Learning how to play in all of your keys is very essential as someone stated. Learn the chromatic scale and that will help you identify what key you are in.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
C- D - E - F - G - A - B - C
Follow this diagram to learn your notes. This pattern just keeps repeating all the way up (ascending) the keyboard.
Chromatic Scale:
Note: The notes C#/Db, F#/Gb, B/Cb are called enharmonic notes. They are the same notes, but have 2 different names.
L.H(Root Note) R.H(Root Chord) 1st. Inversion 2nd. InversionC C-E-G E-G-C G-C-E
C#/Db C#-F-G# F-G#-C# G#-C#-F
D D-F#-A F#-A-D A-D-F#
Eb Eb-G-Bb G-Bb-Eb Bb-Eb-G
Continue by moving every finger up a half step until you reach C-E-G a octave higher. I suggest that you write the chords down as you are doing this so if you make a mistake you can back track. At the end you should 12 chords written down.(13 chords if you include the last C-E-G). When your hand is in the root chord position, your thumb tells you what key you are in.
Next learn the up and down chord changes. This is also known as the 1-4-5 method or change. This basic 1-4-5 changes will get you through most congregational hymns. All other changes that you hear within the songs are other chord progressions that you will learn as you go on.
L.H/R.H up change (4TH) down change (5TH) C/C-E-G F/C-F-A G/B-D-G
C#/C#-F-G# F#/C#-F#-Bb Ab/C-Eb-Ab
D/D-F#-A G/G-B-D A/C#-E-A
Repeat this process through every key, until you get to C-E-G an octave higher.
This should get you started, if you have any questions feel free to ask.
Be blessed and be the blessing.
