Welcome to the exciting world of piano! To embark on your musical journey, we'll focus on three fundamental pillars: understanding notes, counting rhythm, and building chords.

1. Notes: The Building Blocks of Music

Notes are the essential components that form every melody and harmony.

  • Note Names:
    • The musical alphabet consists of seven letters: C, D, E, F, G, A, B. These correspond to the Vietnamese names Do, Re, Mi, Fa, Sol, La, Si.
    • These letters repeat across the keyboard in what are called octaves.
  • Note Placement on the Staff:
    • The staff (or stave) is a set of five horizontal lines where notes are written.
    • The Treble Clef (also known as the G clef) is used for higher notes, typically played with the right hand.
    • The Bass Clef (also known as the F clef) is used for lower notes, typically played with the left hand.
  • Note Values: These determine how long a note should be held.
    • Whole Note: Lasts for four beats.
    • Half Note: Lasts for two beats.
    • Quarter Note: Lasts for one beat.
    • Eighth Note: Lasts for half a beat.
    • Sixteenth Note: Lasts for a quarter of a beat.
    • Rests: Silences corresponding to the duration of notes (e.g., a quarter rest is a silence for one beat).
  • Accidentals: These symbols alter the pitch of a note.
    • Sharp (#): Raises a note by a half step.
    • Flat (b): Lowers a note by a half step.
    • Natural (♮): Cancels a previous sharp or flat.

2. Rhythm and Counting: Keeping Time

Rhythm provides the pulse and flow of music, and counting helps you play accurately.

  • Beat: The regular, recurring pulse in music. You can feel the beat when you tap your foot along to a song.
  • Measure (or Bar): A segment of time corresponding to a specific number of beats, indicated by bar lines.
  • Time Signature: Two numbers at the beginning of a piece that tell you how to count the beats.
    • The top number indicates how many beats are in each measure.
    • The bottom number indicates which note value receives one beat (e.g., a '4' means a quarter note gets one beat). Common time signatures include 4/4 (four quarter notes per measure) and 3/4 (three quarter notes per measure).
  • Tempo: The speed of the music.
    • Allegro: Fast and lively.
    • Andante: At a walking pace, moderately slow.
    • Adagio: Slow and stately.
    • A metronome is a tool that produces a steady beat to help you practice keeping time.

3. Chords: Adding Harmony and Emotion

Chords are combinations of three or more notes played simultaneously, creating harmony and emotional depth.

  • Definition: A group of notes played together.
  • Major Chords: Sound bright, happy, and resolved.
    • Examples: C Major (C-E-G), G Major (G-B-D), D Major (D-F#-A).
  • Minor Chords: Sound sad, melancholic, or contemplative.
    • Examples: A Minor (A-C-E), E Minor (E-G-B), D Minor (D-F-A).
  • Seventh Chords: Add a fourth note (the seventh) to a basic triad, creating richer, more complex sounds.
    • Dominant 7th chords (e.g., G7, C7) are particularly common and create tension that often resolves to the tonic.
  • Chord Inversions: Playing the notes of a chord in a different order (e.g., C-E-G vs. E-G-C), which changes the lowest note and the overall voicing without changing the chord's identity.
  • Chord Progression: A sequence of chords played one after another, forming the harmonic backbone of a song.

By understanding these core concepts – notes, rhythm, and chords – you'll build a strong foundation for your piano studies. Consistency and patience in practice are key!