Piano help?

Question:I have self taught myself piano, so my knowledge in the names of certain things are very poor...
so, anyways, I need some advise in learning how to be more used to playing with 2 or more flats/sharps (I think that's what we call the #s and the bs)
I'm a fast learner and have a good ear, but the problem is that it gets very confusing when the song has a lot of flats/sharps... what can I do to get better at that?

I don't usually have an hour of free time to practice everyday, so please don't suggest that...

thanks in advance

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: I have self taught myself piano, so my knowledge in the names of certain things are very poor...
so, anyways, I need some advise in learning how to be more used to playing with 2 or more flats/sharps (I think that's what we call the #s and the bs)
I'm a fast learner and have a good ear, but the problem is that it gets very confusing when the song has a lot of flats/sharps... what can I do to get better at that?

I don't usually have an hour of free time to practice everyday, so please don't suggest that...

thanks in advance

Play scales. That's the only thing I can suggest. Yes, everyone hates scales (including me) and they are extremely boring, but I've got to admit it helps me soo much in my pieces with 5 flats or sharps. I hope you know what a tone or a semi-tone is, and if not ask that in your next question (I don't want to explain it). To figure out a scale start on any note anywhere on the keyboard and this is the pattern
tone, tone, semi-tone, tone, tone, tone, semi-tone.

These are the scales that are easiest.
C major-start on C-all white keys
G major-start on G-one sharp (F#)
F major-start on F-one flat (Bb)
D major-start on D-2 sharps (F#, C#)
Bb major-start on Bb-2 flats (Bb, Eb)
A major-start on A- 3 sharps (F#, C#, G#)
Eb major- start on Eb-3 flats (Bb, Eb, Ab)

There's a lot more, but those are the easiest 6. Hope I helped and enjoy playing!

if u st5art5 on t5he Middle C key its white. A C# or enharmonically6 a bD (D flat) Is the next black key. Every black key6 is either a sharp or flat.

here are some exercises/things to memorize... you don't have to practice for an hour everyday, but cumulatively you will have to spend a lot of time on it... it may seem tedious at first, but believe me, it will help you become a MUCH better player.

#=half-step(the very next key on the piano, including the black keys) higher
b=half-step lower
therefore, C# = Db, etc.

first, learn the circle of fifths.
http://www.maxhammondphotos.org.uk/blog/...
it has the names of all the major keys, adding sharps clockwise and flats counter-clockwise

build triads on each scale degree of all the major scales, staying within the scale.

So, in the key of C, starting on C, you will have:
I - C, E, G (C major chord)
ii - D, F, A (D minor)
iii - E, G, B (E min)
IV - F, A, C (F)
V - G, B, D (G)
vi - A, C, E (A min)
viio - B, D, F (B diminished)

In a key that's hard for you right now, like E, which has 4 sharps (F#, C#, G# and D#), it would be like this:

I - E, G#, B (E)
ii - F#, A, C# (F#m)
iii - G#, B, D# (G#m)
IV - A, C#, E (A)
V - B, D#, F# (B)
vi - C#, E, G# (C#m)
viio - D#, F#, A (D#dim)

practice common progressions in each key, such as:
I - IV - V - I (a simple cadence, or ending)

I - iv - IV - V (these 4 chords make up a lot of 50s and doo-wop music)

ii - V - I (another form of a cadence)

I - IV - I - I
IV - IV - I - I
V - IV - I - I (standard blues form)

eventually you will always be aware of what key you are in, and what chord you are playing, and how that chord fits into the key. at that point, it will no longer be about trying to remember which notes to play sharp or flat... the function of the notes will make sense to you.

Good luck!

If you need some visual help in remembering where each of the sharps and flats are, check out Mahalo's page on How to Play Piano:

http://www.mahalo.com/How_To_Play_Piano_...

Just scroll down to the section on the Black Keys. Also, scroll down even further to the "Scales" section to see how these notes are used in different scales.