Learning to play keyboards

Learning to play keyboards

Author
Discussion

anonymous-user

Original Poster:

53 months

Thursday 19th May 2016
quotequote all
At the grand old age of 50 I have finally decided to try and achieve a long time ambition.... to learn how to play keyboards.

Trouble is I have no idea where to start.

Do I go for learning how to read music and play a proper piano or can I learn online using an electronic keyboard. Or somewhere in between.. or both!

Ultimately I want to be able to play to a reasonable standard and just have fun doing it. Either that or be the next Jean Michel Jarre winkbiggrin

Any advice appreciated. I'm clueless.

Any forum I can join? Anyone know a good one?

MoggieMinor

457 posts

144 months

Friday 20th May 2016
quotequote all
Firstly, welcome to the world of keys. It all depends what you want to play. Learning to read music is a valuable skill but it is far from essential. Think of a song you like and do a search on youtube for a tutorial. There are hundreds of videos on there. As you progress you will be learning about scales and key signatures without realising. Learn some chords, C,F and G for example and play around with them.

If your're a fan of the master Jarre, Oxygene 4 and Rendez-vous 4 are easy to pick up.

Above all, have fun!!!

Du1point8

21,604 posts

191 months

Friday 20th May 2016
quotequote all
I got a Yamaha P105 - in-between keyboard and piano, its sound has been modelled off one of the expensive grand.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/YAMAHA-P-105-DIGITAL-PIA...

Try not to pay much more than this.

As for learning, I can't help, I bought the above then got shipped out to Australia and couldn't take it with me.

lockhart flawse

2,040 posts

234 months

Friday 20th May 2016
quotequote all
When you say keyboards do you mean a piano or a synthesiser?

If you mean piano or want to play piano pieces on a synthesiser you will almost certainly need lessons unless you have some so-far untapped natural talent for music.

It's not easy but it's not difficult either and to learn properly is a good project for someone your age when we hardly ever learn new things.

Get some piano lessons and give yourself a 5 year time frame. You will learn to read music which, whilst not essential, will increase your options later.

telford_mike

1,219 posts

184 months

Friday 20th May 2016
quotequote all
I started last August. First I bought a shiny new digital piano - lots of buttons, touch screen and flashing LEDs (Korg Havian 30, since you ask). I could already read music. How hard can it be? Took me about a week to work out that I was going nowhere without lessons.

Found really good teacher who lives 10 minutes away and I have a lesson once a week. Get lots of homework so I have to play every day in order to avoid humiliation at next week's lesson.

You need to be committed, but it's worth it.

anonymous-user

Original Poster:

53 months

Friday 20th May 2016
quotequote all
Thanks so much for the replies. I am a good self learner generally, but I do lean towards telford_mike's way of thinking on this.

Aside from anything the discipline of having to practice so as to make progress with the weekly lessons sounds like an excellent plan.

I doubt I'm going to ever be anything more than competent, but I have always wanted to do it so it's about time I did.

Hoofy

76,253 posts

281 months

Friday 20th May 2016
quotequote all
You could get a Yamaha keyboard with the YES system. http://faq.yamaha.com/us/en/article/musical-instru...

They aren't that expensive and you will get to figure out if you want to invest in something decent.

Konan

1,817 posts

145 months

Sunday 22nd May 2016
quotequote all
Piano and Keyboard (keyboard rather than digital piano) are quite different once you get down to the way you play them. A lot of people look at keyboards as some kind of convenient and portable 'junior' piano for beginners.... it just isn't so.

So if you're driven to play certain things, that might lead you either way.

anonymous-user

Original Poster:

53 months

Monday 23rd May 2016
quotequote all
I've been plonking on pianos and synths since the age of 6 and am entirely self taught. If you heard me so know that was all too apparent. The point is that you have exactly the same notes in front of you that every keyboard player has and through a process of elimination you'll find the right notes to play in the right order (©Eric Morcombe).

A friend can play exceptionally well and she learnt music at an early age, but she said she wishes she could play by ear as without the notation in front of her she hasn't got a clue where to start. Hendrix couldn't read music and neither can Dave Grohl. Both are guitarists admitedly. Not sure what the point is but I'm sure there must be one.

The important thing is that you have fun learning and experimenting while you play. I can't read music to save my life but I can knock out something which sounds musical. Pick a tune you love and play along with it. It's surprising (sometimes) just how simple some of the most memorable tracks are when picked apart.

As someone once said to me – and I'm all too keen to say myself to others – if it sounds right, it is right.

I'll help you get started: Rendezvous Pt 4 and Oxygene Pt 4 start on a C...