Checking your notes when practising alone

Between lessons, or if you are teaching yourself, there is nobody to say “that should be F♯”. Wrong notes practised for a week are hard to unlearn. Here is how to catch them early.

Check before you play

Before playing a new passage, say the key signature out loud and name the first note of each bar. Most wrong notes come from a forgotten sharp or flat or a misread ledger line.

Practise slowly

At a slow tempo you have time to read every note instead of guessing from the shape of the passage. A metronome helps keep it honest: try our free online metronome.

Listen to a recording

For well-known pieces, a reference recording will reveal notes that sound wrong. It will not tell you which note is wrong, though, and different editions can differ.

Record yourself

Recording a passage and listening back with the music in front of you catches mistakes you do not hear while playing.

Use a labelled score

Note Names puts the letter on every note of your own sheet music, so you can check a doubtful note in a second instead of counting lines. When a passage is secure, turn the letters down so you are reading again.

Questions

How do I know if I am playing the right notes?

Name the notes before you play, practise slowly, compare with a recording, or check against a score with the note names labelled.