Learning Piano

[...Mole...]

Decided instead of just half assed playing of instruments without really knowing music theory i decided to sell my Spector Bass in order to buy a Digital Piano/Keyboard and learn that properly.

I found a Yamaha S80 for a decent price, has 88 weighted keys and seems quite nice. On the hunt for a Piano Teacher at the moment but they seem to be few and far between in Aberdeenshire.

Anyone got any tips or good Books/online resources i should look at that would help out?

[V100]

Learn chords. Write the letter of each note on the keys so you can get a feel for the octaves. Once you've done that, look up chords and start learning them. Piano is extremely easy to learn. Learn your scales, you should be able to find them on the internet. Learn what chords go in what key, then start playing chord sequences. Then fit scales in.

Honestly, it is so easy that it doesn't warrant a teacher. I had one, utter waste of time. Practice is key, but it is much easier than other instruments in that you can just play without having to learn technique.

The difficulty comes in playing fast with both hands at different tempos. You may need a teacher for that.

[V100]

Memorise this shape and you will start seeing it everywhere over the piano. It's just practice and eventually you'll get enough muscle memory to play things that you couldn't remember normally.

ETA: If you want more help just ask.

[GetCarter]

V100 said:

it is much easier than other instruments in that you can just play without having to learn technique.

I'd suggest that you are either extremely gifted, or extremely wrong. (Could be either).

If you want to bash out some chords to write a song, technique is not important - you can be as haphazard as you like (and with a computer and some software can create whatever you want - I'm a guitarist but do most of my writing via a keyboard). However, If you want to play to recording standard, technique is very, very, very important. Trust me, I employ keyboard players (and other musos) for a living. Most people I employ work 3+ hours per day on their technique. (And have done for many years).

Edited by GetCarter on Thursday 8th September 16:26

[V100]

GetCarter said:

V100 said:

it is much easier than other instruments in that you can just play without having to learn technique.

I'd suggest that you are either extremely gifted, or extremely wrong. (Could be either).

If you want to bash out some chords to write a song, technique is not important - you can be as haphazard as you like (and with a computer and some software can create whatever you want - I'm a guitarist but do most of my writing via a keyboard). However, If you want to play to recording standard, technique is very, very, very important. Trust me, I employ keyboard players (and other musos) for a living. Most people I employ work 3+ hours per day on their technique. (And have done for many years).

Edited by GetCarter on Thursday 8th September 16:26

What I meant is that it's very easy to pick up and play. I highly doubt that OP is going to become a concert standard pianist so why would he spend hours on his technique. Obviously like all instruments it requires dedication but the piano/keyboard is quite easy to pick up (IMO). Compare it to say a saxophone where it takes ages to even get started.

ETA: I am really not very good at getting my point across.

Edited by V100 on Thursday 8th September 18:25

[tank slapper]

V100 said:

What I meant is that it's very easy to pick up and play. I highly doubt that OP is going to become a concert standard pianist so why would he spend hours on his technique.

It's easy to pick up and make a noise. If you learn poorly, it only makes things much more difficult later on. If you learn properly from the start, then you have a good grounding if you want to take things further. Once you pick up bad habits, it takes a lot longer to unlearn them and re-learn the correct way to do things.

Also, if you can't be bothered to learn something properly, why learn it at all?

[KardioKate]

Honestly, get a good teacher. It really winds me up when people claim to be musicians, and you cant even have a half decent conversation with them about playing.

You will suffer later on if you don't get the basics right.

[...Mole...]

Yeah ill definitively get a teacher, i'm sure i could teach my self some stuff, But i dont want to end up a sloppy player so i'd rather have someone to guide me through it a bit.

Going to phone some up later on today and see what i can find.

[Meeja]

Bashing out chords is one thing, and is easy if you have an ability to play by ear.

However, the skill of a pianist or keyboard player is for both hands having trhe abilitt to play a melody completely independant of each other.

Get a teacher, and be prepared to practice. A lot.

You will get significantly more personal achievement out of playing "properly" than you ever will self teaching chords and arpeggios.

[TheMighty]

A good teacher is imperative whether you just want to bash out a few tunes or if you in fact want to be very good. Just like guitar teachers you'll find those that are "into" the same sort of music that you are... AVOID THESE TYPES AT ALL COST. You don't want to be taught by anyone who will lead you down your own little path and have you learning anything parrott fashion.

Find someone who has a decent classical background and preferably someone who has since applied that knowledge to a wide range music in the popular music world too. That way you will get the best technique plus a whole lot of decent theory to back it up with which should allow you to become a musician rather than just someone who plays a bit of piano (there is a vast difference). If you learn properly you will at times get bored with having to do as you're told for what looks like no good reason, but it is these early foundations that you will base all your future technique and theory on, so just make sure you have the willpower to overcome the boredom!

[KardioKate]

TheMighty said:

A good teacher is imperative whether you just want to bash out a few tunes or if you in fact want to be very good. Just like guitar teachers you'll find those that are "into" the same sort of music that you are... AVOID THESE TYPES AT ALL COST. You don't want to be taught by anyone who will lead you down your own little path and have you learning anything parrott fashion.

Find someone who has a decent classical background and preferably someone who has since applied that knowledge to a wide range music in the popular music world too. That way you will get the best technique plus a whole lot of decent theory to back it up with which should allow you to become a musician rather than just someone who plays a bit of piano (there is a vast difference). If you learn properly you will at times get bored with having to do as you're told for what looks like no good reason, but it is these early foundations that you will base all your future technique and theory on, so just make sure you have the willpower to overcome the boredom!

This, and 100 times, this.

[stephen300o]

I have just bought a Yamaha YYP35, only sixty odd keys but it sounds quite nice(ebay bargain). I have previously tried to play guitar, but my builder hands were having none of it. So far I'm doing OK(four days in). I found Lypur on youtube to be a very good teacher, as can't afford to splash out on regular lessons at the moment. Really enjoying it and only wishing I started sooner.

[TheMighty]

Thats great, but who is going to tell you when your technique is starting to go awry? This approach can often do more damage than not having started in the first place. Not putting down what this guy is doing, but you can soon get into some very bad habbits that are all but impossible to correct without the feedback from a real live musician.

[dreamer75]

I played piano and had lessons for about 15 years (classically). I miss it desperately

But I echo those who recommend getting a teacher (a good one with a classical background). Scales/arpeggios etc. etc. all tedious, but essential. Good finger strength and co-ordination (independent co-ordination), all benefit from having tuition.

Additionally a teacher will notice your bad habits and sort them out promptly - you might not notice them.

[tank slapper]

The thing about scales and arpeggios is that once you have learnt them properly once, you never have to do it again. The reason they are so important is that a lot of what crops up in pieces is either derived from or actually a part of them. If you look at a piece of music with a long run of notes, you either have to sit and work out what each one is, or if you know your scales, just immediately recognise it for what it is and be able to play it straight away.

[V100]

Fair enough, I found piano lessons more useful for the theory more than the actual playing. She drilled into my head scales, arpeggios, keys, time signatures, music reading. Damn useful stuff. I'll take back what I said earlier. It's probably worth paying the fee just for that. Not only will it improve your piano ability, it'll improve your ability on every other instrument.

The playing side I found boring and too slow-paced. I had both keyboard and piano lessons for about 2 years, gave them up because I was miles ahead of what they had me playing (well, that and 20 pounds an hour is quite steep). I was quite adequate before the lessons however, and spent an awful lot of time practising.

Bad habits? Well, not sitting up straight for starters. Always, always ALWAYS sit with a straight back, otherwise you could get permanent back pain. Fortunately I avoided this as I soon remedied my sitting position.

Also, try and use your pinkies! If you don't use them much they won't build up to the same strength as your other fingers and could impact on your playing ability.

[stephen300o]

So how's it going with the piano?
I'm a slow learner, so am just finishing Alfred's all-in-one book 1, going through a rough patch but plowing onward..