Welcome, and thanks for taking a look at the Start Here page.
Here you’ll find links to some of the best content available on the Piano & Synth Magazine web site. We hope you find it useful.
Learning to Play Music
Here’s some basic advice for anyone looking to learn to play the piano or keyboard.
We’ve put together a number of tutorials to help you play well-known songs.
Being able to play Christmas carols is a popular theme, so check out our series:
- Mastering Christmas Carols on the Piano and Keyboard: An Introduction
- O Little Town of Bethlehem
- O Little Town of Bethlehem (Second Attempt)
- O Come All Ye Faithful
- Silent Night
- We Wish You A Merry Christmas
- Away in a Manger
- Away in a Manger (alternative tune)
- Deck the Halls
- The Holly and the Ivy
- Hark the Herald Angels Sing
There are also traditional Christmas songs. Check out our series:
- Mastering Christmas Songs on the Piano and Keyboard: An Introduction
- All Through the Night
- Frosty the Snowman
- Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
- Jingle Bells
- Let it Snow
- O Christmas Tree (O Tannenbaum)
- Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
- We Wish You A Merry Christmas
- White Christmas
- Winter Wonderland
We also have a series on playing traditional children’s songs.
You might also be interested in learning to play these songs:
Improving Skills
These resources will help you play the piano or keyboard better.
Music Theory
These resources will ground you in the fundamentals of musical theory.
- Music Basics: Major and Minor Chords
- How to read printed music: a basic primer for pianists and keyboard players
- Songs to help you learn note intervals
- Piano accompaniment and harmony techniques for chord progressions
Preparation
Here are some resources you might find useful as you prepare to play or work with other musicians.
Keyboard Gear
Guides to help you add the right equipment to your instruments.
- Keyboard Buyer’s Guide
- Essential Accessories for Keyboard Players
- How to choose the right key weight for your keyboard instrument
- Choosing Your Child’s Keyboard Instrument
Music and Technology
Obviously all synths and digital pianos have technology built in, but these resources are for those who want to use computers, tablets, mobile devices, or modify their synths.
- Circuit Bending Guide and Resources
- 35 Piano, Synth and Sound Apps from the Mac App Store
- 22 iPad Music Creation apps
For Children
Nurture the enthusiasm and talent your child has for music with these resources.
- Buying a child’s first electronic keyboard instrument
- 10 books to help your child learn to play piano and keyboard
- How to teach young children to play music keyboard using coloured stickers
- Ten toy pianos you and your child will love
Tips and Advice
Here are more articles that encourage you to explore your instrument further.
- 10 top reasons you should learn to play chord piano
- Where can I download a manual for my music keyboard or digital piano?
- Synth Basics: What is Polyphony?
- Quick Tip: Try a new voice and stir up your keyboard playing
- Playing piano or keyboard without a sustain pedal