How to learn to play different rhythms with both hands?

ExistenZer0 · 01-13-2006, 07:03 AM

Hello there :)

I just recently started playing keyboard.
Well, maybe it's to early for my low skills yet to ask for it, but anyone know of some free online tutorials or have good tips on how to learn to play different stuff with both hands?

Greetings, E0

the2stranger · 01-13-2006, 11:30 AM

start of with playing one hand at a time, untill you can play it without any effort, than try the other hand, same process.

once you're there, you can begin to do both.
as cliché as it may sound, you will only learn this by practicing

KeysOfKarn · 01-13-2006, 08:03 PM

lately ive been trying to learn some ELP music, and if youve never heard ELP, their keyboardist keith emerson practically plays 2 different songs w/ either hand. its some cool stuff. at first i had a little trouble doing it, but the trick is actually to not think about it. trying to concentrate on both rhythms is only gonna frusterate you. as my piano teacher put it, "turn your brain off".

if you are at the lvl where you can play your basic major scales, try playing triplets in one hand and quarters in the other. its a bit difficult but if you can do that then the rest will come easy. good luck w/ it!

pohl_56 · 01-13-2006, 10:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KeysOfKarn

lately ive been trying to learn some ELP music, and if youve never heard ELP, their keyboardist keith emerson practically plays 2 different songs w/ either hand. its some cool stuff. at first i had a little trouble doing it, but the trick is actually to not think about it. trying to concentrate on both rhythms is only gonna frusterate you. as my piano teacher put it, "turn your brain off".

if you are at the lvl where you can play your basic major scales, try playing triplets in one hand and quarters in the other. its a bit difficult but if you can do that then the rest will come easy. good luck w/ it!

That is very true. Just relaxing and letting your fingers do the work will amaze you.

ExistenZer0 · 01-13-2006, 11:07 PM

Ok guys, thanks for the advice, I'll just keep on practicing :)

the2stranger · 01-15-2006, 01:53 PM

Quote:

"turn your brain off".

So true, if I start to think about what note Ishould play next I go WTF

and I hit a wrong key ;p

just practice till you can dream your handmovemnt, once you're there, turn off your brain and just let your hands do the job

gregjazz · 01-25-2006, 01:24 AM

Hmmm... not a fan of the "turn your brain off" idea. In order to play things accurately you have to fully understand things, which is a thought process. I would say to "turn your ears on" -- if you hear it, it makes it so much easier to play. Also, in order to attain any sort of accuracy, you have to really feel what you are playing. So I'd say to keep your brain on. Play in the moment, you know?

Firecracker · 01-25-2006, 02:04 PM

Everything like that needs practice in order for it to improve.

darrell · 01-25-2006, 02:32 PM

Try reading rhythms written for two hands. Start slow and build up speed.

Lady Lex · 01-26-2006, 06:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gregjazz

Hmmm... not a fan of the "turn your brain off" idea. In order to play things accurately you have to fully understand things, which is a thought process. I would say to "turn your ears on" -- if you hear it, it makes it so much easier to play. Also, in order to attain any sort of accuracy, you have to really feel what you are playing. So I'd say to keep your brain on. Play in the moment, you know?

Its actually a very good thing to do. Liszt used to recommend to his students that they read a book while they practise. Sometimes when youre in the middle of a performance, your mind might do a weird 'start' and you could lose the moment. Its best your fingers know whats going on regardless of where your mind is at. I had a serious recital once where I had 4 days to get a piece together (Id played it before). I stayed at my teachers place, and in the middle of my sleeping, he'd wake me up and order me to perform: worked a treat. I knew my piece inside and out.

When it comes time to put the hands together, start with one hand doing the complicated rhythm, and the other merely banging out each accent. A good excercise is triplets v semiquavers (3 against 4). Work your way up from there.

Its hard at 7 against 11!

gregjazz · 01-28-2006, 01:51 AM

The reading a book while you play was not to encourge students to "turn off their brain" though. As far as I'm concerned, an exercise like that is a very good thing to do. Whenever I play solo gigs people always walk up to me and just start talking to me. Carrying a normal conversation while you play is just something pianists have to know how to do.

However, doing multi-tasking such as reading a book while you play or having a conversation is really to help you relax with your playing, to let your ears guide you more, and to show that you are at a comfortable level of familiarity with the music.

Lady Lex, try playing some 5 on 8 or 7 on 8... there's some REALLY cool stuff there. Once you hear the counter-rhythms they're pretty easy to feel and play.

EDIT: Speaking about multi-tasking while playing... have you ever heard the song, Failure? If you hear someone good enough to perform it all the way through without failing, it gets really hilarious.

01-13-2006, 07:03 AM	#1
ExistenZer0 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Austria Posts: 14	How to learn to play different rhythms with both hands? Hello there :) I just recently started playing keyboard. Well, maybe it's to early for my low skills yet to ask for it, but anyone know of some free online tutorials or have good tips on how to learn to play different stuff with both hands? Greetings, E0

01-25-2006, 02:04 PM	#8
Firecracker hoh ee Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Brighton, UK Posts: 14,062	Everything like that needs practice in order for it to improve.
	Digging: Relient K - Forget and Not Slow Down

01-28-2006, 01:51 AM	#11
gregjazz Registered User Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: California, USA Posts: 71	The reading a book while you play was not to encourge students to "turn off their brain" though. As far as I'm concerned, an exercise like that is a very good thing to do. Whenever I play solo gigs people always walk up to me and just start talking to me. Carrying a normal conversation while you play is just something pianists have to know how to do. However, doing multi-tasking such as reading a book while you play or having a conversation is really to help you relax with your playing, to let your ears guide you more, and to show that you are at a comfortable level of familiarity with the music. Lady Lex, try playing some 5 on 8 or 7 on 8... there's some REALLY cool stuff there. Once you hear the counter-rhythms they're pretty easy to feel and play. EDIT: Speaking about multi-tasking while playing... have you ever heard the song, Failure? If you hear someone good enough to perform it all the way through without failing, it gets really hilarious. Last edited by gregjazz; 01-28-2006 at 01:54 AM.

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01-13-2006, 11:30 AM	#2
the2stranger My body becomes my cage Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: the Netherlands Posts: 17,555	start of with playing one hand at a time, untill you can play it without any effort, than try the other hand, same process. once you're there, you can begin to do both. as cliché as it may sound, you will only learn this by practicing

01-13-2006, 08:03 PM	#3
KeysOfKarn Registered User Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 19	lately ive been trying to learn some ELP music, and if youve never heard ELP, their keyboardist keith emerson practically plays 2 different songs w/ either hand. its some cool stuff. at first i had a little trouble doing it, but the trick is actually to not think about it. trying to concentrate on both rhythms is only gonna frusterate you. as my piano teacher put it, "turn your brain off". if you are at the lvl where you can play your basic major scales, try playing triplets in one hand and quarters in the other. its a bit difficult but if you can do that then the rest will come easy. good luck w/ it!

01-13-2006, 11:07 PM	#5
ExistenZer0 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Austria Posts: 14	Ok guys, thanks for the advice, I'll just keep on practicing :)

01-25-2006, 01:24 AM	#7
gregjazz Registered User Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: California, USA Posts: 71	Hmmm... not a fan of the "turn your brain off" idea. In order to play things accurately you have to fully understand things, which is a thought process. I would say to "turn your ears on" -- if you hear it, it makes it so much easier to play. Also, in order to attain any sort of accuracy, you have to really feel what you are playing. So I'd say to keep your brain on. Play in the moment, you know?

01-25-2006, 02:32 PM	#9
darrell darrell Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Orange County, NY Posts: 2,084	Try reading rhythms written for two hands. Start slow and build up speed.