white keys. Reaching this level of performance is a result of dedication and discipline.

Some say that getting into this level needs a mastery of the basics which you can only achieve with the help of a teacher. However, not all have the privilege of getting a piano teacher because of the cost, inflexible time schedule, and only wanting to play piano for recreational purposes. Hence, they resort to another feasible yet still effective option—learning to play the piano all by themselves.

Learning piano on your own is not a bad idea; in fact, it’s the better and wiser option for those who only intend to play it casually. If you want to pursue it as a career, you may learn on your own in the beginning, but it is highly recommended to seek an expert on the latter part of your journey as it will get more challenging.

Studying solo is constituted by reading learning materials on the web, listening to audio guides, and watching tutorial videos. Choose whatever tea you prefer, however, the unstructuredness of this DIY method might overwhelm you with chunks of ungrouped content that will eventually result in frustration, and eventually, demotivation.

But worry not, because there are websites and apps that will guide you through at your own pace.

Learning Through Piano Websites

A usual practice of fresh pianists is watching a YouTube video tutorial of how to play a particular song. This habit should be corrected because instead of learning how to play piano, you will just know how to imitate a song by pressing specific keys in a timed manner (and you probably know what app we’re referring to), which shies away from the main purpose of lessons which is understanding the fundamentals by heart.

But, to lessen this scenario, there are websites that specialize in teaching the basics of piano theory which are very helpful if you are a beginner and need a guide to follow. Here are two very popular free piano websites (yes, you read that right; these are completely free!) that you might find your fingers interested in:

PianoNanny provides starter, intermediate, and advanced studies that focus on theory, reading sheet music, and techniques. When you reach the advanced level, you will proceed with learning improvisation and chording. One downside of PianoNanny is the lack of application of the concepts learned. In fact, you are not forced to play the piano not until Lesson 8! However, if you want your comprehension regarding theory to be stellar, PianoNanny is the website to go.

Zebra Keys offers free piano lessons for preparation, beginners, intermediate, and advanced pianists. Each level focuses on several topics such as how to play certain songs, chords, music theory, and if you want to spice it up, even improvisation and technique!

All their lessons are purely text-based but are supplemented with animations which you might find helpful if you’re a spatial and visual learner. Unlike PianoNanny, it provides free music sheets for its beginner and advanced courses.

Zebra Keys offers ear-training and note-naming exercises, and you can check your progress to see how much you’ve improved. Despite offering an intensive amount of material, their lessons, however, are surface-level, which might be the main reason why this website proclaims that it is more intended for younger age groups.

If you like having more in-depth information about piano theory, PianoNanny might suit you better!

Learning Through Piano Apps

If you prefer a more interactive way to learn piano rather than reading blocks of texts and listening to someone, piano apps might be the one for you. Though they are not exactly free, they offer free trials (others are even generous with their free features!) so you have the chance to test the app if it will suit you before you decide to commit. Here they are:

This app contains all the things you need to know about playing the piano. It provides you with musical pieces to play, and it can check your performance either through an external microphone or by connecting your device to a MIDI cable. After installing the app, you get to choose what level of proficiency you identify yourself with, and everything will go smoothly until you achieve that goal you set.

Free trial for 7 days, then it is $119.99 per year, $89.99 for six months, or $59.99 for three months.

Designed for beginners who are serious about learning to play the piano, Skoove shows a real pianist playing the actual notes which could give the new pianists a glimpse of proper hand placements and timing. At the completion of a series of lessons, Skoove gives you the option to jam with a band. They don’t just toss you into it, though. They begin by performing the song. Then you put it into practice. After that, you join the band. This straightforward progression prevents the unpleasant surprise of having to adapt to playing a tune at full speed all of a sudden. It provides a solid course that will appeal to aspiring online pianists.

Free trial for 7 days, then it is $9.99 per month for the 12-month package, while the 3-month package costs $13.33 per month.

Yousician specializes in teaching music tutorials for songs. Akin to other apps, they ask you initially your level of proficiency. They also have a program called Handouts that tests and improves on aspects that you might need to work on.

Free trial for 7 days, then it is $9.99 per month for the 12-month package

If you’re already familiar with playing the piano and are only looking for apps that can help you hone your skills in actual practice, check out OnlinePianist. You get to choose what song you want to play, and you can decide how to play it, whether it be with the left hand, right hand, or both. You can also alter the tempo!

Free trial for 7 days, then it is $4.99 per month for the 12-month package, $6.99 per month for the 6-month package, and $9.99 per month quarterly.

Teaching Yourself Piano

You don’t need to spend loads of cash in getting a high-caliber piano to start learning how to play one. With a piano, or even a small keyboard you can begin learning the basics! It doesn’t have to be brand new (but if you’re interested in buying one, consider checking Alesis Melody 61 MKII). Before you start teaching yourself how to play, keep these essential pointers in mind:

1. Getting to Know the Instrument

Of course, after selecting what piano you want to play with, you must first familiarize yourself with it. If it’s new, it is very likely that it comes with a book. Know the names of the keys, and the function of the pedals if it does have one (or two, or three…). Also, check if it is in tune (in case of acoustic piano).

2. Arms, Hands, and Fingers Positioning

The first step in learning to play the piano is to make sure your arms and hands are in the correct position. This is the “C Position,” which is the natural cupped shape they take when hung by your side. It’s good to maintain proper hand and finger placement for smoother play.

3. Learning the Notes (Including the Flats, Sharps and Their Timing)

As mentioned earlier, know your notes. All of your future dealings with the piano will be based upon it, so it is best if you devote a session learning it. With tons of practice, all of these notes will just be embedded in your mind and will flow naturally.

4. Proper Finger Placement Practice

You should always observe and pay attention to how you place your fingers when playing notes. You can check out exercises and warmups that will improve your muscle memory.

5. Practice!

Of course, the cherry on top is practice. You need to practice religiously and consistently. Set personal goals that you want to reach by the end of the session. If you feel like your practices are showing no signs of improvement, spice things up, by trying new exercises or playing the piano to your friends or families; it will surely boost your confidence.

Final Words

Tips, tutorials, lessons, everything are laid out at hands length on the internet. You get to decide what information you want to feed on, and websites and apps are there to supplement you. Always set a personal goal so you don’t stay stagnant. Keep on practicing, because practice produces output. And who knows, you might be the next Elton John or Yiruma in the making!

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Are Pianists Good At Math?

6 Mins Read

Are pianists good at math? A good pianist understands the concept of timing, rhythm, and progressions—which, in essence, entails a good grasp of mathematical interpolation. But a piano prodigy doesn’t necessarily make a math maven. However, someone with knowledge of analytic geometry might also possess the intellect to become a great pianist.

Try making a vivid image of these two persons inside your mind: Albert Einstein and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

Can you name any common denominator?

You’re probably thinking that the two of them are both geniuses – but different kinds of geniuses. Perhaps, masters of separate turfs.

To an extent, this may not be necessarily true and the two share more similarities than you think.

The physicist and mathematician Albert Einstein played the violin and would even perform solo recitals for his family and friends – he was even a big Mozart fan! The equally brilliant Mozart, on the other hand, would jot down mathematical equations on the border of his compositions.

Now, you might be wondering: Is there any link between your skills in music (piano in this case) and in math?

Before we can answer this, we need to get a grasp on “the Mozart Effect.”

The Mozart Effect

It has been suggested that immersing in classical compositions improves spatial skills, listening capabilities, and perhaps even the totality of intellectual capacity. However, the truth is murkier when it comes to today’s research-derived statistics. Is there such a thing as “The Mozart Effect”?

You’ve almost certainly heard of this concept in the past.

The idea that listening to Mozart’s music will help you ace an IQ test – or at least specific parts of it – is referred to as the Mozart Effect. In layman’s terms, it was stated that spending time sulking to your favorite sonata before taking a test can have short-term positive effects on certain testing abilities (talk about life-saver).

In 1993, a study conducted by researchers from the University of California in Irvine tried to back this notion up.

The initial Mozart effect research was kind of contentious. Individuals were given 10 minutes to pay heed to Mozart’s sonata for two pianos. A control listened to either quiet or relaxing audio during this time.

The results revealed an improvement in the performance of specific mental activities that lasted no more than 15 minutes. Solving mazes and folding puzzles are two of these abilities (basically your spatial skills). To display supporting numbers, after listening to the said music, the average IQ scores (for the spatial segment) became 8 to 9 points higher.

However, these figures were erroneously sensationalized by media outlets.

Following the “success” of these results, a huge number of parents began playing Mozart to their kids. These assertions sparked a commercial craze, with Mozart records being marketed to parents and even money being set aside by the US government to provide classical music CDs in schools.

More advanced research throughout time found that the Mozart Effect is most likely merely an artifact of elevated stimulation and emotion. There is currently minimal proof that listening to classical music improves spatial cognition.

Despite this, a lot of doors remain open.

Such a notion raises the prospect that learning to play an instrument (such as the piano) might help you improve your mathematical skills marginally.

Is this accurate?

Piano, Math, and Rhythm: The Correlation

Math and music are much more interlinked than you think.

According to a study performed by Scientific American, musicians are more likely to have an above-average understanding of math. Why is this so? Well, music is just mathematical. Concepts such as sequencing, patterning, and spatial reasoning are well incorporated in elements such as rhythm, melody, and tempo.

You’d be surprised at how trigonometry and differential calculus can be applied in musical composition. In fact, abstract algebra is a staple in musical theory (you might be interested in apps that can help you better understand this). Mathematical models, to a degree, can also help us understand why instruments sound as such – and how we can enhance them!

A better avenue to understand the link between math and music is the piano.

Since grade school, math teachers would’ve probably delved a bit on patterns in simple ways such as predicting the next shape in a shown sequence. If you’ve ever tried writing songs or composing melodies on the piano, something might already be clicking.

A great understanding of arithmetic concepts can drastically ease the process of identifying time signatures and rhythm. How is this better applied in the piano? The keys in the instrument complement mathematical functions.

How?

If you “number” your piano keys, the distance between C (labeled 1st) and G (labeled 5th) is called a “fifth” both in arithmetic sequencing and in music theory. Numerical labeling can also be a great help to kids trying to learn math. Producing a higher note would be associated with bigger numbers vice versa.

The concept of interpolation can also be honed in the piano – the concept of minor keys can put kids in a situation where they would have to make more inferences based on the information available to them.

Indeed, learning to play the piano can be a great math exercise. But still, we need to understand that causation is not necessarily a correlation.

It is true that several studies observed that if a person is good in math, chances are, they can play the piano as well. But we cannot necessarily say that being a math wizard causes you to become a piano prodigy or vice versa.

Maybe, it just so happens that people with brains that can handle analytic geometry would also have the intellect to understand how the piano works.

Also, one cannot set aside possible confounders. Maybe people who have to commitment, dedication, and focus to play an instrument would be able to apply the exact sample values in solving math problems.

Still, we cannot deny the fact that the piano can be a great gateway to introducing basic mathematical concepts (especially for kids). And conversely, a good understanding of numbers can make musical patterns in pianos much easier to execute.

Here’s a great video illustrating this topic:

In Conclusion

Math and music – it’s quite peculiar how two seemingly different worlds collide.

From going over the facts and data (with a slight hover over the Mozart effect), we’ve come into terms that extended listening to music may help slightly boost cognition. But, playing music offers greater positive outcomes.

Performing (particularly with a piano) helps you appreciate math and arithmetic more by understanding timing, rhythm, and progressions.

But most importantly, learning to play any instrument teaches you commitment, discipline, and focus – which are much needed when solving complex math problems.

However, we should never rule out the possibility that learning instruments do not necessarily cause improvements in math. There are a lot of factors at play, but still, music is an amazing gateway.

In the end, there is so much to it that makes an Einstein. Trying new things to help you get on top of that podium won’t hurt.

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Is Piano Harder Than Guitar?

6 Mins Read

When you first start thinking about picking up a musical instrument and start learning how to play it, it’s only natural for your mind to go to which instrument is easier to pick up. Not everyone has unlimited time to devote to their music, and many times, picking up a more difficult instrument can make you lose your confidence and give up. While instruments like the violin are extremely difficult to pick up, some of the easier instruments to learn for beginners are piano and guitar. When you’ve narrowed your selection down to these two instruments, you may wonder, “Is piano harder than guitar?”

The truth is that the answer depends on several factors. Some people consider the piano harder to learn than the guitar, and others think it is easier. There are also factors like the care that go into it that may influence your choice. In this article, we will break them down for you, so you can come to your own conclusion regarding the question, “Is piano harder than guitar?” and which one you should end up choosing.

Piano vs. Guitar: Is Piano Harder Than Guitar?

Both the piano and the guitar are great starter instruments. They’re relatively simple to pick up (as compared to other instruments), and many online resources are available to help you through the process. However, the answer to “is piano harder than guitar?” relies on which learning components you find more difficult. We’ve discussed some of those aspects below.

Reading Music

This is where the piano is a lot more difficult to pick up than the guitar. While guitar instruments don’t focus on reading music as much, piano learning relies on it. Additionally, reading tabs is much easier than mastering reading sheet music. While it’s easier to sound better with the piano initially, playing becomes more complex very quickly. This is especially true for classical music and more complex pieces that require understanding many different rhythms.

Layout

The layout of a piano is much simpler than that of a guitar. The keys have the same pattern, and the notes are divided into octaves and so forth. Once you understand that the lower keys are on the left and the higher on the right and that every octave is five black notes and seven white notes, the instrument itself is fairly straightforward.

However, things aren’t as straightforward with the guitar. All you have to do is play the keys on a piano. On a guitar, you have to ensure that the string’s pitch is just right. Only when the guitar is horizontal can you rely on the bottom strings being higher and the top strings lower. While learning songs is easier on the guitar, the layout is anything but simple. If you’re learning to play the guitar, you need to focus on learning placement rather than rely on learning individual notes.

Time

When it comes to the initial time needed to sound good and learn a few songs, the piano emerges as the winner. Learning a short song or two takes less time than it does on the guitar. In addition to having to learn to coordinate both hands, your fingers need to be able to handle the strings and be strong enough to play faster tunes.

Number of Hands

Many people don’t think of this, but synchronizing your movements is much more difficult on the guitar. The piano is easier to learn in terms of this, especially for younger students and beginners. This is because the piano can be taught one hand at a time and gives the pupil more time to absorb the information and get used to it. If you’ve ever noticed a young child playing piano, they’re able to pick it up more quickly because of this.

However, you can’t do the same with guitars. You always need both hands for playing since you don’t just have to strum – you also have to take care of chords and notes that aren’t open.

Learning Songs

In order to fully learn a song, you’ll need to be able to play the chords. This is easier on the guitar than on the piano because chord formations and strumming patterns are easier to pick up on a guitar. If you learn a few chords and pick up a strumming pattern that’s relatively simple, you can learn a song in a day.

When it comes to playing the piano, you can still master chords quickly, but you have to start with music theory to fully understand and pick up the instrument properly. That, and having to pick up the second hand makes learning songs harder on the piano than on the guitar.

Tuning

If you’re wondering, “Is piano harder than guitar?” This is certainly not the case when it comes to tuning. While this isn’t directly related to learning to play the instrument, it still contributes to the guitar being harder than the piano. You don’t have to worry about tuning either a piano or a keyboard, but this is something you need to learn when you take up the guitar.

If you don’t know how to properly tune your guitar and rely on your instructor to do so, you won’t be able to practice as much. While this is something you’ll probably master quickly, it’s still a factor to consider when making a decision about which musical instrument you should pick.

Final Thoughts

If you were stuck between choosing the guitar or the piano to pick up and were wondering, “Is piano harder than guitar?” We hope this article helped. While both instruments are excellent, they’re each suited to a different type of musician. If you’re willing to learn how to read music and want to play more classical or jazz-style tunes, the piano is for you. If you think you’d do better at strumming and learning songs faster, the guitar is a great option. Consider the explanations above carefully before deciding which instrument will be easier for you to learn. Good luck!

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How to Play Happy Birthday on the Piano

8 Mins Read

If you want to prevent your family and friends from sliding off key at their next rendition of “Happy Birthday,” you can help everybody out by accompanying them on the piano.

Why Try Piano?

This isn’t just a great way to back up the singers at the party – it’s also the perfect thing to do to impress your birthday friend. Anyone can get up and sing “Happy Birthday” to a family member or loved one, but not everyone can take the time to learn how to play it on an instrument.

Some people just aren’t comfortable singing. Maybe you’re not feeling brave enough to step in front of everybody, even if it’s in a big group, and reveal your singing voice.

And if truth be told, some people just don’t have the range for this tune, which is nothing to be embarrassed about. There are some surprisingly unforgiving jumps hidden in this seemingly simplistic melody, which explains the traditional voice cracks that are a part of any complete “Happy Birthday” chorus.

Learning this simple tune on the keyboard or piano is one way to up your birthday game while giving yourself an excuse not to sing. But if you’re feeling courageous, there’s no reason you can’t sing and play at the same time – people have been doing it for centuries.

Keeping it Simple

Let’s take it in the key of C major, to make it easy. Once you’re a piano master, you can transpose this easy tune into any key you like to better suit it for your vocal range or for the people at the party. Playing to the range of your singers is one way to make the song sound exponentially better – as good as it possibly can, and at the very least, a bit less pitchy.

We’ll assume you already know the rhythm since most people have been sung this song involuntarily, and have doubtlessly sung it to others year after year. This is usually more than enough to have the tune permanently ingrained into anyone’s memory, copyright laws notwithstanding.

But on that note (pun absolutely intended), now that “Happy Birthday” is officially in the public domain, you no longer have to worry about videos of your candle-blowing-out ceremony being removed for copyright infringement.

It’s true that there are many birthday songs to choose from, but not nearly as many that fall in the public domain, and so they’re not able to be used quite so freely – at least legally. And it’s not always easy to tell what you can get away with at certain parties – you never know when the copyright police may be listening will come swooping in.

It’s best to play it on the safe side and go with a public domain choice, and thankfully, you no longer have to suffer through “For He’s a Jolly Good Fellow” anymore to have a totally above-board and fully musical birthday celebration.

Don’t worry about keeping up – we’ll take it one line at a time to make it easy for everyone. Fortunately, “Happy Birthday” is a song that doesn’t have a lot of lyrics that you have to memorize. The only thing you need to make sure you know the birthday person’s first name.

Now, on to the piano part.

The First Line:

“Happy birthday to you”

The notes are:
| G | G | A | G | C | B |

G–G–A—-G—C–B
Happy birthday to you

The Second Line:

(A reprisal of the first, capitalizing on its success.)
“Happy birthday to you”

The notes are:
| G | G | A | G | D | C |

If you’re having trouble with that so far, it may help to break up each line even further. Try dividing each line in half – when you look at it that way, the first half of the first and second lines are completely identical:
| G | G | A | G |

Once you see that, it may make it easier to hit the right notes without hesitation.

The Third Line

“Happy birthday dear [_________]” (Insert your name of choice here. We’ll use the name Ludwig because – why not?)

The notes are:
| G | G | G (up an octave) | E | C | B | A |

You may have noticed the use of a musical term that’s either no big deal to you or has confused you completely; in either case, you have nothing to fear. An octave simply refers to the same note that’s higher or lower in pitch.

You have probably noticed that there are quite a few Gs to pick from across the length of the keyboard. To play this last line, which includes the challenging interval for singers to hit, all you have to do is play the lower G – the one you’ve already been playing – twice, and move up to the higher G for the first half of the word “birthday.” Not a problem!

From there, you just make your way down from the E to the C, B, and then land on A. In the same way that this leap will be hard for your party guests to sing, it may be challenging to reach your fingers all the way across from G to G. If you’re experiencing difficulty, just remember that the more you practice (and the bigger your hands get, if they’re still growing) the easier it will be to make those big jumps across the keys.

For now, you can always lift your thumb off the low G in order to make it up to the high G – but just remember to use your pinky on the high G so your fingers won’t get stuck when you try to make your way back down at the end of this line.

The Fourth and Final Line…

One more rousing chorus of:
“Happy birthday to you”

This is everybody’s one last shot to make it count – at least until next year: one last chance to bless the birthday person with your well-wishes.

The notes are:
| F | F | E | C | D | C |

And there you have it! You can officially play the melody line from the “Happy Birthday” song on the piano.

Want to Get Fancy? Add Chords

When you play chords underneath the melody with your left hand, you’ll be adding a significant amount of depth and punch to the song. These chords help to provide more context to the notes in the melody line, creating a heightened sense of emotional depth and impact.

Luckily, there are only three chords that you need to learn, all of them major: C, G, and F. Here’s a breakdown of the notes in each chord:

C Major: C, E, G

G Major: G, B, D

F Major: F, A, C

All right – stretch out your fingers and get ready for one more rendition of “Happy Birthday,” complete with chords:

G—–C———–G–
Happy birthday to you

(G)—————C–
Happy birthday to you

(C)—————–G–F–
Happy birthday dear Ludwig

(F)—C——–G–C–
Happy birthday to you

Make sure to practice changing chords at the right time, and pay careful attention to which part of the word the chord change falls on. If you change chords too early or late, it will likely make the singers’ notes sound bad and might throw them off completely.

The song works best for names with two syllables, but there are obviously all kinds of names out there – every one of them deserving of a happy birthday. We can’t all be named “Ludwig.” Sometimes you just have to cram the name in there if it’s a long one (or stretch it out if the guest of honor has a name with only one syllable), in which case it’s not always as easy to figure out where to go from the G chord to the F chord.

If you listen carefully, you can usually follow the moment where the chords naturally want to change. And if you’re playing at a party where there’s a big group singing, there’s not much you can do besides follow along and listen for when the singers want to change notes. In the third line of the song, this is where you’re going from a B to an A.

The Party’s Just Begun…

And that’s all there is to it! Keep practicing because you’ll be able to use this number time and time again. You can even get together with your other musical friends and really surprise someone with a birthday band.

Once you’ve mastered playing the song in the traditional way, you may want to start experimenting with different styles: from jazz to heavy metal, “Happy Birthday” is a tune with infinite potential. And the great news is now that you’ve learned how to play it on piano, you can easily translate those skills to any number of instruments with the same keyboard layout. Whether you’re playing on an accordion, glockenspiel, or stylophone, you’re now fully equipped to play it the way you want.

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Organ vs Piano – Everything You Need to Know

7 Mins Read

To a newcomer, the piano and organ might appear to be the same thing. However, professional musicians and enthusiasts know that there’s a world of difference between the two instruments.

For instance, an organ’s sound can be modified in several ways to sound like different instruments, whereas the piano can just play the sound it was built for. Also, pianos have 88 keys, unlike the organ, which only has 61 keys.

These are just a couple of the basic differences between the two instruments. In this article, we will take a closer at an organ vs. a piano.

Organ vs Piano – Classification

Organs belong to the family of windwood instruments like the clarinet, bassoon, flute, and oboe. Such instruments are essentially pipes that have an opening at the bottom and produce sound when air is blown through these pipes.

The piano is categorized as a percussion instrument, but it’s also considered a stringed instrument. Percussion instruments produce sound when they are hit or struck.

The hammer action of the piano, which entails the hammer striking the strings, makes the piano a percussion instrument. The presence of tightened strings in the piano makes it a stringed instrument.

Organ Vs. Piano – Working Mechanism

An organ is built with metallic pipes, most of which are not visible. As the wind is pressurized through the pipes, the pipes start vibrating to create sound.

To play the organ, the musician will use the pedals and keyboards on the instrument. These pedals help to open and close the pipes for pressurized air to pass through.

Even though a piano can have nearly 12,000 components, its working mechanism is less complicated as compared to an organ. Three separate assemblies, i.e., the hammer, pedals, and strings, are present in a piano to produce sound.

Hammer

Once the hammer strikes the string, it returns to its original resting position. If this did not happen, the hammer would continuously stay in contact with the string for as long as the key is pressed. This would stop the string from vibrating, and the instrument won’t produce any sound.

Strings

The piano produces the intended sound when the strings vibrate. The tightness, length, and density of the strings determine if the string is going to play a high or low note. Most pianos have three strings that vibrate together to produce a melodious tone.

Pedals

Pedals provide musicians control over the sound they wish to produce. Grand pianos typically have three pedals – left, center, and middle pedal.

Organ Vs. Piano – Sound Producing Mechanism

The sound-producing mechanism of organs and pianos is also very different.

The sound a piano produces depends on how hardly or softly the pianist strikes a key. This is not the case with an organ. In an organ, the sound stops once the performer removes their finger from the key.

While playing the piano, the pianist can use the middle pedal to sustain the sound long after releasing the key.

In a piano, the hammer action determines the tone it produces during a performance. Conversely, the type of ranks or stops of pipe the organist chooses determines the tone that the organ produces.

Organ Vs. Piano – Keyboards

You will immediately notice that a piano has a set of 88 keys, all in a single row. On the other hand, organs have two rows of keys and usually have foot pedals to play bass notes.

This is because organs have drawbars with different voices or ranks that you can pull down to impact the sound. All of the organ’s ranks can be blended with others to mimic the sounds produced by reed instruments and woodwinds.

You can have different sounds for the bottom keyboard, top keyboard, and bass notes. Many times, you will be playing the organ with one hand on one keyboard, playing chords with the lower keyboard, and playing bass lines or bass notes with your foot.

This is a significant difference between the organ and the piano. However, it also has implications for differences in the usage of the organ. Since one can play melody, chords, and bass with an organ, you will generally see them being used in various settings.

Organ Vs. Piano – Role In Music

Organs and pianos have different roles in music.

The piano is usually a leading instrument. It has got a massive range, sounds sweet, and thanks to its percussive nature, it can play beautiful melodies.

On the other hand, organs fill a bigger amount of musical space. In the pop music genre, they’re often used to create a feeling of space. In blues, jazz, traditional style, and church music, the organ will work as the primary instrument, playing melodies, chords, and bass lines.

Organ Vs. Piano–Playing Technique

The organ and piano are played and used differently. Thus, you have to learn different techniques.

Pianists need to learn complicated chords and fingering. Mastering speed, independence, dynamics, and dexterity, are all essential parts of becoming a professional piano player.

Organists need speed, dexterity, and independence, but in a somewhat different sense. Organ players need independence between their hands and both their feet. Both feet or one foot may be playing bass lines, and one is also usually on a volume pedal.

Organ players do not have to pay attention to how hard they’re playing the organ – all the dynamics on an organ come from the volume pedal and how the players use the drawbars to modify the sound.

Organ Vs. Piano – Skill Level

Both instruments require a different set of music theory skills and manual dexterity. Even though both organ and piano are keyboard-based, there are several differences between the two when it comes to playing. Organ players need to know how to play bass notes on a pedaled keyboard while simultaneously controlling a volume pedal. On the other hand, piano players need to learn complex fingerings and chords.

Organ Vs. Piano – Cost

A traditional pipe organ is very costly, costing more than $200,000 for an entry-level model. More elaborate pipe organs can cost up to millions. A lot of this depends on the metal with which the pipes are built, the number of stops in the organs, and its size.

Nevertheless, an electronic organ can produce all the same sounds for only $2,995 – a fraction of the price.

Acoustic pianos also come with hefty costs. For instance, a brand new Steinway can cost nearly $171,000. But an entry-level digital piano will cost anywhere from $200 to $1,000. However, when it comes to a digital piano, spending at least $1500 to $3,000 will get you the best quality product.

Note that while electronic and digital counterparts are way cheaper, they aren’t all created the same. Certain digital pianos are better than others, whereas certain electronic organs are better than others. If you wish to replicate the sound of acoustic instruments, you will have to invest in the high-end version of the product.

Take Your Pick

The piano and organ seem very similar. However, they have distinct traits that set them apart. If you’re looking to play the organ, a good starting point is to get familiar with and learn how to play the piano.

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