Music Lessons 101: How To Play Piano With Both Hands

It’s not easy to do something with two hands that most people can’t do with one. Unfortunately, this is the case when it comes to playing the piano. Playing piano with both hands can be intimidating; at first, it will feel clumsy. However, hand coordination and synchronization between both hands will come together after practice.

If you haven’t played piano ever, then I’m sure you can’t even imagine how it would be to play with two hands simultaneously. Most probably, Your hands are not used to playing piano, and the feeling will be new and awkward in the beginning. 

But interestingly and luckily, your left hand can follow the right hand most of the time. So for anyone looking to learn how to play piano with both hands, this guide is for you.

This guide covers the basics of playing piano with both hands.

Playing Piano With Both Hands: Step-by-Step Guide

When you first start learning to play piano with both hands, it can seem like a daunting task. But with some practice and commitment, you’ll be playing like a pro in no time.

Here’s everything you need to know about playing piano with both hands.

Step 1: Learn Piano Fingerings and Patterns (For Beginners)

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First, you must learn the fingerings and patterns associated with playing the piano. That will help when it comes time for you to play music alone or with others. It will also make you grow as a musician overall.

Suppose you are just starting on your journey as a pianist. In that case, this is especially important because it will help you develop muscle memory in your hands so that when it comes time for you to play music alone or with others. 

By that, your hands will know what they need to do without thinking too much (without looking at sheet music).

Step 2: Learn Using a Music Piece and Backing Track

Now that you’ve learned the basics, it’s time to learn how to play the piano with both hands.

The best way to learn how to play piano with both hands is by starting with a piece of music and a backing track. That will give you something familiar to practice and help you get used to playing with both hands simultaneously.

First, find a piece of music that you like. It can be anything from classical piano pieces by Mozart or Bach to modern pop songs by Lady Gaga or Bruno Mars. The choice is up to you. Just make sure that it has an easy-to-play rhythm and melody—you’ll be able to tell if it’s too difficult just by listening.

Next, find an accompanying backing track online. It should be a recording of someone playing the same notes as those in the sheet music (or at least close). 

This process aims for your brain to recognize when certain notes are played and what they sound like when played together in context (as opposed to just hearing them one by one).

Step 3: Learn With One Hand At a Time

This step is where you start playing the piano. First, you should have learned all your notes and how to read music. Now it’s time to put those two together and play some songs.

The perfect way to start is with your right hand first, then follow it up with your left hand. That makes sense because most people are right-handed, so they will be more comfortable using their dominant side first. 

It also ensures that you aren’t stuck trying to play with both hands at the same time if you’re not ready for it yet—which could cause frustration or confusion.

Once you’ve mastered playing with one hand at a time, then it’s time to try combining them. You’ll find that playing with both hands isn’t too different from playing one after another; just use what you’ve learned so far when combining them.

Step 4: Start With The Rhythm

So you’ve got your hands right and ready to go. Now, start with the rhythm. The rhythm of a piece of music is its heartbeat. It’s the slow-fast-slow-fast pattern that keeps you moving forward and helps you keep track of where you are in the song.

If you’re not sure what that means, don’t worry. It’s pretty simple. It means you should play along with a song (or a loop) as soon as possible.

You can start with whatever music piece you’ve chosen—whether it’s one of the songs we suggested at the beginning of this article or something else entirely—and just start tapping out the rhythm on your piano. 

You don’t need to bother about hitting all the notes yet—just make sure each finger hits its key and they’re all in sync. 

You can also play around with different rhythms until you find one that feels natural for you. But, again, the point is just to get comfortable playing the piano before trying to do anything else.

Step 5: Go Into The Notes

Now that you’ve figured out the rhythm of your music piece, it’s time to go into the notes. It is very important because this is where you can play with both hands together. For example, you need to be able to play the notes with both hands to play piano with both hands. 

There are many ways to practice playing with both hands. One way is by playing scales on the one hand and then playing them again on the other. 

Another great way is by playing simple melodies or songs that only require one hand at a time (like Twinkle Twinkle Little Star). By practicing these pieces, you will get used to playing with both hands without having any trouble doing so!

Step 6: Play With The Backing Track

After learning to play the rhythm and notes with both hands, it’s time to start playing with the backing track.

Start by listening to the track and figuring out what notes are being played. Then, once you’ve figured out the chords in your head, you can try playing along with them. 

If you can’t keep up with the track, try slowing it down until you can keep up, then gradually increase its tempo until you’re back at full speed.

If you get stuck, just take a break—it’s okay! Then, come back when you feel ready and try again.

Step 7: Be Patient And Keep Trying

Easier said than done, right? But it’s true: patience and perseverance are the keys to success. And remember, it takes a lot of practice to get your fingers coordinated enough to play piano with both hands. 

It might feel like you never get any faster or smoother, but that’s okay. The important thing is that you keep practicing, no matter what.

One way to ensure you keep practicing is by setting aside time daily to practice your hand-playing technique. For example, if you have an hour before bed each night, use this time to practice hand-playing techniques instead of watching TV or checking social media. 

That way, your brain will associate playing the piano with both hands with something good—making it easier for you to do in the future.

Final Thoughts

Ultimately, whether or not you take up piano playing as a hobby or for some other purpose, we hope that this guide has helped you get a better understanding of what is involved in achieving the goal of playing piano with both hands.

Remember that with practice, you can master playing piano with both hands. It may take some focus and time, but it will be worth it in the end. So take the tips from this guide and apply them to your practice sessions; you should see a difference in your playing in no time.