MrDBM

Hi all, I’m thinking seriously about learning the Piano/Keyboard and I’m after a bit of advice from the musical types within the s’net community

I’ve taught myself the guitar over the past five years and I’m not that bad, but then I reckon it’s a bit easier as:

1. There’s a lot more guitar based stuff around, and
2. You can work out most stuff from tablature, i.e. staying away from reading music ‘properly’

So how hard can it be to teach yourself? I don’t want to be the next Chopin or anything, but a bit of Moonlight Sonata wouldn’t be bad!

SiPie

Stick with your guitar mate

Piano's are for poofs.. and for David Gray

and... have you ever tried carrying one around with you on the way to a gig...

On a more serious note, I was in exactly the same boat and tried learning the piano after teaching myself guitar and it bored me stupid in comparison

Cheers

[Edited by SiPie - 11/17/2003 2:05:19 PM]

eClaire

I taught myself to play a little at a young age, and then got lessons at secondary . The cow made me cut my finger nails [img]images/smilies/mad.gif[/img]

It's not as difficult as people think, I'd go for it if i were you. I might not be practical but it's a new skill and a step forward for you as a musician

ScoobyDoo555

*** off Sipie!!!! cheeky barstool!!
guitarists are just egos on legs

I've played keys/piano for the last 25 years...... it is actually quite easy.

The thing to remember is that just like the guitar, it's about finger placement.

If anything, it's easier than gtr, due to there only being one octave, that's repeated as many times as how long the keyboard is.

The only difficult thing is training your hands/fingers to work independantly from each other.

Feel free to ask away - I used to teach it, and have been a session musician for many top bands

Dan

MrDBM

thanks everyone..!

I did think that the guitar experience would help in some way, even if it's just having fingers that are used to moving quickly and independently.

So what's the best bit of kit to get first? Space in my house is limited, so I'll have to stay away from the grand piano for now What about those keyboards with the teaching LEDS? - any good?

Thanks again - all opinions welcome..!

philc

I bought one of those midi keyboards that plugs into the pc - with a decent sound card and software you've got everything from a trumpet to a piano to a chord organ at your fingertips (eg Creative sound card, midi keyboard and Orchestrator Plus).

Best thing about the software I used was it could display the keyboard, which keys to depress and length of time to depress the keys; also the tempo could be slowed to your own pace without distorting the sound.

Downside of the instrument was that it didn't handle decayed sound very well.

That was in 1996, so it might have improved since then.

ScoobyDoo555

Phil's got the right idea, but even by today's standards, PC music generation is still pretty naff (well, from a professional's point of view anyway )

But in essence, for what you want to do, a midi keyboard (full size keys are THE only way to go) plugged into your gameport on the soundcard will suffice.

If you get into it, then yeh, got all out, and get a nice keyboard or piano - my lot's cost a fair bit

SJ_Skyline

Try here: http://www.gigajam.com/

not sure if they have launched their keyboards section yet...

davegtt

I started to learn to play the organ at the age of about 10, I enjoyed it but I neva really got into it as I was forced to stay in for an hour and play when I would have wanted to be out playing football. at the age of 16 I quit and told my dad to fek off. its 1 thing I really regret, something I wish Id have kept up. defo considering it again for the future, a couple of keyboards, who needs a drummer and the rest of the band with some of that equipement u can have now

as said its not as hard as you would think. its harder at a young age trying to stretch the fingers across the keys

philc

blinking heck!

looks a really good set-up.

And the point is u can start simple and build on as interest and budget allows ...

philc

looks like what I used is still around

http://www.voyetra.com/site/products/rp/rpmidi.asp

I used the 'piano roll' feature to learn songs, starting at slow tempo and increasing tempo with practise.

[Edited by philc - 11/18/2003 9:50:50 AM]

hugebeef

Have a look at http://www.pianonanny.com