Alfred's Teach Yourself to Play Electronic Keyboard: Electronic Keyboard Book

This book meets electronic keyboard learners exactly where they are, beginning with practical setup and hand position before moving into actual playing. The progression from fundamentals to recognizable songs keeps motivation high, while the inclusion of multiple styles (pop, rock, blues, ragtime, folk, hymns) ensures students encounter music they care about. By the end, learners graduate to reading chord symbols and lead sheets, giving them real tools for playing from the repertoire they'll encounter in actual performances.

Opening this book feels like unlocking your keyboard's real potential. You start with practical preparation and clear explanations, then move quickly into actually playing songs you know. The energy builds as styles shift from classics to ragtime, and by the end you realize you've built genuine skills.

Beginners of any age who want to teach themselves electronic keyboard without formal lessons. This book works best for people with access to a keyboard featuring automatic rhythms and single-finger chord functionality, and who benefit from structured, self-paced instruction that builds systematically from setup through functional musicianship.

• Set up your keyboard workspace before opening the book. Verify that automatic rhythms and single-finger chord modes are working as intended, so you can focus entirely on learning rather than troubleshooting.
• Work through the Circle of 5ths section deliberately before tackling chord symbol exercises. Understanding this relationship transforms chord reading from memorization into logic.
• Use the style variety as a learning opportunity, not just a break. Each genre introduces different rhythmic feels and fingering patterns that expand your adaptability at the keyboard.
• Spend time with the improvisation techniques section after you've mastered several songs. This bridges the gap between following the page and making genuine musical choices.

Electronic keyboard is often overlooked in traditional ensemble settings, yet this book could introduce it as a solo or secondary instrument for students already involved in band or choir. Self-taught keyboard players often become valuable arrangers and improvisation partners. Consider recommending it to students seeking an instrument for contemporary worship, jazz ensemble, or pop/rock contexts where electronic keyboard is standard.

• Reading standard musical notation on treble clef
• Understanding MIDI and electronic keyboard functions
• Playing major and minor chords using single-finger chord mode
• Reading and interpreting chord symbols for pop, fake book, and lead sheet music
• Proper hand position and keyboard technique
• Basic improvisation strategies
• Stylistic playing in pop, rock, country, blues, ragtime, folk, and classical genres
• Recognizing the Circle of 5ths and applying it to chord progressions