The Beginner Thread!

[PDWAB]

Ok, this thread is for any beginning players that have questions they'd like to ask about getting started, and also for any more advanced players that have some advice they'd like to give!

My advice:

No matter what, when you get a new piece of music, PRACTICE IT SLOWLY WITH A METRONOME. Play it slower and slower until you get it perfectly- then start speeding up.

Also you should probably learn about Chords and Intervals- good stuff can be found at http://www.musictheory.net !

[Holyed]

Ok hey all, well I might aswell make the first post in here. Basically im quite a good bass/guitar player but I really want to take up keyboard as just something I can do. I know theory etc and can play various things on keyboard but only at a minor level. Basically I want to learn the techniques used in 'shred' keyboard. Its clear its a lot of arpeggios in various keys and scales, but are there any sites that can help me out in excersizes etc.. Help would be cool.

[Cecillianne]

I think PDWAB's music theory site could help about the scales and appeggios in the many keys. As for exercises, when I want to start shredding on keyboard and want to go unnaturally fast, metronomes are good friends. Practice the notes with staccatos first, start slow and build up on the speed and then switch to legato. It works with me.

Edit: I can't help you with the sites, sorry :(

[Hitroshimite]

I'm looking to take up keyboards as a second instrument (I normally play guitar). Theory isn’t a problem, but can someone recommend some web sites that explain proper keyboarding technique? Proper hand positions, ways to form chords, etc. If anyone could help, I would greatly appreciate it :)

[*punk_rock_sophie*]

i dont know any web site but ask some question and we will answer them!

[chris.pickett]

Um, I guess this is a beginner's question: how come I can't start a new topic? I am registered, and want to ask a question about pedals for my keyboard, but can't start a topic ...

[*punk_rock_sophie*]

just ask in here

[chris.pickett]

Can you guys make some recommendations on good (great) keyboard pedals for my Andromeda? I live in Canada and need/wtb:

1) switch/sustain pedals that latch

2) CV pedals.

3) a good volume pedal (on the synth outputs) -- I've read about the Ernie Ball pedals, but am unsure about specific models.

4) MIDI pedals and footswitches that send either CC's or NRPN's.

Thanks,
Chris

[ToRidTheDisease]

I just got a keyboard today, and i'm wondering what is a good site to explain sheety music and theory the easiest.

[P120Dude]

I just got a keyboard today, and i'm wondering what is a good site to explain sheety music and theory the easiest.

Which model keyboard did you get?

Chris

[ArmlessBanjoPlayer]

I just got a keyboard today, and i'm wondering what is a good site to explain sheety music and theory the easiest.


http://www.musictheory.net/

It taught me a lot of good stuff. I am new to the whole keyboard thing too.

[ToRidTheDisease]

Which model keyboard did you get?

Chris
Yamaha DGX(DXG?)505.

[P120Dude]

Yamaha DGX(DXG?)505.

Very nice keyboard! Congratulations!

Chris

[stompthrice]

Hey, I'm kind of new to the keyboard thing (it's a long story.) What are the first things I should learn (the basic basics?) Thanks!

Loly

[~Rock~Guitarist]

ive been playing a little over a week, i got my first keyboard (yamaha psr 273) for christmas. ive been progressing steadily through a book and i can read music decently well, so does anybody have some rock/blues artist/song suggestions for a beginner to learn? my favorite keyboardists' (ray manzarek, rick wakeman, jon lord) music seems way out there.

[burntgorilla]

I got a keyboard today, and a songbook to get me started. The book is pretty good, but it seems that everything so far is right hand only. That may well be the case, but in general, how are you do know which hand (indeed which octave) to play a note on?

[Sunshine The Warewolf]

I just got given a really old Yamaha PSR-38. Anyone know a good place online with free lessons for total and utter beginners who know nothing, and I mean nothing.

[burntgorilla]

I find buying a book of some kind usually helps. With sites, I tend to just skim over stuff and tell myself I know it.

[Sunshine The Warewolf]

okay, can anyone tell me a decent book. and not one which i get through in about 3 days.

[~Rock~Guitarist]

I got a keyboard today, and a songbook to get me started. The book is pretty good, but it seems that everything so far is right hand only. That may well be the case, but in general, how are you do know which hand (indeed which octave) to play a note on?

i think usually right hand does the top staff and the left hand does the bottom staff when you are reading a grand staff

[big]

i just got my keyboard down from the loft and with a little help from a chord guiding sheet i borrowed (ahem) from my music class in school i have learnt some songs pretty fast. I know a lot of basic stuff like where to put fingers for chords etc but im just really needing songs to learn now.

ive learnt these so far.

Imagine: john lennon
Don't stop me now intro: queen
Highway star verse: deep purple
and a 12 bar jazz improvisation i made up

so any suggestions would be really helpful :thumb:

[Winged]

ok um, i want to learn like just basic piano/keyboard and don't want to have to go off and find a tutor or ne thing like that is there any sites around that have like basic theory (i know some just not very good at it) and like simple instructions as to playing?

[burntgorilla]

I'm looking for help with this song (well, bit): http://zmeba.free.fr/feeling01.jpg

Now, the flats on the left of the staff I understand (B and Es are flat, yes?), but the wavy vertical line, then the sharp and natural signs, then the little bit of writing beneath the staff, and the fact that the left hand appears to be playing the top half, and vice versa, and that the left hand has two separate bits to play at once confuse me. Also, there's three staffs on most of it. What does that mean? The left hand bit is just repeated twice, or what? Basically, the whole thing confuses me.

[dew]

Can anyone reccomend a specific book that's good for beginners? I know my music theory relatively well already, I'm just looking for the right pieces and excersizes to be able to get enough of a backround to start working on my own things and playing more difficult songs.

[freakmeeko]

I'd say a Hanon book for classical pianists, if you want jazz & rock, go to a guitar center, they have good beginner books.

TECHNIQUE: To "shred" on a keyboard (works best on "thin" keyboard keys), simply move your index & middle finger back and forth on the key. Shredding is awesome.

HELP NEEDED: I'm trying to learn eruption on keyboard, how can I work on arpeggios?

[thepaganwinter]

As a beginner i found these sites very helpful
http://www.mysheetmusic.com/new/lessons/lessons.htm or
http://www.gopiano.com/piano_lessons/skill-1.htm

good luck :)

[burntgorilla]

I'd say a Hanon book for classical pianists, if you want jazz & rock, go to a guitar center, they have good beginner books.

TECHNIQUE: To "shred" on a keyboard (works best on "thin" keyboard keys), simply move your index & middle finger back and forth on the key. Shredding is awesome.

HELP NEEDED: I'm trying to learn eruption on keyboard, how can I work on arpeggios?

Regarding Hanon, which do you mean out of these?

http://www.sheetmusicarchive.net/single_listing.cfm?composer_id=7

The 60 lessons, or the bottom three thing? They're only a fiver off Amazon so I might get them both, since they look interesting and could really help with bass playing.

What simplish classical pieces would you recommend?

Edit: Oh hang, they seem to be the same thing. I'm confused now.

[xphiler]

Ok hey all, well I might aswell make the first post in here. Basically im quite a good bass/guitar player but I really want to take up keyboard as just something I can do. I know theory etc and can play various things on keyboard but only at a minor level. Basically I want to learn the techniques used in 'shred' keyboard. Its clear its a lot of arpeggios in various keys and scales, but are there any sites that can help me out in excersizes etc.. Help would be cool.

You'll find some basic theory at http://www.pianonanny.com

[paganinio]

Hey, I'm kind of new to the keyboard thing (it's a long story.) What are the first things I should learn (the basic basics?) Thanks!

Loly
You should learn to slowly play the melodies of any songs that you know
Then transpose any of them into ANY KEY
It's not that difficult, 2 days can be enough :lol:

[Noodles-05]

hey, ive just joined a band with a keyboard player, at the moment we're tryin to keep on the punk sida things but seem to be slippin into mainstream typa music eg travis etc because thats all the keyboardist seems to know, Any recommendations eg bands or even just songs that involve a bit more rock punk for him to play? any suggestions would be cool

[PhantomAnguish]

Novice Music Mini Course: Learn The Basics Of Reading Music On A Keyboard Instrument:
http://www.allmusiciannews.com/archives/2005/jan/24.html

[matrixx333]

Everyone,

This site helps with scale fingerings for different keys:

http://www-student.furman.edu/users/r/rkelley/scalfing.htm

Hope this helps

matrixx333

[TheInfamousFlatline]

I got a keyboard today, and a songbook to get me started. The book is pretty good, but it seems that everything so far is right hand only. That may well be the case, but in general, how are you do know which hand (indeed which octave) to play a note on?

that comes with knowing how to read music. I believe in one of the posts above mine here, there is a link? I haven't looked at it.

Reading music is much too long a topic for me to explain in one post with no visuals...so I woul suggest getting a book on it or talking to someone you know who reads any music (not tab, but on the staff). pretty much anyone who plays any marching band instrument, and definitely singers and pianists would know.

[ieatcheese]

Hi, looking to learn keyboard.
Some background:
I've played bass about 3 years, studied plenty of theory including Berklee harmony 1 and 2 (jazz theory, yes), and know it all. Been playing guitar about 2 years and never properly learned my chords on it.

I have some garbage $80 keyboard with the worst voices imaginable, no touch sensitivity, no bend, nothing fancy, nothing even worth mention. I also have 3 basses, 2 guitars, 2 bass amps, all that good stuff, everything for a small gig with bass.

I don't want it anymore. I've studied so hard and come so far compared to everyone I know... and I just don't feel it anymore. I want to play my little keyboard, and I want to play it well. I want to learn to properly play keyboard, and become as good as I can.

I take weekly bass lessons currently, and that's basically where all my income goes (I don't have a job, so that means I have plenty of free time). I only know proper hand position for a couple of chords and scales, I can read fairly well in bass or treble, and I know most of my notes instantly by looking (no muscle memory yet). I hope to go to Berklee in the fall for bass... because that's really all I can do college-wise and live with myself, but I want to learn piano so much more.

Where can I learn more online? Like hand position for open chords, inverted chords, ideas for composition (though eventually I'll probably stray, ending up being taught harmony on bass and going counterpoint melody/lead). Also, should I trade in my bass lessons for piano lessons? Personally I want it more, and though it won't go over well if I quit bass, even temporarily, I'm willing to deal with it. I just want to pick up as much as I can online before I start taking lessons.

Thanks to anyone who can give me a good site for information or any other help.

[PowerRiff45]

I finnally got my piano yesterday, and it's hard to play.

[Det_Nosnip]

I'm a drummer at heart, but I was looking for a form of melodic expression in order to convey ideas that I have and expand my knowledge as a musician. I figured that the keyboard would be the best way to go, because you can pretty do just about ANYTHING on a keyboard that you could on another instrument melodically. Plus, with synthesizers, you can even get it to sound somewhat like the real instruments themselves, thus aiding in composition.

So, I guess my biggest goal would be to learn how to translate what I'm hearing in my head onto the keyboard....any suggestions? I haven't gotten one yet, but I *do* have access to pianos at my school, so I figure I could start there.

[green44day44]

What are the differences between keyboards and synths? I want to get one soon, but I'm not sure what to get. I mostly play bass, but when I was a little younger I had piano lessons for 5 years. I do listen to Rush and I know Geddy uses synths, but that leaves me with less options, right? I'm thinking about getting a Casio WK3500 because I want to have a pitch bend and a modulation so I have as many options as possible for now.

[dRUMMERgIRL27]

i just got my keyboard down from the loft and with a little help from a chord guiding sheet i borrowed (ahem) from my music class in school i have learnt some songs pretty fast. I know a lot of basic stuff like where to put fingers for chords etc but im just really needing songs to learn now.

ive learnt these so far.

Imagine: john lennon
Don't stop me now intro: queen
Highway star verse: deep purple
and a 12 bar jazz improvisation i made up

so any suggestions would be really helpful :thumb:



Kashmir - Led Zep
She Talks to Angels - Black Crows
Comfortably Numb - Pink Floyd
Wish you were here - Pink Floyd
Home Sweet Home - Motley Crue

Actually there is probably alot more Pink Floyd, if you like their music

[Mr.Wiggles]

I finnally got my piano yesterday, and it's hard to play.
lol.

[BrianJonts]

i just started playing keyboard a few weeks ago. im teaching myself and i was wondering if anyone would wanna listen to this instrumental and give me some suggestions. www.purevolume.com/shafeek

[CuShMaN]

i just started playing keyboard a few weeks ago. im teaching myself and i was wondering if anyone would wanna listen to this instrumental and give me some suggestions. www.purevolume.com/shafeek

Bad link (if using safari, use netscape or ie instead)

Ghost Notes (http://ghostnotes.blogspot.com/) :thumb:

[CuShMaN]

Kashmir - Led Zep
She Talks to Angels - Black Crows
Comfortably Numb - Pink Floyd
Wish you were here - Pink Floyd
Home Sweet Home - Motley Crue

Actually there is probably alot more Pink Floyd, if you like their music


Two words. The Doors.

Amazing keyboard work. Especially when you realize that they don't have a bass player.. it's the keyboardist playing bass with his left hand on an old fender bass keyboard.

Ghost Notes (http://ghostnotes.blogspot.com/) :thumb:

[CuShMaN]

What are the differences between keyboards and synths? I want to get one soon, but I'm not sure what to get. I mostly play bass, but when I was a little younger I had piano lessons for 5 years. I do listen to Rush and I know Geddy uses synths, but that leaves me with less options, right? I'm thinking about getting a Casio WK3500 because I want to have a pitch bend and a modulation so I have as many options as possible for now.

A keyboard is the Actual console. This word is generally used to describe any "electric" type of piano-style instrument. This includes types such as: Rhodes, Casio, Akai, Roland, Korg, Yamaha, etc.

A "Synth" or Synthesizer would be any Keyboard or virtual keyboard module (such as a protools plugin) that is primarily used (but not always exclusively) to actually create and manipulate wave forms to generate new sounds.

Bluntly put, most keyboards are not synths. Most are just simple sound banks that play pre-assigned sounds.
Most synthesizer consoles STATE that they are synthesizers on the keyboard. They allow you to manipulate the sounds and create new ones.
Most of the oldest keyboards (i.e. moog) are analog synthesizers.. except for the Rhodes-type series.

Personally, I wouldn't even bother buying a synth keyboard. Tritons and all of those big All-in-one keyboards are nothing more than eye candy. If you want to create new sounds, just get a basic controller, and do all of your synthesis on your computer using a module like Reaktor or any of the zillions of free synth plugins available for Protools, Cubase, or Logic, etc.

Ghost Notes (http://ghostnotes.blogspot.com/)

[CuShMaN]

Regarding Hanon, which do you mean out of these?

http://www.sheetmusicarchive.net/single_listing.cfm?composer_id=7

The 60 lessons, or the bottom three thing? They're only a fiver off Amazon so I might get them both, since they look interesting and could really help with bass playing.

What simplish classical pieces would you recommend?

Edit: Oh hang, they seem to be the same thing. I'm confused now.


I recommend Bergmuller. (http://everynote.intissite.com/composer_burgmuller.html) Clean, concise, simple, well rounded and entertaining. Great stuff for the beginner level.

Ghost Notes (http://ghostnotes.blogspot.com/) :thumb:

[Localist]

Hello,

I am just getting into keyboards and I was wondering what a good keyboard for a beginner would be. Not sure as of what music I'll be playing, probably either experimental jazz / indie / breakbeat. Something like that, hah.

I played around with the Korg TRITON Le 76-Key Workstation at a local music equipment store today and liked it a lot. I want something that I can use professionally for a long time and won't be a waste of money :)

Thank you for any advice or input you have!

[himurakenshin]

Lots of people use keyboards with non-weighted keys, but personally I hate those types of keyboards because I really play piano, so I like the weighted keys only. I don't know about your preference but you get a better feel to the music with weighted keys.

[CuShMaN]

This seems to be a popular question.

Here's what i think. (http://www.musicianforums.com/forums/showpost.php?p=7055592&postcount=35)

Ghost Notes (http://ghostnotes.blogspot.com/)

[recor]

right this is my frist thread so hi all i've been playing keyboard for about a year and was wondering how much i could buy a new piano and how much it is to tune

[CuShMaN]

right this is my frist thread so hi all i've been playing keyboard for about a year and was wondering how much i could buy a new piano and how much it is to tune


Does it have to be new? Why?

I have 2 used piano's and they're just fine.

Generally speaking, piano's are categorized by size.. There's two main categories.

Uprights or "Verticals"
from smallest to largest : Spinnets, Consoles, Studio
New Priced from around $1000 up.

I would advise getting a console as a beginner piano.

Grands
from smallest to largest : (Petites (a new type)), Baby, Boudoir, Pro, Drawing, Parlour, Semi concert, Concert (8'11" - huge!) (p.s. some of these are known by other names)
New Priced : (I've seen some new as low as $4000) and up

Forget getting a new one..used pianos last a long time.

Tuning can cost average of $60-70. Sometimes more. Forget paying.. i do it myself.


Ghost Notes (http://ghostnotes.blogspot.com/)

[recor]

thanks mate had a look around town got me eye on a 2nd hand wagner

[Bluesman522]

Hey, I'm trying to learn some blues soloing on the piano, think ray charles or the cat that played with muddy waters. I know how to do a boogie shuffle with my left hand, i got the rythem, i just need some help with the groovy licks. I cant read music.

[Lydisk]

Just got a Roland E-86 yesterday :)
im very satisfied and ready to play a lot of piano since i only had a MIDI controller from before.

any good sites with beginner songs? im only reading from my realbook now..

[CuShMaN]

What key are you in?

If you're not sure.. what is the chord progression that you are shuffling?

It should be 3 primary major chords 1 4 5.

For example.. does the first "shuffle" start on the low C - C octave and boogie up and down stepwise?

If you're not sure. Let us know.

Once we determine your key it will be easier to explain some licks. Unfotunately.. there is no substitution for a real teacher.

Ghost Notes (http://ghostnotes.blogspot.com/)

[Bluesman522]

Well, i'm in E right now, but what I mean is like could I find the pentatonic scale somewhere, but written out on the keyboard?

[viperbeam]

I'm looking into my first keyboard...a Casio WK-3500, and I was wondering if the keyboard can play music from underoath,bleeding through,horse the band, etc.? Also, I was wondering can I connect bigger speakers into the keyboard? Thanks :)

[CuShMaN]

I'm looking into my first keyboard...a Casio WK-3500, and I was wondering if the keyboard can play music from underoath,bleeding through,horse the band, etc.? Also, I was wondering can I connect bigger speakers into the keyboard? Thanks :)


oops.. thread interruption.

Viper.. Please start your own thread. ;)

Ghost Notes (http://ghostnotes.blogspot.com/)

[CuShMaN]

Well, i'm in E right now, but what I mean is like could I find the pentatonic scale somewhere, but written out on the keyboard?

What you're looking for is the "Blues" scale, not the pentatonic.
Try this website (http://www.jazclass.aust.com/scales/scablu.htm) ,it has everything you need.

Ghost Notes (http://ghostnotes.blogspot.com/)

[Bluesman522]

thanks

[SirKissel]

Hi all,

I have a 61-key keyboard and I'm looking to play a song like Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata. Problem is there aren't enough keys for me to play anything beyond the first chord in the song. Short of getting a full-size 88-key keyboard, what is one to do?

Thanks. :)

[SirKissel]

Actually, make that 49 keys.

Nevermind the question; I just have to play the song an octave higher or get a bigger keyboard I guess. :)

[TheEvilErk2008]

stupid question. Ive had my key board for a really long toime, some cheap casio, and i still have not figured out how to use the midi stuff in the back. There are two hook up in the back, but i cant find any cords to connect up to it. Anyone know what the heck im talking about?

[the2stranger]

hey, I kjow how to read normal notes, but I took this odf a site, and I don't know what this all means, so could anyone explain.

tabs for keyboard sound sweird anyway, I prefer sheetmusic :p

Main Riff:

2nd 8va |----e>>>e>>>|----e>>>e>>>|----e>>>e>>>|----e>>>e>>>|
2nd 8va |----c>>>c>>>|----c>>>c>>>|----c>>>c>>>|----c>>>c>>>|
1st 8va |----a>>>a>>>|----a>>>a>>>|----a>>>a>>>|----a>>>a>>>|
| | | | |
1st 8va |--e>>>e>>>e>|--e>>>e>>>e>|--e>>>e>>>e>|--e>>>e>>>e>|
Middle |b>----------|a>----------|b>----------|a>----------|


2nd 8va |---- d>>> d>>>|---- d>>> d>>>|---- d>>> d>>>|---- d>>> d>>>|
1st 8va |----#a>>>#a>>>|----#a>>>#a>>>|----#a>>>#a>>>|----#a>>>#a>>>|
1st 8va |---- g>>> g>>>|---- g>>> g>>>|---- g>>> g>>>|---- g>>> g>>>|
| | | | |
1st 8va |--d> >>d> >>d>|--d> >>d> >>d>|--d> >>d> >>d>|--d> >>d> >>d>|
Middle |a>-- ---- ----|g>- ----- ----|a>-- ---- ----|g>-- ---- ----|

[burton.and.gas]

hey im just consierin startin keyboards and piano cos i am not very musical. i play guit and bass, but idont know the notes i am playing. or any of that stuff really. is piano a good way of leanring about music in general? cos a friend told me it was.

[sk8ergrl]

hey, im in a band and i play drums but im wanting to learn keyboard...i havent gotten my keyboard yet...what are some good brands that i could look at or some stores or sites that sell keyboards for agreeable prices?

[bomber]

i'm looking to make a blues song with my keyboardist in my band but we're stuck as to where to go. We're basically just wanting a song that we can jam over and get better so what chord structures should we stick to? we've narrowed it down to a repetitive 12 bar chord sequence so we can take it in turns to play solos and progress and have fun any ideas?

[TheEvilErk2008]

a lot of questions and not so many answers. good job. we know get to stare at a blank screen and wait for some crazy guy to come along and say hey, i think ill make these people feel stupid by knowing too much.

[Firecracker]

When i learn a new piece i just play it over and over again, and i get it right in the end, i cannot stand using the metronome, it does my head in.

[Firecracker]

tabs for keyboard sound sweird anyway, I prefer sheetmusic :p
I've never heard a truer sentence.

[freakmeeko]

Except for this one.

Tabs>Sheet music.

Happily owned. (^:

[Dai_2k]

i just got my keyboard down from the loft and with a little help from a chord guiding sheet i borrowed (ahem) from my music class in school i have learnt some songs pretty fast. I know a lot of basic stuff like where to put fingers for chords etc but im just really needing songs to learn now.

ive learnt these so far.

Imagine: john lennon
Don't stop me now intro: queen
Highway star verse: deep purple
and a 12 bar jazz improvisation i made up

so any suggestions would be really helpful :thumb:

Hey i been playin the piano 4 quite a while now...and have been looking for dont stop me now sheet music....any ideas where i can find it?? or wld u send it 2 me if u have it..thanks :thumb:

[stvalentine]

hey...i just signed up so i cant start a new thread..but im in a band as a dj and were looking for me to get a keyboard to make music very similiar to underoath..what would be a good keyboard to get that could produce technoish intros and noises like them?

[Roses_and_Ribbons]

hey im just consierin startin keyboards and piano cos i am not very musical. i play guit and bass, but idont know the notes i am playing. or any of that stuff really. is piano a good way of leanring about music in general? cos a friend told me it was.

It's one of the best ways to learn music in general. The piano encompasses all the pitches of an entire orchestra, from the lowest note on an organ to the highest note of a piccolo (flute). You learn both bass and treble clef at the same time and helps your coordination.

hey, im in a band and i play drums but im wanting to learn keyboard...i havent gotten my keyboard yet...what are some good brands that i could look at or some stores or sites that sell keyboards for agreeable prices?

Rent to start off with. Just stick with a rental until you learn more about the different types there are out there and you know what type you want. Plus you can swap 'em around and try them all when renting too.


i'm looking to make a blues song with my keyboardist in my band but we're stuck as to where to go. We're basically just wanting a song that we can jam over and get better so what chord structures should we stick to? we've narrowed it down to a repetitive 12 bar chord sequence so we can take it in turns to play solos and progress and have fun any ideas?

There's a popular piece called C-jam Blues (easy to find in a music store). If you take the basic chord pattern from that (12 bar blues) you can transpose it into all the different keys to get a better understanding of it. Then add 7ths or 9ths to get a sound you like. Just experiment. It's great to improvise with too and the main melody basically consists of 2 notes. XD

[hypocracy hater]

How do you train your hands to play the ostinarto(sp?) at a different tempo from the melody?

[pianoplyr77]

Practice it extremely slowly

[Roses_and_Ribbons]

and train your ears to hear it too.

[dr.roadrage]

What are the differences between keyboards and synths? I want to get one soon, but I'm not sure what to get. I mostly play bass, but when I was a little younger I had piano lessons for 5 years. I do listen to Rush and I know Geddy uses synths, but that leaves me with less options, right? I'm thinking about getting a Casio WK3500 because I want to have a pitch bend and a modulation so I have as many options as possible for now.
I've been a 'keyboard player' for 34 years. I've played internationally and most likely with artists you've heard of. As a 'keyboard player' my rig has consisted of organs, electric and acoustic pianos, and synthesizers in various combinations. For a number of years now, my total rig has been synthesizers. All of these instruments are keyboards - don't get hung up on nomenclature. Many professional-quality synthesizers are offered in numerous configurations to satisfy the needs of a broader customer base. A particular model might be available in, say, a rack-mount version, 61, 73, or 88 key version (and if this is the case, the 88 key keyboard is often weighted so that the action is similar to piano). Synthesizers definitely do not limit your options, but expand them.

[el_lance_o]

alright I got a question: how the hell do you use a synth? a Roland juno-D to be exact. I've been getting pretty advanced with regular portable arrangers but this synthesizer stuff is confusing

[NanTong]

Hi.

I've just registered, read 3 topics about keyboards. I'm 17 years old, have been playing the piano for as long as I can remember. I got a Yamaha Clavinova CVP-92 in 1997. I went to a school of music where I learned to play the notes of Abba etc. Now, after playing theoretic music on the piano for about 8 years, I need to play more rhythmic "off the sheet" music. I know all the major chords and scales on the board and want to expand that little knowledge to a higher level.

So, I bought myself the Yamaha MOTIF ES-8 two months ago, an awesome machine. It's so great, I can't figure out how to use it. Of course, I can figure out how to choose all the different sounds the machine contains, but the sequencer, the Arpeggio-function, and all the additional utilities is just too much for me to understand... yet. Have begun reading the manual, is a hell to get through, but I keep faith.

I like electronic music, especially that of Jean Michel Jarre. Have also listened to modern techno/trance music, but the everlasting “dum dum dum” bass drum doesn’t really satisfy my hunger to great synths, heavy pads and electronic sequencers.

My question is:
How do I play electronic music on a machine like the one I’ve got? I know this kind of music is easiest to compose on a computer, but I want to believe that I can play it on the keyboard. Any ideas?

[pianoplyr77]

alright I got a question: how the hell do you use a synth? a Roland juno-D to be exact. I've been getting pretty advanced with regular portable arrangers but this synthesizer stuff is confusing

What exactly are you trying to do with it?

[el_lance_o]

basically instead of always playing chords I wanna switch it up so I can use my dgx 500 for leads and stuff and the juno d for more atmospheric type sounds.... I don't know if that made any sense but the jist is to have like atmospheric type dark strings orchestrael chords and stuff..... like dimmu borgir status.... sortof

[pianoplyr77]

So basically you want to know how to access the atmospheric/dark orchestral sounds?

[el_lance_o]

.... basically

[Ollie The Drumming Legend]

Ok, this thread is for any beginning players that have questions they'd like to ask about getting started, and also for any more advanced players that have some advice they'd like to give!

My advice:

No matter what, when you get a new piece of music, PRACTICE IT SLOWLY WITH A METRONOME. Play it slower and slower until you get it perfectly- then start speeding up.

Also you should probably learn about Chords and Intervals- good stuff can be found at http://www.musictheory.net !

I would actually advise against using a metronome, especially to start with. For a start, you should get the notes sorted, and keep them in more or less correct time, and if you can get someone to listen to you it always helps. I find if I play with a metronome i concentrate more on keeping in time than playing the music well, which is Bad.
Even better: get a piano teacher! they will be able to guide you much better than you can yourself!

[el_lance_o]

oh wait now I need help I have a roland d-50 synthesizer right now till I get my good one and don't know how to use the **** thing.... anyone ever use this one before

[dr.roadrage]

NanTong - congrats on your ES-8 purchase - awesome machine - I'll probably get the ES-7 next. As far as navigating through it - these instruments are becoming so powerful that it's really tough to get a total handle on everything they'll do. The manuals aren't always intuitive. Besides reading the book and building your knowledge in small increments, you might try getting to know your keyboard guy down at the music store. Part of his job is to play with these things when they come in new so that he knows something about what he's selling. This might help to jump-start your learning process.
As far as composing is concerned - you'll only need to learn to use the basic sequencer functions enough to record the parts. You'll have to listen carefully to some music in the genre that you're composing to figure out drums, bass, etc. If you want to play the electro stuff live, you might want to sequence the backing tracks including all the parts you can't play at once. Then just play the solo parts live with your sequenced backing.

[dr.roadrage]

I would actually advise against using a metronome, especially to start with. For a start, you should get the notes sorted, and keep them in more or less correct time, and if you can get someone to listen to you it always helps. I find if I play with a metronome i concentrate more on keeping in time than playing the music well, which is Bad.
Even better: get a piano teacher! they will be able to guide you much better than you can yourself!

I agree - the metronome may distract and frustrate. If you're playing from sheet music, try learning the last measure first along with the last note or chord from the previous measure. When you're fluent, learn the second last measure and work it into the last one and so on. As you continue to work backwards, you are continually reviewing the song and training your fingers to play it fluently at the same time. Difficult passages often require that your fingers know where to go on their own. If you're playing by ear, it is sometimes easier to break the material into bite-size chunks and learn those individually before adding them together. As you build fluency with the material, you'll want to start to concentrate on rhythm and tempo. These are a couple of methods I taught my students.

[Glimmer]

OK, after a couple of false starts on learning keyboard over the years, I am almost ready to start shelling out $$ on buying one second-hand. I was looking at getting the Roland A-37 controller which I would hook up to the PC. This would be fine to start with as I need about 77 keys to learn stuff like Joe Cocker's "The Letter" and any other popular music that may use some bass notes.

I also saw the 61 key Roland XP-10 online which seemed to have a good general wavetable of sounds onboard. So its a toss-up between the two. As I'm new to this, more or less, I'm open to other brands that would do roughly the same job

At the moment I have a 49 key Roland PC200-mkii, but I'm going to unload that once I get my newish PC working to accept a midi input. (My old Win 95 Pentium 75 PC with xg daughterboard worked fine...go figure) Cakewalk Home Studio 2(2004) doesn't recognise my Yamaha DS-XG soundcard in the Midi Input setting but does in output. The card seems to work in normal manner in every other aspect. Its a pity as I quite enjoyed the XG sounds when I could get them. I may try to get a Soundblaster Live with gameport/midi. Once I get my PC soundcard sorted out I'll be ready to play again

My future aim is to have a dedicated synth & a keyboard for just piano sounds, but thats much later.

Here's my query:

If I get a controller that doesn't have any sounds loaded on it (for PC soundcard use) ...what would be a good general sound module to connect to it for actual gigging ?

Hope I made sense :)

[Speedy Fingers]

Korg, Roland, or Kurzweil (very expensive) sound modules are excellent for gigging. If you use them, it's best you don't skimp out o nthe controller though.

[Firecracker]

When i get my Grade 8 piano, dunno how many years that will be, i'll be getting a new keyboard, because i love them, our piano is too nice to change so that's lush already.
So a Korg or a Roland then?
Lush cheers then.

[Glimmer]

So the Roland A-37 is an okay controller then ?

[maxthedrummer]

can you guys recomend some easy but catchy songs to learn on my synth

[Glimmer]

can you guys recomend some easy but catchy songs to learn on my synth

Jump by Van Halen. Cliche 80's tune but still one of the easiest to learn in my opinion.

[healewis]

I think PDWAB's music theory site could help about the scales and appeggios in the many keys. As for exercises, when I want to start shredding on keyboard and want to go unnaturally fast, metronomes are good friends. Practice the notes with staccatos first, start slow and build up on the speed and then switch to legato. It works with me.

Edit: I can't help you with the sites, sorry :(
Thats me lost :confused: What's shredding, Staccatos an' Legato :rolleyes: I thought this was the beginners thread? D'ya thinkI should put mi keyboard away? :wave:

[geezer.uk]

Hey, I'm trying to learn some blues soloing on the piano, think ray charles or the cat that played with muddy waters. I know how to do a boogie shuffle with my left hand, i got the rythem, i just need some help with the groovy licks. I cant read music.

lets assume yout playing in c
right hand notes for licks are c, e flat, f, f sharp, g, b flat (basic)
but you can also leave your left hand doing the same and transpose the right hand to A.(relative minor) all the best.

[Moldiver]

anyone know where i can find a picture of a basic set of keys and what each key is?

[pianoplyr77]

Thats me lost :confused: What's shredding, Staccatos an' Legato :rolleyes: I thought this was the beginners thread? D'ya thinkI should put mi keyboard away? :wave:

Staccatos are those little dots over notes. They mean play the note short.
If you play something legato (the word is an adj.) it means you are playing it smooth and connected.

[CircuitSix]

can you guys recomend some easy but catchy songs to learn on my synth

Axle F. After you perfect the main riff, you can add drums and bass easily.

[bball_1523]

do any of you have experience with M-audio 61 key midi keyboards? Like the Radium 61?

[Beef Javelin]

Does anyone know what chord this is? It's from a midi, and I'm not entirely sure if it's even playable, nor do I have access to a chord book to find out.

http://img359.imageshack.us/img359/5849/jimchord4pg.png

[crazyguy832]

Does anyone know what chord this is? It's from a midi, and I'm not entirely sure if it's even playable, nor do I have access to a chord book to find out.

http://img359.imageshack.us/img359/5849/jimchord4pg.png
That's easily playable. I just played it right now. And it sounds awesome.

:thumb:

Don't know specifically what chord that is, but it looks to be in B-flat major. I could be wrong, but... that's what I think.

[Beef Javelin]

Yeah, I read it wrong, and it's transcribed from a jimi hendrix lick, so I wondered, but thanks :)

[clmack]

Hi,
I have some friends who are in a band (a kind of D.I.Y., lofi, indie-pop, C86 type band, if that makes any sense!). They've asked me if i'd like to try my hand at playing keyboards with them and I've decided to give it a go.
I think I could find out ways to teach myself OK from books and websites etc (I did some piano when i was younger) but the whole technical side of keyboards leaves me a bit baffled. Specifically, what kind of outputs does a keyboard have to have to allow you to connect it to an amp and play it live? I've been having a look around on the net at different models, and thinking maybe of getting a Yamaha PSR series keyboard, and the one I've looked at says it has MIDI in/output which I know connects to a computer, but I don't know if that's suitable for anything else. (Incidentally, do you know of any good review sites for buying keyboards that aren't affiliated to any one shop? I've had some difficulty finding one that isn't trying to sell me something!) Thanks very much,
C.L. Mack

[akoaysigod]

I can play a bit of piano and such but I'm not too good. I'm really interested in learning like rock or jazz organ. Does anyone have any suggestion for books with theory, etc. That would be good. If this has been asked in the thread just say so but I don't feel like looking through 5 pages if it's not there.

[pink.floydian]

Hey Everyone, i am a complete instrument junkie, and i thought i would go out and try my hand at rock/jazz and jam organ/keyboarding. I love analogue warmth like john paul jones' mellotron....but i'm not rich, so i saw an old yamaha ps-30 for $125 (i can still probably haggle a bit) and i was wondering if i should get it...i'm a beginner and i usually play guitar, so this isn't really my field!
thanks,
edward

[Glimmer]

Before I knuckle down to learning piano properly & getting a music tutor (Preferably a rock musician) I got myself a couple of books with CD exercises.

Now I used to play guitar a bit years ago so I'm not a complete novice musically, but my music theory is rudimentary so I wasn't completely going in the deep end. I should state that I have no interest in learning classical piano(no disrespect intended) just enough modern piano to get me up & running to learn the music I really want to play.

The first book I got years ago was "Progressive Rock Piano" from the "Progressive" self-tuitional series of book/cd. Although it states "Beginner to Advanced" I would probably recommend this as an intermediate level book as some people who are just starting on piano may get too bogged down with some of the later theory too soon.

Generally this is a good book to compliment other sourced lessons as the theory builds up gradually so you see how the chords you have learnt so far in the book's previous exercises fit in the big picture eg; scale tone chords in the major scale.

Another series of books I enjoy is the more recent Hal Leonard series of books (with similar cover designs). The ones by Mark Harrison(Blues Piano, Smooth Jazz, R&B Keyboard) concentrate on particular styles and offer great riffs & phrases. The "Rock Keyboard" in this series (by a different author) looks at a mixture of contemporary styles.

A book I intend to get shortly is "Blues Riffs for Piano(Definitive Source) by Ed Baker. Its obvious by now where my musical tatses lie ;) I intend to use these book as a compliment to all other piano tuition I receive.

[fckthflag578]

whats MIDI

[clmack]

whats MIDI
it's like a digital connection, big round connector with 5 pins, like on a microphone. you'd use to connect musical equipment up to a PC if you were using a home studio or something (tho i think you'd need a wee box in between the two), or to connect a mic to a camcorder.

[crazyguy832]

Also, it's possible to emulate entire symphonies using MIDI on a home computer... albiet, it doesn't sound quite as realistic and good... but cool, nonetheless.

[Caritas]

shoot i wish i woulda known this site had a keyboard forum, cause then i wouldn't have been stuck on taborama lookin at no new posts ever.

Anyways, im a beginner using some old school casio keyboard. I can play them easy songs, break on through, riders on the storm, sublime stuff, but i was wondering where everyone might be getting their tabs from??

And i guess i better learn that music theory stuff, cause so far ive just been going at it kinda guessing,and eventually finding the right sounds.

[pohl_56]

I play the tuba and trumpet in the HS band and electric and accoustic guitars outside of school. I picked up playing keyboard about a year ago and consider myself decent. I already know how to read trebel and bass cleff but have a question.

When Playing on a grand staff the right hand plays the trebel cleff and left plays the bass. Well as we all know most keyboards are in trebel cleff so you just play the notes on the paper in the trebel clef.
But what about the bass cleff. If in bass clef it is a C do you play a C on the piano or do you transpose it into an E? I know how to transpose from trebel to bass so thats not a problem.
Does anybody understand what I just rambled on about-Please help.

[Shadows Within]

yeah i play guitar and i got a keyboard and i want ot play songs like jump or tom sawyer but i download powertabs for it and i dont know where it is on the keyboard.

EDIT: sry should make a thread.

[crazyguy832]

Tabs are screwy, you shouldn't use them... otherwise...

www.****inggoogleit.com

Back to the issue...
[Styx]
You DO NOT transpose from bass to treble cleff. If you extend the trebble clef down (or bass up) you would end up having the EXACT SAME placement of notes as if you had written it normally. I don't fully understand your question, I'm sorry...

You should read and play BOTH lines at once...

[pohl_56]

I think you answered my question, actually. I've been playing both lines, at least trying, and just wasn't sure if you just played the bass clef notes on the piano. Thanks.

[HypnaGoGiC]

I have a question about transposing from key to key. Basically, how do you do it? If something is in the key of C, how do you turn it into A minor? I'm sorry if this question isn't making sense, I am just getting into theory. Maybe someone knows an intermediate theory website that pertains to this issue?

[FishSauce]

I don't have time to read the thread so if it's been awnsered just qoute it for me.

I play guitar and I'm looking into start playing the piano just to add some spice to my music. I have no idea where to start and what to buy. Im looking for more of a grand piano/I guess "acoustic" piano tone for most of the time (stuff like Keane/Coldplay just to give a idea of the genre I'm interested in).

I have no idea what to look at. Digital pianos? Keyboards? How many keys?

I would love to have a traditional/grand piano sound but I obviously don't have money for that right now (I'm a student).

I absolutely know nothing about the keys but I want to learn. Say, $500 max?

[robo2448]

I don't have time to read the thread so if it's been awnsered just qoute it for me.

I play guitar and I'm looking into start playing the piano just to add some spice to my music. I have no idea where to start and what to buy. Im looking for more of a grand piano/I guess "acoustic" piano tone for most of the time (stuff like Keane/Coldplay just to give a idea of the genre I'm interested in).

I have no idea what to look at. Digital pianos? Keyboards? How many keys?

I would love to have a traditional/grand piano sound but I obviously don't have money for that right now (I'm a student).

I absolutely know nothing about the keys but I want to learn. Say, $500 max?

Hehe. I'm exactly with you. I'm interested in starting to by keyboards, but don't know anything about them. Could somebody recommend a brand of keyboard to look at. As I said, I'm a beginner, so something that's not too expensive and good to learn on.

[ragingrob]

If you walk into a music shop, they will help you choose, pretty much you gotta know if you want a keyboard with heaps o' effects and stuff, or heaps of instruments, or what size keyboard you want. For a keyboard to learn on, just anyone that isn't expensive but has things you want, ie effects and stuff. It all depends on what type of music you want to play, classical? Modern? Rock? Etc etc...Any questions?

[robo2448]

If you walk into a music shop, they will help you choose, pretty much you gotta know if you want a keyboard with heaps o' effects and stuff, or heaps of instruments, or what size keyboard you want. For a keyboard to learn on, just anyone that isn't expensive but has things you want, ie effects and stuff. It all depends on what type of music you want to play, classical? Modern? Rock? Etc etc...Any questions?

Thanks for the advice. I'll go over to a music store this weekend and check out what they have :thumb:

[Glimmer]

I'm a beginner keyboardist and bought the following starter kit secondhand on ebay from different sellers. The final bids were quite reasonable and below retail which helped as the savings covered shipping the goods.

I bought a Roland A-33 (76 key) GM Keyboard Controller which feeds into a Edirol D-20 General MIDI Sound Module. I have Cakewalk Home Studio 2 (2004) as the sequencer on my PC and will probably get a laptop & Amp later on when I'm ready to gig. For now I'm just routing the module sound output through the PC.

I felt I was compromising too much if I bought a 61 key model so I settled for a 76 key model. I used to have a 49 key controller but that's really not helping me to learn properly. It may still be used for another purpose - possibly as a second controller for synth sounds, while the main controller will be used for piano & rock organ effects.

[skumka]

I've got a question about a notation mark in my music book.

It's a really stupid question, but I've never been told what this mark means.....
It's like a flat and sharp symbol combined sort of.

If someone has msn I can go on and send a scanned picture... Or is it possible to upload pictures to any site on the net?

[crazyguy832]

I've got a question about a notation mark in my music book.

It's a really stupid question, but I've never been told what this mark means.....
It's like a flat and sharp symbol combined sort of.

If someone has msn I can go on and send a scanned picture... Or is it possible to upload pictures to any site on the net?
Is it like an angled square with a line jutting out on the top and bottom?

If so, then that's a natural. It basically means NOT to play the sharp or flat for that note.

:chug:

Hope that helps.

P.S. You can also look at it as a norma L on an inverted one.

:cool:

[Hollywood Rose]

Are any of you guys guitarist/pianists? Not that I would want to play piano. Just a question.

[Glimmer]

Are any of you guys guitarist/pianists? Not that I would want to play piano. Just a question.

Although the guitar was my instrument for many years I stopped playing when I found steady work & other regular life stuff happened. I'm attempting to relearn piano and am getting excited as it seems to have reignited my love of music again. I think it helps that I know the style of music I really want to learn.

[Diatonic Dissonance™]

Are any of you guys guitarist/pianists? Not that I would want to play piano. Just a question.
What? You mean guitarist and pianist?

I am.

[Diatonic Dissonance™]

I have a question about transposing from key to key. Basically, how do you do it? If something is in the key of C, how do you turn it into A minor? I'm sorry if this question isn't making sense, I am just getting into theory. Maybe someone knows an intermediate theory website that pertains to this issue?
Nah, that's simple.

Okay, hopefully you have a sufficient knowledge of scales and scale degrees. Take C major for example, it has the following notes:

C, D, E, F, G, A and B.

Now, each of those notes is assigned a degree, based on where it is placed in the scale.

C is the very first note in the scale, seeing as it is called the "C major scale". From then on, you go in alphabetical order, back until you reach the original note name, giving each a number.

C = 1
D = 2
E = 3
F = 4
G = 5
A = 6
B = 7

And then the C after that last B can be represented as either an 8 or a 1.

Now, if you consider a scale with accidentals, for example E major, you do the same thing, but for the notes that have accidentals in the scale, you just add that accidental to the scale degree. Example:

E = 1
F# = 2
G# = 3
A = 4
B = 5
C# = 6
D# = 7

The notes F, G, C and D natural don't exist in the E major scale, so therefore they're not given a position in the scale degrees (although F can be represtented as a "flattened 2nd degree", but we won't get into that).

Now, each degree is given a name, and I'll name them, but they're not too important. This is just incase you want to know.

1 = Tonic
2 = Supertonic
3 = Mediant
4 = Subdominant
5 = Dominant
6 = Submediant
7 = Leading note (called subtonic in natural minor scales)

Anyway, to my original point about transposition, there are two separate methods, but I suggest that you apply the use of both when transposing something.

First method: List the notes and their degrees from the key that the song is originally in, for C major, that would be:

C D E F G A B
1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Now, under that (yes, physically write this down, :p), write the "new" key that you'll be transposing into and each note and their degrees. For you, this will be A minor:

A B C D E F G
1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Now, this may be time consuming, but hey - transposition is time consuming.

Look at your piece, and your first note will be a C. Consult the original table, you will see that the "C" is the first degree. Once you have noted this, look at your second table, and look at which note is also number 1. You'll see that it is A. Do you get where I'm going with this?

If you see an E, consult your first table, and see that E = 3, then look at your second table and see that 3 = C. And so on and so on it goes!

Just remember that if you see, for example an F#, and you see that F is the fourth, make sure that when you take the fourth note from your second table (D, in this case) that you sharpen that too. Same applies to flats and naturals.

Second method: This still requires the tables from the first method, but not nearly as much.

Find out the first note, and write that down in your new key, then look at the next note and note the difference between the two notes. It might be the very next diatonic note (eg from the space in the clef to a line), then you can simply move to the "very next diatonic note" in your new key.

Does that make sense? If it doesn't, just tell me.

whats MIDI?
Musical Instrument Digital Interface, or MIDI, is an industry-standard protocol that defines each note precisely and concisely, allowing electronic musical instruments and computers to exchange data, or "talk", with each other. The MIDI standard was first proposed by Dave Smith in 1981 in a paper to the Audio Engineering Society and the MIDI Specification 1.0 was published in August 1983.

MIDI allows computers, synthesizers, sound cards and drum machines to control one another, and to exchange system information. Though modern computer sound cards are MIDI-compatible and capable of creating realistic instrument sounds, the fact that sound cards' MIDI synthesizers have historically produced sounds of dubious quality has tarnished the image of a general purpose computer as a MIDI instrument. This despite the fact that the MIDI specification itself has nothing to do with the quality of the sound produced which varies depending on the sound card used.

MIDI is almost directly responsible for bringing an end to the "wall of synthesizers" phenomenon in 1970s-80s rock music concerts, when musical keyboard performers were sometimes hidden behind banks of various instruments. Following the advent of MIDI, many synthesizers were released in rack-mount versions, enabling performers to control multiple instruments from a single keyboard. Another important effect of MIDI has been the development of hardware and computer-based sequencers, which can be used to record, edit and play back performances.

Synchronization of MIDI sequences is made possible by the use of MIDI timecode, an implementation of the SMPTE time code standard using MIDI messages, and MIDI timecode has become the standard for digital music synchronization.

A number of music file formats have been based on the MIDI bytestream. These formats are very compact; often a file of only 10 kilobytes can produce a full minute of music.

[HypnaGoGiC]

****, Diatonic Dissonance, you should write a theory book. That was explained very well. Thank you. I'll be attempting to transpose pretty soon, just to see if I can. Cool!

[kowlon boy]

hi guys,i am just a newbie from this site,can u pls help me look for a piano tab of the song Bohemian rhapsody?tnx in advance...

[Diatonic Dissonance™]

****, Diatonic Dissonance, you should write a theory book. That was explained very well. Thank you. I'll be attempting to transpose pretty soon, just to see if I can. Cool!
Hah, I'm glad you found it easy to understand, :thumb:.

Funny you should mention that, I'm currently in the process of making a website dedicated to extensive theory explanations.

[Glimmer]

Here's a midi scenario I could use help with:

I have two non-usb midi keyboard controllers and one basic GM sound module(with single midi input) currently hooked into a sequencer on PC. I have been told that if I use the midi-thru from the master keyboard it will just echo the effect on the second keyboard.

Is there any way I can hook up both keyboards independently into the one module through some kind of multi midi interface like common powerboards? Should I just sell my current basic module instead and try & find a GM module that has two midi inputs ?

The goal is to use the master keyboard for piano/organ sounds and the smaller controller for synth effects.

[HypnaGoGiC]

Hah, I'm glad you found it easy to understand, :thumb:.

Funny you should mention that, I'm currently in the process of making a website dedicated to extensive theory explanations.

Hum, I don't suppose you live in Florida and feel like giving a couple of theory lessons, eh?

:naughty:

[Diatonic Dissonance™]

I would love to, but I live in Australia. Sorry man.

Hopefully my site will help.

[Tobios]

Hi guys. So I'm just a stupid Drummer and just know that Keyboards/Pianos got black and white keys ;)

But my brother played piano for maybe 3 years (lessons). Then he quit for 2 years and now he wants to start again (he is 14) but with a keyboard. So his/my question is:

What is the differnce between a keyboard and a synthesizer (dont know how to spell that, forgive me, pleas :D )
What should he get first? Keyboard or syntesizer?

And it would be great if you could recommend some good one's.

Thx alot

[kuyarey_pogi]

Hi guys. So I'm just a stupid Drummer and just know that Keyboards/Pianos got black and white keys ;)

But my brother played piano for maybe 3 years (lessons). Then he quit for 2 years and now he wants to start again (he is 14) but with a keyboard. So his/my question is:

What is the differnce between a keyboard and a synthesizer (dont know how to spell that, forgive me, pleas :D )
What should he get first? Keyboard or syntesizer?

And it would be great if you could recommend some good one's.

Thx alot


A keyboard that has a synth.

[all_out_of_gum]

How's it, everyone? First, thanks for the great site. It helped give me the extra push I needed to get started on keyboard. I got a Yamaha PSR-292 off Craig's List for $120, which I think was a good deal. And now I have two questions.

First, and this is going to sound so stupid, I have a question about seating position. I got a stand used from Guitar Center for $10 (great deal) and got all set up. My keyboard is a 61-key type, and if I sit directly in the middle of it, Middle C is hard to easily play with my right hand. So I sit more to the left of middle, making Middle C easy to get, and my right hand can hit all the rest of the treble keys. Is that weird that I sit to the left of middle? I'm 6'2" so I have long arms and crap. Just curious.

Second is about the board itself. So I got it for $120, which I was happy to pay for this board. But I am thinking about hooking it into my computer to use with FL Studio, which I have been learning to use. The Yamaha USB/MIDI Interface is $50. So I'll be in $170. Guitar Center had a new PSR-293 for $200. So it's essentially the same board but is new and has a built-in USB port. So for $30 more than what I would spend now, I could get a brand new board with the hook-ups I need. Should I put my 292 back on Craig's List to recoup my money and then buy the 293?

Thanks everybody. Strange questions, I know.

Dave :thumb:

[crazyguy832]

I'd say there's nothing wrong with shifting over to the left a bit. You aren't playing on a full piano, anyways, so of course you can reach all the keys. When I play, my navel is pretty much dead centre with middle C... meh, just the way I play.

I personally know nothing of electronic/MIDI keyboards, though, so I'll leave that to someone else. If it has more keys, though, I'd say go with the 293. But, hey, I know nothing!

:chug:

[all_out_of_gum]

Cool, thanks for the response. Just wanted to make sure I wasn't starting off wrong. My navel's right about at Middle C, so I'm OK. :)

As for the MIDI part, I just found out that I can get MIDI adapters (not through Yamaha...those rip-off artists) for $20. So I would be at $120 plus 20...$140. I don't think there is any discernable difference from the 292 to the 293 other than the USB capabilities. So I'll stick with this. Unless someone strongly suggests moving to the 293, which I doubt will happen.

Thanks guys. I look forward to using this forum.

Dave :thumb:

[skippyjoy_207]

I'm about to start keyboard, and I've got some questions. What's the difference between piano and keyboard, other than the size and shape? Why do some pianos/keyboards have fewer keys than others? Also, can instruction books for piano be used for keyboards? Thanks!

[crazyguy832]

I'm about to start keyboard, and I've got some questions. What's the difference between piano and keyboard, other than the size and shape? Why do some pianos/keyboards have fewer keys than others? Also, can instruction books for piano be used for keyboards? Thanks!
Okay, I'll try and answer all your questions here, bear with me as I play God.

:rolleyes:

The difference between piano and keyboard is, mainly, the fact that a keyboard is electronic and the piano is acoustic. It's just like comparing an acoustic guitar to an electric one, or an acoustic drum kit to an electric one. Pianos give nicer sounds when you're wanting that sound, but keyboards have more range of sound. Keyboards can have 200+ different sound options, while pianos only ever have one. Plus, keyboards never have to be tuned.

Any piano/keyboard with less than 88 keys (I'm 99% sure this is the standard number, sorry if I'm wrong :p ) is doing so merely to reduce the costs. A 66-key keyboard would cost a hell of a lot less than an 88-key one.

Piano and keyboard are the same instrument, one's merely electronic and the other isn't: of course a piano book can be used on keyboard.

:rolleyes:

Also, piano keys have a much better feel to them than cheap keyboard keys. Most good keyboards have weighted keys, which feel MUCH more natural.

Hope that helps!

:chug:

[ledxheadx7]

you really dont need to learn chords....i never used them much. they are much more important w/ guitar than piano/keyboard

[crazyguy832]

you really dont need to learn chords....i never used them much. they are much more important w/ guitar than piano/keyboard
...

Until I know how long you've been playing piano, I'm telling everyone here to IGNORE YOUR ADVICE. After I know that, I'm STILL telling everyone here to totally ignore your advice.

Chords are the basis of all piano playing. You can build AMAZING harmonies out of chords. Without chord progression, would songs sound right? No. And how in bloody hell can you say that chords are more important on guitar than piano?

:rolleyes:

Without knowledge of chords, you can't properly build open what you're playing. I'd like you to walk up to Bach or Bethoven or whoever you want and tell HIM that you don't need to learn chords on piano.

Besides, if you know the scale, chords come naturally (if you know the basis of them). I don't even think anymore and I can pull off just about any chord instantly. This REALLY helps if you're just jamming along.

[Diatonic Dissonance™]

Also, piano keys have a much better feel to them than cheap keyboard keys. Most good keyboards have weighted keys, which feel MUCH more natural.
Yes, remember this. It is very important.

Of course, you can get keyboards with weighted keys, so if you can afford it, go for them.

[Flopfoot]

Hi all... I'm thinking about taking up keys again, so came in here... pretty surprised, I used to be in bass and we've got a whole section of the forum for beginner questions, here its only a 6 page thread (-:
Oh well I've got a few qns too.
My keyboard thats been sitting in my room which I've been using like a 'shelf' mostly for the last 3 years, has only 4 octaves and also, you can't change the volume of the keyboard by pressing the keys harder. Will playing in only 4 octaves seriously limit me? Most of the beginner stuff I used to play hardly needed 1 octave, but what about if I want to play rock music? Also, are there 'real' keyboardists who don't use dynamics? Trying to play with dynamics drove me mad when I used to learn and I'd rather not try to learn them (or get a keyboard that allows me to play them) if I can sound ok without. Would it sound ok?
Oh and also, when I was playing beginner and classical stuff I was told to try and avoid looking at my hands if possible, instead look at the sheet music at all times. But I've heard that some rock and metal keyboardists look at their hands while playing. What do you think, should I look at my hands when I play?
And finally, where can I find sheet music for popular songs I might have heard, apart from requesting it in this section of forums?

[darrell]

Hi all... I'm thinking about taking up keys again, so came in here... pretty surprised, I used to be in bass and we've got a whole section of the forum for beginner questions, here its only a 6 page thread (-:
Oh well I've got a few qns too.
My keyboard thats been sitting in my room which I've been using like a 'shelf' mostly for the last 3 years, has only 4 octaves and also, you can't change the volume of the keyboard by pressing the keys harder. Will playing in only 4 octaves seriously limit me? Most of the beginner stuff I used to play hardly needed 1 octave, but what about if I want to play rock music? Also, are there 'real' keyboardists who don't use dynamics? Trying to play with dynamics drove me mad when I used to learn and I'd rather not try to learn them (or get a keyboard that allows me to play them) if I can sound ok without. Would it sound ok?
Oh and also, when I was playing beginner and classical stuff I was told to try and avoid looking at my hands if possible, instead look at the sheet music at all times. But I've heard that some rock and metal keyboardists look at their hands while playing. What do you think, should I look at my hands when I play?
And finally, where can I find sheet music for popular songs I might have heard, apart from requesting it in this section of forums?

Classical piano you would usually read sheet music for. Rock you usually just play. At least, I've never seen a rock pianist reading sheet music.

Edit: Therefore, I guess it would make sense that they would be able to look at their hands. I'm sure most of the good ones could play without looking too much though...

[Flopfoot]

According to my old teacher, the problem is not so much that you need to look at the music (classical pianists would then be able to look at their hands if they memorised the piece), but that looking at your hands causes you to play 'sloppier' or out of rhythm and it's better to learn to stretch your hands to the right intervals and 'visualise the keys'. Have you ever heard or read that before? Coz after dynamics, having to try and 'remember where the keys are with my hands' was the second thing that drove me nuts the most.
As for rockers looking at sheet music... how funny would it be if you went to a rock n roll concert and the drummer was reading sheet music as he went nuts on the drums? Apparently they used to do that...

[crazyguy832]

Before we start, if I accidently say something someone else has already said (I'll try not to :p ), sorry bout that.

Hi all... I'm thinking about taking up keys again, so came in here... pretty surprised, I used to be in bass and we've got a whole section of the forum for beginner questions, here its only a 6 page thread (-:
Oh well I've got a few qns too.
My keyboard thats been sitting in my room which I've been using like a 'shelf' mostly for the last 3 years, has only 4 octaves and also, you can't change the volume of the keyboard by pressing the keys harder. Will playing in only 4 octaves seriously limit me? Most of the beginner stuff I used to play hardly needed 1 octave, but what about if I want to play rock music?
For when you're just beginning, no, that wouldn't limit you at all. However, once you get to grade 3-4, you'll start needing to use higher and lower notes. It's not a big deal at your level, but once you gain skill, you will DEFINETELY want to get a bigger keyboard.

Also, are there 'real' keyboardists who don't use dynamics? Trying to play with dynamics drove me mad when I used to learn and I'd rather not try to learn them (or get a keyboard that allows me to play them) if I can sound ok without. Would it sound ok?
No... dy...nam...ics...

*starts twitching*

Heretic! Burn the heretic!

:evil:

Seriously, though, learning to play with dynamics is SO FRIGGIN IMPORTANT that I just can't explain it here. If I had the option of playing grade 2 music with good dynamics or grade 4 music with no dynamics whatsoever, in 95% of the cases, I'd take the grade 2 music with good dynamics. It's hard to learn dynamics with a keyboard (since, unless you shill out a lot of money for a good keyboard, there aren't really dynamics :lol: ), but dynamics are one of the fundementals of ALL musical instruments.

Oh and also, when I was playing beginner and classical stuff I was told to try and avoid looking at my hands if possible, instead look at the sheet music at all times. But I've heard that some rock and metal keyboardists look at their hands while playing. What do you think, should I look at my hands when I play?
NO! NO!NO!NO!NO!NO!NEVER!NO! You should NOT need to look at your hands while playing. I still do for harder chords but, for the most part, you should try and develop the ability to play without looking at your hands. If I'm playing a faster-paced piece (180+bpm) and I look at my hands, I'll almost surely mess up and have to stop and start again. Once you've totally memorized a piece, yeah, sure, look at your hands then... I suppose. I RARELY look at my hands. It helps develop good posture and playing when you don't.

If I'm looking at a piece of sheet music on the interent, I can visualize playing it and tap my fingers around the desk to learn it, go to the piano, and play it decently well with not too much variation in my finger movement.

And finally, where can I find sheet music for popular songs I might have heard, apart from requesting it in this section of forums?
Just google it. If you can't find it there, well, sorry, you're out of luck. Sheet music for popular songs... well... there are some sites out there but not many.

Hope that helps.

:chug:

[ticktack]

I need some help. I have a DGX-500 and I can't find any music I can use on floppy disk? It has a drive in it and it came with a "disk songs and styles" data disk. I have way played it out and I need some new disks. Can anyone point me in the right direction? Ticktack

[death_26_row]

hey, i dont know if this is the right place to post at the min but im tempted to start learning the keyboard as im into bands i.e. CoB CoF and The Damned - all using keyboards - and im a big fan of bill bailey, but id be on a tight budget to start of about £80 to get a decent full keysize beginner keyboard that will last me for a year or 2.

ive been playing guitar about 2 years and have been told that keyboard will help understand the actual theory more for both guitar and im assuming playing fast and streching on a keyboard must help a bit for guitar aswell.

[ragingrob]

Do you actually have a question?

[death_26_row]

Do you actually have a question?

good point, i should read my posts first before just clicking!

i was supposed to be asking if anyone knew of a good starter keyboard for around £80

[vagrant_fluke]

sorry if this has been asked a million times but does anyone know some decent keyboard tab sites, i found this one
http://www.taborama.com/
but there is only a limited selection of songs on it. i was trying to find a tab for Gorillaz - DARE, but no luck. if anyone could help me find either i'd be very grateful, or maybe i'll just download the music video, i seem to remember noodles playing the tune, whether it's genuine or not remains to be seen

[metallifan78]

hey guys. just started to play keyboards cause im getting an apartment. thought id play that till i got an e-kit. any suggestions for songs that aren't insanely stupid like jingle bells and row you boat that will help me build up some moderate skills?

[tzsil]

well, what about some of richard clayderman's pieces? they are qiute nice, and some parts need some mastery too.

[g3nie_tj]

I've been playing the piano on and off for almost five years... But my lessons have been extremely scattered and informal (altogether maybe just one and a half years out of the 5 i've been playing). Although I think I'm about Grade 4, I know hardly any theory. My timing is almost always off because I don't understand, and I don't know what alot of terms mean.. Like "arpeggio," 7th chords, stuff like that. (I only know the basics: pp, p, forte, etc.)

Does anyone know where I can get help with this?

PS. On once piece I've started playing recently, the timing changes from 2/4, to 43/46, back to 2/4, to 45/46, back again to 2/4, again to 43/46, to 2/4, to c, and then ends in 2/4. I can play the notes with little trouble but... How do I get my timing right ????

[Diatonic Dissonance™]

I've been playing the piano on and off for almost five years... But my lessons have been extremely scattered and informal (altogether maybe just one and a half years out of the 5 i've been playing). Although I think I'm about Grade 4, I know hardly any theory. My timing is almost always off because I don't understand, and I don't know what alot of terms mean.. Like "arpeggio," 7th chords, stuff like that. (I only know the basics: pp, p, forte, etc.)

Does anyone know where I can get help with this?

PS. On once piece I've started playing recently, the timing changes from 2/4, to 43/46, back to 2/4, to 45/46, back again to 2/4, again to 43/46, to 2/4, to c, and then ends in 2/4. I can play the notes with little trouble but... How do I get my timing right ????
45/46 ...?

[g3nie_tj]

yeah. i did a double take when i saw it switch... is there such thing as a 46th note??? and, 45 beats per measure? *confused*

[Diatonic Dissonance™]

I'll believe it when I see it. Link to the sheet music?

[crazyguy832]

A 46th note is impossible. It goes:

1/4 - 1/8 - 1/16 - 1/32 - 1/64 - 1/128 - etc. etc.

And, yes, a bar of 45/4 IS technically possible... albeit more strange than green gravy.

EDIT: Oh, misread the question...

45/46... would NOT work...

[AmandahJayne]

I have a question.. im playing carol of the bells..and in the middle there is a small treble clef on the bass line and then after two measures there's a small bass clef on the bass clef line and it returns regular.. does the treble clef on the bass line mean i would play those notes as if they were on the treble clef line? I don't understand why it's there.. .. any help?

If i confused you.. here's what i'm talking about.. excuse my scribbles im still in the learning process... never learned my bass clef notes like i was supposed to..

http://www.filecabin.com/members/files/768/myconfusion.JPG

[Jack_the_Pumpkin_King]

okay i whould love to get into like synths mogs and keybord stuff cause i love being able to make cool sounds lol but yah i have no idea how to get started into this stuff where to learn it or what to get so can you peopel make some suggestions thank you -Kc

[CaseLogic]

I have a question.. im playing carol of the bells..and in the middle there is a small treble clef on the bass line and then after two measures there's a small bass clef on the bass clef line and it returns regular.. does the treble clef on the bass line mean i would play those notes as if they were on the treble clef line? I don't understand why it's there.. .. any help?

If i confused you.. here's what i'm talking about.. excuse my scribbles im still in the learning process... never learned my bass clef notes like i was supposed to..

http://www.filecabin.com/members/files/768/myconfusion.JPG
That means that in that line, the clef has temporarily changed, so yes that means you'd be playing those notes based on treble clef now.

The reason they do that is because if they were to stay in bass clef, the notes would extend far past the top staff, and there isn't any room for the ledger lines.

[mathieu]

hello. i'm a totally newbie at this, but my friend has a keyboard, and i wondered of you could put any new sounds on it?
its a technics kn400 and i would love to know how you can put new sounds on that. from what cable you need to the software and the site
thx :)

[simonrex22]

Is there a way to learn piano without reading music. Like tabs or something.

[ak50324]

Can someone tell me what notes do you play for the bass clef?(compared to treble)
Thanks

[crazyguy832]

mathieu... sorry don't know the answer to that. I'd think not, but... dunno.

Simonrex22... yes, there is, you can read tabs. However, piano tabs are rarely used, and generally looked down upon (AFAIK). Learn sheet music if you want to be called a real musician.

ak50324... okay, here (first note is the top line, next is the space below that, and so on):

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

[even if they were canadian]

Is there a way to learn piano without reading music. Like tabs or something.

Yeah, but obviously sheet music is preferred.

At my school, there is this kid who plays quite complicates pieces (mostly classical/baroque) in the chorus room after school. I was in there one day for a mens choir rehearsal, and talked to him for a minute. Apparently he has no idea how to read music. At all. He does all of it by ear. It's amazing.

[Eminemshadyworld]

i have just recieved a new computer,a korg triton keyboard,and microphones....i have about 1500$ to spend and i really want to be able to produce some quality demo tapes from home.I PROMISE that whoever guides me will not regret it.TRUST ME.I need to know how to produce demos using my new computer(BONE STOCK EMACHINES)AND MY KORG TRITON KEY BOARD AND MY 1500$.WHAT ELSE DO I NEED???SOUNDCARD???WHAT KIND???PLEASE HELP ME TO THE BEST OF YOUR ABLITY.THANK YOU AND GOD BLESS.HAPPY HOLIDAYS

[blane0719]

Hey, im a nOOb and i am prolly going to be asking mostly about piano and mandolin on here, but as of now i was wondering if anyone knew where to find the keyboard parts to sufjan stevens cd Illonoise.

[Firecracker]

Diatonic Dissonance?
By any chance have you done Grade 8 Theory?
And when did you start to play the piano?

[kevbud187]

Diatonic Dissonance?
By any chance have you done Grade 8 Theory?
And when did you start to play the piano?

Diatonic Dissonance is 15..........

[Tiadonic Nissodance]

Diatonic Dissonance?
By any chance have you done Grade 8 Theory?
And when did you start to play the piano?
I thought theory only went up to grade 7? Oh well.

I've only done grade 5, although I do know components from grade 7.

I started piano when I was seven (I think). I stopped when I was 12 and only just recently took it back up.

Why do you ask?

[moogoogaipan]

hello. i'm a totally newbie at this, but my friend has a keyboard, and i wondered of you could put any new sounds on it?
its a technics kn400 and i would love to know how you can put new sounds on that. from what cable you need to the software and the site
thx :)
That's not possible. Unless you are a computer programmer and know how to switch midi modules and reprogram the synthesizers interface.

I have an old school keyboard with decent sounds that I used to use for composing midi, but I recently bought a $300 SD-20 Studio Canvas from Edirol. It creates some awesome sounds, but I don't believe there is a way to link those sounds to the keyboard

[Day Dreamer]

Okay so I just got my keyboard for Christmas which was like 4 days ago right? lol I dono I'm so lost on what day it is right now. It's vacation leave me alone. anyways cause I have this thing with getting pissed off when I don't understand something I have no patients left to go read more lessons. since they just seem to confuse me.

okay so my question, I know you play cords with your left hand I finally got that part figured out. but what exactly do you do with your right? lol cause I dono I feel like such an idiot right now. My keyboard came with a song book but that just pisses me off cause well I have no idea whats going on in that thing I've been able to read sheet music for years and I've even refreshed on it in the passed few days but this thing.. I dono

okay so yeah I've gotten a few tabs for song that I know really when although I read from here tabs are crap. but they all have cords and so thats left handed and so.. what's the right do exactly?

yes I've majorly confused myself over the passed few days and need people willing to help me find myself. I'm generally a very quick learning after I'm done confusing myself(I tend to do it with everything that I teach myself and tend to get stuck on stupid things and not what normal people do) so if anyone could help me figure out what the hell I'm doing...?

oh and my ultimate goal for keyboarding is so play with my friends, Green Day The Killers, whatever I dono modern rock stuff most 16 year olds have heard of?

I really need to stop asking questions at like almost 2am, I tend to ramble when I'm tierd

oh incase this is necessary I have a yamaha psr-273, 61 keys I believe? I dono too tierd. 5 octives I know that soo yeah... help needed... cause I'm in a tangle of confustion.. I'll shut up now before everyone starts thinking I'm a complete wacko, I'm sure I'm half way there at least. haha so tierd. okay actually shutting up now!

[kevbud187]

ironic that your name is day dreamer and you post at 2am

anyways. sometimes you play chords with the right hand sometimes you play the melody.

[Day Dreamer]

haha I sapose so

I think I got stuff figured out I forced myself to figure out my song book and I think I got most of what's going on with it some stuff still confuses me but I don't care cause I haven't heard of those songs anyways and if need be I can try and figure it out when the time comes.

one questions though.. actually 2. ok theres this symbol thing and I use to know what it means but now I forget its kinda like a backwards curvy E I guess... what does that mean again?

also on some parts there will be a section with a thick line through it like |------| that or something and then a number in the middle above it. what is that? I'm just ignoring it right now its at the beginning and end of the song I'm practicing right now.

[kevbud187]

first question: do you have pictures? I'm so confused.
second question: thats a rest: you rest for however many measures the number is.

[Day Dreamer]

no I would google a picture of it but that would prove to be a great challenge as I cant remembe what its called. K I just grabed the book and it so doea not look like an E. oops... I remember our teacher always told us it was the bird shaped symbol like a dove..soaring..

why would they even bother putting them in then since they're at the beginning and end? meh never knew they made rests long liked too I knew of the single - though, that we learned.

I'm rambling again...

oh hey! I just figures out something looks like this somewhat.. } only more 'fancy' or whatever.

a week without school and I turned into a moron. whoo! go me.

yes yes learning to shut up now.

[kevbud187]

haha ya i wish i could help you, but I have no idea what you are talking about.

[kevbud187]

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v330/kevbud187/this.jpg

this? that is a bracket/brace. It basically means that those two parts are together as one part to be played on one instrument, it's just they have different clefs so they can't combine them into one line of staff.

[Firecracker]

http://www.musicianforums.com/forums/showthread.php?t=428919

[Day Dreamer]

nope this thing is a symbol within the staff, takes up about 3 spaces.

I used to know what it ment but I forget now and its anoying me! ahh!

[Firecracker]

Alto clef?
time signature?
Tenor clef?
treble clef?
bass clef?
key signature?
the C which resembles 4/4 timing?

[brett6452]

I've always wanted to play cello, and now that I'm 16 have a job and can finally afford one, I was wondering if it'd be smarter to start playing violin first or if I should just start learning cello right off the bat.

A friend told me violin would be easier to start on, but I wanted some other opinions.

[Firecracker]

Cello is bass clef, and violin is treble, i would just start off Cello if you only want to play that, because learning two clefs on different instruments can be confusing.

[brett6452]

well i already play guitar, and after 2 years of it people already tell me I excel, I dont know if that helps in telling me which is better to play, its just some more background.

Thank you though firecracker, that does make a lot of sense.

[Day Dreamer]

mmkay I was downloading some sheet music just now and so I found the thing, its this thing

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v203/day_dreamer324/thinger.jpg

[brett6452]

isnt that a type of rest? if so i think its a quater rest.


edit: yeah it is lol

[kevbud187]

that is a quater rest......wow.......I thought it was that went you first asked, but I thought that was too obvious. This really is a beginer thread huh. No offence to anyone.

[Day Dreamer]

haha thanks, thats good I've been ignoring them so it just means I can go on ignoring them really haha

that is a quater rest......wow.......I thought it was that went you first asked, but I thought that was too obvious. This really is a beginer thread huh. No offence to anyone.

psh!

figured it was beginer since they taught us in school in like grade 5, 6, something like that so it was least 5 years ago

[Drew! at the disco]

okay, so im a total beginner. i am borrowing keyboards from my sis and my friend and i want to learn the basics.

i googled a chord chart last night and i have that memorized now....so what now? yeah, im totally lost right now.

[Little Android Man]

get lessons.....

[Little Android Man]

or you can take the alternative and take up some online lessons... but they suck

[bluemoon10]

hey, I'm new here and just wanted some help. So basically I play trombone and have this improv solo. I am kinda clueless as of how to play it so I need some help. It says to start off with a dflat major 6th, but what does that mean? Do I move up and down the Dflat scale but start on the 6th of the scale? And when it changes to an Aflat 7th do I go up the A flat scale but start on the 7th? Help I am confused :(.

[Little Android Man]

Get Lessons!!!

[Danb1215]

would it be possible to run a keyboard through guitar pedals? I cant see why it wouldnt unless they really are that guitar specific. Anyone know/have tried?

[Dishul156]

Well maybe a music teacher or anyone who has more experience can give u some insidght on dat

[Adam-J]

i just started piano and im learnin imagine by john lennon but in bars 13 and 14 it has the same not been played by both hands is this right pls help

[katyrine_the_great]

Hey!

I'm new and I'm guessing one of a minority because I'm a bassoonist (I don't mean to be patronising but too many people don't know what that is, so if you don't, just ask - sorry!) Anywho just saying hi!:wave:

[Adam-J]

hello welcome to our world

[hareldvd]

Hi all,

I am looking for sheet music for piano of:
I surrender dear
Lullaby of the Leavs
froggy bottom

All are piaces from Kansas city (film and disk)

[Little Android Man]

Hey!

I'm new and I'm guessing one of a minority because I'm a bassoonist (I don't mean to be patronising but too many people don't know what that is, so if you don't, just ask - sorry!) Anywho just saying hi!:wave:

i guess i have to ask.... what is a bassoonist..?:confused:

[Klingon_master]

I do have a friend who plays guitar and know some basics on it as he tried to teach me how to play it. I have a Keyboard Dulcimer or Indian Banjo I got once that I haven't really got to play yet. I was wondering if anyone knows what it is since I do is it easier to learn to play and Indian Banjo or at least easier than playing a Guitar cause I know I heared a few people somewhere mention that. I was trying to learn how to play a Indian Banjo but I don't know where on the internet or anywhere for that matter where I can get information on how to play or how to learn to play it. Finding out this information would be greatly appriciated since I know a few people at least probably know what this is or own once since you can easily on ebay or on the internet get one for around $50.

[may]

You should learn to slowly play the melodies of any songs that you know
Then transpose any of them into ANY KEY
It's not that difficult, 2 days can be enough :lol:

Well that's a joke that can demotivate any beginner:chug:

I'd say the first basic thing about learning a keyboard instrument is to know where the middle C is. There are five black notes which are known as half notes. The black notes/half notes are the flats and sharps. They are paired in 2's and 3's. The white note just in front of the 2 pair black notes are C's. So the next white note will be a D (middle of 2 black notes) Middle C will be the C more or less in the middle of the keyboard.

Say you have your finger on a D (white note between two black ones), the black note/half note on the left will be D flat and the one on the right will be D sharp. Music are written in keys. If you are in C major, you will only play on the white notes.. ie. no flats or sharps. Note D flat may also be C sharp. A half note to the left is the flat and the half note to the right is the sharp.

Loly, your question was what the first basic thing will be to learn about a keyboard. Feel free to ask any other questions.

[may]

i guess i have to ask.... what is a bassoonist..?:confused:

A Bassoonist is someone who plays the bassoon. It is a big woodwind instrument which is mostly played in classical/symphony orchestras. The instrument looks like a big wooden pipe with keys and a mouthpiece. How big is it?..uhm..Almost as long as a cello? It normally plays bass notes.

You'll find a picture of a bassoonist here:
http://arts.ucsc.edu/faculty/Orzel/orzel.htm

[clairvoyant]

So, I've recently started taking up piano along with guitar.

What are some good songs with piano (not synth/keys) in them to learn?

So far all I really know is:
Pink Floyd - High Hopes
John Lennon - Imagine
part of this one Camel song, and some of Space-Dye Vest by Dream Theater

[ed3r]

Canon in D by Pachelbel is an awesome piano piece.

Question for you all.

Ive been playing saxophone for about 7 years, clarinet for 1, and guitar for about half a year. i want to take up another instrument, i was thinking of expanding into brass. French Horn is my favourite instrument in an orchestra, i love the tone colour. But i hear they are very hard to play, and expensive.
anyone have any tips or suggestions.
oh and also what clefs do they play in?

[Spiney_Norman]

I play trombone and have this improv solo. It says to start off with a dflat major 6th, but what does that mean? Do I move up and down the Dflat scale but start on the 6th of the scale? And when it changes to an Aflat 7th do I go up the A flat scale but start on the 7th? Help I am confused :(.

With improvising, you make it up as you go along. The Dflat major 6th is the chord accompaning, so play anything in the scale of D flat (as long as it sounds good). When the chord changes, change the scale you're improvising on. :thumb:

[may]

Canon in D by Pachelbel is an awesome piano piece.

Question for you all.

Ive been playing saxophone for about 7 years, clarinet for 1, and guitar for about half a year. i want to take up another instrument, i was thinking of expanding into brass. French Horn is my favourite instrument in an orchestra, i love the tone colour. But i hear they are very hard to play, and expensive.
anyone have any tips or suggestions.
oh and also what clefs do they play in?

The Horn uses treble and bass clefs. When the treble clef is used (which is most of the time), the music is written a perfect 5th higher than it sounds. (Horn in F). Music in the bass clef used always to be written a perfect 4th lower than it sounds. Although the modern convention is to treat the bass clef like the treble clef and write its music a 5th above, the old notation may still be encountered.

[Klingon_master]

Well that's a joke that can demotivate any beginner:chug:

I'd say the first basic thing about learning a keyboard instrument is to know where the middle C is. There are five black notes which are known as half notes. The black notes/half notes are the flats and sharps. They are paired in 2's and 3's. The white note just in front of the 2 pair black notes are C's. So the next white note will be a D (middle of 2 black notes) Middle C will be the C more or less in the middle of the keyboard.

Say you have your finger on a D (white note between two black ones), the black note/half note on the left will be D flat and the one on the right will be D sharp. Music are written in keys. If you are in C major, you will only play on the white notes.. ie. no flats or sharps. Note D flat may also be C sharp. A half note to the left is the flat and the half note to the right is the sharp.

Loly, your question was what the first basic thing will be to learn about a keyboard. Feel free to ask any other questions.

I'm not also not that techinically declined or super good at knowing where notes are reading, etc. I was wondering about how to play Keyboard Dulcimer since there arent many cheap programs of ways of learning this instrument. I also have a Charango Guitar and am trying to find a place where I can get some cheap instruction book,cd,dvd etc. on how to play it since I found it eaiser to find material on. Is it much harder to learn charango first than Guitar? Once you learn Guitar how easy is it then to Learn Charango? Are they much different instruments?

[may]

I'm not sure if there is a difference between a dulcimer and a mountain dulcimer, but here (http://www.folkofthewood.com/page5305.htm) is a link where you may find online lessons for the mountain dulcimer, There is also guitar lessons on this site. I dont know the charango, so I cannot help there.

[mike16]

hey my name is mike, and i play the piano. :wave:

[MaroonDayLight]

Hey, I'm new to this site and i was wondering if i am missing a thread or if there is a place for Turntables and beat mixing or scratching. Thanks

Nathan

[Charles Postal]

Hello, long time reader first time posting. The songs that are in The Matrix DVD main menu and the beginning of the Halo 2 theme song where you hear maybe a number of people singing what sounds like "aaaaaaaa...aaa..etc", what is that called? I want to add it to one of my songs and use a synth program like Reason to create it or download a sample somewhere. Thanks for any response.

[Mona_Lisas_Dead]

Hi, i'm new to this forum, the names Ella, i'm 15 form Australia. Anyways.

I play piano (since i was 7), flute (since i was 10), oboe (since i was 12), drums (since i was 14) and mum said i can start a new instrument and I've chosen Baritone Saxaphone. I was just wondering, is it an easy instrument to pick up and what are reed prices like? I'm gunna hire the schools Sax, so I dont need to worry about that, So yes, any help would greatly appreciated.

xx
Ella

[Mitch2oo6]

Ok so Im a fairly experienced drummer nowadyas, have been playing for four and a half years or so. I can sing kind of, I dunno, my music teacher thinks my voice isnt bad and has alot of potential, and alot of other people think I can sing, but I would love to learn piano as well. Cause piano sounds good with drums and it also is good for finding the key to sing to, etc etc. So. Advice on starting piano?

[nicksteckler10]

Can anybody suggest some good sites that will help me learn some stuff on the harmonica?

[I am Demented]

Hello everyone,
First off, I'm new to the community so, hey how you guys doin?
Anyways, I was previously in a Metal/Death Metal band and I quit because I wanted to do my own thing. I play guitar, but Ive really been wanting to get into a more experimental sound.
I have never owned a Synthesizer, and I was wondering if you guys could help me find a good one that isnt too expensive. And maybee give me a few tips on how to set up and get started creating my kind of music.

The sound I'm looking for:
A mellow, spooky, very experimental sound. A very eerie sound. Also, I will go back and add guitar with it.


Also while I'm here, I was wondering if anyone has any good tips on recording devices? and what kind I should purchase. Me and my old band had our own little set up for our recording, and we used a cheap recording mike, which wasnt the best quality in the world... at all... And, I would like to use computer software to record. Know any good programs???

[gotheadbanger 642]

Hey, Ive been playing drums guitar and bass guitar for a little over a year (give or take a couple months depending on the instrument) and understand music theory and notation. I've just begun to take intrest in other types of music and instruments. Here's some I had in mind:

violin*
cello
bassoon
saxophone*
baritone/euphonium

the stars men I used to play those, then quit, but I want to relearn them. Does anyone have any advise for any of these? And how do you feel about me learning many instruments at a time?

[gotheadbanger 642]

Hello, long time reader first time posting. The songs that are in The Matrix DVD main menu and the beginning of the Halo 2 theme song where you hear maybe a number of people singing what sounds like "aaaaaaaa...aaa..etc", what is that called? I want to add it to one of my songs and use a synth program like Reason to create it or download a sample somewhere. Thanks for any response.
ummm... you mean the choir? I don't know about The Matrix, but in Halo, the composer tried to create something like a gregorian monk chant. Maybe I'm talking about Halo: CE, or I misunderstood, it was basically just chanting.

[gotheadbanger 642]

Hi, i'm new to this forum, the names Ella, i'm 15 form Australia. Anyways.

I play piano (since i was 7), flute (since i was 10), oboe (since i was 12), drums (since i was 14) and mum said i can start a new instrument and I've chosen Baritone Saxaphone. I was just wondering, is it an easy instrument to pick up and what are reed prices like? I'm gunna hire the schools Sax, so I dont need to worry about that, So yes, any help would greatly appreciated.

xx
Ella
I have a friend who plays saxophone, and she picked up baritone sax once. She tells me that it takes more air to play. Although I guess that speaks for itself.

[zealous]

Recently I've started playing piano and I've really taken a strong interest in it.

Any keyboards to recommend? I'm willing to spend a reasonable amount of money on one but I have no idea where to start :/

[Liar]

Hey, does anybody know of a good combi amp for guitar and keyboard? the only one that I have been able to find is this http://www.musicianswarehouse.com.au/default.aspx?Pg=21&ProductCode=MPA100
but, I have been told that Ashton is not too good, is this true? And can any one recomend a good combi amp, possibly with similar features?

[Ajaib Singh Bagri]

Hi everbody. I am Ajaib and I would like some Sarangi music for me my friend

[Shadows Within]

Ok im pretty good at keyboard and am hoping to pick up an X5 soon like what my hero (pretty obvious who :rolleyes: ) used to use, but I don't know ANYTHING about how midi works or sound modules etc.

[Kirk's Puppet]

I'm interested in learning the keyboard. I'm just wondering how I'd start off. I have been playing guitar for 3 to 4 years. I just want to play some simple keyboard stuff like Wait For Sleep by Dream Theater, etc. Are there teachers that teach the instrument, or do I go to a piano teacher for this?

I'm self-taught on guitar and I'm wondering if it'll be easy to learn the keyboard by myself. I'm 17 and I fear it might be a bit late to start too. How old are you keyboardists and how long have you been playing?

[conselation]

I'm interested in learning the keyboard. I'm just wondering how I'd start off. I have been playing guitar for 3 to 4 years. I just want to play some simple keyboard stuff like Wait For Sleep by Dream Theater, etc. Are there teachers that teach the instrument, or do I go to a piano teacher for this?

I'm self-taught on guitar and I'm wondering if it'll be easy to learn the keyboard by myself. I'm 17 and I fear it might be a bit late to start too. How old are you keyboardists and how long have you been playing?

I'm 15 and I've been playing for 10 years, but I believe it is never too late to start.
Having learnt the guitar, you should have a good insite into reading music, and the theory, and also will have developed good finger control.
There probably aren't many teachers who will teach rock piano, but you can teach yourself if you get a book, and practise hard.
I don't know if this is still being published but I learned with John Thompson's easiest piano course which I would recommend.

[kevbud187]

Hi, i'm new to this forum, the names Ella, i'm 15 form Australia. Anyways.

I play piano (since i was 7), flute (since i was 10), oboe (since i was 12), drums (since i was 14) and mum said i can start a new instrument and I've chosen Baritone Saxaphone. I was just wondering, is it an easy instrument to pick up and what are reed prices like? I'm gunna hire the schools Sax, so I dont need to worry about that, So yes, any help would greatly appreciated.

xx
Ella

Myself, I am a woodwind player. I can play every woodwind out there, in fact I can play every woodwind, brass and mallet/percussion instrument, so I like to think I know a few things. :p All the saxes have exactly the same fingerings, so bari may not be the best, first choice. I would recommend alto. A good begining sax insturment. The key to the sax is to use a lot of mouthpiece. Since you've never played a single reeded instrument, what I mean is that a good 3/4 of the avaliable mouthpieace will go inside of your mouth. Your teeth go directly on the mouth pieace, and the tounging technique is very similar to that of clarinet and oboe, but it is more of a direct connect onto the reed, instead of the "to" on flute and slant articulation of "Tuh" on oboe. In fact the vowel sound that I would recommend you start out with is "TA". DROP YOUR JAW. You will not be able to hit lower register notes, if you do not "drop your jaw", which in essence is exactly what it sounds like. Reeds... a good 3 1/2 will run you $10 a reed. I don't know how chepa the go or how expensive, but that is probobly what you will need: 3 1/2 Vandoren.

My last thought. You sound like a remarkable wind player. After you master the sax, you will have a general grasp on the woodwind family(save the basson{which is the most different than all the otheres} and clarinet{nearly identical to sax, flute and oboe}). Move onto brass, start with middle to lowere range instruments. Euphonium is the optimal choice, but French Horn is a close alternate.

:chug:

[Jude]

If I'm interested in learning keyboard as sort of a side, hobby instrument, and in messing around with creating my own tones and sounds, but don't have too much money to spend, what would be a low price keyboard I could get to play around with?

[mutant!]

It depends on what you're into.

If you want to create sort of "vintage synth"-type sounds - buzzy leads and phat basslines and all that - then you need an analog modeling synth. The Roland SH-201 is a good, cheap example.

If, on the other hand, you're more interested in "realistic" instrument sounds, then you want a workstation-type synth, like the Korg X50.

[Jude]

I suppose I'd be interested in a bit of both, but mostly in messing around with creating my own new sounds.

[Knifeboy]

If I'm interested in learning keyboard as sort of a side, hobby instrument, and in messing around with creating my own tones and sounds, but don't have too much money to spend, what would be a low price keyboard I could get to play around with?

The cheapest solution would be this:
http://www.m-audio.com/products/en_us/Keystation49e-main.html (roughly 100$) plugged into the usb on a computer
And then http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=free+vst+synth&btnG=Google+Search
as many free vst's as you can find (and trust me, there's an uncountable amount out there)

The sounds you'd be able to get out of this setup would be as good as anything you could get out of a real synth, and most vst's are set up as real synths, so it will be good practice for if you'd ever want a real synth.
The only downside is that the keyboard is as cheap as it feels.. Other usb midi keyboards can be used as well of course, but that one up there is the cheapest out there

[Jude]

Whoa...looks interesting. Although overwhelming too. I don't really know the first thing about synths or VST's or even what VST's are. Thanks for the pointer though.

[JuggerKnoT]

if someone is saying to play in a certain key how do i know what notes are in it someone please help me i dont get it and i want to jam with people

[mutant!]

JuggerKnoT: http://www.musictheory.net

[Knifeboy]

Whoa...looks interesting. Although overwhelming too. I don't really know the first thing about synths or VST's or even what VST's are. Thanks for the pointer though.

I would say it's probably just as overwhelming to get a real synth.

Actually, the cheapest way to get synth'in.. You don't even have to buy that midi keyboard, you can use the one you're typing on.
Go download the free version of renoise : http://www.renoise.com/download.php (fully functional, except not being able to save your tracks (I can get you the full version if you want after trying it out))
Then go download a free vst synth, like the fairly simple string synth on here http://www.algomusic.net/freeware.html
And extract it to a folder (Ie c:\vsts or something akin), Then open up renoise, and under the tabs down in the bottom of the screen, choose "configs", and then "misc/vst", and under "vst directories", chose the one you saved the vst in, and then press "rescan"
Now under "instr. settings", your vst should show up under "vst instrument properties". You can then press "open editor" to look at your vst and play around with the buttons and sliders.
And then to listen to it, press the "Instr. Envelopes tab" (should be above the "open editor" button).... This will let you use your keyboard.. As a... Keyboard (well.. Synth keyboard)....
When you're bored of the sounds you can get out of that vst synth.. Then you can go here: http://www.kvraudio.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=68638&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0& and be overwhelmed by the unbelievable amount of free vsts out there..

When you get the hang of it, it's really not that hard.. And you'll be using complex synths like these in no time: http://www.numerisson.com/novaflash/

This way, you can find out if playing around with synths is something for you, without using any money on it at all

[Jude]

Whoa, sweet. I'm going to check this out once I'm out of work and class today....and done homework...it'll be a while in other words. Thanks though!

[Matt B]

I'm new here and wanted to know mainly about recording gear.
I was thinking of getting a Pro Audio USB sound card and a mixer.
Is that something for the instrument fourm also?
I see equipment questions here.
I see there is a forum of equipment reviews here too.

I would like to know what would work best for my computer and what specs I might need.
But it's Pro Audio I have been thinking of and what mixer to get presently.
And wondering what other members that have Pro Audio think of it.
From what I have read so far, people think it's better than the sound cards that are put inside of the computer.

Looks like there is some good information in this forum..

[mutant!]

Please tell me your last name is Bellamy.

[pmurph]

hey guys,just started keyboard after stopping a couple of years and i suck a bit now xD just wondering if you guys have anytips on getting both hands playing at the same time?

[Nadinus]

hey guys,just started keyboard after stopping a couple of years and i suck a bit now xD just wondering if you guys have anytips on getting both hands playing at the same time?

The more secure each hand is seperately, the easier it will be to play together. When you do fit the two hands, do it slowly and deliberately, thinking about each not before you play it. Don't attempt anything too difficult just like - a tune which uses only a few notes. Learn scales, and practise them together to help getting used to playing the simultaneously.

[chipotlemonkey]

Check out www.jroc.us. This is Jordan Rudess' Online Conservatory, which includes many mp3 and pdf files for what you're looking for.

[FakePlasticTrees]

So uh, I'm interested in learning how to play piano. Since I can't afford an acoustic piano, I'll have to go with a digital piano. I want to get one thats as close to a real one as possible. Any recommendations? I can afford to spend around $2000.

[mutant!]

My vote goes for a Yamaha P90. It's cheap, and has a gorgeous action and a very, very nice Yamaha Grand patch that actually adds ambient soundboard resonance when the pedal is held down. It even supports half-pedaling... So as far as sound goes, it's pretty good.

However, I'm convinced you will not be able to learn proper technique on a digital.

[Bub]

I'm quite interested in taking up the keyboard - I'm guessing I'll need lessons right? But most importantly - I'll need a keyboard. Can anyone reccomend me one suitable for me? Something quite cheap, I dunno what the price range is - I know VERY little about keyboards despite some google searches - but I'd say I'd go up to about £300 on a first instrument?

I've been playing drums for over 2 years and so I'm nice and rhythmically inclined, but I'd like some melody in my life. Something as a means of songwriting. I'm 17 and looking to go to (and take a keyboard to) university the year after next. I dunno if any of this information affects what keyboard I should look into, but you guys might :)

The least I need to know is what I SHOULD be looking for, the essentials in a keyboard, and what I should look to avoid

[Yield]

I need lessons for my trombone

[mutant!]

I'm quite interested in taking up the keyboard - I'm guessing I'll need lessons right? But most importantly - I'll need a keyboard. Can anyone reccomend me one suitable for me? Something quite cheap, I dunno what the price range is - I know VERY little about keyboards despite some google searches - but I'd say I'd go up to about £300 on a first instrument?

I've been playing drums for over 2 years and so I'm nice and rhythmically inclined, but I'd like some melody in my life. Something as a means of songwriting. I'm 17 and looking to go to (and take a keyboard to) university the year after next. I dunno if any of this information affects what keyboard I should look into, but you guys might :)

The least I need to know is what I SHOULD be looking for, the essentials in a keyboard, and what I should look to avoid
This is a tough question as you're not very specific as to what you want in your instrument.

Since you're just trying to learn basic playing and such, just buy any piece of crap Casio you can find that has at least 61 keys.

If you have something more specific in mind (such as moving to piano later on, or wanting to play synths), then let me know and I'll help you out further.

[Bub]

Ah ok - see that's what I mean, I don't even know what I'm looking for! I think I'd be wanting synths rather than pianos, I like a lot of metal that has synthy stuff in but I also like a lot of jazz piano style...but I guess that could be achieved from synth, so I'll go with that

Are you saying I don't particuarly need something good to learn on to begin with? I expect once I know what I'm doing, by playing a cheap little thing, I know what I'll want in my first "real" synth/keyboard, yeah?

[Glimmer]

I'm a recent beginner as well so I made sure I got a 76-key keyboard with semi-weighted keys. I didn't need it to be exactly like a piano but its was a better option than synth style keys. I wouldn't mind having a second 61-key keyboard in that style but my main 76 model is used for piano, electric piano and hammond style sounds.

[mutant!]

Okay, a few tips.

Weighted keys are keys that feel like those of a piano. Unweighted keys are those that feel like an organ - they are by far the most common on all sorts of electronic keyboards bar digital pianos.

You absolutely cannot play a piano instrument on unweighted keys. You absolutely cannot play an organ on weighted keys. Analogue-style synth sounds (fat bass, ripping leads, warm pads) are played on unweighted keys 98% of the time, for the simple reason that it just works better. More 'realistic' sounds like strings and choirs you could play on weighted keys, but most people will prefer unweighted keys for that kind of thing.

This obviously leaves you with a decision to make regarding your first instrument. I'm a pianist, so the choice was easy for me; I bought a (weighted) stage piano and will use it for almost everything because that's what I'm used to. You, however, are not used to weighted keys or unweighted keys yet, so you should decide what you want to play and then get the style of key that'll work best for your purposes.

My recommendation is that if you want to play piano at all (yes, jazz piano as well), go for weighted keys. If not, then go for unweighted - they're far more effective at a number of things.

There's a good reason most keyboardists have at least two keyboards: one with weighted keys for piano, Rhodes, harpsichord, clavinet, celesta, and that kind of thing; and one with unweighted keys for synth bass, leads, pads, strings, organ, Hammond, choir, Mellotron, brass, and everything else.

I have a feeling you're going to go for unweighted keys on your first instrument. The best thing to do is to find a small synth - say, 37 to 43 keys - that lets you edit and save your own sounds. You could try the Alesis Micron; it's very cheap as far as synths go, and the sound engine is excellent considering the price. I imagine it'll go for about £300 in the UK - maybe less. And get a secondhand one! No need to spend too much...

Glimmer - what semi-weighted keyboard do you have? I've never heard of a decent semi action...

[Glimmer]

I play a Roland A-33 GS keyboard controller through an edirol GM/XP SD20 module, I get XP banks through the PC/Laptop using Cakewalk. I'm no expert obviously but I am really happy overall with the feel of the keys especially for learning. It beats the synth key 49 key controller I had originally. In the future I may splash out on a decent weighted keyboard if I take it seriously enough

I was playing around with a Roland GW-7 instore today as a possible second synth. It had the standard springy synth key style.

[Bub]

Thanks a lot mutant that's very helpful. I'm gonna look into the weighted keys thing a bit more cos it's the sound and feel of a piano I particuarly like. I'm going into my local music shop soon to ask about lessons and a first instrument, at least now I know what I'm looking for! Cheers!