There are few things as tranquil and calming as a lullaby. And of all the lullabies in the world, “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star” is perhaps the most well-known. This simple, yet beautiful melody has been a bedtime staple for generations of children – and adults!
The good news is that “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star” is actually quite easy to play on the piano. In fact, even if you’re a beginner, you should be able to follow along with this simple tutorial.
Find the Notes on the Piano
You should begin by finding all of the notes in the melody on the piano. To do this, simply start on middle C and play each note in order. As you play each note, try to find its location on the keyboard. This will help you when it comes time to actually play the melody.
Get Started With the Middle C
To get started, find middle C on your piano. This note is located in the space between the treble clef and the bass clef. Once you’ve found middle C, place your right thumb on it.
Now, from middle C, move your thumb up one key to D. This is the next note in the melody. Next, move up to E, then F, and finally G. These are all white keys on the piano, so you shouldn’t have any trouble finding them.
Move to the Left Hand
Now, it’s time to move to the left hand. Start by placing your left thumb on C, which is located two keys to the left of middle C. Then, move up to D, E, F, and G. Just like before, these are all white keys.
The next note in the melody is A, which is located one key to the right of G. From here, move up to B and then C again. Now you’re back where you started!
Repeat the Melody
Now that you know the notes of the melody, it’s time to repeat it. Play the melody a second time, starting on C with your right hand and then moving to the left hand.
If you want, you can keep playing the melody over and over again. Once you’re comfortable with the notes, try adding some chords to give the song a richer sound.
Practice Until Playing Comes Natural to You
As with anything, practice makes perfect. The more you play “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star”, the easier it will become. Soon enough, you’ll be able to play the melody without even thinking about it!
If you’ve tried and the process above seems too difficult, write down the notes of the melody on a piece of paper. This way, you can practice one section at a time until you have it memorized.
Adding Chords
To add chords, simply play any note in the left hand while you play the melody in the right. For example, you could play a C chord (C-E-G) while singing “Twinkle, twinkle, little star” and then move to an F chord (F-A-C) for the next line.
You can experiment with different chords and see what sounds best. If you’re not sure which chords to use, try starting with a C chord and then moving to an F chord. You can also add other chords, like G or D.
Once you’ve added some chords, you can experiment with different rhythms. For example, you could play the chords on every beat or every other beat. You can also try changing the order of the chords.
If you want to make the song sound more interesting, add embellishments. For example, you could add trills, turns, or vibrato. To do a trill, you quickly alternate between two notes. To add vibrato, you simply shake your finger back and forth while holding down a note.
With a little practice, you’ll be able to rock “Twinkle Little Star” on the piano!
Enjoy Twinkle Little Star
There you go! Now you know how to play “Twinkle Little Star” on the piano. This song is perfect for beginners because it only uses a few simple chords. As you get more comfortable playing the piano, experiment with different rhythms and embellishments. With a little practice, you’ll be able to rock this classic tune!