Last week, we busted Myth #1: Sight Reading – you don’t need it in order to learn to play piano!

Many beginner pianists are relieved to hear they don’t have to learn to sight read, and then follow up with this question: “But then how do I learn? Do I just keep playing children’s songs?”

NO!

Beginners should learn piano by playing songs they actually like. And it shouldn’t be too difficult to achieve…

Here’s the thing, playing easy piano music is enjoyable at first, but it will NOT help you progress.

Yes, it’s true that even if you have no prior experience, you can learn to play the melody of nursery songs in minutes…but do you think you’ll be satisfied in the long run?

I don’t think so…

Rather than learning simple melodies like “Old MacDonald”, “Happy Birthday”, or “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star”, learn songs that you enjoy!

Sit down and practice playing songs that appeal to you… 

…songs that, when sung, make you want to learn the piano. 

…songs that can be adapted for a beginner, yet sound impressive.

…songs that begin simple and gradually become more difficult.

…songs that you can fall back on if you’re feeling down and say, “Hey, at least I can play this song…”

So, are you ready to break down Myth #2?

Myth #2: Learn to play nursery songs loonnng before you can play the songs you love.

Thinking about playing your favorite song as a beginner may seem difficult, but it’s actually quite simple when you take the right steps. 

Start off by playing the recognizable patterns you hear. This way, you can gradually add on as you progress.

Because you can hear yourself playing a song you love and making progress, you’ll be motivated to practice more and it will help you gain the confidence to learn more complicated songs while still enjoying the process. 

Next, learn the chords of the song.

What are chords? A chord is any set of three or more individual notes played together at the same time. 

What chords should you learn first? 

There are a total of 24 different chords you can play on the piano.

Fortunately, you only need to master four chords to unlock literally hundreds of songs!

These four chords are: C Major, A minor, F Major, and G Major. That’s it! 

The truth is, many of the world’s hit songs are built on these four chords.

Sound unbelievable? Check out this mind-blowing video of the Axis of Awesome using ONLY these four chords!

You see, you don’t have to wait decades before you can play songs you love. All you need, is to build a solid foundation by mastering the most popular four chord progression!

It may require some mental effort at first, but it will become second nature as you continue to practice and play the piano.

So, are you ready to put this myth to rest? Start asking yourself…

…What songs do I really want to learn to play?

…How much freedom do I really want to have on the piano?

…Do I want to feel confident in the songs I can play as a beginner?

Learn chords and leave the children’s songs behind!

And don’t be surprised when people tell you don’t sound like a beginner.

Still skeptical? I’ve helped thousands of beginner piano students in over 50 countries to play their favorite songs! No children’s songs, no sight reading…Check out my Beginner Piano Course here.

Come back next week and let’s debunk Myth #3.