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Playing the piano :-) |
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#1 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Middesbrough (via Manchester)
Posts: 37,343
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Playing the piano :-)
I'm learning how to play and I'm enjoying it a lot.
I knew which key was which from my school days, but I could only play simple, one finger press songs. However, I have just mastered using both hands and separate fingers. It may sound simple but it was very hard getting into it! Finger 4 and 5 (the ring finger and the little finger) didn't like working separately! That was my biggest challenge. If the little finger pressed G, then F was also pressed! I touch type on a computer keyboard and I have picked up a lot of bad habits from that because it's not "proper" touch typing (i.e. I don't use F and J as a start), so I am not going to do the same thing with a piano! I don't actually know if this chord sequence has a name, but I learned: top staff - middle octave: G, C, E, change to A, C, E, then to A C, D and back to G, C, E (the hardest change for me) bottom staff - one octave lower: Just C (in line with G, C, E) and F (for the others). It's taken me 3 days to master just that, mainly because of the 4, and 5 finger thing. I actually played Do-a-deer over and over again with all 5 fingers just to get into the habit of switching them constantly ![]() One sad thing, though, is I only have an electronic keyboard with 69 keys, and I know the feel of a proper piano is completely different, and this keyboard doesn't alter the volume when you press it harder, which can make things sound dull. So, yeah, I'm enjoying it! Anyone else play? How long did it take you to learn? |
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#2 |
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Inactive Member
Join Date: Aug 2007
Posts: 2,494
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Learnt piano from the age of 5 as music lessons were mandatory at my school. Got to grade 4, but had no interest in it so I switched to violin which I detested even more. Somewhat belatedly I discovered that guitar counted as an instrument so switched to that until I left.
When I write music I find the piano experience invaluable as I still think of notation as being on a keyboard. Keep it up! |
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#3 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Middesbrough (via Manchester)
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One thing which is proving to be difficult is reading music. I can read it when it's there right in front of me "in my head" (i.e. I know which note on the staff relates to which key press... most of the time) but when I have to link two staffs with two hands, two octaves, two speeds and remember which chords to actually play, it all becomes a bit of a mess.
I know I'm not going to be able to play straight from sheet music instantly, but I want to get into a good habit. I'm taking it slowly, of course. |
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#4 |
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Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: South West
Posts: 2,656
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Just bought a digital piano from ukpianos.co.uk on a rent to own basis.Haven't played since I was 9 after a horrible teacher reduced me to tears and put me off it. I'm going to find a tutor and learn it properly. I know where the A-G keys are but thats about it
![]() Good luck
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#5 |
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Inactive Member
Join Date: Aug 2007
Posts: 2,494
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As the old joke goes 'Practise ma'am, practise'. It will come to you in a somewhat relevatory moment when you suddenly realise you have played something from sheet music without having to think.
Believe me, it feels damn good.
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#6 |
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Guest
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 9,701
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Quote:
One thing which is proving to be difficult is reading music. I can read it when it's there right in front of me "in my head" (i.e. I know which note on the staff relates to which key press... most of the time) but when I have to link two staffs with two hands, two octaves, two speeds and remember which chords to actually play, it all becomes a bit of a mess.
I know I'm not going to be able to play straight from sheet music instantly, but I want to get into a good habit. I'm taking it slowly, of course. |
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#7 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Middesbrough (via Manchester)
Posts: 37,343
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I didn't even know there could be more than 2 clefs and I have never heard of a "K" one!
I have so much to learn ![]() It seems that it's important to learn chords on the piano, rather than just single key presses. |
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#8 |
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Inactive Member
Join Date: Aug 2007
Posts: 2,494
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Macca can't read music and he didn't do too bad, so don't worry too much.
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#9 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Nov 2007
Posts: 20,499
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Been playing all my life - still learning.
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#10 |
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Guest
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 9,701
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Quote:
I didn't even know there could be more than 2 clefs and I have never heard of a "K" one!
I have so much to learn ![]() It seems that it's important to learn chords on the piano, rather than just single key presses. Yep, the chords are your friends. At some point you might want to pick up a basic theory book, which will teach you more about stuff like that. Just enjoy it, though. Great that you've taken it up. |
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#11 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 10,785
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My niece is learning how to play. I tried getting her 'piano hands' for her Christmas last year but they were out of stock so I ended up getting her a roll-up keyboard which she absolutely loves and can now take her portable piano anywhere
![]() I can only play On Top Of Old Smokey and Doh a Deer
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#12 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Preston
Posts: 4,755
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Take small bites and chew thoroughly. Worked for me and my guitar
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#13 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 1,432
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I have always wanted to play the piano, but I can never seem to manage to co-ordinate my hands properly. I might try again when I have more money to spend on lessons.
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#14 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Middesbrough (via Manchester)
Posts: 37,343
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Quote:
There are only two clefs for the piano, so don't worry about it. My music teachers were just being sods when they threw me stuff like that.
Yep, the chords are your friends. At some point you might want to pick up a basic theory book, which will teach you more about stuff like that. Just enjoy it, though. Great that you've taken it up. Quote:
My niece is learning how to play. I tried getting her 'piano hands' for her Christmas last year but they were out of stock so I ended up getting her a roll-up keyboard which she absolutely loves and can now take her portable piano anywhere
![]() I can only play On Top Of Old Smokey and Doh a Deer ![]() Quote:
Take small bites and chew thoroughly. Worked for me and my guitar
![]() A friend of mine gave me a copy of a DVD and work book to learn from. It's been great so far. I've been looking for sheet music online of simple songs, just to mess around with. I love Bat For Lashes and her piano is very simple, which is really good for me! |
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#15 |
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Inactive Member
Join Date: Feb 2007
Posts: 10,128
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Had a kawai MP8 shipped from the US, it is in my opinion is one of the best stage pianos out there. Matt bellamy uses one on stage. However mine has been gathering dust for some time.
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#16 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Middesbrough (via Manchester)
Posts: 37,343
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Quote:
Had a kawai MP8 shipped from the US, it is in my opinion is one of the best stage pianos out there. Matt bellamy uses one on stage. However mine has been gathering dust for some time.
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#17 |
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Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Preston
Posts: 4,755
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Quote:
Indeed. That's how I am learning. The only thing I am going to need help with is timing, because I'm teaching myself which means my sense of time might be different from what it's meant to be. I think I'll have to get one of those... ticky thingies which ticks the 8 beats so you can keep time.
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#18 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Middesbrough (via Manchester)
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Quote:
Metronome online is a basic one but works fine. Good if you're near your PC when you play, not so much if you're not
![]() I use my laptop to watch the DVD lessons, so this will be useful! |
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#19 |
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Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 2,068
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I suggest getting a music teacher if you can afford it. A teacher will stop you getting into bad habits, help keep you motivated, make sure that you improve steadily and generally make things easier all round. Yes, you can find great pianists who've never had a day's instruction in their life but I suspect they're heavily outnumbered.
Don't worry too much about following the music. I was never anything more than crap at sight reading but you eventually play pieces mostly from memory and use the sheet music as a guide to remind you what's next now and again. |
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#20 |
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Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Preston
Posts: 4,755
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Quote:
Cheers!
I use my laptop to watch the DVD lessons, so this will be useful!
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#21 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Middesbrough (via Manchester)
Posts: 37,343
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Quote:
I suggest getting a music teacher if you can afford it. A teacher will stop you getting into bad habits, help keep you motivated, make sure that you improve steadily and generally make things easier all round. Yes, you can find great pianists who've never had a day's instruction in their life but I suspect they're heavily outnumbered.
Don't worry too much about following the music. I was never anything more than crap at sight reading but you eventually play pieces mostly from memory and use the sheet music as a guide to remind you what's next now and again. Quote:
No worries, hope you stick with it, and don't forget the boring stuff. It helps
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#22 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Bored with Digital Spy Yawn
Posts: 3,676
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My gran (RIP) was a piano teacher so really I had no choice other than to learn. When you are young you dont appreciate things so much and I did kind of hate it.
Wish I had kept it up although still can play a tune or two!! |
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#23 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 2,491
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Started to learn when I was 4 had proper lessons from age 5. Got up to grade 8 standard, although nerves totally destroyed my exam. I now have a USB keyboard linked up to computer and use FLStudio to compose with.
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#24 |
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Forum Member
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Middesbrough (via Manchester)
Posts: 37,343
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Incidentally, can you only get "grades" by taking exams?
A friend of mine said he made grade 4 without being able to play properly. He said he just memorised everything his teacher done on the piano! You wouldn't think my main friend group consists of mainly music graduates, would you
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#25 |
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Guest
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 9,701
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Quote:
Incidentally, can you only get "grades" by taking exams?
Quote:
A friend of mine said he made grade 4 without being able to play properly. He said he just memorised everything his teacher done on the piano!
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