Beginner practicing

by Kjetil Wed Aug 06, 2008 6:57 pm

Hello !

As you know I'm new to the game, and I see all of you are practicing scales and songs mostly, but what about me ?
I can do scales, but I really don't see the point (I'm sure there is one) like I feel I'm getting the hang of the finger moventment on scales and stuff but is there like a "wax on wax off" on all of this ?

Cause I really don't see how I'll be able to play a complete song by practicing scales when i can't even play twinkle twinkle little star with both hands at the same time.... Hehe

Andrew's videos are great, but I might have missed (I tend to drift into the keyboard during the videos sometimes) the part where he tells sepcificly what to practice to get better at coordinating hands and stuff?

Right now my practice basically consists of whatever scale I choose and the flick thingy (don't remember what it's called) where you put your thunb underneath the longfinger which basically do themselves when practicing scales.

Thanks in advance for your answers !

PS. I don't know any songs, so can't practice songs Razz

by VictorCS Wed Aug 06, 2008 8:07 pm

"Scales is a group of notes that sound good together" - Easy explanation.

They are very usefull for improvisation, and some say they are good even if you read sheets,
because you can with ease discover what scale the piece is in etc...

I basically use scales for improvisation. Or if I compose songs.

Try this out:
Make a chordprogression ( a set of chords ) from keys within the C Major scale,
then simply play the chords with your left hand, with a steady beat.
To help you out, here is a chordprogression:

1. C Major, C-E-G ( after you've playd this jump to the left to play the A Minor )
2. A Minor, A-C-E ( Jump another to the left to hit F Major )
3. F Major, F-A-C ( Jump back up to the right to G Major )
4. G Major, G-B-D ( Start on the C Major again )
5. While playing that with your left hand, play any of the other white keys on the piano with your right hand.

"C Major scale = All the white keys"... This will sound "good". What you need is to know your scale, a chordprogression, and just imagination Very Happy

I made this just by using the rules, C Major Scale Improv. ( I playd the chords in an alberti bass pattern,
Andrew talks about it in one of his videos, but you should probably just play the chords by playing all the keys down at once ).

by Amro Wed Aug 06, 2008 10:17 pm

VictorCS wrote:C Major Scale Improv. ( I playd the chords in an alberti bass pattern,
Andrew talks about it in one of his videos, but you should probably just play the chords by playing all the keys down at once ).

These are all the major scales ??

by Thomandy Wed Aug 06, 2008 11:14 pm

Amro wrote:
VictorCS wrote:C Major Scale Improv. ( I playd the chords in an alberti bass pattern,
Andrew talks about it in one of his videos, but you should probably just play the chords by playing all the keys down at once ).

These are all the major scales ??

There are 12 Major Scales.

C - D - E - F - G - A - B

C#/Db - D#/Eb - F#/Gb - G#/Ab - A#/Bb

# - Sharp
b - Flat

Look up more in the scale-topic! Smile

by VictorCS Thu Aug 07, 2008 1:08 am

Scales are based on different intervals....

The root note decides what scale it is, if it's C, D or E etc...
Then you have different intervals that makes it major, minor, pentatonic etc...

C-D-E-F-G-A-B-C
1-1-1/2-1-1-1-1/2

It sounds kinda cryptic to begin with, but I will suggest you to read
about scales and intervals on wikipedia ( i trust it to be ok facts ).

by Kjetil Thu Aug 07, 2008 7:21 am

Thank you I'll try this !

My biggest problem is not to play the chords, but the millisecond i press down something with my right hand, I loose the rythm on my left hand, but I guess it's just practice and I'll get the hang of it somewhere down the line Smile

by Thomandy Thu Aug 07, 2008 10:08 am

Kjetil wrote:Thank you I'll try this !

My biggest problem is not to play the chords, but the millisecond i press down something with my right hand, I loose the rythm on my left hand, but I guess it's just practice and I'll get the hang of it somewhere down the line

We have all been there Smile

There are exercises you can do to help the handindependence Smile

Do scales fex with both hands at the same time. If thats enough t start with di that til you feel you got controll. Then start to, when playing them together; Stacato with the left and legato with the right.

Stacato = jumping or just tapping the keys
Legato = Smooth..

Ex

Stacato - tp tp tp tp
Legato - taptaptaptap

by Kjetil Thu Aug 07, 2008 6:47 pm

Thomandy wrote:
Kjetil wrote:Thank you I'll try this !

My biggest problem is not to play the chords, but the millisecond i press down something with my right hand, I loose the rythm on my left hand, but I guess it's just practice and I'll get the hang of it somewhere down the line

We have all been there There are exercises you can do to help the handindependence
Do scales fex with both hands at the same time. If thats enough t start with di that til you feel you got controll. Then start to, when playing them together; Stacato with the left and legato with the right.

Stacato = jumping or just tapping the keys
Legato = Smooth..

Trying this now, MAN my left pinkie is weak like ham in easter. And I'm left-handed ! Wait a minute, does beeing left-handed have anything to say ?
Anyways when trying to play scales with both hands at the same time I can't do the jumping over the thumb part right, argh.. Hehe, ah well, practice as you say....

Ex

Stacato - tp tp tp tp
Legato - taptaptaptap