How to Play Popular Sheet Music on the Piano

One of the great things about learning how to play the piano is being able to play popular sheet music. But popular sheet music often looks different than the music in your lesson books. In this article I will go over the terms and symbols you need to know to be successful at playing popular sheet music on the piano.

Difficulty of Popular Sheet Music

Popular sheet music tends to be more difficult than it appears. The rhythms are complicated, the music moves out of traditional hand positions, and there are often unfamiliar key signatures. Most popular sheet music is written at an intermediate to advanced level. When the sheet music says it is "Easy," it is usually around a level 3. For even easier pieces, look for popular sheet music that says it has been arranged and includes the level of the piece.

Vocal Staff in Popular Sheet Music

When a piano student opens a piece of popular sheet music the first question they often ask is, "Why are there three staffs?" Don't worry, the piano player only plays the bottom two. The top staff is the vocal part. The Vocal staff typically has a treble clef with the words of the song written underneath it. The piano part is joined together by a brace to form a grand staff.

Missing Melody in Popular Sheet Music

Don't be surprised if you are playing the piano part and it sounds nothing like the song you have heard on the radio. Many times the piano part in popular sheet music has been written as an accompaniment to the singer. If you don't have a singer, the main melody will be missing. If this happens, you can have your right hand play the vocal staff instead of the treble clef of the piano part. It will be challenging to play, since your bass clef and the vocal part are spaced so far apart, but at least you will be able to play and hear the melody line.

Guitar Chords in Popular Sheet Music

Above the vocal staff you may see tiny boxes filled with lines and letters. These symbols are guitar chords. Here are some examples of guitar chords: Cm, Gm7/D, F, Bdim, Cm(maj7)/B. As a piano player, you can simply ignore these guitar symbols.

If you enjoy theory, you can use the guitar chords to help analyze the chord progressions used in the song. If you struggle with reading bass clef notes, you may be able to use the guitar chords as clues for figuring out your bass clef notes. For example, if the guitar chord is a G, then chances are the lowest note in your left hand will also be a G.

Key Signatures in Popular Sheet Music

At the beginning of each line you will see a grouping of sharps or flats. This is the key signature. If there is a sharp or flat on a certain line or space you must remember to sharp or flat that note for the entire piece. For instance, if you see a B-flat, E-flat and A-flat, then all b's, e's and a's will be flatted in the piece unless there is a natural sign before the note. If you don't see any sharps or flats, then the song is based on the C scale which doesn't have any sharps or flats.

Time Signatures in Popular Sheet Music

At the beginning of each song you will see two numbers that look like a fraction. This is the time signature. The top number tells you how many beats there are per measure, and the bottom number tells you what type of note gets one beat. If there is a 4 on the bottom, then a quarter note gets one beat. If there is an 8 on the bottom, then an eighth note gets one beat. If you see a "C" instead of numbers that is called "common time" and it is the same as 4/4. A "C" with a line through it means "cut time." In cut time a half note gets one beat.

Rhythms in Popular Sheet Music

Chances are you will see some rhythms in popular sheet music that you haven't played before. The complicated rhythms are what makes popular songs so fun to listen and dance to. A note that has two flags on it is a sixteenth note. A sixteenth note receives 1/4 of a beat. If you see a note with a dot beside it, the dot adds another half of the note value onto its length. For example, a dotted quarter note is worth one and a half beats because the dot added a half beat to the original length of one beat.

D.S. al Coda in Popular Sheet Music

One of the most common endings used in popular sheet music is D.S. al Coda. D.S. tells the piano player to repeat back to the sign. The sign is a symbol that looks like a fancy "S" with two dots and a line through it. Continue playing from the "S" sign until you see "To Coda." It will also have a symbol of a circle with a cross through it. From "To Coda" jump to the end of the piece where it says "CODA" which means special ending.

Pedal use in Popular Sheet Music

Popular sheet music will not tell you when to use the damper pedal (the right pedal which makes a sustained sound.) Instead it is your job as the piano player to add the pedal whenever there needs to be a smooth, connected sound. Typically you will change the pedal at least the first beat of every measure. You may also use the guitar chords as a good indicator as to when the pedal needs to be changed to maintain a nice, clear sound.