Lesson 12: Black keys with your left hand

Find F sharp with your left hand, put it in D position and play “Happy Birthday” on the other side of the keyboard.

What you'll learn

Your right hand has discovered the black keys, first F sharp, then the flats. Today, it's your left hand's turn. At the end, you'll play Happy Birthday with it.
A black key has the same name for both hands. With your left hand, the landmark is F sharp: the first black key in the group of three, just to the right of F.
Watch first: we play the two F sharps on the keyboard, the low one, then the same one higher up.
Here is D position for your left hand. Little finger on the low D, ring finger on E, middle finger on F sharp, the black key, index finger on G, and thumb on A. Listen first to the five notes going up.
We go back down from A to D, from your thumb to your little finger, passing over F sharp again. Watch first.
Today's song is played entirely in this position. It starts with two Ds with your little finger: the first one a little long, the second one very short. Then E, D, G, and an F sharp that lasts two beats with your middle finger. Listen first.
The next phrase starts the same way, but your thumb plays A, and your index finger finishes on a G that lasts two beats. Listen first.
Your song: Happy Birthday, with your left hand, with F sharp. Listen to it once, then follow the falling notes.
Well done, both your hands can now play the black keys. In the next lesson, you'll learn to play legato: notes that touch each other, with no silence in between.