Piano tips/sheet music

[pcfan123]

Anyone here play piano? I just got a 88 key digital piano and have decided to learn a little bit.

Can currently play the 1st movement of Moonlight Sonata and a few cheesy kids songs.

Any tips/ easy songs to learn? Am trying to learn the theme to Schindlers list.

 

[blazerix]

I play the piano, the thing is, I play by ear and don't know how to read notes. I can play Unfaithful by Rihanna(both hands), 1000 miles(both hands), Ice Box(one hand) and some other songs.

We saw Schindler's List in class last month and I've been working on the theme ever since. I've not made much progress though.

 

[pcfan123]

If you want I can tab it out for you since you don't read sheet music. I also have the sheet music incase you want that.

Example of tab:

First Line first measure of Schindler's List right hand:

D - | D G D G - E(flat) D B D|

etc.

I dont mind mapping it out or if you want I can show you an easy way of reading sheet music so you can do it yourself.

 

[MasterBlaster76]

When it comes to piano, it's probably far more important to learn how to read music than it is with guitar, at least to a basic level - it's not actually as hard as it seems and there are a lot of hints around online. Also, start slowly and take the piece hands separately first - don't try to play the bass and treble lines together at first. Learn each separately until you know it, then you'll be able to play hands together. Once you've done that, then speed it up. Don't just learn songs, learn scales as well - again, probably far more important with piano than guitar.

Remember to lift your fingers (very important) and keep your wrists, shoulders, arms etc relaxed. I don't know a great deal about advanced piano, I can't play Schindler's List either, but it would be great to be able to. I might take up piano again at some point, but right now, my main focus musically is the guitar.

 

[blake]

Hey Hmarka, are you more interested in trying to learn classical pieces, or proper pop/rock songs? I've played keyboard for over 2 years now, and haven't learned one single classical piece... I can't read music either. I'm appalling. But, I can play lots of pop/rock songs and I can hear a lot of things by ear now - I found when I did lessons ages ago it bored me, I didn't want to play classical, I just wanted to move at my own pace.

You should probably learn to read sheet music, but if not, I don't see it as the end of the world.

But still, are you more interested in learning pop/rock songs or classical? The first ever song I learned on piano was What I've Done by Linkin Park... but my music tastes may vary a lot from other people, as I know a lot of people can't stand LP.. and I don't like them hugely myself.

 

[Dutch]

Anyone here play piano? I just got a 88 key digital piano and have decided to learn a little bit.

Can currently play the 1st movement of Moonlight Sonata and a few cheesy kids songs.

Any tips/ easy songs to learn? Am trying to learn the theme to Schindlers list.

Well, if you can play the first movement to Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata you are doing well! Do you mean the original version or a more simplified version? I can now play the original version but it took a long time to get it right, particurlarly the last segment where the base takes over the melody line as it were.

The trick with the piano is of course hand independence. I play a lot boogie-woogie piano and it is so important to be able to let your left hand do it's thing, consistently, tirelessly and absolutely in the groove whilst the right hand goes bananas!

I love playing Beatles songs on the piano and wherever I come and see a piano standing there I have to play! I can sometimes play 5 or 6 hours non-stop if the mood is right and there is a party going on and we are crooning out the evergreens!

 

[pcfan123]

@ Blake, I can read sheet music, I just have to write the notes out in front of it lol Please give me a list of any easy/good sounding songs you know off.

@ dutchad not sure which version, I just got the sheet music off the internet, Ill record a clip and upload it today, be kind though, I have only played for a little bit and I am very mentally retarded when it comes to music.

 

[blake]

Hmarka, I know heaps, but it depends on what music styles you like. I wouldn't want to give you some songs that you have never heard of or know nothing about.. it wouldn't be much fun for you playing them! The most fun I get from piano is playing proper songs... especially when you can do it alongside the real song.

I also learn lots of little riffs.. The Final Countdown, Rocky Theme, etc. But it's totally up to you to decide what you want to learn. What genres of music do you like? Pop, rock, country, 80s synth, ...

 

[pcfan123]

I mostly like older folk rock/ rock a billy type of stuff

Bob Dylan, the Band, the Kinks, Simon and Garfunkel, James Taylor,Billy Joel, Don McLean Beatles etc

Any suggestions?

 

[blake]

Hm. Seeing as I am a lot younger, and more into the newer stuff - or 80s stuff (Duran Duran, etc.) I never really learned as many songs from the older rock generation, so I can't help you with easy songs to play..

However, this is something definitely worth trying. This has been perhaps the best thing in helping me learn..

There is a program I use called Synthesia. This is basically a MIDI reading program, but what it does is brilliant. You input a MIDI file, and then it reads it, and then plays the song, showing you all the notes of all of the different tracks. Whilst it isn't quite the same as the real song, normally due to the MIDI limitations, it is extremely helpful in learning the bassline or melody of songs. You won't get as much traditional piano playing with these files, but you will be able to learn the bass-line and melody and string it together.. and I find this sounds great for me. Probably not a true piano player's dream, but if you can play a song well that's enough for me.

You are also in luck, seeing as there are way more MIDIs of older songs. It is quite hard to find MIDIs of newer songs, but with Bob Dylan, The Beatles, etc. there are hundreds of MIDIs on the Internet.

You can download Synthesia at this link. It's completely free, and only 3.4MB.. which is sensational, considering how much I've used it.

Once you have installed Synthesia, you open it, it lets you choose a MIDI file, and from there you can choose the tracks you want it to play, and it will play the song, with the notes being shown on a piano keyboard. If you have a synth you can plug it in to your computer and play along, as well as score to see how accurate you get.. but I prefer just to learn the notes from this.

There are heaps of MIDIs all over the net, so it shouldn't be too hard to find!

I've included a MIDI of Let It Be, by The Beatles, for you, to get you started.

If this isn't what you are looking for anyway, that's fine - I just thought this might help. It's an extremely easy way to learn to play most songs, and despite being not traditional or conventional, it works for me.

Cheers.

 

[MasterBlaster76]

Maybe I'll have a look at that as well. To be honest, the reason why I've gone off piano somewhat is because I was getting bogged down with the same old stuff. If I could get into a routine of doing at least twenty minutes a day, that might kick start it again.

Edit: Are there any sites that offer free sheet music?

 

[drainpipe32]

Cough---Go on MSN and I'll send you a link to heaps of sheet music

 

[pcfan123]

@ blake , thank you so much for that link. I will try it out but if it what I think it is, my prayers have been answered.

I want sheet music that says what the notes also are, like D A C etc .

anyways I just learned the right hand and left hand 1st measure of Schindlers list. (yes I am that slow) will upload a little clip to see how the audio quality is.

I know the theme to Schindlers list is an ambitious undertaking for a noob like me (started to learn in my mid 20s) but I hope that maybe in a year or two I can play it with some dignity.

 

[MasterBlaster76]

@ blake , thank you so much for that link. I will try it out but if it what I think it is, my prayers have been answered.

I want sheet music that says what the notes also are, like D A C etc .

anyways I just learned the right hand and left hand 1st measure of Schindlers list. (yes I am that slow) will upload a little clip to see how the audio quality is.

I know the theme to Schindlers list is an ambitious undertaking for a noob like me (started to learn in my mid 20s) but I hope that maybe in a year or two I can play it with some dignity.

Maybe that's what I need to do - undertake a project like Schindler's List - a sort of long term goal. Do you know what key it's in (how many sharps/flats in the key sig)?

 

[Dutch]

If you are just starting out, take lessons from a capable teacher. They will save you a lot of trouble in the end by telling you the right way to sit , how to place the hands etcetera. If you can get that down in the beginning you wont have to "unlearn" it all later on!