When you first start playing the piano it is important to understand that you not only need to practice often but that you need to perform piano exercises to be able to strengthen your fingers. These also will help you become more familiar with the keyboard and how it is set up. You need to start off learning the bare basics and that starts with the scales of a keyboard. The first thing you will notice is the keyboard is comprised of 88 keys with a pattern that repeats. That pattern is a grouping of two black keys that are followed by another grouping of three black keys all along the length of the keyboard. Finding the middle of the keyboard is important and that would be the middle white key which represents the key of C.
Now in order to do warm ups you will need to learn what is called the scale. This scale is made up of the first seven letters of the alphabet and is always best that you start with that middle C and learn what is called the C scale. Move to the right of the middle C key which is the next white key which is in between the two keys that are black, this key is D, then the next white key would be E, the next key which is left of the three black keys is the key of F. The next white key would be G. Once you have done that the scale letters start over. When you reach the next key that is white which will be left of the next two black key grouping you will have returned to C and the scale of C will have been finished.
Before you do the C scale however; you should always warm up your hand and fingers. This goes for any time you might want to play. You can take your right hand and put it into a ball, very tightly and then go a head and relax your hand. You should do this several times before beginning. This needs to be done with both hands. Your hand should have somewhat of an open curve to it when placing it on the keyboard. With the open curve position of your hand put it on the first five keys of the C scale by putting your thumb on the middle C. Your index finger will be on the D key which is in between the black key grouping with the rest of you fingers following suit on the other keys.
It is important that your fingers are located properly on the keys ranging from C to G. When you are ready you can go a head and play the notes starting at the left going to your right. When you get to E you will then tuck your thumb so it goes under the palm and can play the F key. Finish the scale with your other fingers. So, thumb is on C, the index is D, middle is E, thumb going under palm is F, again index which is G, middle is the A, ring finger is B and finally the pinky is C.
Now take the left hand and place it over the keyboard. This time you will play the C scale but the fingers will be placed different. Again, beginning at the middle C you will use the little finger. The other four fingers will be playing the D, E, F and the G keys. Continue to play the scale until you feel at ease with it.
So the fingers for the left hand should be little finger C, your ring finger is D, the middle finger is E, index finger would be F and the thumb would be the G. The middle finger will then cross over the top of your hand so it can hit the A with the ring finger hitting the B and the thumb then will hit the high C.
It is important to practice this scale often so that you not only get stronger fingers but so that you can also develop more accuracy and more speed while playing the keyboard. Practice the entire C scale eventually using both hands at the same time until you reach your goal of strengthening your fingers and getting more familiar with the keyboard.
For more information on all aspects of piano playing visit Piano Exercises or check out – Piano Exercises