Will learning scales help me learn the piano?

Question

I am tryint ot teach myself to play, but I am never sure if I am using correct fingering. I was wonderin if this would help.

Answer 1

Yes, scales are good, so you get used to playing in different keys. You should get a basic book, so you know where to cross over your fingers.

If you want some intro books with interesting tunes, Bela Bartok wrote a series of exercise books that I like.

Answer 2

Learning scales will most definitely help.  I have been playing the piano for most of my life, and I started by learning simple scales.  You can find websites or teach yourself books to make sure you are using the correct fingering.

Answer 3

YES! I taught myself to play piano as well (many years ago) and did so by learning scales, chords, and playing them over and over and over again.

It does help you a lot, when you first start out playing one of the most important things is that you build up your muscle memory to the point where you can play any scale or chord patten with your eyes closed.

The fingering is another problem... I don't want to contradict what I just said but before you start practicing those scales like crazy you need to make sure you find out how to play (finger them) correctly. If you start learning the scales wrong and it gets imprinted in your mind that way it'll take much longer to correct than it did to learn in the first place. Either look on the internet for scale sheets that have the fingering on them (little numbers 1-5 above or below the notes), or get an instructor.

I really recommend a piano instructor, but only if you can find one who really loves what they do, playing and teaching. It's impossible to overstate how much just having a helpful, skilled pianist to assist you can help!

Lastly, as you learn to play don't forget this joke:

Q: "How do you get to Carnegie Hall?"

A: "PRACTICE!"

Have fun :) Piano is great!